Legends of the Dark Knight #105

It was with a heavy heart that I filled out my subscription form for March at Comic Relief in Evanston, IL, minus every Batman title for the first time in years. The Batman film in 1989 first got me into comics, and it was two random issues of BATMAN (picked up at Walgreens on a lark) that brought me back into comics after a long absence. As much as I've enjoyed the line of Batman books until now, the "Cataclysm" storyline does not capture my imagination AT ALL. It s a big behemoth of a crossover that forces me to buy several books I don't collect, just to keep up with all of the story. Plus, it's hard to believe that in a universe where flying superhumans are a fact of life, one of them can t find the time to swing by Gotham and help put some of the pieces back together. Instead, we're expected to watch Gotham writhe in an unconvincing agony of fires, flooding, and destruction.

The single Bat-title that remains on my subscription list is LEGENDS, for two reasons. First, it remains free of the burden of "Cataclysm" crossovers, at least for the time being. Second, the appearance of the Joker on the cover of this issue was too much of a temptation to resist. Beneath that cover is a story that pays off in big ways, featuring Captain Gordon and a young (and physically fit) Sergeant Harvey Bullock against the Joker as Batman conducts an investigation out of town. This is a great story idea, and one that seems perfectly suited to the LEGENDS format. It's also excellent that this particular legend focuses not on carving yet another notch into Batman s belt, but on spotlighting the men of the Gotham City Police Department, whose contribution to the fictional world which Batman inhabits is so rarely noticed. Bullock and Gordon are usually the guys who hand the evidence to Batman, then give the man room to work before showing up to pick up the bad guys at the end of the case. It's great to see these two detectives at peak performance matching wits with the Joker.

Henderson is careful not to allow his characterization of the Joker to tip too far into the realm of mad abandon. He wisely reminds us that the Joker is not just a crazy psychopath, but a calculating criminal mastermind, with the chilling ability to orchestrate massive amounts of destruction through his plans. Von Eeden's art cleverly underscores the characterizations as well; his Gordon and Bullock are jagged and realistic, while his Joker features fluid pencil lines and cartoonish flamboyance. It s not exaggerated, but there is a definite attempt at a visual contrast between the Joker and the world he inhabits.

This is just an example of the subtle, clever touches demonstrated by Henderson and Von Eeden throughout the issue. From the Woodrow Wilson quote featured on the title page to the sharp dialogue for Gordon and Bullock provided by Henderson, these two comics creators have crafted a small gem in part one of this two-part Gotham legend. In a line of titles where shaking and quaking seem to be the order of the day, it's refreshing to find some rock- solid storytelling in the pages of LEGENDS.