Batman: Second Chances

Product Information

To start off, I don't know what this collection wants to be. Inside are Batman issues 402-403, 408-416, and half of Annual #11. In theory this collects most of the Post-Crisis issues of Batman before those collected in the Caped Crusader volumes. But if that were the point, why leave out the first Post-Crisis issue, 401? I would understand if they didn't want to include tie-ins, it's a part of the Legends event, but #416 is collected and it ties into to Millennium. I understand leaving out the Year One storyline in 404-407 as that story has become a phenomenon unto itself that is somehow separate from the rest of Batman lore despite defining so much of it. But why leave out Allen Moore's contribution to Annual #11? Frankly that Clayface story which I went out of my way to seek out after reading this is as good or better than the best tale in Second Chances. Was it destiny that Batman and Jason met so the mentor could give this orphan a better path than he had? Batman& Robin watch as an ambulance carrying Two-Face takes him to the hospital. Robin asks if the operation will make Harvey better again but Batman is unsure. Jason raised a hand to his mouth to muffle the sob, but it still rang out through the cave. His vision was blurring from tears. Boyd Kirkland has listed this episode among his favorite to have worked on during Batman: The Animated Series, due to its great action scenes and exploration of Two-Face. [1]

But of course, the one and only Dark Knight easily defeated the delusional man before stating he’ll get Carma some help. After a month, Bruce left for a Justice League mission. Alfred and Jason begged him not to go. Bruce at this point barely slept and being in the field would definitely kill him. Their pleas fell on deaf ears and Bruce went anyway.

The complete series of Red Robin. This would fit into two volumes too: one for issues #1-12 (plus "Batgirl" #8) and one for issues #13-26 (plus "Teen Titans" #92).

Did Jason Todd really deserve all that hatred? Based on the stories in this book: no. Max Allan Collins and Jim Starlin do a decent job making him an agreeable sort of fellow. I'm guessing it's the Jason Todd from 1983-86 that got on reader's nerves and sent the lad into an early grave. He doesn't know what brought him to this point, but he found himself by a window with a razor to his wrist. Originally published as Batman #402-403 & #408-411 (December 1986 - September 1987) and Batman #368 (February 1984)They fought side-by-side, battle after battle after battle, sleepless nights, and open wounds, both physical and emotional. The next day, Bruce Wayne eats breakfast at Wayne Manor with Alfred Pennyworth and Jason Todd. Alfred investigates companies that sell Batman costumes, and finds that every one in the area has been stolen. Jason asks Bruce what's so wrong about killing criminals. Bruce tells him murder is a line they must not cross. Jason reminds him that he's killed before, and Bruce says this was in self-defense. "If we're no better than the lice who snuff out human life like it's worth nothing at all, then, well -- then it's time I hung up my cowl." Jason responds that he's still glad the crooks are dead, and Bruce says he is also but he's not proud of that. New Job as the Plot Demands: The therapist Harvey sees for his other personality is now a nurse who's part of the operation that seeks to heal his scars and get rid of the Two-Face personality. and 411 pit the duo against Two-Face. This is where the Bronze Age elements stood out the most for me. Most of my comic reading stems from Silver Age fare from Marvel and 2000s era books from both companies. This time period contains the silly humor and wild characterizations of the earlier period and the more serious themes and consequences from the latter. The result is pretty baffling, though entertaining, for my modern sensibilities. Ultimately I enjoyed this caper, even if I didn't really "get it."

In my excitement for James Gunn's upcoming DCU, I've decided to become more involved in my reading of DC Comics. And what a better place to start than the original jumping on point, Post-Crisis?Though "White, Gold and Truth" segues perfectly into Batman: A Death in the Family, Second Chances is nonetheless capped with a short Penguin story from 1987's Batman Annual that doesn't belong here, but is worth inclusion for no other reason than it features the artwork of the amazing Norm Breyfogle, who became my favorite Batman artist of the nineties. "Love Bird" is a slight story, but it features a moderately clever twist at the end, and at least it's short.