Winick Batman, What Ever Happened to the Caped Crusader?

Batman 635-641, 645-650

Batman Annual 25

Judd Winick brings Jason Todd back to life, and he pretty much sticks the landing.  Sure, the explanation for the resurrection is stupid (Superboy-Prime punches reality).  And what Jason Todd does after he comes back isn’t the most creative (He takes over Black Mask’s crime empire).  But Winick provides an edge that keeps the whole thing riveting, and the story practically flies in how fast it moves along.  

Winick and Bendis practically write the same snarky villain dialogue.

Not sure why this works, but it does.

Jason Todd raises an excellent point here.

And I've never bought Batman's explanation.

I love the title of this arc.  Great cover by Jock, too.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Batman 686

Detective Comics 853

Ripping off Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman writes What Ever Happened to the Caped Crusader?.  Seriously, has Gaiman written anything remotely as good since Sandman?  It’s such a shame that he peaked with that, since it came so early in his career.  (Stardust is pretty close, actually.)  

Anyway, this isn’t close to Gaiman’s best.  Batman characters stand around at Batman’s ‘funeral’ and describe all the ways he could have died.  It’s supposed to show how Batman never gives up, yadda yadda.  It falls completely flat, and I’m only keeping it because...I don’t know.  Something about it doesn’t completely suck.  Not completely.

Best ad ever, and a great tribute to Bill Finger :)

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Batman 687-688

Judd Winick returns to write Batman after Batman dies during what I’m sure was a mega-crossover.  It’s boring as heck, and past me lasted an issue longer than present me would have.  Cutting.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Boring