Are you all ready for part 2 of this recap of Batman: Night of the Monster Men? I hope so, there are still a lot of monsters to deal with. If you missed part 1, click (here). Better jump right in and see how everyone is going to deal with all these monsters and you know the hurricane that is still happening.
Batman #8: Night of the Monster Men, Part 4: The monster in downtown Gotham is now the size of a large building and sporting five heads. Duke wants to come join the fight, but Batman tells him that he is the eyes and ears, so report. Batwoman is watching Batman get swung around by the giant monster. Spoiler's and Orphan's coms are still dead (we see them planting flares trying to burn out the rage grass). The prison has gone quiet, Nightwing and Gotham Girl aren't responding, but Duke can tell by Nightwing's heart rate that something is wrong (we see them, they are scary monsters). In the Batcave, Duke can deduce that Nightwing is giving off the same readings as the monsters and that it looks like Venom (the stuff that makes Bane a rage monster) is the root of these monsters.
Batman figures out that Strange traded the Psycho-Pirate for Venom, but before he can say anything else, the monster tosses him. Batwoman uses the Nightwing cycle to launch herself up and catch him (he doesn't appropriately appreciate the help, cause he had a plan). She too has a plan that involved dropping some bombs in the monster's mouth, saving him was just a bonus. Before Batman can object anymore, monster Nightwing and monster Gotham Girl roll up on them. Batman wants to deal with the two of them, but Batwoman thinks he is too close to it (the situation, them, unclear). She goes to deal with them as Batman goes to deal with that five headed building sized monster alone. Duke again tries to make a case for joining the fight, but Batman has a plan to stop the monster before it reaches the still populated area of the city. Some science stuff involving the smart oil in the bike and how it is superconductive. The monster gets covered in oil and then gets hit by lightning.
Up in the evacuation caves, the people are turning more and more into monsters too. They have a plan to use the heat from the flares to neutralize the rage people. Batwoman is having a tough time with monster Gotham Girl, Batman is racing towards them. Duke tells Batman he has a plan and will be there shortly. Batman says no, Duke says yes. Batman finds monster Gotham Girl but no Batwoman. Looking up you can see her now trying to engage monster Nightwing.
Batman tries talking to monster GG, telling her that he is sorry for failing her, and her brother, and Red Robin. In the background it looks like a bunch of people are walking up behind Batman, but it is Clayface, who morphs into a type of super suit for Batman including the bat logo (I'm impressed). They fight and it looks like Batface is going to win, but monster GG is too smart, she uses a sonic boom clap to force Clayface off of Batman. At that moment, Duke drops in. Batman is mad, but Duke does not care. He has a cure with him.
In the cave, it is finally time to light up all those flares and see if Spoiler's plan is going to work. Long story short, it does. This isn't over though, the scariest looking monster so far is not happy it lost all its minions.
Duke is trying to figure out how to get close enough to monster Gotham Girl to give her the cure. Lucky for Duke, Batman is willing to take a punch so that he can inject GG. It looks like the cure works by ejecting the blood out of the infected host. (Good news, the cure works.)
Batwoman is still really high in the sky fighting Monster Nightwing. She takes a hard hit and while she is free falling and wounded she sends out a message to everyone. She's got a plan.
Nightwing #6: Night of the Monster Men, Part 5: Batwoman is still falling, the delivery system for the cure is broken and Nightwing is still a monster. Batwoman plans to use gravity and Gotham Girl to cure Nightwing. Long story short, it works and Nightwing is cured.
At the caves, everyone is okay because the monster decides to head back into the city. On its way, the monster grabs a train off the tracks (also did the hurricane stop)? Oop Clayface points out the rain stopped (eye of the storm)? Also Spoiler and Orphan drove back into the city to warn everyone. (So everyone is here now: Batwoman, Batman, Nightwing, Spoiler, Orphan, Clayface, Gotham Girl, and Duke.) Why is the monster carrying a train? So it can throw it of course. Gotham Girl grabs Nightwing and Spoiler out of the way and takes them to the top of a building (Wayne Tower, aka, the Watchtower, aka, the place Tim died?), then GG flies off to do other things. (Mostly take Duke back to the Batcave.)
Spoiler doesn't want to fight monsters, she was just here to help people. Nightwing needs her help finding Hugo Strange. Spoiler puts this antenna in the roof that magically creates a dope computer system. She hacks into all of Dr. Strange's sessions with his patients (the ones who all died and became the monsters). Dick figures out something important, but before it can be revealed Batman points out that the monster seems to know that Nightwing and Spoiler are up there trying to find Strange. Batman tells them to stand down and get the heck out of there.
The monster climbs up the side of the tower and Batman tells everyone to stand down, but Nightwing tells Spoiler to keep doing what she is doing. (Note: The rain has started back up again.) Batman uses some code word to activate the watchtower(s). I think it is some kind of big weapon and it seems to shock the monster. (How it only hurts the monster and not Nightwing or Spoiler? *Shrug*)
The hit only slows the monster, but doesn't stop it. So even Dick is like, we gotta go Steph. She does the classic, one more second and it is just enough time to get what she needs before they both jump off the roof. Steph then vents the oxygen from the building and ignites it, giving the monster another hit.
Back at the Batcave, Alfred is stressing out. Duke and GG are not back yet, but he points out that the monster DNA cells are programable. It looks like the downed monsters are all being rewritten and turned into a mega super giant single monster.
Most of our heroes have regrouped on a roof. Nightwing is surprised Batman activated the watchtowers. Guess Batman built the towers after Darkseid's attack in the event of more catastrophic attacks. Spoiler knows where Strange is, but before they head off to deal with him, Nightwing has to break down what is going on for us. The patients were people suffering from childhood traumas, grief, fear, manipulation and are all trapped by their own egos. These monsters are a statement from Dr. Hugo Strange, they are his diagnosis of Batman.
Batman just tells the others to use the watchtowers to fight the monster and he is going to go deal with Strange. While Nightwing is trying to tell Batman to not give Strange exactly what he wants, we see someone (I assume Strange) putting clothes on. Batman is going to face Dr. Strange. We get a final shot of Hugo Strange, full on dressed like Batman.
Detective Comics #942: Night of the Monster Men, Part 6: Downtown Gotham, we have Nightwing, Batwoman, Spoiler, and Orphan gearing up to fight the now super mega monster. They are all on their way to separate Watchtowers, while Batman heads toward Strange.
I am getting some real Power Ranger vibes as our heroes all get into their respective towers.
Batman breaks into Strange's base of operations ready to confront this guy who is obsessed with him. Strange is sitting on a throne of psychology books, dressed as Batman, under a Bat signal. He tells Batman that the suit he is wearing is a suicide suit that will kill him if he gets hit. (Which is really dang weird.) Strange knows that Batman won't kill him, because it would break one of his rules. One long crazy rant later, Dr. Strange thinks that he would be a better Batman than Batman. Strange claims to be the last sane person in Gotham.
Back downtown they are giving the mega monster all they have, but none of the watchtower weapons are working. Spoiler suggests they use suspension wires to at least stop the monster from moving more. Nightwing keeps thinking about what the monsters mean, after they secure that monster, Nightwing stops reporting in. He is running up one of the wires from his tower towards the monster. Then he tells Batwoman not to worry as he jumps right into the mouth of the beast.
Strange and Batman see Nightwing jump into the mouth and Strange congratulates him on another dead partner. (Low blow.) Strange keeps poking the bear (the bat) and Batman keeps telling him to shut up. Batman reels back to hit Strange.
The mega monster is now barfing up all the blood and is shrinking. Everyone is trying to get Nightwing on the radio, but it is just static.
Batman punched the wall behind Strange, who is now sweating. Strange is still going on and on about how Batman is powerless and is sweating more and more. We zoom out and see that Clayface is covering the top of the building, making it airtight. Strange can't get enough air to keep ranting.
In one final super gross explosion, our mega monster goes, "ssplrrraaagh" and Nightwing is riding a wave of goo down. Batwoman swings in and catches him (she is good at catching her boys). Batwoman is trying to get him to wake up, but Dick isn't responding.
As Dr. Strange is slowly passing out, Batman tells him that showing him his inner monsters would never have stopped him. Batman doesn't run from his monsters, he embraces them. We see a hallucination that Strange is having of Batman as a very ugly, scary monster. Clayface is impressed, both at how long Batman can hold his breath and at how he took Strange down without hitting him once.
Nightwing is awake, in the background we see the husk of the baby looking monster. Nightwing explains a lot of physiological stuff that amounts to the same thing Batman said, Batman's ego is not a flaw, it is fuel. (I think we are meant to understand that Nightwing was able to inject the inner baby monster with the cure, killing the big mega monster.)
Days later, all the members of the Justice League are helping clean up downtown Gotham. Bruce and Kate are at a cemetery, at the graves of Strange's patients/victims. An "anonymous" donor gave them all headstones. Strange is in custody and A.R.G.U.S took the last monster body. Bruce doesn't think it is over and they will have to keep an eye on the government. (They are not to be trusted.) Bruce now has to go after Bane.
Well that was exciting wasn't it? First crossover volume recap complete. Weirdly, I think this was meant to be a light transition after the death of Tim. Also a fun sort of Halloween special. If you are wondering why this felt a little disconnected, it is because we have four different writers and three different artists. The Batman issues were written by Tom King and the art was done by Riley Rossmo. The Nightwing issues were written by Tim Seeley and Steve Orlando with the art done by Roge Antonio. The Detective Comics issues were written by James Tynion IV with help from Steve Orlando and the art was done by Andy MacDonald. (Click on any of the names to check out their Twitter pages.) I have no doubt all of these gentlemen worked well together and the story is fun and makes sense, but it was a little jumpy at times.
All of the main covers were done by Yanick Paquette. He managed six very fun and creepy covers. There were a lot of fun variant covers too. The Batman ones were done by Tim Sale. Ivan Reis did the variant covers for Nightwing and I am sad to report that in monster form we don't get any butt shots. My favorite cover from this volume goes to the variant artist for the Detective Comics, Rafael Albuquerque. You'll remember he was also my favorite last week. What can I say? I like the dudes' work.
Now for my favorite part, the best line of the volume. I was torn, like I usually am but this week I have to give it to Batwoman. She was not unimpressed with Nightwing's bravery.
Next Week: Nightwing Volume No. 1: Better Than Batman, Part 3
Last Week: Detective Comics Volume No. 1: The Rise of the Batmen, Part 1
Detective Comics Volume No. 1: The Rise of the Batmen, Part 2
Note: All images belong to DC™
Batman #8: Night of the Monster Men, Part 4: The monster in downtown Gotham is now the size of a large building and sporting five heads. Duke wants to come join the fight, but Batman tells him that he is the eyes and ears, so report. Batwoman is watching Batman get swung around by the giant monster. Spoiler's and Orphan's coms are still dead (we see them planting flares trying to burn out the rage grass). The prison has gone quiet, Nightwing and Gotham Girl aren't responding, but Duke can tell by Nightwing's heart rate that something is wrong (we see them, they are scary monsters). In the Batcave, Duke can deduce that Nightwing is giving off the same readings as the monsters and that it looks like Venom (the stuff that makes Bane a rage monster) is the root of these monsters.
Batman figures out that Strange traded the Psycho-Pirate for Venom, but before he can say anything else, the monster tosses him. Batwoman uses the Nightwing cycle to launch herself up and catch him (he doesn't appropriately appreciate the help, cause he had a plan). She too has a plan that involved dropping some bombs in the monster's mouth, saving him was just a bonus. Before Batman can object anymore, monster Nightwing and monster Gotham Girl roll up on them. Batman wants to deal with the two of them, but Batwoman thinks he is too close to it (the situation, them, unclear). She goes to deal with them as Batman goes to deal with that five headed building sized monster alone. Duke again tries to make a case for joining the fight, but Batman has a plan to stop the monster before it reaches the still populated area of the city. Some science stuff involving the smart oil in the bike and how it is superconductive. The monster gets covered in oil and then gets hit by lightning.
Up in the evacuation caves, the people are turning more and more into monsters too. They have a plan to use the heat from the flares to neutralize the rage people. Batwoman is having a tough time with monster Gotham Girl, Batman is racing towards them. Duke tells Batman he has a plan and will be there shortly. Batman says no, Duke says yes. Batman finds monster Gotham Girl but no Batwoman. Looking up you can see her now trying to engage monster Nightwing.
Batman tries talking to monster GG, telling her that he is sorry for failing her, and her brother, and Red Robin. In the background it looks like a bunch of people are walking up behind Batman, but it is Clayface, who morphs into a type of super suit for Batman including the bat logo (I'm impressed). They fight and it looks like Batface is going to win, but monster GG is too smart, she uses a sonic boom clap to force Clayface off of Batman. At that moment, Duke drops in. Batman is mad, but Duke does not care. He has a cure with him.
In the cave, it is finally time to light up all those flares and see if Spoiler's plan is going to work. Long story short, it does. This isn't over though, the scariest looking monster so far is not happy it lost all its minions.
Duke is trying to figure out how to get close enough to monster Gotham Girl to give her the cure. Lucky for Duke, Batman is willing to take a punch so that he can inject GG. It looks like the cure works by ejecting the blood out of the infected host. (Good news, the cure works.)
Batwoman is still really high in the sky fighting Monster Nightwing. She takes a hard hit and while she is free falling and wounded she sends out a message to everyone. She's got a plan.
Nightwing #6: Night of the Monster Men, Part 5: Batwoman is still falling, the delivery system for the cure is broken and Nightwing is still a monster. Batwoman plans to use gravity and Gotham Girl to cure Nightwing. Long story short, it works and Nightwing is cured.
At the caves, everyone is okay because the monster decides to head back into the city. On its way, the monster grabs a train off the tracks (also did the hurricane stop)? Oop Clayface points out the rain stopped (eye of the storm)? Also Spoiler and Orphan drove back into the city to warn everyone. (So everyone is here now: Batwoman, Batman, Nightwing, Spoiler, Orphan, Clayface, Gotham Girl, and Duke.) Why is the monster carrying a train? So it can throw it of course. Gotham Girl grabs Nightwing and Spoiler out of the way and takes them to the top of a building (Wayne Tower, aka, the Watchtower, aka, the place Tim died?), then GG flies off to do other things. (Mostly take Duke back to the Batcave.)
Spoiler doesn't want to fight monsters, she was just here to help people. Nightwing needs her help finding Hugo Strange. Spoiler puts this antenna in the roof that magically creates a dope computer system. She hacks into all of Dr. Strange's sessions with his patients (the ones who all died and became the monsters). Dick figures out something important, but before it can be revealed Batman points out that the monster seems to know that Nightwing and Spoiler are up there trying to find Strange. Batman tells them to stand down and get the heck out of there.
The monster climbs up the side of the tower and Batman tells everyone to stand down, but Nightwing tells Spoiler to keep doing what she is doing. (Note: The rain has started back up again.) Batman uses some code word to activate the watchtower(s). I think it is some kind of big weapon and it seems to shock the monster. (How it only hurts the monster and not Nightwing or Spoiler? *Shrug*)
The hit only slows the monster, but doesn't stop it. So even Dick is like, we gotta go Steph. She does the classic, one more second and it is just enough time to get what she needs before they both jump off the roof. Steph then vents the oxygen from the building and ignites it, giving the monster another hit.
Back at the Batcave, Alfred is stressing out. Duke and GG are not back yet, but he points out that the monster DNA cells are programable. It looks like the downed monsters are all being rewritten and turned into a mega super giant single monster.
Most of our heroes have regrouped on a roof. Nightwing is surprised Batman activated the watchtowers. Guess Batman built the towers after Darkseid's attack in the event of more catastrophic attacks. Spoiler knows where Strange is, but before they head off to deal with him, Nightwing has to break down what is going on for us. The patients were people suffering from childhood traumas, grief, fear, manipulation and are all trapped by their own egos. These monsters are a statement from Dr. Hugo Strange, they are his diagnosis of Batman.
Batman just tells the others to use the watchtowers to fight the monster and he is going to go deal with Strange. While Nightwing is trying to tell Batman to not give Strange exactly what he wants, we see someone (I assume Strange) putting clothes on. Batman is going to face Dr. Strange. We get a final shot of Hugo Strange, full on dressed like Batman.
Detective Comics #942: Night of the Monster Men, Part 6: Downtown Gotham, we have Nightwing, Batwoman, Spoiler, and Orphan gearing up to fight the now super mega monster. They are all on their way to separate Watchtowers, while Batman heads toward Strange.
I am getting some real Power Ranger vibes as our heroes all get into their respective towers.
Batman breaks into Strange's base of operations ready to confront this guy who is obsessed with him. Strange is sitting on a throne of psychology books, dressed as Batman, under a Bat signal. He tells Batman that the suit he is wearing is a suicide suit that will kill him if he gets hit. (Which is really dang weird.) Strange knows that Batman won't kill him, because it would break one of his rules. One long crazy rant later, Dr. Strange thinks that he would be a better Batman than Batman. Strange claims to be the last sane person in Gotham.
Back downtown they are giving the mega monster all they have, but none of the watchtower weapons are working. Spoiler suggests they use suspension wires to at least stop the monster from moving more. Nightwing keeps thinking about what the monsters mean, after they secure that monster, Nightwing stops reporting in. He is running up one of the wires from his tower towards the monster. Then he tells Batwoman not to worry as he jumps right into the mouth of the beast.
Strange and Batman see Nightwing jump into the mouth and Strange congratulates him on another dead partner. (Low blow.) Strange keeps poking the bear (the bat) and Batman keeps telling him to shut up. Batman reels back to hit Strange.
The mega monster is now barfing up all the blood and is shrinking. Everyone is trying to get Nightwing on the radio, but it is just static.
Batman punched the wall behind Strange, who is now sweating. Strange is still going on and on about how Batman is powerless and is sweating more and more. We zoom out and see that Clayface is covering the top of the building, making it airtight. Strange can't get enough air to keep ranting.
In one final super gross explosion, our mega monster goes, "ssplrrraaagh" and Nightwing is riding a wave of goo down. Batwoman swings in and catches him (she is good at catching her boys). Batwoman is trying to get him to wake up, but Dick isn't responding.
As Dr. Strange is slowly passing out, Batman tells him that showing him his inner monsters would never have stopped him. Batman doesn't run from his monsters, he embraces them. We see a hallucination that Strange is having of Batman as a very ugly, scary monster. Clayface is impressed, both at how long Batman can hold his breath and at how he took Strange down without hitting him once.
Nightwing is awake, in the background we see the husk of the baby looking monster. Nightwing explains a lot of physiological stuff that amounts to the same thing Batman said, Batman's ego is not a flaw, it is fuel. (I think we are meant to understand that Nightwing was able to inject the inner baby monster with the cure, killing the big mega monster.)
Days later, all the members of the Justice League are helping clean up downtown Gotham. Bruce and Kate are at a cemetery, at the graves of Strange's patients/victims. An "anonymous" donor gave them all headstones. Strange is in custody and A.R.G.U.S took the last monster body. Bruce doesn't think it is over and they will have to keep an eye on the government. (They are not to be trusted.) Bruce now has to go after Bane.
Well that was exciting wasn't it? First crossover volume recap complete. Weirdly, I think this was meant to be a light transition after the death of Tim. Also a fun sort of Halloween special. If you are wondering why this felt a little disconnected, it is because we have four different writers and three different artists. The Batman issues were written by Tom King and the art was done by Riley Rossmo. The Nightwing issues were written by Tim Seeley and Steve Orlando with the art done by Roge Antonio. The Detective Comics issues were written by James Tynion IV with help from Steve Orlando and the art was done by Andy MacDonald. (Click on any of the names to check out their Twitter pages.) I have no doubt all of these gentlemen worked well together and the story is fun and makes sense, but it was a little jumpy at times.
All of the main covers were done by Yanick Paquette. He managed six very fun and creepy covers. There were a lot of fun variant covers too. The Batman ones were done by Tim Sale. Ivan Reis did the variant covers for Nightwing and I am sad to report that in monster form we don't get any butt shots. My favorite cover from this volume goes to the variant artist for the Detective Comics, Rafael Albuquerque. You'll remember he was also my favorite last week. What can I say? I like the dudes' work.
Now for my favorite part, the best line of the volume. I was torn, like I usually am but this week I have to give it to Batwoman. She was not unimpressed with Nightwing's bravery.
Next Week: Nightwing Volume No. 1: Better Than Batman, Part 3
Last Week: Detective Comics Volume No. 1: The Rise of the Batmen, Part 1
Detective Comics Volume No. 1: The Rise of the Batmen, Part 2
Note: All images belong to DC™
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