Review: Batman '89: Echoes #3

This issue opens on a session between Dr. Crane (clearly "played" by Jeff Goldblum) and Maynard ("played" by Martin Short).  Maynard brags about how he was a killing machine in the military.  Meanwhile Bruce and Drake have a secret meeting to discuss Bruce's next steps.  We also get a flashback as to how and why Bruce started this undercover mission.  Essentially, he was bored not being Batman for the last two years. Having picked up clues as to the Firefly in the newspapers, Bruce deduced the Firefly was connected to Hugo Strange.  Bruce went to find the Firefly, aka Robert Lowery, but Lowery went into an unreasonable panic at the sight of Batman, and killed himself.  Bruce went through the Firefly's diaries and manifestos, and decided to investigate by assuming Lowery's identity.  

Meanwhile Dr. Quinzel ("played" by Madonna) has been monitoring the asylum's security cameras, and wants footage of Lowery. Bruce, as Lowery, meets up with Maynard, who reveals his full name as Edward Nigel Maynard, aka E.Nig.Ma, as he gives Lowery a puzzle he made for him.

Later, at Police HQ, the security footage of Lowery is played on TV, and Barbara Gordon ("played" by ...possibly Winona Ryder?  Maybe Sean Young? Demi Moore? Kind of hard to tell) recognizes Robert Lowery is really Bruce Wayne.  She is about to go to Wayne Manor to confront Alfred about this, but is intercepted by a pair of FBI agents who arrest her regarding a mysterious bank account.

Meanwhile, Lowery is brought in to Dr. Crane's office and is told about footage of him airing on TV.  Crane suspects Lowery isn't who he says he is, and uses fear gas on him to get him to confess.  Lowery admits 'I'm Batman".  But Crane doesn't believe him.

A lot of story packed into this issue, and well done by both writer Sam Hamm and artist Joe Quinones.  This issue earns another B+

Review: Shazam #12 and 13

Falling a bit behind, so I will be reviewing issues 12 and 13 this time.  Issue 12 has Billy and the Captain becoming separate beings, and they argue with each other.  Mary and Freddy then take Billy to see his real mom, while the Captain tells the Flashpoint kids and Hoppy the Rabbit that Billy is the one who caused this magical leak.  Meanwhile Billy finds out his mom is married and has another son.  That crushes Billy, which causes the magical leak to explode.  Billy changes to the Captain, and in stopping the leak, apparently become obliterated.

Issue 13 is narrated by Freddy, as he and Mary go searching for Billy. Freddy whines about not having powers any more.  Mary as Mary Marvel fights monsters that are attacking a subway station.  Billy is at that station, the monsters coming from the leak he has caused.  Again, Billy and the Captain argue with each other.  Billy says the way to stop the leak is for the power of Shazam to go to someone else. Mary continues to fight the monsters while Freddy attempt to get a runaway subway train under control.  Mary is about to be defeated, when she is saved by....

 

...SPOILER ALERT.....

 

 

 

 

Uncle Marvel!  Meanwhile Freddy's train lands him in King Kull's realm, thanks to the intervention of a mysterious, magical powered girl.

Both these issues, written by Josie Campbell are slightly better than her previous efforts, but still have a Saturday morning sit-com tone to them.  The artwork by Emanuella Luppacchino and Mike Norton in issue 12 is the same as their previous issues, but issue 13's art is by Norton alone, and is a step better.  Both these issues earn a C.