Three recent Batman comic book reviews …

… hosted at Batman on Film by our good friend Bill “Jett” Ramey, the hardest working Batman fan on the planet!

Review: Batman: The Dark Knight #2

Review: Detective Comics #875

Review: Streets of Gotham #21

Streets #21 was that book’s final issue, and I’m really going to miss Paul Dini’s stories.

I noticed something in the flashback that really got me wondering; vile mobster Sallie Guzzo says some familiar things to a young boy he and his goons have taken from Dr. Leslie Thompkins’s clinic (and the care of Bruce Wayne’s future parents, Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane) and forced into servitude.

So I checked out #19 again and realized where I’d read those words before. The Joker speaks them to Sallie Guzzo — right before he guts him.

Coincidence?

I asked Paul on Twitter, and he was kind enough to respond:

Tweet 1:

“@johnbierly No coincidence. That kid was the Joker, age seven. Martha & Thomas were the only ones who were ever kind to him. Irony!”

Tweet #2:

“@johnbierly I set it up way back in the “Case Study” story I did w/Alex Ross. One of the hoods says one of Joker’s early names was ‘Sonny.'”

Awesome! It brings a whole new dynamic to the story.

And then! And then!

A few days later, Paul transmitted this:

“A really nice review of our last STREETS OF GOTHAM issue. Thanks, John. http://tinyurl.com/3k22v4k

Gaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Awesome. I am beyond honored.

And Paul, thank you. You get Batman like no one else does, and we need your voice in Gotham City now more than ever.

Toad the Wet Sprocket gives you ALL YOU WANT

New from Glen, Todd, Dean, and Randy, new recordings of 11 Toad classics.

The only one that pales in comparison to the original is “Come Down,” which first appeared on COIL in 1997 and will never stop being my favorite song of all time.

Review: Streets of Gotham #20

Hosted as always by our good friend Bill “Jett” Ramey — the hardest working Batman fan on the planet — right here on Batman on Film!

There’s only one issue of this title left; I’m really going to miss Paul Dini’s voice and Dustin Nguyen’s art in Gotham City.

UPDATE

Just got this from Paul Dini on Twitter:

“@johnbierly Thanks for kind words about Streets #20. We had to cut out a lot, but I think it all wraps up nicely next issue.”

Thank YOU, Paul. And you’re more than welcome.