{"id":21957,"date":"2020-04-15T08:00:29","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T08:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=21957"},"modified":"2020-04-14T20:27:51","modified_gmt":"2020-04-14T20:27:51","slug":"batman-false-faces-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2020\/04\/15\/batman-false-faces-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Batman: False Faces"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBy Brian K. Vaughan <\/strong>with Scott McDaniel<\/strong>, Rick Burchett<\/strong>, Scott Kolins<\/strong>, Marcos Martin<\/strong> & various (DC Comics)
\nISBN: 978-1-4012-2228-4 (TPB)<\/p>\n

Like most \u00e2\u20ac\u0153overnight successes\u00e2\u20ac\u009d writer Brian K. Vaughan actually plugged away for those requisite few years before hitting it big with series such as Ex Machina <\/strong>and Y: The Last Man <\/strong>and original works such as the magnificent Pride of Baghdad<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This collection – readily available in digital formats and a just a bit trickier to get in paperback form – purports to be a Batman<\/strong> compendium (better sales potential, I’d imagine) but is in fact a general gathering of (much but not all) DC Universe material by Vaughan in his formative days. Following a mendaciously wry – and potentially litigious – Introduction<\/em>, the first yarn is a 3-part tale from Batman<\/strong> #588-590 (April-June 2001), illustrated by Scott McDaniel & Karl Story.<\/p>\n

The star is the Dark Knight’s underworld alter-ego Matches Malone <\/em>as ‘Close Before Striking’ <\/em>offers a very readable psycho-drama revealing the true (and updated) origin of the underworld alias whilst taking readers on a traumatic excursion into the dark side of undercover work. It’s followed by the delightfully dark and whimsical ‘Mimsy Were the Borogoves’ <\/em>from Detective Comics<\/strong> #787, December 2003. With art from Rick Burchett & John Lowe, this stand-alone story features a deeply demented encounter with The Mad Hatter<\/em>, and is undoubtedly the best thing in the book\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

There’s only a tenuous Batman link in the next tale, which originally saw print as Wonder Woman<\/strong> #160-161 (September & October 2000). Drawn by Scott Kolins with inks from Dan Panosian & Drew Geraci, ‘A Piece of You’ <\/em>finds shape-changing Bat-villain Clayface <\/em>attacking the Amazing Amazon when he learns of her origin. Since she was formed from Magic Clay, he reasons that he can absorb her – and her magical abilities – into his own mass. And stone me; he’s right! Action-packed and tongue in cheek, this daft but readable thriller also guest stars former Wonder Girl Donna Troy<\/em>, Nightwing <\/strong>and Robin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Somewhat messily, the tome ends with a mere snippet from Batman: Gotham City Secret Files<\/strong> #1 (April 2000) which introduced themed villain The Skeleton<\/em>, before promptly forgetting all about him. ‘Skullduggery’ <\/em>is limned by Marcos Martin & Mark Pennington, and although competent, rather lets down a very enjoyable trawl through the Fights ‘n’ Tights work of one of the best writers in comics. If you enjoy superhero tales or are a Vaughan aficionado, please don’t let this slight defect deter you from a great slice of comic book fun.
\n\u00c2\u00a9 2000, 2001, 2003, 2017 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Brian K. Vaughan with Scott McDaniel, Rick Burchett, Scott Kolins, Marcos Martin & various (DC Comics) ISBN: 978-1-4012-2228-4 (TPB) Like most \u00e2\u20ac\u0153overnight successes\u00e2\u20ac\u009d writer Brian K. Vaughan actually plugged away for those requisite few years before hitting it big with series such as Ex Machina and Y: The Last Man and original works such … <\/p>\n

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