Batman and Robin 13 Annotation

BATMAN AND ROBIN 13
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Title: Batman and Robin Must Die
Part 1: The Garden of Death
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Frazer Irving
Cover: Frank Quitely
Variant Cover: Frazer Irving














Page 1:

Thomas Wayne rejoicing after witnessing Martha and Bruce’s death.

Page 2:

First panel shows dominoes that represents the chain reaction of death. After watching Zorro in the theater, Joe Chill arrived and killed Thomas Wayne’s wife and son. Thomas while grinning told “Now you’ll never tell” to the dead Martha. Maybe he’s referring to the secrets of Barbatos and Wayne Manor’s hidden room and now he’s glad because he’s sure that all the secrets dies with her.

Page 3:

Thomas Wayne pays Joe Chill for the hit, after attending his family’s funeral. The third panel features a Sodom orgy. Hurt wearing Thomas Wayne’s Bat-suit pours champagne on a lady’s back. The masks on the attendees depict various demons and animals, including the pig mask worn by Professor Pyg.

From red and black, notice how the colors changed in the remaining panels. Here, Hurt declared that he is Thomas Wayne through a trial or a press con and now the press is asking who is buried in Thomas Wayne’s tomb, for sure there are lots of questions to come but Hurt's P.A insisted that he should go home.

Note: The past that was shown in Pages 2 and 3 cannot be real because we all know that Bruce did not die that night and Thomas did not attend a funeral after the shooting for it was Thomas who died along with Martha. Even Joe Chill told that he was supposed to kill Bruce and he did kill Thomas and Martha Wayne in Crime Alley Batman #673.



We can say that this past is the lie that Hurt told to Bruce in Batman #681.



Because of this, Now we have 2 stories concerning the Waynes' last night:


1. The traditional account of the Waynes as victims and
















2.The lie that Hurt told Bruce in Batman #681 which is the opening of this issue.


















Pages 4-6:

Hurt enters Wayne Manor with the 99 fiends waiting for him inside having Batman and Robin as captives. The black sun that Hurt refers to is the eclipse that’s occurring every time Bruce Wayne jumps forward in time (It always occurs every time Bruce leaves a timeline not when he arrives. And it’s possible that Bruce is already back by the time this scene takes place).

Hurt’s promise to corrupt Damian seems to imply the event Damian/Batman was referring to in Batman #666 when he mentioned that he made a deal with the devil to save Gotham City.



BLAM! Dick was shot in the head. But that hasn't happened yet. It will happen three days from now.

We don’t see blood though, do we?

Page 7: Three days earlier before Hurt proclaimed he’s Thomas Wayne and the shot.

Damian’s silhouette entering the hospital seems similar to Hurt entering the Wayne Manor on Page 4. And the lineup of cops is similar to the lineup of 99 Fiends waiting for Hurt’s entrance, too. We’ll notice that one of the cops is blowing his nose.

Joker to Damian: Hello Again [little Bruce].

Pages 8-9:

Batman to Robin:Pay attention.

When you’re in the room with the Joker you have to pay attention to stay alive. Dick knows this. Damian doesn't.

We can see that the Clown Prince of Crime(who doesn't feel like he deserves that name anymore)is in captivity and physically harmless. This is his latest incarnation, notice that his word balloons are normal, and his entire speech pattern is at complete odds with all of his previous depictions.

Dick then recaps everything about the dominoes, bones and the boneyard, confirming that Joker was “digging up” the “bones” of his own crimes, and that he faked searching Naberius, and essentially planted the domino on him, back in Batman and Robin #11.

Batman to Joker: I know you like to leave clues but…you make it too obvious. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I had you figured out when I was twelve.

Note: The domino Dick’s holding seems to be different from the four-one model he “got from” Naberius (Batman and Robin #11).

Page 10:

Joker to Batman: If only you could trust me just this once.

It seems clear that the Joker's investigations as Oberon Sexton have given him advance knowledge of Hurt's plan. He asks for Batman's trust. But he wears a disguise to try to get that trust. Dick is so certain that anything the Joker says is a trick.

Can he trust the Joker? What he says is all too plausible, it makes too much sense. Of course he wants to help Dick because he wants Bruce, his Batman back, he wants the status quo to resume. But for sure he wants something else.

Dick may lose his battle with Hurt if he doesn't listen to the clues that the Joker is offering. But if he does listen, he gives the Joker an opening to betray him.

Page 11:

Jim Gordon: To think I shook hand with this filth.

Gordon shows rage as he enters the interrogation room; we’re talking about the man who shot his daughter in the spine, killed his wife and forced him to undergo hours of extreme psychological and physical torture while placed in the most degrading conditions (Batman:The Killing Joke). While the cops take the Joker away, the Joker warns Batman that the killing won’t stop unless he was as good as the first one.

Page 12:

Dick takes Gordon in the Batmobile and now on their way to the Bat-bunker.

Note: The Bruce that Gordon is referring to is Hush/Tommy Elliot, whose adventures as Bruce are being chronicled in Batman: Streets of Gotham.

Page 13:

I’m still confused on why Dick wants to put the Mayor onside their investigations regarding the killings. Didn't he know that the mayor is in league with the Black Glove and Hurt back in Batman: R.I.P?


The “I’ll call you Commissioner Gordon, sir, if that’s okay” line and the little boyish smile with which Dick accompanies the dialog really sells it. It’s like a father and son talking inside the car. Let’s assume that at this point, Gordon knows this is the first Robin he’s sharing information with.

He’s a brilliant cop, he probably does.

Pages 14-17:

What Batman and Jim Gordon are discussing about is the antidote from Batman and Robin #3 that carries the threat that Dick thought he was alleviating. The poison has already been delivered to a huge number of people and Jim Gordon's sneezing tells us that he's obviously going to be one of the first victims to succumb.


The discussion is being interrupted by the report that the Joker wants to talk to Robin. Batman quickly gets inside the Batmobile while yelling “he could kill him!”





Pages 18-20:

Have you spotted any ‘The Dark Knight’ connection? Anyone?



The Joker’s “You sound just like him” isn’t an exclamation of shocked surprise, it’s him revealing his true self after all that fake weeping and pleading. We must take note that before Joker revealed his identity he’d already spent time with Damian as Sexton - enough to recognize little-Bruce in there.


Note: Also the HIM in the line “You sound like him” could mean Jason Todd as well. As Damian’s playing Todd’s ironic punishment back in A Death in the Family arc. In fact, Jason Todd gave Joker the exact same “You’re NOT as crazy as you pretend to be” speech immediately after crowbarring him in Batman #649.











Pages 21-24:

Dick Grayson and Commissioner Gordon are shot down in the flying Batmobile by bazooka-wielding thugs of the 99 Fiends. This is when the dominoes start falling figuratively. As the Batmobile goes down to the ground, someone wearing a white glove is watching it in a distance (Page 22, last panel). Batman is unconscious while a huge numbers of Dollotrons attack him and Gordon. Meanwhile across town, Pyg was freed from Blackgate Prison by the rest of the 99 fiends. Notice the dark knight chess piece tattoo in the head of the guy who gave Pyg his mask.

Next in Batman and Robin: The Triumph of Death

I don’t know if this may ring any bell. Batman #676 debuts a new Batmobile made by Bruce. Now, in this issue the new Batmobile of the new Batman and Robin was destroyed (Dick and Damian). Like Batman #676, Batman and Robin #13 is the beginning of an arc that will change a Batman’s life (Batman: R.I.P, Batman and Robin Must Die). Batman R.I.P led to Bruce’s "death". Hopefully this time, it’s the opposite. Hopefully this arc will deal on a Batman’s resurrection and not on another Batman’s death.

Deducing Who Oberon Sexton And The Domino Killer Is

In Batman and Robin #12, it was revealed that Oberon Sexton and the Domino Killer is the Joker.

Below is the clue that suggests that Oberon Sexton is the Domino Killer:

Oberon’s last name Sexton is defined as a caretaker of graveyard, and often also as bell-ringer and gravedigger.

All the Black Glove victims wear domino masks. In the game Mexican Train, unused dominoes are kept in the “bone yard”; Bone yard is synonymous to graveyard, which relates to Oberon and his alias.


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In Batman and Robin #13 Joker reveals that since the death of "his Batman" he is no longer the "Clown Prince" he once was and took on the identity of Oberon Sexton to gain the new Batman's trust.

Most likely, the detective persona was a conscious façade. It's also possible that Joker’s Multiple Personality Disorder led to a detective personality.

However, Dick Grayson the Batman found out that Oberon Sexton is the Joker as he solved the crimes pertaining to the murders of the four deceased Black Glove members having clues all designed to hint at jokes.



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1. The Oil Sheikh, the peanuts and the restroom.

Connection:

Rich Oil Sheikh Joke

A rich oil sheikh was visiting the White House to discuss the oil trade with political bigwigs. His personal servant was attending to the sheikh's every need, as was customary and expected. The sheikh, never having tasted salted peanuts before, took an instant liking to them, and began munching them like you wouldn't believe. Naturally, the salt made the sheikh thirsty, and he called to his servant to get him some water. His servant left the room and came back with a glass of nice, cold water. Munching some more on the peanuts, the sheikh got thirsty again, and called to his servant to get him another glass of water. The servant immediately complied with his master's wishes, and returned in a jiffy with another glass of water. Really taken by the peanuts, the sheikh virtually stuffed himself on them, and got a healthy thirst to match. He called to his servant to get him some more water, and off the servant went. This time, he came back empty-handed. The servant apologized profusely, and begged his master's forgiveness. Furious, the sheikh yelled and screamed at his servant, 'You son of a flea-infested camel, why can't you bring me my water?!?' 'But Master', begged the servant, 'I cannot bring you your water because a white man sits on the well...'

http://www.opendb.net/element/15152.php

2. Cardinal Magi strangled by his own dog collar.

Connection:

There are jokes about cardinals’ "white collar crimes” pertaining to the misdeeds of the cardinals.

But this one is the closest.

Cardinals Jokes

Two boys were playing football in a Dallas area park when one is attacked by a Rottweiler. Thinking quickly, the other boy rips off a plank of the nearby fence, wedges it down the dog's collar and twists, breaking the dog's neck. A reporter who was strolling by sees the incident, and rushes over to interview the boy.

"Cowboys Fan Saves Friend From Vicious Animal," she starts writing in her notebook.

"But I'm not a Cowboys fan," the boy replies.

"Redskins Fan Rescues Friend From Horrific Attack," the reporter starts again.

"I'm not a Redskins fan either," the boy says. "I'm a Cardinals fan."

The reporter writes on a new sheet in her notebook: "Redneck Bastard Kills Family Pet."

http://anti-cardinals.blogspot.com/2009/10/crapnals-jokes-from-old-site.html

3. The Newspaper Tycoon with the Heart Attack and a Young Mistress.

I haven’t found any joke/jokes referring to this one. But maybe, just maybe, an old man having a heart attack while having sex with his young mistress is funny enough for the joker.

4. Remains of the Russian general Malenkov found inside an Alligator.



We’ll remember that the Russian general Malenkov was killed by Joker in Batman #681. In Batman and Robin #10 Oberon (who is the Joker in disguise) told Batman that Malenkov’s remains is found inside an alligator.















Connection:

One of Russia’s combat helicopters was named ‘Alligator’, but it is more likely that the alligator being described by Oberon is the reptile one.

http://www.enemyforces.net/helicopters/ka52.htm

Also, there’s this "bar joke" about a man and an alligator which is more likely have the closer connection:

Alligator in the Bar

A guy walks into a bar with a pet alligator by his side. He puts the alligator up on the bar. He turns to the astonished patrons. "I'll make you a deal. I'll open this alligator's mouth and place my genitals inside. The gator will close his mouth for one minute. He'll then open his mouth and I'll remove my unit unscathed. In return for witnessing this spectacle, each of you will buy me a drink." The crowd murmured their approval. The man stood up on the bar, dropped his trousers, placed his privates in the alligator's open mouth. The gator closed his mouth as the crowd gasped. After a minute, the man grabbed a beer bottle and rapped the alligator hard on the top of its head. The gator opened his mouth and the man removed his genitals - unscathed as promised.

The crowd cheered and the first of his free drinks was delivered. The man stood up again and made another offer. "I'll pay anyone $100 who's willing to give it a try."
A hush fell over the crowd. After a while, a hand went up in the back of the bar. A woman timidly spoke up. "I'll try, but you have to promise not to hit me on the head with the beer bottle."

href=http://www.eszlinger.com/jokes/barjokes.html

Have you spot the connection? No?

Penis is also referred to as genital. In the joke the man puts his penis, his genital into the alligator’s mouth. What’s the connection to Joker killing Gen. Malenkov?

The Joker put the general (ge~ne~tal) into an alligator’s mouth.

That’s it.

There are plenty of clues that suggest who Oberon Sexton and who the Domino killer is and they’re all hiding in plain sight.



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Dick found it, obviously we did not.

ANNOTATION: Batman Under The Red Hood

WARNING: SPOILER – if you don’t want to get spoiled, please, I beg you, do not continue reading this so you won’t blame me in the end.

Skip this and read my REVIEW instead.


















DIRECTION

This is Brandon Vietti’s first solo project when directing a full length animated film. What can I say? Well, he really nailed this one. I hope he’ll direct more films in the DCU line.

Andrea Romano, again, did a great job on her voice directions specially when choosing the right person/voice to cast.

CASTING

Bruce Greenwood as Batman is an excellent choice. The man sounds like Kevin Conroy. Honest.

Neil Patrick Harris as Nightwing is just the right choice. Not so long ago when he dubbed the voice of the Music Meister in Batman the Brave and The Bold and I can say this guy can voice anyone.

Jason Isaacs as Ra’s Al Ghul. His performance doesn’t stand that much but he did a great job voicing this immortal terrorist.

Wade Williams as Black Mask. Now this guy reminds me of a preaching black reverend every time he talks. Like Nightwing, Black Mask added some humor in this film’s dark vibe. But his humorous performance will not be that effective if it wasn't seconded by his assistant Ms. Li voiced by Kelly Hu, who did a great job in adding up the spice.

John Di Maggio as the Joker gave his performance a lot of resemblance to what Heath Ledger did as he portrays the same role in The Dark Knight.

Last but not the least is

Jensen Ackles as the Red Hood. Man! This guy is something! He brought the right blend of drama and humor in his performance. I’m a fan of his Supernatural series and the way he acts on that series played in his role in this film.

ANIMATION

Main animation is made by Answer Studio. Yes, flaws are there. Most noticeable are the way vehicles move when it starts (swings left to right before going) and characters' exaggerated leap, but other than that, animations in this film are superb. I can’t say that the character designs are based from the artwork of Doug Manhke (artist of Under the Hood, the comic book on which the film was adapted) for it’s somewhat unique and stands out from previous character designs. Anyways, it’s something that Mahnke should be proud of.

STORY

To start, it was loaded with adult content and dialogues, Most of the dialogues came from the comic book where it was adapted. It's as if the comic book itself came to life (Well, not literally).it was so brutal it will remind you of the Batman Beyond movie, Return of the Joker. It does have an adventure, crime, and mystery plot that will also remind you of the first Batman: The Animated Series feature film, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. But what makes this film stands out from its said predecessors is its emotional arc that will leave you bothered after watching and its flashbacks, which is not your typical flashback scenes.

On some level, there is a certain proof that this film was influenced by the Christopher Nolan movies. The tone, the way Batman and Joker is treated, Gotham City’s vibe, all was evidence of Chris Nolan’s influence. Which is just right, for this film is dark in nature. You’ll feel it even more every time the musical score kicks in.

However, there are some things that I found awkward while watching this film:

1. Jason Todd’s body when found by Batman after the explosion was way too neat to be a victim of a bomb explosion. I’m expecting a more “A Death in the Family” adaptation, but then, we must understand that this is a PG-13 film.
2. Batman explaining to a thug what an Amazo is. Awkward!
3. One of the thugs knew that Nightwing is the original Robin. Until now, I’m still wondering why he knew that.
4. When Bruce checked Jason’s corpse, Alfred was easily convinced that it was Jason’s remain inside the coffin knowing that 5 years had passed since the incident and the would be corpse should already be in rot. Heck, if I didn’t know Alfred that well, I might as well suspect him to be involved in the whole “Red Hood mystery”.

Except for those scenes above, anything else is brilliant.

Below are some of my favorites:

1.The team-up of the original dynamic duo, Batman and Dick Grayson now known as the hero, Nightwing.
2.Batman carefully studies the audio of their (Batman and Nightwing) recorded video chasing the Red Hood.
3.The heroes visiting the Joker at Arkham.
4.Scenes of Black Mask talking to his thugs. Don’t mind his famous good look he’s so known for; observe what he wears every time he’ll make it on a scene.
5.All the flashback scenes.
6.Joker showing Black Mask his “resume” when asked if he can bring the Red Hood down.
7.Red Hood getting his “revenge” on the Joker.
8.The final confrontation between Batman and Red Hood, and
9.The ending. Honestly, this film’s ending is far better than its comic book counterpart.

After watching this film, I was amazed on how it turned out. Some origins are revisited; some familiar characters made a brief appearance (Commissioner Gordon, Ubu, Riddler) and one are just mentioned (Barbara Gordon). When I first heard that this will be adapted into film, I got excited and at the same time confused. Excited, because the story on which it was adapted is one of my favorite Batman story. Confused, because I’m wondering how this arc would fit in a full length film. Because you see, Under the Hood had tangent of supporting characters through the course of its story. But then in the film, most supporting cast (in the comics) that I’m referring to was eliminated and to my surprise it turned out great. It didn’t hurt the main story at all.This film is a testament of the genius that is Judd Winick. He really put a lot of heart in this film which is showed in its outcome.

For me this is the best Batman and DCU Animated Film so far.

REVIEW: Batman Under The Red Hood

FACTS ABOUT BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD:

1. First full length Batman movie in DC Universe line.
2. This is director Brandon Vietti’s first solo take on directing an animated film.
3. The story is written by Judd Winick, It was adapted from the comic book BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD which is also written by Winick.
4. Judd Winick is in San Francisco and had to pitch using a speakerphone when he tried to convinced producers Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett (which is in Burbank) to put his work on film.
5. Winick pitched for 45 minutes and when he’s done, the producers agreed to put it on film right away.

Synopsis:

The story begins in one of the most horrible event in Batman’s history, the death of his partner, Robin.

Jason Todd the second kid to wear the Robin mantle after Dick Grayson, was brutally beaten by the Joker with the use of a crowbar. He then locked up the boy in a room with a bomb ready to explode in just a few second. Batman was on his way to rescue his partner, but unfortunately he didn’t make it on time.

5 years later, Gotham City. A mysterious figure later be known as the Red Hood made an introduction, making himself a crime lord by threatening and converting Black Mask’s (Ruler of Gotham’s criminal underworld) underlings into him. Then the story follows Batman and Nightwing (the original Robin) finding themselves being stalked by the Red Hood. We’ll learn that Red Hood tries to rid Gotham City’s crimes without following the same ethics as its heroes and apparently knows all of Batman’s secrets.

As Batman tries to unravel the true identity of his stalker, he must also battle three of his enemies: the Joker, who was responsible for the death of his second protégé; Ra’s Al Ghul, the immortal international terrorist whose somehow connected to the Red Hood; and Black Mask, ruler of Gotham City’s criminal underworld. Events in the past are revisited, old wounds are reopened and shocking discoveries are revealed.

With a series of chasing and jaw dropping fighting scenes, the film resulted in a climatic and somewhat tragic ending that would make you have teary eyes and goose bumps after watching it.

Overall, if you’re looking for an animated film that has the following:

1. Great storyline
2. A story just as dark yet humorous.
3. Superb animation
4. Jaw dropping fighting scenes
5. Great musical score
6. Excellent film and voice direction

Well, look no more. Go and watch Batman: Under the Red Hood. It’s all there.

Joker: I Started A Joke

WARNING: The image you are about to see is a disturbing one. So, do you want to proceed? Or, do you want to proceed?



Above is an image from the pages of Batman and Robin #13. Here, Damian Wayne who is the new Robin, is beating the Joker into a pulp with the use of a crowbar. I added the scene from A Death in the Family where Joker did the same thing to poor Jason Todd on the background to make it more intense.

Serves him right? right?

Hope you guys like it.

Looks Like Dr. Hurt Doesn't Stand A Chance

When I saw this, I got troubled because...


A page from Batman and Robin #13

I remembered this...

A page from Batman #666

Then I saw this...and I smiled.


Cover for Batman and Robin #16

Jason Todd: The Tragic Robin

Just got my copy of Batman: Under the Red Hood awhile ago.



But before I give my review about the film, let me tackle the story behind it and the most important character in this film’s story…Jason Todd.

Jason Todd is one of the most important figures in Batman comics, because of one fact: he died, being the only Robin to be killed “in the line of duty”. But who really is Jason Todd?



Jason Todd grew up in crime-ridden Gotham City, living off his wits and knowledge of the streets. One day while in Crime Alley, Jason literally ran into the Batman. He was caught in the act of stealing the Batmobile's wheels, which the Caped Crusader found amusing but not beyond reprimand.



Batman had Jason put into what he thought was a school for wayward boys. In reality, the school taught boys how to be criminals. With Jason's help, Batman brought the school’s mastermind to justice.

He was so impressed with Jason's performance that he offered to let Jason move into Wayne Manor and become the new Robin (At that time Dick Grayson the first robin, outgrew the role and moved out to became Nightwing). Jason eagerly accepted. After months of physical and mental training, the second Robin was born.

While Jason soon proved to be one of Batman's most enthusiastic students, he was also the most troubled. Brash and impulsive, Jason's former life on the streets had left him with an ambiguous sense of right and wrong. This often placed Jason in opposition to the values his mentor was trying to teach him and had ALIENATED a lot of readers.

Then DC came up with a solution that changed Batman’s world forever. The year was 1988; the fans were given the chance to influence the outcome of a storyline and voted to kill off a major character. At the end of Batman #427, Robin was caught in an explosion set by the Joker, and the inside back cover displayed a pair of phone numbers that would determine the Boy Wonder's fate, one for “Robin lives” the other one for “Robin dies”.



"Robin will die because the Joker wants revenge, but you can prevent it with a telephone call," the ad read.

All was set.

Then came the storyline “A Death in the Family”.



Although an effective hero, the second Robin became increasingly moody, reckless and even violent. After consulting with Alfred, Batman decided to pull Jason off active duty. While kicking around his old stomping grounds, Jason discovered that the mother he knew was not his real mother. He went in search of his true heritage and found it.

Using the extensive resources of the Batcave, Jason was able to track his mother to Ethiopia (located in Africa). But shortly after their reunion, he was surprised by and savagely beaten almost to death by Batman's arch-foe the Joker (with the use of a crow bar) who had been blackmailing Jason's mother.



The Joker then left Jason and his mother bound inside a warehouse filled with explosives. Though Jason tried to disable the bomb, mother and son seemingly perished together in the blast.



Jason’s death had many repercussions; for a time, Batman became violent and cruel after his death, until the entry of Tim Drake (Robin III). He also became more cautious about involving Tim in cases that he judged to be too dangerous. He’s actions concerning teaming up with any younger hero has been deeply influenced by the tragedy that befell Jason.



The unpublished alternate ending to "A Death in the Family"

Up to this day, Jason’s suit is still on display in the Batcave, serving as a reminder to all that being a hero is a dangerous calling…and to always remind Batman of his greatest failure.

Years after Jason's death a mysterious figure known as the Red Hood brings havoc on Gotham City alarming the Batman. He knows Batman’s every move before he makes it.

So who do you think is the man under the red hood? Guess who?