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Batman, Still Kickin' After All These Years by Mike-oh

Run Forrest, run! Weaponized Rottweilers want to take a bite out of the Bat.

Batman Year 100. This might be one of the best Batman stories of all time. Paul Pope has woven together a tale of conspiracy, secrets, and international terrorism with a nihilistic future as a backdrop. Non-stop action is punctuated with emotional drama, terror, and communication technology that looks like exposed pumbling and crackles on every page. The mystery unfolds on several levels with questions that gnaw at your brain from beginning to end. This story is about a place - Gotham City, a time - the year 2039, a crime - murder, a plot - global terrorism, and a cast of characters. Especially a cast of characters. Pope uses his cast to hook you into the story like Captain Ahab uses a whaling spear to hold onto Moby Dick.

Here's a quick rundown on the cast of Batman Year 100.

The Batman. He wears long grey underwear, little black short-shorts, motorcycle boots, leather gloves, fake vampire teeth, and a cape and cowl very reminiscent of his first appearance costume. It's hard to gauge his age because he breathes heavy and moves with less grace than we're usually familiar with. He's grey at the temples but looks to be in the physical shape of a very healthy 40-year old. He sure doesn't look like a hundred years old.

F.P.C. (Federal Police Corps) Smart Dog Teams. The story begins with these weaponized Rottweilers sporting tattoos and chain collars in hot pursuit of the Batman. These dogs are radio controlled by the FPC.

AAPC Gotham Panthers. The F.P.C.'s Airteam drops out of helicopters looking like semi-pro football players wearing boxing helmets.

F.P.C. Baseteam. A dark room full of guys in suits based in Washington following the AAPC's efforts to apprehend the Batman.

Agent/Secretary Pravdzka. The dandy leader of the Washington F.P.C. Baseteam. Gets physically ill at the thought of the Batman being for real.

Agent Tibble. Airborn cowboy, a member of the FPC Devils, and right hand man of Agent Mercer. He flies into Gotham to keep Captain Gordon's off the investigation. Looks like Robert Mitchum.

AAPC Gotham Wolves. The F.P.C.'s Groundteam looking like semi-pro football players wearing boxing helmets.

Doc. The F.P.C.'s oriental crime scene investigator and forensic pathologist studying the scene of the murder victim.

The Courier. He's the murder vic. He was either a double agent or a man posing as an F.P.C. agent. He was carrying a secret in one of his teeth.

Doc Kris Goss. One of the Batman's agents who also answers to Captain Gordon. She provides the Batman with medical assistance and works as Gordon's coroner.

Tora Goss. Doc Goss' daughter and also an agent to the Batman. Both Doc Goss and Tora have promised the Batman that they will always make the GCPD their first priority. She's a computer expert and Batman's current Oracle.

Captain Jim Gordon. The grandson of former commissioner Gordon. He's the spittin' image of his grandaddy.

Agent "Romeo" Mercer. An F.P.C. telepath known as a T.K.P.. Comes into Gotham town to work with Agent Tibble. He reports to Agent Pravdzka.

Robin. Batman's orphan-ward, mechanic and protege. Soups up the Batmobile, a wicked-cool motorcycle. Dresses as the Batman when he's needed as a decoy. Calls the Batman "Boss." Looks to be hispanic.

Tony Houck. One of several GCPD detectives and Gordon's right hand man. Has a round head and a little Frenchy mustache.

The Shadow Agent. The murderer. He's disguised as an F.P.C. Wolf agent to kill the Courier and apprehend the secret. He is a telepath and has his face concealed from the Batman's memory.

AAPC Gotham Tigers. Another F.P.C. Groundteam looking like semi-pro football players wearing boxing helmets.

When it first came out, I was very hesitant to pick up this book. The title really gave me pause. Batman, after he's been crime fighting for a hundred years? I thought maybe, since he was rich and resourceful, he was using genetics and modern science to prolong his life or something like that. But Paul Pope's art made it hard to tell if Batman is supposed to be old and feeble or just real low-tech. It appears that he's only got grey hair at the temples so maybe he's not a hundred and twenty year old man. Doesn't matter 'cause the age thing, despite what the title implies, is not the story. The story is cool because it puts Batman in a world where he's not some kind of popular celebrity hero. Where no one believes he really exists. Where he's scary 'cause they think he's a monster. I think this is why Batman, Year One was so compelling. Because it gave the story a chance to shed all familiarity with Batman and have the other characters react to this strange freak in very genuine ways.

Story and art are both amazing and great. It's very refreshing to have art and copy both so perfect and from the same creator as well. An amazing feat. This is a fast paced, action packed gritty drama placed in the foreseeable future featuring familiar names and characters who, despite their familiarity, still have a real sense of mystery about them. The story is exciting as well. As I read the first couple of issues, I was imagining that Ra's Al Ghul would be revealed as the villain since it involves a biological weapon designed to wipe out billions of people. Which totally smacks of Ra's.

I only have one nitpick. And that's with the title. The story hasn't really been very dependant on the idea that Batman has been doing this for 100 years. There have been some references to Batman from the old days. But the story hasn't hinged on it. This could just as easily be a Batman Year One story. Or an Elseworlds story. Batman doesn't appear to be 100 hundred years old. And so far, his adventure hasn't relied on him having been around in the past. It's kind of a Batman-Year-One-In-The-Future story more than anything else. It doesn't bother me though. It's a great story with fantastic art. I'm lovin' it. And if you're not readin' this one, you're nuts. Go out and buy this book now (if in New York, make that a trip to Midtown Comics, if in Dallas, make that a trip to Zeus Comics).

So, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Give us your feedback.

ABOUT OUR WRITERS

Disgruntled Dan
Old Danny Boy is not happy. Not happy at all. The state of comics, movies and video games is falling way short of his expectations. Check out Disgruntled Dan's
Letters of Discontent here — new letters every month.

Afro Thunder
A man with crazy Kung-Fu abilities and even crazier hair. But please, don't confuse yourself into thinking he's Jewish, or Arabian, or anything other than a curly-haired, half white, half mexican ninja. He also gives the whole low-down on games and movies, but avoids reviewing comics (he's loves 'em, but can't tell you what he thinks of 'em).

Mike-oh
Mike-oh works for an advertising agency which explains his need for all of the escapism he uses to soak up his spare time. At least he spends some of that time sharing his thoughts with us on his various distractions.