A review by morebedsidebooks
Batman: War Games, Book Two by Troy Nixey, Bit, Sandra Hope, Jimmy Palmiotti, Eddy Barrows, Russell Lissau, Drew Geraci, Paul Gulacy, Andersen Gabrych, Rodney Ramos, Ed Brubaker, Devin Grayson, Andrew Pepoy, A.J. Lieberman, Sean Phillips, Brian Horton, Francis Portela, Bill Willingham, Tom Derenick, Adam DeKraker, Jon Proctor, Chris Marrinan, Mike Huddleston, Al Barrionuevo, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith, Paul Lee, Robert Campanella, Brad Walker, Jesse Delperdang, Dylan Horrocks, Kinsun, Bruce Jones, Jay Leisten, Aaron Sowd, Andy Owens, Pete Woods, Mike Lilly
2.0
War Games, where a hypothetical stratagem Batman devised against Gotham’s underworld is put into action with disastrous consequences, can be memorable for several reasons. I remember it because of another beloved Batman character to me who played a major role Stephanie Brown, aka the Spoiler and for a short time also the fourth Robin among other designations. (She was however not the first young lady Robin if one includes The Dark Knight Returns which is outside main continuity.) Fair warning the treatment of Stephanie, in War Games is the reason that I took a break from reading DC comics for a long time. It would be almost four years before DC returned to Stephanie’s character retconning (Robin #174, July 2008). The comic also repeatedly invokes Jason Todd the second Robin whose memory looms from the start in the prologue War Drums collected in the first volume. So, it wouldn’t hurt to read A Death in the Family or at least acquaint oneself with the history of that story which played out 16 years before this one as well. There are further other issues of Batman comics around the selections in this collection which one might also wish to read since they give some more context or deal with the consequences. (Robin #122-124, Batgirl #54, Nightwing #93 [cw non-con, go back further to get the full picture of Roland Desmond/Blockbuster] 99, 100, Robin/Batgirl Fresh Blood, Under the Hood… I could go on it depends on personal preferences too.)
Marking the 15th anniversary of War Games in 2019 I’m surprised in fact at how much the comic still has such an effect. It’s been a long time with many, many people creating countless more titles at DC Comics. Including stories featuring Stephanie Brown and the executive editor finally acknowledging how she connected to a portion of the fanbase and Bat-family in 2009. Yet, I remember most clearly the earlier Stephanie perhaps by virtue being a teenager back then too. As a young adult War Games seared into me a visual of a brand that was less than positive. There are all kinds of stories, and what they offer to people as diverse as humanity itself. The ugly, tragedies and heartbreaks are important too for many reasons. But still, today I have to wonder when I pick up a comic and seem to find the same over and over, as time marches on what about this common story has changed and what is its legacy?
Marking the 15th anniversary of War Games in 2019 I’m surprised in fact at how much the comic still has such an effect. It’s been a long time with many, many people creating countless more titles at DC Comics. Including stories featuring Stephanie Brown and the executive editor finally acknowledging how she connected to a portion of the fanbase and Bat-family in 2009. Yet, I remember most clearly the earlier Stephanie perhaps by virtue being a teenager back then too. As a young adult War Games seared into me a visual of a brand that was less than positive. There are all kinds of stories, and what they offer to people as diverse as humanity itself. The ugly, tragedies and heartbreaks are important too for many reasons. But still, today I have to wonder when I pick up a comic and seem to find the same over and over, as time marches on what about this common story has changed and what is its legacy?