This week, one of the defining writers of DC Comics in the 80s and early 90s will turn 75 years old. John Ostrander has a storied career over more than 40 years. He created an indy hit with his creator owned mercenary, Grimjack, and wrote some of the best received Star Wars comics ever. His work at DC includes The Suicide Squad, the Spectre, Martian Manhunter, Hawkworld, Manhunter and The Kents. But if you have that length and breadth of a career, you’re going to wind up writing some Batman. So this week, we’re reading three Ostrander stories featuring Batman or his rogues. We discuss the value of melodrama in the life of a supervillain. learn some facts about Penguin’s favorite fictional character and read one story that probably shouldn’t have been included in an episode meant to celebrate a writer, since even the best sometimes miss.
And here is the link to Kevin Conroy reading the dialogue from a scene in The Dark Knight, as promised.
- Deadshot V.1 #1-4
- Batman: Penguin Triumphant
- Grotesk (Batman V.1 #659-652)
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Matt Lazorwitz read his first comic at the age of five. It was Who's Who in the DC Universe #2, featuring characters whose names begin with B, which explains so much about his Batman obsession. He writes about comics he loves, and co-hosts the creator interview podcast WMQ&A with Dan Grote.
Will Nevin loves bourbon and AP style and gets paid to teach one of those things. He is on Twitter far too often.
