Batman #224
Date:
August 1970
Publisher:
DC Comics
Cover Price:
15¢
2013 Price Range:
$6 – $80
Stats:
24 color pages plus ads and “Letters to the Batcave”
Writer:
Denny O’Neil
Artists:
Irv Novick and Dick Giordano
Notable Notes:
Batman travels to New Orleans to avenge a Jazz man’s death!
Time for Some Classic Batman!
I’ve been wanting to read some classic Batman stories lately. After doing a little bit of research I decided that I could financially delve into some of the popular Denny O’Neil stories from the early 1970s. Here is my first foray into a character I really enjoy, but haven’t read a lot of – at least in pre-modern comics.
Synopsis:
“Carnival of the Cursed”
: On a rainy New Orleans evening jazz legend “Blind Buddy” is brutally murdered by a gang of thugs. When Batman finds out he decides to attend the funeral incognito – but is quickly discovered when he sheds his disguise to battle some crooks who disrupt the procession. Batman gets his clock cleaned by a freakish man who flees the scene when the crowd jumps in on the Dark Avenger’s side. Later, as our Bat detective does some digging, he discovers a group of criminals being led by a man in a wheelchair, and he decides to keep a close eye on on them. This nearly proves to be his downfall as he is tied to a paddle-wheel and left to die! Oh no! But, using all his bat-wits, he escapes only to discover that wheel-chair man is actually the freakish man from the funeral fight! The two duke it out again, but Batman prevails this time as he learns the criminals were after a treasure map on Blind Buddy’s trumpet.
How I Rate This Issue:
-
Story:
– The story was good, but a little bit far-fetched and too contrived. It was interesting seeing Batman out of his usual setting in New Orleans, though.
-
Art:
– Very cool, with some excellent details incorporated into the panels! Probably my favorite part of the book.
-
Fun Factor:
– The unusual setting, great art and pure “Batman-ness” of this issue made it fun to read!
Where To Get Your Own Copy:
