Bat-Hound Week; Day 5: Bat-Hound R.I.P.

Welcome to the Latest installment in Bat-Hound week! Later tonight I'll post my thoughts on Batman Vol 2 37 and Batman and Robin Vol 2 #37, but for now we'll look at our four footed detective's amnesia adventure in: Batman #131 by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff. Did anyone else notice they do every Bat-Hound story? That's pretty rad.

Wait wha? THEIR SON?!?!?!?! Oh god no. *retches* Someone get me some acid tear drops to burn my eyes out.

...That cover is probably the most disgusting thing a comic has ever thrown at me. There's a reason Bruce and Kathy never, um, tied the knot. They're Cousins. Yeah, I don't think I wanna talk about that. I don't... then that kid is... never mind. Too PG for this blog. Onto less disgusting matters:

Like Bat-Hound

Yeeeeeeeah don't get too excited over there. This isn't even the first time Bat-Hound has "betrayed" them. If you're expecting some epic battle between our four footed crime-fighter and the dynamic duo, there isn't one. Just letting you know ahead of time.

Well Narrator, how did this come to be? How about some of that lovely exposition:

"They're calling for cars, Robin! We better pursue them on foot!"

"What would even be the point in tha-"

"Don't question me, Robin."

"Yes Boss"

So "Soon after", which is actually like two hours, getting a call Batman and Robin jog at least a mile to nearest train house following Bat-Hound who was looking for a scent of a criminal... that he had never smelled before. For all they know he could be out on the prowl for some day old chicken he smelled.

So everything is going per routine, until tragedy strikes. Words cannot speak for the evil that happens. You need to prepare yourself for this. Ready? Get ready for an emotional trip:

Why. Wasn't the barrel of oil enough? What is with these criminals and hurting dogs!? They're innocent. And... And... This is Bat-Hound Week! Ace can't... die... on bat-hou... week...


I need a minute... Excuse me.

Hopefully those pictures lasted through the music

Th-That's not right. I mean he's a dog... It's not right. This shouldn't happen to dogs! I... I miss Ace. He saved Gotham so many times, and not to mention Batman and Robin! And now he's... Gone.

And now I have feelings of ANGER. Batman, Robin, AVENGE ACE.

If you kill dogs, you deserve every ounce of Robin's Seething Hatred:

Finish the scum off, Dark Detective:

Oh how I wish Batman had a Penance Stare like Ghost Rider. Oh yeah, he does:

The Bat-Glare

Kneeling at their fallen comrade, they pay their respects... I can't take anymore today, so we stop here; with our heroes mourning. What a dark post today. I declare Batman issue 131: Bat-Hound R.I.P.

Good night, Ace...

Well, my ride's here:

See you tomorrow for Bat-Hound Week; Day 6: The Return of Ace Wayne. Hint Hint.

Bat-Hound Week; Day 4: Bat-Hound and Bat-Mite!

Hello, and welcome to Bat-Hound Week; Day 4: Bat-Hound and Bat-Mite. Today, we'll look at Batman #133 by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff.

"Just give me superpowers later and we'll call it even."

Before we start, I'll let you guys know that the other 2 stories this issue will probably be the issue I'll review after Bat-Hound Week.

Let's Begin:

I don't know about you, but I haven't exactly read Bat-Mite's debut. It's probably not to hard to guess what happened though. (This issue does give a flashback)

So there's the intro, but what about Bat-Hound? He is the reason we're all here. So i'll just have to skip to the part where our Four Footed Detective comes in.

"Lucky thing I was in the cave when you came"

So Bat-Mite decides he would like it to seem like Batwoman solved a crime on her own, so he enlists Ace's help to do so. They find the crooks' hideout, but right when Batmite is about to phone Batwoman the whereabouts, she arrives with Batman and Robin.

"I want there to be some action without them knowing it's me! I better make everything giant so they won't guess who could help!"

So that's why they hate him. What a jerk.

After a giant prop fight, the crooks begin to get away when Bat-Hound steps in, revealing that they were shrunken, not that other things were made big:

"Prepare for Judgement"

But then mini Batman intervenes and epically mounts Bat-Hound and declareth:

"And after that is done..." No narrator, show us them growing back to size! That's just lazy story telling.

So when they are returned to normal size, Bat-Mite leaves and the issue ties up.

Which is where our tale ends. So that's that, Batman #133. Not really a Bat-Hound centered issue, but he saves the day in the end.

Well, my ride's here:

See you tomorrow on Bat-Hound Week; Day 5!

Bat-Hound Week Day 3: Whitey The Thief-Dog!

Welcome to Bat-Hound Week! This is Day 3, in which we look at the Return of Ace The Bat-Hound in Batman #97 by Sheldon Moldoff and Bill Finger.

Who knew Batman and Robin made meth in their spare time? Ace did, and is willing to blackmail them.

But I affectionately nick named this issue:

The Dark Dog Returns

It's the closest I could find to the cover of  DKR #1 with Bat-Hound.

Because i'm going to make annoying and unnecessary DKR references. And because the story is actually called The Return Of Bat-Hound. This stuff writes itself.

Let's begin:

Bat-Hound always gets the best art. I swear. You'll see, it get's even better later.

So Narrator, where are we today? Ah yes, the Gotham Phonogragh Record and Needle CO, during a robbery. Over at Comics Make no Sense Adam was just talking about how sometimes comics date their media. Having a phonograph company in your comic would be a good example of that.

Little does Millen know, it's all actually an act and Whitey is their leader. Would you honestly expect anything else from Gotham?

And thus, we are shown the awesome power of Thief-Dog!

"LAD-DE-DEEE-DEE"

So during this robbery, Millen attempts to foil it on purpose, but this was part of Whitey's plan most likely. Look at him and tell me he's not a villain:

Anyways once out heroes arrive, our villains have already gone! But they make a startling discovery: Paw Prints!

So guessing deducing that the crooks used a dog (when in actuality the dog used some crooks), Batman makes a tough call:

That Ace must come out of retirement!

And thus...

The Dark Dog Returns

"You know it in your soul, for I am your soul... You cannot escape me"

"You cannot stop me, not with wine or vows or the weight of age — you cannot stop me, but still you try. Still you run. You try to drown me out... But your voice is weak."

"The time has come."

I'm sorry, I can't help myself. So anyways Ace joins the search for the Mutant Leader Dog-Thief.

Following a lead they uncover that the mastermind Criminal Canine is none other than Whitey, the prize dog of all competitions. Suddenly our heroes are called to headquarters, where they learn the true danger of Thief-Dog's antics

The possibility of a Dog Crime Racket, which would destroy Gotham!

Batman shares what he has with Gordon, and they soon learn the whereabouts of Thief-Dog. Next they give Bat-Hound a little upgrade, and sett him lose to find Whitey!

Upon discovering Thief-Dog's hideout, Bat-Hound lets them know that he found it. Next he peers through window to learn the crooks plans, but Whitey is aware of his presence!

And what did I say?

Bat-Hound always gets the best art.

So Bat-Hound purposely makes his presence known, and then flees into the night with info of the hideout's location. Nay, he is the night.

Just look at his Smugness:

"lol missed me"

So by the time our heroes arrive, Thief-Dog and the gang have already abandoned the bas and are on the way to the Diamond Mint. Batman, Robin and Bat-Hound all pile into the Batmobile and race towards the mint...

And actually beat them there. Everything always goes better with Ace on the Case. They decide to take the criminals by surprise when they do arrive, so they have the upper-hand.

So after about 10 minutes or o, the thieves arrive as well and set Thief-Dog to business.

Totally missed an opportunity to do an environmental takedown like in Arkham City.

And thus, they hear out Millen, who explains everything from  his point of view, whilst Whitey acts innocent. Than Batman concocts a plan to prove whether or not the story is true:

Which ties up our issue.

One more DKR reference:

"We could have changed the world…now…look at us…I've become a hound…and…you…you're a joke."

"I want you to remember, Whitey…in all the years to come…in your most private moments…I want you to remember…my paw…at your throat…I want…you to remember…"

"The one mutt who beat you."

So that's that. Batman #97. Join me tomorrow for Bat-Hound Week; Day 4: Bat-Hound and Bat-Mite!

Now time for an Awesome-Ace montage:

Well, my ride's here:

See you tomorrow on Bat-Hound Week; Day 4!