POBB December 14, 2025

Pick of the Brown Bag

December 14, 2025

by

Ray Tate

Created by Tiziano Sclavi, Dylan Dog is an occult investigator with his own long-running comic book series originating in Italy.  This figure may ring a bell to the English speakers of the world and not just Europeans.

Legends of Tomorrow's Brandon Routh starred as Dylan in a feature film that didn't gain a lot of traction, to be kind. 

Italian director and frequent Dario Argento collaborator Michele Soavi indebted his 1994 critically-acclaimed dark fantasy movie Cemetery Man to Dylan Dog.  

With those works in mind, it's safe to say that Dylan Dog has been hanging around in the pop culture consciousness.  You may have seen Dylan somewhere before without knowing who he was.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that he teamed up with Batman: ISBN: 978-1-77952-948-0. 

The story begins when the Joker receives a letter from an old acquaintance, Dylan Dog's arch-nemesis Dr. Xabaras.  

Writer Roberto Recchioni takes the opportunity to tie the villains together with a smart updating to the Joker's history.

The inclusion of a doctor in the house of the Joker hasn't been done since Tim Burton's Batman.  So, it's a relatively fresh revisit.

After reading the letter, the Joker departs Gotham for London and leaves Batman a parting gift.

The Joker's victimization of this unfortunate justifies Batman beating the Joker senseless in later panels.  In fact you can imagine Batman compartmentalizing his anger.  Letting it stew and waiting for the perfect moment to serve.

The prologue does a lot with very few pages.  It establishes Recchioni's and artists Werther Dell'Edera's and Gigi Cavenago's take on Batman.  It creates the relationship between the Joker and Dr. Xabaras.

In the next scene, the evil doctor returns to face Dylan Dog and his assistant Groucho, a dead ringer for his namesake.

Don't be alarmed by the colors.  These are out of context.  Within frame of reference, they work well to contrast the earthen zombie tones and the hot hues of conflagration.

Batman interrogates his various squealers and follows the Joker.  He makes contact with Dylan.  Dylan was the last to see Xabaras alive.  As coincidence would have it another familiar Gothamite made contact with Dylan before Bruce arrived.

It was huge shock to see Selina Kyle in this book.  In fact, a number of DC Comics characters step onto stage.  Some of which I'll not spoil until you've been amply warned.  

Selina belongs in the Batman universe.  Her appearance though a delightful surprise isn't unwarranted.  Other guest-stars in Batman/Dylan Dog are at best tangential to Batman mythology.

Tipped off by Bruce Wayne's appearance, Dylan Dog searches for Xabaras at his last known hideout and encounters Killer Croc, whom the Joker hired as his muscle.  Fortunately for Dylan if Selina Kyle is in London, Catwoman cannot be far behind.  

Recchioni's, Dell'Edera's and Cavenago's Catwoman is perfect.  Her reasons for doing everything fit her personality.  Why she's in London?  Why she interferes in Dylan's untimely demise?  How she can wrangle Killer Croc with just a whip and pluck.  

Catwoman's interference should secure Dylan Dog's continued existence.  Should.  

In addition to providing Killer Croc with steady employment, the Joker surfaces another threat for the Nightmare Investigator.  

This peril comes in the form of another merger between DC and Sergio Bonnelli Comics, publisher of Dylan Dog.  The meld produces unique undead creatures that soon overwhelm Dylan and Groucho.  Fortunately, not his Dark Detective co-star.

Now it's official the team-up between Batman and Dylan Dog.

Or not.  Batman doesn't warm up to Dylan immediately.  Their methods strongly differ.  In fact Dylan Dog shares more with Dirk Gently.

Meanwhile, the catalyst of the uneasy partnership finds herself in dire straits.  

I could rattle on about the animosity between Catwoman and the Joker.  Suffice to say it's 1940s long.  Recchioni may or may not know about the Catwoman/Joker antagonism, but he really nails the zeitgeist.

Catwoman escapes all on her own.  Yay!  She quickly finds Batman, who drops the pretense and invites Dylan Dog on his quest to take down the Joker.

This moment also begins the fish out of water humor threading the plot of the book.  Batman is a very funny character.  He just doesn't tell jokes.  Dylan is ostensibly an ordinary guy, and his reactions to Batman's ways are a riot.

Batman takes the poisoned Catwoman back to his London headquarters.  There we get to enjoy Batman's characterization as a detective and scientist.

Batman and Dylan Dog investigate another of Dr. Xabaras' lair, and they find instead a Jokerized Groucho leading a lurch of zombies.  

Once they overcome the Joker's undead troops, Batman takes advantage of the resources given to him to find a means to cure Catwoman and Groucho.  

Okay.  Okay.  Spoiler Ahoy.  Maybe you thought Recchioni would kill anti-hero and sidekick.  I mean technically.  None of this is canonical.  At best it occurs on one of DC's many earths where Batman, Catwoman and Dylan Dog cohabit.  

A recovered Groucho reveals the Joker's plans go beyond meeting up with Dr. Xabaras. 

The Joker intends to resurrect another of Dylan Dog's rogue's gallery.  I'll not reveal the identity in case some better versed in Dylan Dog are reading.  The name will mean nothing to the Batman community.

One of the reasons why I choose to buy these out of left field team-ups is that Batman is usually broken down into the facts the whole world knows.  I don't need to follow an ongoing Batman book that I may not like.  As expected, Rechionni streamlines Batman beautifully.

For example, he's wealthy millionaire Bruce Wayne.  Alfred Pennyworth attends to him as wealthy scion of the Wayne Family and as crimefighter Batman.  Selina Kyle alias Catwoman is a known associate.  Batman mentions Robin.  He answers Commissioner Gordon's signal, etc. etc.

Though Recchioni simplifies the continuity that surrounds Batman, he nevertheless presents a complex character to entertain.  He delves into Batman's philosophy, his utter hatred of the Joker, his refusal to kill.  

Someone who hasn't been following Batman's adventures of late as well as a seasoned Batman fan can pick up this book, dig right in and be rewarded for reading.  I furthermore liked Dylan Dog.  He didn't feel gratuitous or a cypher.  Rather integral to the mystery.

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So far, Batman/Dylan Dog has been pulp, science-fiction disguised as horror.  What with the Jokerized zombies.  Now, the book turns a corner and takes the alleyway to the supernatural.  

The first step in Dylan's investigation.  Establish whether or not the Joker actually succeeded in raising the dead from Hell.  

At first, Dylan Dog uses one of his more benign contacts.  A hilarious lady psychic who happens to be in touch with Batman's parents.  On the other hand, maybe she merely suspects Batman's origin story involved the death of his parents.  Fictional psychics can go both ways: really empowered and/or really good detectives.  

When she's unsuccessful, Dylan must consult someone seedier: John Constantine.  One of those tangential Batman mythology characters I referred to.

Again.  Hilarious.  This book is entertaining in so many ways.  The path to Hell incidentally gives a nod to Ghostbusters.  Yes.  I saw what you did there.  Cheeky devils.  

Even John an arch magic user.  I doubt he would refer to himself as a magician, wizard or sorcerer.  Nothing so "wanky" for John, thank you very much.  Anyway.   Although a practitioner of sorcery, John still needs a guide for Hell.

Jason Blood.  Jason was John Constantine before John Constantine.  

Created by Jack Kirby in 1972, Jason Blood and his alter-ego Etrigan made their home in Gotham City, but originally never met Batman.  

It would take Bob Haney and Jim Aparo for that to happen a year later.  Since then.  Creators considered The Demon and Jason associates of Batman.

...Gone, gone of form of man, arise the Demon Etrigan...

Etrigan leads John Constantine and Dylan Dog through Hell.  Along the way, we get to enjoy the Demon's terrifically imagined battle against a demonic minotaur.  

Recchioni imbues the impression that the Demon is helping John and Dylan only for the sport in Hell.  That is a brilliant explanation.  The one thing that ties all the different written versions of the Demon together is challenge.  The Demon likes to fight and seeks usually to kill or destroy his opponent.  Merlin first called forth the Demon to defend Camelot.

Once on the beaten path, Dylan Dog and Constantine discover the worst has come.  See what I did there?  The Joker did indeed bring out the dead, ostensibly for a playmate.  Not sexual.  Just somebody to pal around with while he kills people.  It doesn't go well for the Joker.

In the end, Batman, Dylan Dog, Jason Blood, John Constantine and Dylan Dog cast member Madame Trelkovski must combine forces to bring justice to the unjust world.  

I'm not usually big on hocus hocus.  The eerie elements in Batman/Dylan Dog were reminiscent of the juxtaposition against the real world in Kolchak the Nightstalker and The Sixth Sense, the television show with Gary Collins.  In other words.  Fantastic.

POBB December 2, 2025

Pick of the Brown Bag

December 2, 2025

by

Ray Tate

Welcome to the Pick of the Brown Bag.  I'm Ray Tate.  I review comic books and comic book related material.  I've been doing this awhile.  Since 1993 in fact.  Back when there was a usenet.  I have read a boatload of comic books.  What I don't know in hand, I research.  So this blog is about as informative as you can get.  Some subjects however remain daunting.  Anything involving the X-Men, for example, and Kang.

Pity about Kang because Kang is the antagonist and/or motivator for nearly every issue of Jed MacKay's impressive run of The Avengers.  

I'm embarrassed to say I know very little about this version of Kang.  I was still under the impression that he descended from or actually was Doctor Doom.  

Turns out he's an alternate descendent of Reed Richards.  Or something like that.  If you want more, click the link.  The nice folks at Wikipedia have got you covered.

Fortunately, writer Jed MacKay gleans the basics well enough.  Kang lives to conquer.  He's fond of blue masks.  He despises the Avengers.  It must gall him when earlier seeking their help.

After The Avengers premiere, Captain Marvel meets the injured Kang, and he has this to say.

These Tribulation Events come to pass in following issues.  They're Grant Morrison JLA level kind of threats.  Some just as weird.

The Marvel Universe is normally pretty streamline.  They've got people who want to conquer the earth and/or universe.  Kang for example.  They've got people who want to rob banks.  Paste Pot Pete.  They've got people who just want to kill other people.  Lots.

The Ashen Combine are alien, psychopath artists with bizarre powers that seek to murder cities in imaginative ways.  I can honestly say.  I've never seen the Avengers deal with anything like them.  They probably wouldn't be a walk in the park for the Justice League either.

It's pretty cheeky to throw something like that at the Avengers. Every character in the Marvel Universe received amperage to better reflect the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  The Avengers still pale when compared to the power and guile Grant Morrison imbued to the Justice League.  

That being said.  The Avengers are heroes, and heroes have one thing to say when faced with such overwhelming odds.

The Avengers take care of business.  They save the world.  They capture the Impossible City.  They free it from Ashen Combine enslavement.  They furthermore recruit the city as a teammate.  The city is alive.  Though I'm sure Blade Runner would need another movie to prove it.

Kang makes a deal with the Avengers.  He seeks time and protection to recuperate from battle against an arch-wizard named Myrddin.  In return he'll feed them knowledge about the Tribulation Events.  To broker trust, he gives the Avengers inside information on how to prevent mass casualties blipping in the immediate future.  That's a nice bit of writing.  What can Kang offer the Avengers? Lives.  Brilliant.

As stated, Myrddin is responsible for Kang's sorry state.  MacKay sets up Myrddin as an alternate Merlin.  If you've created a Merlin, why wouldn't you create a King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table?

MacKay obliges.  There's a lot more to these characters than compare and contrast.  Myrddin introduces them as champions.  In other words, the Twilight Court are heroes.  They do not want to harm or kill innocent people.  They serve Myrddin, and they battle the Avengers out of fealty to him.  There's even more about the Twilight Court revealed in the most recent issues of The Avengers.  I'll not spoil it. 

Myrddin is self-admittedly not a hero.  He like Kang is interested in obtaining a macguffin called The Missing Moment.  MacKay just revealed what that whatnot is.  Even though it's nothing to sneeze at, I'm still arguing that it's just a catalyst to motivate Kang.  A good catalyst, but a catalyst nonetheless.

Myrddin tracks Kang down while the Twilight Court battle the Avengers.  He unleashes some more devastation.  

Ouch.  I can't say I feel sorry for Kang, but did he have this coming?  It depends on the Kang.  This one...I'm going with...probably not.

With a massive gap in his memory, Kang tracks down the hard copy of data he compiled on the Missing Moment.   Elder of the Universe The Grandmaster, whom you may know as Jeff Goldblum, possesses the data.  

The Grandmaster locked it up for auction in his old-timey vault, at The Speculatorium of En Dwi Gast.  An intergalactic casino, which he happens to own.

Through a magical contact, the Scarlet Witch learns of the auction, and she hatches a plan.

A heist says you?  This is about as much fun as a superhero can have.  Superheroes behaving badly.  Stealing a whatnot from a cosmic super-being that's a ne'er-do-well at best.  Still thievery.  Something a superhero isn't supposed to engage in.  Naughty, naughty.  

MacKay demonstrates his fine skill for characterization during the discussion.  It's telling that Wanda, one of the founding members of The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and Storm, a child pick-pocket, get the most charge out of this plan.

They're above board now.  Not always so goody-goody in the past.  Yes.  I do know the original X-Men lore.  It's when you go post-Byrne that the fog rolls in.

The art in The Avengers is uniformly excellent.  It doesn't matter if it's C.F. Villa, Valerio Schiti or as in this case Farid Karami and Federico Blee.  The art is just stunning.  What I love about this story's visuals is that because it's a heist, a lot of the team are all smiles.

This is a rare thing in comic books.  Incidentally, Vision and Scarlet Witch have never been chummier, other than when they were a couple.  

The roulette ball is in play.  With the distraction carried out, the other members of the team go to work.

What terrific disguises!  If you haven't yet figured it out.  This tale is an outright comedy, it would have to be because of its guest-star.  Though not guest-Avenger as the cover would have it.

Kang because he is not a thief, recruits the Black Cat as his cutpurse.  Kang cannot use his awesome time-travel technology because it's the Grandmaster's casino. 

Any other casino, he may not have needed the Black Cat, but this one? "What's up, Pussycat?" 

I love the Black Cat.  Specifically Jed MacKay's super fun treatment of the feline.  If you haven't picked up MacKay's Black Cat series and its myriad spin-offs with Mary Jane Watson and/or Iron Man, do so.  You won't be sorry. 

If I hadn't already been reading Avengers, I would have started with this issue.  It has everything I'm looking for.  The Black Cat.  A heist.  Time Travel that makes sense.  Gosh.

The Black Cat has a personal stake in the heist, and that price gives this story its emotional punch.  For Black Cat fans, this is the awwwww moment.

If you're not a Black Cat fan, well, you should be one.  Then you would know what the Black Cat's price for helping Kang and her recruitment means to her.

Some of the Black Cat's crew do not need to be hidden.  For example, there's the muscle, a fan favorite whom you may recognize from Excalibur.

The muscle of course adds to the light heartedness of the caper and her team messes with the Avengers providing further distraction, on the Kang Team front.

Of course because it's Kang, you can expect a double cross.  The Black Cat may be unpredictable, but does have lines she will not cross.

Like many a hero, villain or parasitic alien pair of pants, Kang will regret his boast.  Check for back issues at your friendly, neighborhood comic book shop.  If you prefer the trade paperback look for ISBN: 9781302960766.