Batman and Catwoman are the only two humans on Earth not under the Mind control of Poison Ivy. They are confined to Wayne Manor, and Poison Ivy has sent the Justice League to keep them there.
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BATMAN # 42
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mikel Jann
Inker: Unlisted
Colorist: June Chung
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Mikel Jann
Variant Cover: Oliver Coipel & Dave Stewart
Editors: James S Rich, Assoc. Editor: Brittany Holzherr
Publisher: DC Comics
What You Need to Know:
Having prepared for this eventuality, Bruce has handy a serum to counteract Ivy’s Pheromones that took control of the entire Human Population of the Planet. It seems the Meta Humans and the Aliens as well. He was swift enough to inoculate Selina as well. So these two are the only ones free of Pamela Isley’s Mind control.
Superman is dispatched to cover the whereabouts of Batman and Catwoman, and they are confined by Ivy to the Wayne Manor. By the way she knows who Batman is now. So does everyone connected to her, but it seems like they have no memories or recollection, all they do is channel her like a Radio station.
What You’ll Find Out:
Not content to starve to death in Wayne Manor Batman and Catwoman take the Batmobile for a spin to get a burger at Bat Burger. All the while Catwoman makes sarcastic wise cracks about how Ivy can marry them, and how Ivy can giver her away, and all they would have to invite is Ivy. Her humor is on point, and it’s pretty funny. Not too content to be followed by Superman Selina hells at him from inside the Batmobile, but it does no good.
Bat Burger is a Batman themed Fast Food restaurant. Batman and Catwoman fit right in with the décor.
After lunch and some more snide commentary from Catwoman, Batman has a lead on a solution to Ivy’s mind control. But first they have to deal with Superman. Batman tells Selina “Clark knows when to listen, and when not to Listen.” It’s clear now that Pamela Isley is controlling the people as puppets, and not in total control of their abilities or potential.
What Just Happened?
Catwoman and Batman have just knocked Superman out of the sky with a whistle! They plan their next moves very carefully as Selina barely has time to react to an attack by three of the Flashes. She handles all three by herself.
Batman enters the house and discovers that Ivy has removed Johnny Suntres from his home. Batman knows the source of Ivy’s power now. Ivy ever caviler tells him “I have Two Green Lanterns and Wonder Woman coming for you.”
Fade to Batman and Catwoman hanging upside down by ropes on the side of a building. Batman explains that the Lettuce, the Tomato and the onions on the burger that he just ate must be killing Ivy. He knows that Johnny Suntres was removed by Ivy because he could not eat greens due to his severe allergy. Batman deduces that the food everyone eats is causing the mind control.
He continues to Goad Ivy via Superman, and see just how far they will push it, as Ivy rears back for a Haymaker with Superman that nearly kills Bruce!
Well Ivy speaks to Catwoman and tells her that Bruce was nearly dead, but she brought him back via Magic, science and Surgery. Catwoman is relieved, but Ivy only toys with her.
Bruce awakes in a hospital, conscious of all the things that have happened. He states to an unseen Doctor that this has always been his plan. To goad Superman or Ivy in this case to hit him so hard that he required the aid of someone who could help. He is put straight into the arms of Dr. Harleen Quinzelle or Harley Quinn.
Rating: 9 / 10
Final Thought:
Brilliant master stroke on Batman’s part or dumb luck. Only the next issue will tell us. I had to love the confidence of Batman to end up in his situation at the end of the book, but even more than that I loved the running colorful commentary from Catwoman, and how awesome was it to see her quickly take out the Flashes?. This was a delightfully fun book, and I look forward to seeing what plays out. The art is superb, and it’s great to see the DCU including Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz in their capers. This arc, though just started, is a great story to pick up, and if I may suggest becoming a monthly reader, by adding this to your pull lists. The Tom King Batman from Rebirth on is some of the most fun you can have reading a Batman story!
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