Monday, July 21, 2014

Book Review: Batman: Arkham Unhinged vol #2


Book: Batman: Arkham Unhinged volume #2 (issues #6-10) by Derek Fridolfs with various artists and colorists

Source: Library

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The amazing writing and stories continue in this second volume. These fun group of stories feature more of the villains or Arkham inmates' point of view.

In the first issue, Robin (Tim Drake) told Alfred about his undercover mission in Arkham City. He went in dressed as an inmate so he could find out information about a fight club unfortunately he stumbled into one of Penguin's recruitment operations which was pretty much the ultimate fight club.

Tim was able to fight his way out of there but not before meeting Titan. He couldn't believe who came to his rescue which made it easy for him to slip away leaving the fight to continue. Especially with two more heavy hitters entering the fight.


The second issue featured the Gotham City Sirens (Catwoman, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy) or as this story is titled the Arkham City Sirens.

The story opens with Catwoman telling how a couple of years ago, the ladies had hatched a plan to go after this notorious trendy fashion designer who used endangered species and plants in her clothing and beauty lines.

The plan went awry when Batman showed up, Harley and Pamela thought Selina had turned on them, and they were not happy. But the police showed up and arrested Harley, Pamela and the fashion designer but not Selina she got away (thanks to Batman). But that's not the end of the story.

Selina actually did double cross Pamela when Poison Ivy asked her to take care of her plants while she's in Arkham Asylum. And the double crossing continued with Poison Ivy giving Selina another chance to do her a favor. By then Pamela was ready for revenge and brought in Harley to join the party.


The third story focused on Killer Croc and how he got to be one of Gotham's most dangerous villains. He had a sad upbringing with his Aunt abusing and mistreating him to everyone in town tormenting him because of the way he looked. It wasn't until he found his way to a circus was he able to finally be at peace. He finally had friends. However, things changed when the circus was sold and the new owner turned the circus into a freak show.

Thanks to a fire, Killer Croc lost the first friend he ever had which set him on his current path in life. And in Arkham City his domain is the sewers and most know to stay out but it's too late for the unfortunate ones who find there way down there because odds are they won't make it back to the surface.


The fourth story showed the madness of The Mad Hatter (Dr. Jervis Tetch) after having Tweedledee and Tweedledum abduct Vicky Vale as his new Alice along with quite a few other ladies (Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Jenna Duffy "The Carpenter").

Oracle (Barbara Gordon) informs Batman about the surveillance video of what appears to be police officers escorting Vale somewhere. But Batman also found another clue while at Poison Ivy's section of Arkham to who maybe behind Vicky's abduction.


The last story focused on the continuing feud between Penguin and Joker. It opens with Penguin trying find out why his latest plan to kill the Joker didn't work. This one has a very interesting twist to it. And the way it ends has me looking forward to reading the volume #3 (it's going to top of my wish list and this one as well).

I love reading these stories because not only are they a fun read but you get to see more of what's going on inside Arkham City that you can't see in the video game. As with the second volume the artwork is very good.

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