Town Tamer
Credits: Chuck Dixon (writer), Graham Nolan (penciler), Eduardo Barreto (inker), John Costanza (letterer), Adrienne Roy (colorist)
Summary: The Trigger Twins hijack the Gotham subway system’s “money train.” They’re pursued by Batman, who’s riding his new subway car nearby. After Batman subdues the twins, their boss, Dirty Dan, is apprehended by police. Meanwhile, Hollywood producer Calvin Berkowitz meets with the Joker.
I Love the ‘90s: There’s no reference to the movie Money Train in this issue, for good reason. This comic predates the movie by over a year.
Review: The creators seem to be having fun with this modern day train robbery story, and the classic western vibe they’re trying to evoke is helped a lot by Eduardo Barreto’s inks. If you’re not interested in the minutia of old pistols or subway systems, however, the story feels a bit thin. It does seem as if Dixon is trying to humanize Jean-Paul a bit, as he reveals for the first time that he’s pushed Robin away for his own safety, and he even cracks a few small jokes during his fight with the Trigger Twins, but he remains a dull protagonist. Writing Jean-Paul does put the creators in an odd position; he’s supposed to be on some level a parody, but the writers are stuck using him as the central character in every issue they’re writing for several months. If played as a joke, that gets old fast, and played too straight, he’s just too one-note to carry a story.
I really need to read this issue at some point, because I can't wrap my head around the idea of a Bat Subway Car. I mean, it isn't beholden to to existing tracks?
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