Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet

By Bruce Canwell and Lee Weeks
I've been going through a Batman phase lately, grabbing DVDs of cartoons, purchasing rare collectibles and reading lots of material as well. There's such a wealth of Batman material that it's easy to miss out on something very special which is exactly what we have here in the Gauntlet.

The plot of the Gauntlet is relatively simple; a young Dick Grayson has been training secretly under Batman's tutelage but before he can join the dark knight as his partner, he must undergo a test of skill. Alfred deposits Robin (in costume) in a random Gotham City location and it is Robin's task to avoid Batman until sunrise. Since Batman knows the city inside and out this is no easy task, but the cocksure boy wonder feels he is up to the task. Unfortunately, he stumbles upon a mob killing and gets involved in a caper that soon sets the entire criminal underworld after him.

Boston native Bruce Canwell may seem like a strange name to some but for fans of Terry and the Pirates and other comic strips he is a legend for his editorial essays on the medium (as associate editor and lead writer for IDW Publishing's Library of American Comics he has played an important role in the re-issues of several classic comic strip releases). A deft hand at plotting and action lends a higher than usual quality to this yarn that makes it feel timeless and classic all at once. A newcomer of sorts to the world of Batman, Canwell eases himself into the Bat Cave with ease, making all of the familiar trapping work splendidly without feeling contrived or post-modern as they often do.

I am a big fan of Lee Weeks, one of the finest of the modern comic book artists who has graced the Punisher, Daredevil, the Incredible Hulk and the astounding Cap Lives! with his line work. His skill at page layout and character design is fantastic and his cartooning ability is so amazing that one would think he was far older than he actually is (go seek out his work noted below).

Batman has been trying to bring down local crimeboss Joe Minett, but cannot connect him directly to any of his several criminal activities. When a GPD policeman is exposed as an undercover spy in their midst, Robin stumbles upon the gang's attempt to silence him. Too late to save the cop's life, he does manage to pick up a vital piece of evidence intended for Jim Gordan, a pack of erotic playing cards. Unknown to Robin, a hidden microdot has been secreted into the deck with enough information to put Minett away for a long time. Thinking little of it, Robin continues to evade Batman, leaving a trail of brilliant clues behind him in a playful game of cat and mouse. As Robin becomes the target of the mob, Batman is both frustrated and in awe at his protege's ability to avoid his hunt. But the game becomes a brutal crossfire of death as dawn approaches and Robin discovers that this is no game at all but a gauntlet of survival.

A rare gem of Batman lore, the Gauntlet is a clever tale with plenty of moments of brilliance showing off Batman's keen detective skills and of course a healthy dose of crime noir-style drama with real dyed in the wool gangster-types. It also shows off the character of the classic Robin as an intelligent crime fighter with his joyful take on crime-fighting juxtaposing the grim Batman's attitude toward his never-ending war.

Make sure to bookmark Canwell's blog as well as he is an authority on the comics scene and has many insightful posts on classic material.

Batman: The Gauntlet

Daredevil: The Fall of the Kingpin

Captain America, Vol. 4: Cap Lives

Secret Invasion: Captain Marvel