The lead feature in Detective Comics #253 is “The Fox, the Shark and the Vulture” by Dave Wood and Sheldon Moldoff. It’s a forgettable story in which three gimmick villains — specializing in land, sea, and air-based tech respectively — prove no more interesting than if they were going solo. Though name-only variation of this Z-list team have cropped up on TV in B:TAS, Beware the Batman and Batman: The Brave and the Bold, proving again that you never know how much potential characters have.Even so, when I read the story recently in the first Batman: The Silver Age Omnibus I was struck by one panel, posted below:
It’s the deadpan message reporting a “criminal wearing vulture-like disguise” as if this were a matter-of-fact occurrence — which in the DCU I imagine is true. After a couple of years on the job in Gotham City, a dude in a “vulture-like disguise” would be as unremarkable as a DUI.
It doesn’t make the story good, but it is an amusing moment.
#SFWApro.
One of the times when they remember what their universe is actually like! So many times you get ‘there’s no such thing as –‘ in a world where ‘–‘ is pretty much a daily occurrence.
Urgh yes. Having Batman, who’s worked with Deadman and the Spectre, say things like “a dead man can’t come back for revenge” is particularly egregious.
I remember that line, and rolling my eyes at it.
Though I also always remember the counterpoint, from the Justice League animated:
Flash:
Let’s see, after I caught the gorilla, he told me that…
Green Lantern:
He talked to you?
Flash:
Yeah, right after I stopped his car.
Green Lantern:
I’m supposed to believe this?
Flash:
Hey, we’ve both got a Martian’s phone number on our speed dial. I think I deserve the benefit of the doubt here.
There’s a scene in Astro City where new superhero Quarrel is wondering why everyone recognizes her: “I found out when I fell back in time six years, stayed in 1976 for a couple of months and left after I founded the Omega Rangers,” Quite unremarkable, that’s what life in Astro City is like.
Spectacular Spider-Man #20:
Traffic cop: “C’mon, Mac — move along! Watcha Starin’ at!”
Random driver, points at Spider-Man: “A-A-At him, officer!”
Traffic cop: “Out-of-towners huh? Well — you get used to seeing this kind of thing after awhile!”