Rated by the viewers of The Dark Knight.

Admittedly, I have not read a lot of Oracle stories. Yes, I have read The Killing Joke, so I have the background of her spinal injury and subsequent paralysis. Well, Born of Hope covers her first experiences after this incident, from her being visited in the hospital by Batman, her release from hospital, and the development of her identity as Oracle.

Born of Hope is, in my mind, the best short story contained in The Batman Chronicles yet. A huge punch was packed into those eighteen pages. It shows her feelings of helplessness when faced by a new challenge in life, her discovery of the online world, and her first post-Batgirl scrape with a fugitive, which nearly ended her reborn self. This incredible story then covers her tracking of this fugitive, finally proving to herself that she does still belong in the business.

The artwork was quite good, with a very angular style when showing Batman and other characters in the shadows. Much better than other such attempts recently. And the storyline was top-notch - this is one story you don't want to miss!

Decoys is a Jim Gordon story, back when he was a lieutenant just recently joined the force (most likely after Year One). Again, a very different artistic style, showing Gordon and his partner trying to transport a mob turncoat from a safehouse to the courthouse. Easier said than done. Obviously, the convoy (reminiscent of Tom Clancy's Patriot Games' transport of the IRA member) gets stopped, and the ending was a complete surprise to me. A good story, although I found that the lettering made reading more difficult. This story made me yearn for the upcoming Batman: GCPD miniseries.

Of Mice and Men is a story about Alfred and a pre-life-changing-incident Bruce Wayne. I haven't seen the movie of the same name, but if it's half as good as this story, I'd rent it without a second thought. Alfred has submitted his resignation, revealing that while his deathbed promise to his father to take the position with the Waynes was kept, he disliked being forced into anything. Young Bruce then returns from school, sporting the results of a fight. He gets sent to his room, and Alfred defies Thomas Wayne and brings the youth some supper. Alfred explains the importance of brain over brawn, and inspires Bruce to deal with the school bully. Bruce succeeds (perhaps laying the foundations for his detective future), and Alfred befriends him by taking the fall for a careless mistake. This bonds youth and servant in a friendship that lasts a lifetime.

Wow. Two excellent stories (and a good one to make three) in one comic. In my mind, this was the best issue of The Batman Chronicles yet. Read it. Cherish it.

Reviewed by: Patrick Furlong

This file was last modified on December 31, 1999

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