Episode 95 - Spotlight On... Greg Rucka

The final episode of The Overlooked Dark Knight...for 2025, at any rate.

This time out Andy and Mike finish up their two part look at Batman in the early 2000's by shining the Bat Signal on Greg Rucka. Rucka began writing Batman in the late 90s during No Man's Land and then had a several year run on Detective Comics. The guys talk about how they were introduced to Rucka as a writer and gush about his novelization of No Man's Land, which is Mike's preferred way to experience that story.

Instead of looking at three issues of his Detective run (like they did in the Brubaker spotlight) Mike chose two mini-series that spotlight Rucka as a writer. First up is Batman/Huntress: Cry For Blood has Batman in it, but he is a minor player in what feels like a backdoor pilot for an ongoing Huntress series. Helena Bertinelli has been framed for murders she didn't commit and that leads down a path that reveals family secrets, explores her origins, and pairs her with The Question.  The guys talk about Rucka's obvious love for Vic Sage, his talent for writing women, and Mike gives a quick history lesson on this version of The Huntress.

Then the guys discuss Batman: Death and the Maidens, which featured the introduction of Nyssa, the other daughter of Ra's Al Ghul. This nine issue series featured artwork by Klaus Janson and boy were Andy and Mike surprised that they liked the art as much as they did. They also discuss their feelings about the Al Ghuls and go into the Batman end of this story, which features him taking a substance that allows him to "talk" to his mother and father. There's also commentary on how this story was part of a larger movement running through DC at the time and how, as good as this story is, its impact has been dulled by future stories that brought Ra's Al Ghul back.

Andy and Mike want your feedback on this episode so they can read it on an upcoming show!  You even have options in how you leave your feedback.  The most direct way is to leave a comment right here on the site.  You can also send all questions, concerns, fears and trepidations to [e-mail].  Then there’s the Facebook page, where you can also leave a Batman related question for Andy and Mike to answer at the beginning of the show.  If you talk about this show on the social medias please include a #overlookeddk so the guys know where to find it.

The opening theme for the show is Superhero Intro by Stringer Bell and taken from the royalty free site Pixma Bay.

Next Time: Andy and Mike kick off the new year with more Ra's Al Ghul fun by looking at Bride of the Demon and Birth of the Demon.