“Yesterday’s” Comic> Batman & Robin Adventures #23

“Hey, watch it with those flower pots!”

The Batman And Robin Adventures #23

DC Comics (October, 1997)

“Crocodile Tears”

WRITER: Ty Templeton

PENCILER: Bo Hampton

INKER: Terry Beatty

COLORIST: Lee Loughridge

LETTERER: Tim Harkins

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Darren Vincenzo

EDITOR: Scott Peterson

Summer Gleeson does a scathing report on Batman and Robin after a fight with Killer Croc goes awry thanks to a cop who doesn’t like superheroes and didn’t get the memo that Croc is bulletproof. Because of the nice things Summer says about him, Croc decides to romance her and even injures her boyfriend. He plans to steal a priceless painting, but the Dynamic Duo arrive to stop him. Summer hears of this and goes to the museum to get footage, where she soon sees that he’s not called Killer Croc for nothing and calls him an animal when he tries to beat Batman to death. Losing who he thought to be his only supporter, Croc just gives up.

What they got right: The art was pretty good and you’d feel bad for Croc if he wasn’t Croc. Whatever love he may want, he’s still the monster he appears to be and that shows through. Sometimes beauty isn’t even skin deep.

What they got wrong: Summer doesn’t come off to well here. She trashed Batman and Robin because they’re low in the numbers, not because she doesn’t like them (like that cop, who was even ungrateful that Batman saved his sorry butt) but because she wants to play the audience. Not a good way for a reporter to act. I also wanted to punch that cop in the face, and I’m a huge supporter of the police. It’s also odd to see Croc give away his intended crime. That’s usually the Riddler or Joker’s MO.

Recommendation: A pretty good but not great Batman and Robin story. Still worth a look.