Babs and Alfred: Tea and Sympathy. And Crime-Solving

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

Reading Gotham Knights #12 and came across this nice moment between Alfred and Babs. I really liked this story. There's kind of--quite a bit of her processing her shooting, and I think it's well done here.

(From Gotham Knights #12 by Jen Van Meter, Coy Turnbull and John Lowe. 2001.)


Cover by Darwyn Cooke

Context: Babs is having a hard time, trying to solve a case involving wheelchair victims. She's tried all of her usual coping mechanisms: exercise, work, etc. and nothing's helped. So she makes a fairly complicated trip...





I love that Alfred found her a BW handkerchief.




Check out the photos changing...

She figures out the guy's motive, so she sets him up to go after her. She sues her father and Bruce Wayne. For her shooting.



It works and the guy comes after her.


She solves the case and takes down the criminal.

Comments

[filkertom.insanejournal.com]

Nice. Far too many writers use Alfred for snark, when he has great depth.

[nevermore999.insanejournal.com]

This is awesome. <3 Babs.

[perletwo.insanejournal.com]

Alfred always makes everything better, while maintaining the illusion the Bats did it all by themselves. I so love him. <3

[jarodrussell.insanejournal.com]

Damn. :)

Remember when artists who drew Oracle bothered to do basic wheelchair research? That strap around her legs, hooking them to the foot rests, is a real product (http://www.assistireland.ie/eng/Products_Directory/Wheeled_Mobility/Wheelchair_Equipment_-_Manual_Chairs/Wheelchair_Accessories/Universal_Elastic_Strap.html).

Man, the 90's comics...and I say this as someone who read the bulk of those 90's comics in 2004...really had a much greater respect for Oracle disability than the 00's books.

[gailsimone.insanejournal.com]

I am such a fan of Jen Van Meter's. I think she blows away most of the top ten writers...she really is a hidden killer. I'm constantly bugging her to write more stuff!

[ravenous_raven.insanejournal.com]

aw, that's such a cute story. I read it over again and realized that the apples they were peeling eventually went into the pie Alfred sent over! :)

but what's the basis of Babs "suing" Bruce? I mean, we all know he's the Bats, but what does that have to do w/the Joker showing up to shoot her and kidnap Jim?

[bluejaybirdie.insanejournal.com]

This is awesome. Alfred and Babs need to have way more teamups. The art for this is excellent too, I'd love to see Babs (and her chair) drawn like this more often (plus I miss the short hair and comfy clothes look).

Is this traded in anything?

[the_lassiter.insanejournal.com]

Well crafted. Both the writer and artist know the characters. Seems to be a rare trait these days. I would like to see more characters written in such a gingerly way.

[jlbarnett.insanejournal.com]

so what was the attacker's problem?

[jkcarrier.insanejournal.com]

Neat. It kind of reminds me of their relationship on the 1960s tv show -- where Batgirl and Alfred were confidantes, without Batman being aware of it.

[sistermagpie.insanejournal.com]

I love her showing up with her foot straps and soaking wet so much I'd have loved anything she and Alfred did once she got there (no, my mind isn't in the gutter there--I mean, like, watch TV!) but pie baking and crime solving just makes it all the better. I love how Alfred makes everyone think better. He doesn't give them the answers, it's not a joke about how he's really smarter, he's just brilliant and making thinking possible and is a genius sounding board.

[ladydouji.insanejournal.com]

The story is good, one stupid little detail keeps pulling me out of it. Why do they have the bowl for the apple peels on the floor? especially when it's so small, just seems like an invitation for a big mess(that Alfred has to clean up)

[retro_nouveau.insanejournal.com]

Aw, Alfred looks after all the batkids, even after they've flown the belfry. I hope know Alfred had some peppermint for Babs' tea.

Hee hee - That bowl is full of apple peelin's. And the bowl on the chair is still full of apples. Looks like Alfred was making pies for everyone in the batfamily, plus one for each member of Justice League Unlimited. XD

One thing's for sure, I bet that was the best pie this side of Twin Peaks. Uh oh, age is showing, nothing to see here, let's move along...

And now retro has new Babs icon by Darwyn Cooke with ... *snif* ... with CLOCKTOWER *sob*

[cmdr_zoom.insanejournal.com]

He's not in the tags, but as soon as I saw that cover, I knew, I KNEW it was Darwyn Cooke's work.

This comm (well, its predecessor) introduced me to the man's work, and I've yet to not love any of it.

[shadowpsykie.insanejournal.com]

I have said this already, but I move we have an Alfred Pennyworth week.

actually, even better, a Worlds Finest Alfred Pennyworth/Ma Kent week?