The Nocturna storyline: should it be collected?

**Joe no Sleep** · 11-09-2005, 12:47 PM

This arc from the mid-80's by Doug Moench/Gene Colon/Don Newton,etc. is not in continuity and is "pre-crisis" but a lot of people seem to like it. I'd like to be able to read it in a way that doesn't invove spending a lot of money on back issues.

**outlander78** · 11-10-2005, 04:57 AM

Could you tell me what issues comprise the Nocturna storyline? I'm tempted to search for it - perhaps between ebay, Mile High sales and digging locally it can be assembled.

**Joe no Sleep** · 11-16-2005, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by outlander78

Could you tell me what issues comprise the Nocturna storyline? I'm tempted to search for it - perhaps between ebay, Mile High sales and digging locally it can be assembled.

The trouble with this story was that it was really a rambling subplot that meandered a lot between 1983 and 1986 and ended around the time of Crisis, when Nocturna "died". A very "Harliquin Romance" heavy Batman. Anyway, this is the basic stuff...

Batman:362,376,377,378,379,380,381,382,389,390,391

Detective: 529,530,542,543,544,545,546,547,556,557,558,560

Also, a lot of the Detective Comics issues tended to be little more than "recap" pages of what happened in Batman, iirc, on account of how Dog Moench's purple prose was really thick. 544 is the one where Nocturna reveals that she deduced that Batman is Bruce Wayne.543 has Nocturna suing for custody of Jason Todd and possibly winning it because corrupt mayor Hamilton Hill had a grudge against Wayne not supporting in the election campagin, iirc (again). 556 has a famous "kissing" cover dover by Gene Colan, and 530 is my favorite of them all, a nice all-action story. Batman 389-391 is one big three-way catfight between Bats,Cats, and Nocturna.

**The Shadow** · 11-17-2005, 10:09 AM

Personally I liked the Nocturna stuff... but most people seem to dismiss it as drivel because of all the romance elements that happened between Batman and Nocturna.

Honestly though I wouldn't buy a trade of them... because I own em all. :D

**Babylon23** · 11-17-2005, 05:26 PM

I enjoyed the Nocturna stuff. Moench is one of the better Batman writers, and Don Newton and Gene Colon are excellent artists. I'd buy it if it was collected, but I doubt we'll see a trade of it anytime soon.

**Joe no Sleep** · 11-23-2005, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by The Shadow

Personally I liked the Nocturna stuff... but most people seem to dismiss it as drivel because of all the romance elements that happened between Batman and Nocturna.

Honestly though I wouldn't buy a trade of them... because I own em all. :D

Nocturna is an interesting character stuck in a banal mess. I'd have preferred crisp. smart, bullet-paced dialogue and action scenes than so much head-thunking dialogue about "The Night, the night, ohhhh, the night." :D A kernal of an interesting idea - a love interest that accepts Batman at face value, while he wonders if he's getting carried away with his own hype -entangled in discombobulated soap opera horse$#!+. tsk,tsk.

**The Shadow** · 01-01-2006, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by The Shadow

Honestly though I wouldn't buy a trade of them... because I own em all. :D

I'm not so sure if I own the ALL now... what was Nocturna's FIRST appearance?

Anyone know?

Thanks

**Max_Dillon** · 01-02-2006, 06:59 AM

I wouldn't mind buying a collected edition of this storyline, the first comic book I ever owned was an issue of Detective that featured Nocturna. I can't recall the issue number right now, I'd have to go digging in my boxes for it, but the cover had Bats and Nocturna playing tug of war with Robin's costume. Plus, the issue had a cool Green Arrow back up.

**Gingold** · 01-02-2006, 10:37 AM

Some of the first Batman comics I read were part of the Moench/Colan Nocturna saga. I have a fondness for this storyline too, and I'd love to see it collected.

It might make sense as part of an "80s Batman" Showcase Presents volume, since it's so many issues. Colan's art looks great in black and white too- as seen in the Essential Daredevil and Dracula books.

One of the problems with Batman and Superman is there's so much stuff out there that stories like this that fall "between eras" often slips through the cracks.

**The Shadow** · 01-02-2006, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by Gingold

One of the problems with Batman and Superman is there's so much stuff out there that stories like this that fall "between eras" often slips through the cracks.

Yeah... I agree... and it's too bad because potentially good stories get pushed aside in favor of crap like Hush.

**DMike** · 01-02-2006, 04:25 PM

Has Nocturna "debuted"/rebooted/returned post-Crisis? I haven't seen her since.

**The Shadow** · 01-02-2006, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by DMike

Has Nocturna "debuted"/rebooted/returned post-Crisis? I haven't seen her since.

Nope.

Since Crisis she's never reappeared.

**ChildOfTheDarkholde** · 01-02-2006, 05:49 PM

Wow...Batman by Doug Moench and gene Colan???
Why did I miss that???

Was their Batman run long?
Was it good?

What's the 411 on Nocturna?
What was the plot about?

**Captain Jim** · 01-02-2006, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by The Shadow

Nope.

Since Crisis she's never reappeared.

I don't think that's right. Wasn't she in ROBIN a few years ago? One of the issues by that guy in between Dixon and Willingham (never can remember his name)?

**Captain Jim** · 01-02-2006, 06:19 PM

Make that Jon Lewis and Robin #102-105.

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