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Batman Post-Crisis #121
Batman/Scarface: A Psychodrama
For years, Scarface has been one of the most brutal mobsters in the Gotham City underworld. But he is a different sort of wiseguy, unique among the criminal community. You see, Scarface is a ventriloquist's dummy--the mannequin mouthpiece of mild-mannered Arnold Wesker. It is believed that Scarface's savagery and disregard for human life is merely a symptom of Wesker's fractured psyche. But what if that outlet were removed from the Ventriloquist's possession? What if the puppet were buried and left to rot? Would the evil truly disappear--or is this just the beginning of a darker, deadlier tale?
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
1 person is currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Alan Grant
1,729 books143 followersAlan Grant was a Scottish comic book writer known for writing Judge Dredd in 2000 AD as well as various Batman titles during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is also the creator of the character Anarky.
Alan Grant first entered the comics industry in 1967 when he became an editor for D.C. Thomson before moving to London from Dundee in 1970 to work for IPC on various romance magazines. After going back to college and having a series of jobs, Grant found himself back in Dundee and living on Social Security. He then met John Wagner, another former D.C. Thompson editor, who was helping put together a new science fiction comic for IPC, 2000 A.D., and was unable to complete his other work. Wagner asked Grant if he could help him write the Tarzan comic he was working on; so began the Wagner/Grant writing partnership.
The pair eventually co-wrote Judge Dredd. They would work on other popular strips for the comic, including Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog using the pseudonym T.B. Grover. Grant also worked on other people's stories, changing and adding dialogue, most notably Harry Twenty on the High Rock, written by Gerry Finley-Day. Judge Dredd would be Grant's main concern for much of the 1980s. Grant and Wagner had developed the strip into the most popular in 2000AD as well as creating lengthy epic storylines such as The Apocalypse War. Grant also wrote for other IPC comics such as the revamped Eagle.
By the late 1980s, Grant and Wagner were about to move into the American comic market. Their first title was a 12-issue miniseries called Outcasts for DC Comics. Although it wasn't a success, it paved the way for the pair to write Batman stories in Detective Comics from issue 583, largely with Norm Breyfogle on art duties across the various Batman titles Grant moved to. After a dozen issues, Wagner left Grant as sole writer. Grant was one of the main Batman writers until the late 1990s. The pair also created a four issue series for Epic Comics called The Last American. This series, as well as the Chopper storyline in Judge Dredd, is blamed for the breakup of the Wagner/Grant partnership. The pair split strips, with Wagner keeping Judge Dredd and Grant keeping Strontium Dog and Judge Anderson. Grant and Wagner continue to work together on special projects such as the Batman/Judge Dredd crossover Judgement on Gotham. During the late 1980s, Grant experienced a philosophical transformation and declared himself an anarchist. The creation of the supervillain Anarky was initially intended as a vehicle for exploring his political opinions through the comic medium. In the following years, he would continue to utilize the character in a similar fashion as his philosophy evolved.
Grant's projects at the start of the 90s included writing Detective Comics and Strontium Dog, but two projects in particular are especially notable. The first is The Bogie Man, a series co-written by Wagner which was the pair's first venture into independent publishing. The second is Lobo, a character created by Keith Giffen as a supporting character in The Omega Men. Lobo gained his own four issue mini series in 1990 which was drawn by Simon Bisley. This was a parody of the 'dark, gritty' comics of the time and proved hugely popular. After several other miniseries (all written by Grant, sometimes with Giffen as co-writer), Lobo received his own ongoing series. Grant was also writing L.E.G.I.O.N. (a Legion of Super-Heroes spin-off) and The Demon (a revival of Jack Kirby's charac
Alan Grant first entered the comics industry in 1967 when he became an editor for D.C. Thomson before moving to London from Dundee in 1970 to work for IPC on various romance magazines. After going back to college and having a series of jobs, Grant found himself back in Dundee and living on Social Security. He then met John Wagner, another former D.C. Thompson editor, who was helping put together a new science fiction comic for IPC, 2000 A.D., and was unable to complete his other work. Wagner asked Grant if he could help him write the Tarzan comic he was working on; so began the Wagner/Grant writing partnership.
The pair eventually co-wrote Judge Dredd. They would work on other popular strips for the comic, including Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog using the pseudonym T.B. Grover. Grant also worked on other people's stories, changing and adding dialogue, most notably Harry Twenty on the High Rock, written by Gerry Finley-Day. Judge Dredd would be Grant's main concern for much of the 1980s. Grant and Wagner had developed the strip into the most popular in 2000AD as well as creating lengthy epic storylines such as The Apocalypse War. Grant also wrote for other IPC comics such as the revamped Eagle.
By the late 1980s, Grant and Wagner were about to move into the American comic market. Their first title was a 12-issue miniseries called Outcasts for DC Comics. Although it wasn't a success, it paved the way for the pair to write Batman stories in Detective Comics from issue 583, largely with Norm Breyfogle on art duties across the various Batman titles Grant moved to. After a dozen issues, Wagner left Grant as sole writer. Grant was one of the main Batman writers until the late 1990s. The pair also created a four issue series for Epic Comics called The Last American. This series, as well as the Chopper storyline in Judge Dredd, is blamed for the breakup of the Wagner/Grant partnership. The pair split strips, with Wagner keeping Judge Dredd and Grant keeping Strontium Dog and Judge Anderson. Grant and Wagner continue to work together on special projects such as the Batman/Judge Dredd crossover Judgement on Gotham. During the late 1980s, Grant experienced a philosophical transformation and declared himself an anarchist. The creation of the supervillain Anarky was initially intended as a vehicle for exploring his political opinions through the comic medium. In the following years, he would continue to utilize the character in a similar fashion as his philosophy evolved.
Grant's projects at the start of the 90s included writing Detective Comics and Strontium Dog, but two projects in particular are especially notable. The first is The Bogie Man, a series co-written by Wagner which was the pair's first venture into independent publishing. The second is Lobo, a character created by Keith Giffen as a supporting character in The Omega Men. Lobo gained his own four issue mini series in 1990 which was drawn by Simon Bisley. This was a parody of the 'dark, gritty' comics of the time and proved hugely popular. After several other miniseries (all written by Grant, sometimes with Giffen as co-writer), Lobo received his own ongoing series. Grant was also writing L.E.G.I.O.N. (a Legion of Super-Heroes spin-off) and The Demon (a revival of Jack Kirby's charac
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 4, 2016
An hell of a funny dark one-shot! It was like "Bride of Chucky" in Gotham... and Adlard's great art make you feel like some zombies from his Walking Dead pages is going to appear here too. . . :D
February 28, 2017
This is a great story if you are already on board the concept of the Ventriloquist as a villain. Alan Grant is always a very capable writer. While this story isn't revolutionary, it feels like the definitive story needed to understand the Ventriloquist. Wesker and Scarface are the focus of the story. Batman and the Penguin also make appearances, although Batman only physically appears on 5 pages.
I'm giving this story 4 stars instead of 5 because this story didn't wow me. The Ventriloquist is a decent villain, but far from my favorite. I probably would have enjoyed this treatment more if it was given to a villain like Clayface, Killer Croc or Black Mask. If you really like the Ventriloquist and Scarface, then feel free to read this review as a 5 star rating.
I'm giving this story 4 stars instead of 5 because this story didn't wow me. The Ventriloquist is a decent villain, but far from my favorite. I probably would have enjoyed this treatment more if it was given to a villain like Clayface, Killer Croc or Black Mask. If you really like the Ventriloquist and Scarface, then feel free to read this review as a 5 star rating.
January 19, 2016
Siempre he creído que los villanos de Batman son algo espectacular, pero en este caso no sentí eso con Scarface. Había leído algo sobre él pero la historia no fue la gran cosa, muy corta y simple.
August 10, 2025
Pretty Good!
The Ventriloquist is a cool Batman Villain who doesn't get a very big Spotlight.
I love how The Ventriloquist (Arthur Wesker) is haunted by Scarface all the time and doesn't really like to commit crime but The Scarface doll just forces him and others to do horrible things. And it seems like, Whatever happens, their fates are intertwined!
Would love to see more of Ventriloquist and Scarface in comics or movies!
4☆
The Ventriloquist is a cool Batman Villain who doesn't get a very big Spotlight.
I love how The Ventriloquist (Arthur Wesker) is haunted by Scarface all the time and doesn't really like to commit crime but The Scarface doll just forces him and others to do horrible things. And it seems like, Whatever happens, their fates are intertwined!
Would love to see more of Ventriloquist and Scarface in comics or movies!
4☆
August 28, 2020
A prestige edition featuring Scarface as the main villain is something you don't see every day. It is a well-known fact that Arnold Wesker has a dissociative identity disorder. This disorder allows this very meek man to do dastardly things through the use of his dummy, Scarface. What I learned from this book is that there's also a supernatural aspect involved in the Scarface persona as Scarface was made from the wood of a Gallows Tree from which criminals were hanged.
Aside from some ridiculous deaths that took place in this book, the story is really interesting as it shows how Wesker tries to handle the loss of Scarface when he tries to turn over a new leaf. Is Scarface something that Wesker can walk away from or will he find a different outlet for the evil that's within him? This is a good read if you want to understand the Ventriloquist and Scarface.
Aside from some ridiculous deaths that took place in this book, the story is really interesting as it shows how Wesker tries to handle the loss of Scarface when he tries to turn over a new leaf. Is Scarface something that Wesker can walk away from or will he find a different outlet for the evil that's within him? This is a good read if you want to understand the Ventriloquist and Scarface.
January 31, 2023
2.5 stars -- This is the first comic I have ever read that actually covers an origin story, not of a hero or of a villain, but of a villain's sidekick. In this case the villain is The Ventriloquist, one of Batman's semi-major villains, and the sidekick is his dummy, the titular Scarface. This graphic novel barely has any Batman in it, maybe a total of ten frames, and reads more like the screenplay for the spooky old Anthony Hopkins movie called Magic. In Magic, the ventriloquist's dummy talks the main character into doing bad things -- ditto that for our Scarface. And like Magic, we are never really sure how much is real and how much is just in the ventriloquist's villainous head. Probably sounds better that it really is, but it is ok.
June 5, 2018
Sólo es un trozo de madera, no puede ser tan peligroso ¿o sí?
Casi no soy de leer cómics, pero desde hace ya un buen tiempo estoy interesada en el mundo de Batman, decidí leer este tomo porque la verdad, desconocía al personaje de Scarface, un títere de madera que posee al alma de 313 criminales ...
Para darme una idea del personaje, estuvo bien, pero no me acabó de gustar.
Casi no soy de leer cómics, pero desde hace ya un buen tiempo estoy interesada en el mundo de Batman, decidí leer este tomo porque la verdad, desconocía al personaje de Scarface, un títere de madera que posee al alma de 313 criminales ...
Para darme una idea del personaje, estuvo bien, pero no me acabó de gustar.
May 26, 2019
Alan Grant can be inconsistent, but when he hits, he hits hard. Here he really goes all out with his most popular creation, Scarface. I enjoy almost everything about this story, except for the fact that it kinda ruins the mystery of the character completely. Is he just a dummy, or is he really alive? Well, prepare to find out, unfortunately.
June 28, 2025
This was okay! Definitely a one-shot, not very much Batman. Kind of like chucky if he was possessed by Scarface instead. Very odd, and not really my thing, but also not a bad story if that's what youre into.
January 30, 2022
An interesting little stand alone about who is in my opinion quite a fun and underrated rogue in Batmans gallery! Love to see a Scarface story from the perspective of the ventriloquist himself!
September 10, 2024
2024 - Year of The Bat (366 Days of Batman)
Day 254: Fun story of a villain that doesn’t usually get the spotlight.
Day 254: Fun story of a villain that doesn’t usually get the spotlight.
February 9, 2026
Scarface is the best Batman villain and Grant is the best Batman writer. That's all you need to know.
August 7, 2013
This comic centers around the Ventriloquest and his psychological struggle against his dummy, Scarface. As he tries to adjust to a normal life, old demons return. Trouble is inevitable, especially with The Penguin involved. Batman appears briefly in this comic.
December 15, 2014
Scarface/The Ventriloquist is one of my favorite Batman villains but this just isn't very good. There's not much to say: it's not very well written and it's very short.
January 23, 2017
One of the dumber villains in a silly story, but then they pretty much all are with this ventriloquist dummy crime boss.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews