The original Tiger Shark was a one-shot villain, a pirate with a secret identity, who pretended to be aiding Batman in his fight.  Snyder and Jock introduce an updated version in Detective 878 (Aug. 11), as they conclude their three-parter.


The new Tiger Shark has plenty of oddities.  He wears a wrap around his eyes, for some reason.  And has one of his goons talk for him.  Later, he is shown talking for himself, but I think it might be painful for him.


Look at that tongue.  Ouch.  The things people do to stand out as Batman villains.  Dick manages to get away from Tiger Shark.  But the pirate does not get caught, escaping to fight another day.


A subplot in the last couple issue had Commissioner Gordon approach Dick Grayson about his son.  Gordon does not know whether to trust James Jr or not, and asks Dick for his honest opinion.  Dick meets James, and the two reminisce about the last time they saw each other, on a picnic as kids, when James got beat up by a bully.  He does make a decent impression, mentioning that he ran into the bully earlier in the day, who has matured to a decent person.


Dick give James a thumbs up to his father, but has a harsher tone with Zucco’s daughter.  It took Dick a while, but he finally began to wonder why she sent him against Roadrunner first.  She basically admits to having manipulated him into taking down the two men threatening her, but defends her actions, including moving the whale into the bank to draw his attention, as acting in the cause of justice.  As with Tiger Shark, Zucco’s daughter is basically set up by this story to become a major player later on, but Flashpoint would end those plans.


The story ends on James Jr, torturing and mutilating the man who had tormented him at the picnic as a child.  It’s really extreme, and leaves no doubt that James Jr is evil.  Although that had already been shown in Birds of Prey.


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