Tags
Batman, Batman #103, Batman #103 review, Bruce Wayne, Clownhunter, DC Comcis, Ghost Maker, Ghost Stories Part 3, Gotham, James Tynion IV, Joker War, Oracle, Punchline
Batman #103
Review by Paul Bowler
The Dark Knight and Ghost-Maker clash in Batman #103 and only one will walk away as Gotham’s hero! After a slow build up things now take a dramatic turn in Ghost Stories Part 3 as writer James Tynion IV ramps up the action and suspense. The idea of Bruce having a childhood rival who has lived, trained, and taken the same crime-fighting path as him is an intriguing one and this issues flashback to their confrontation in the Gobi desert further illustrates how their choices have inevitably brought them to this moment.
However, while Ghost-Hunter believes Bruce’s emotions make hm weak, Bruce clearly doesn’t, and it is this key difference in their crime-fighting natures that will undoubtably prove crucial moving forward, Tynion has really changed the landscaper of Gotham since Joker War. Lucius Fox now controls the majority of the Wayne fortune, Batman has less resources at his disposal, the citizens of Gotham are calling for Punchline to be released from prison, and Clownhunter has set his sights on taking out Harley Quinn who is trying to get her life back on track in the aftermath of Joker War.
Fortunately Batman still has the rest of the Bat-Family on side, including Barbara Gordon in he role as Oracle, but even she cannot get past Ghost-Hunter’s intricate Ghost-Net to uncover anything about this new threat to Gotham. With artistic duties for Batman #103 handled by Carlo Pagulayan & Danny Miki, Guillem March and colorist David Baron, the look and pace of the issue holds together very well, and overall the issue is packed with detail and awash with vivid colors that nicely accentuates the action. Batman going toe to toe with Ghost-Hunter is every bit the action-packed spectacle you’d expect, Harley Quinn’s moments of reminiscing in her run-down apartment and subsequent fight with Clownhunter are the big highlight though, and I really like how Harley is becoming one of the most interesting additions to Tynion’s ensemble cast for this book.
The introduction of Ghost-Hunter has delivered a compelling new villain for Batman to face following Joker Wars turbulent fallout on Gotham, and the shared history between them offers a wealth of possibilities to explore. Ghost-Hunter has only been in Gotham for less than a day and he’s already been on a one-man crime-busting spree, but as he soon finds out, in Batman’s world everything isn’t always as cut and dried as it first seems. With familiar faces and a cast of colourful new character all jostling for attention, Batman #103 brings a frenetic mix action and exposition into this story-arc. It’s an exciting issue for sure, I just hope Tynion can maintain the momentum and keep all these plates spinning.
Publisher DC Comics
Writer James Tynion IV
Artists Carlo Pagulayan & Danny Miki, Guillem March
Colorist David Baron / Letterer Clayton Cowles
Cover Jorge Jimenez & Tomeu Morey
About The Author
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
Sci-Fi Jubilee 
Just read this earlier. Very fun issue.
A great and exciting issue, think Ghost-Maker is a really interesting new character as well.
Ghost-Maker’s interesting. It’s one of those things where it’s hard for me to buy into this guy being such an important figure in Bruce’s childhood and never being brought up before, but on the other hand I do really like the concept as well as the design. Sounds like a pretty fun character to have so I’d definitely like to see him stick around for a while.
Yes, it does feels a little contrived to have a character like Ghost-Hunter pop up like this having never been mentioned before. I do like the shared history between Ghost-Hunter and Batman as it offers a lot of potential for future issue to explore. I think the charter’s costume looks really cool as well, he’s almost like a White Knight to Bruce’s Dark Knight. I hope Ghost-Hunter sticks around for a while yet as well.
It was a solid read, not earth-shattering (but then we’re still coming off the highs of “Joker War”) but I do like Ghost-Maker who’s an interesting new character. I found the random switch between the artists a little distracting, but at least Guillem March wasn’t adding pointy shoulders to Batman this time haha!
Agreed, I do feel that Tynion is treading water a bit after Joker War. Perhaps once the Future State event is done and dusted in January and February 2021 Tynion’s run will really begin to kick into high-gear. I like Ghost-Maker a lot as well, especially the dynamic between him and Bruce. I didn’t find the shift between artists too jarring, but I’m not normally a fan of multiple artists working on an issue. I’m glad we didn’t get pointy Bat-shoulders again either LOL 🙂
Sounds like a really interesting concept. A rival superhero with less of a moral compass, even if tying him into Bruce’s childhood sounds a bit forced without at least some sort of explanation about why we haven’t seen him before. Also, Babs is taking on the role of Oracle again?
I agree. As much as I like Ghost-Hunter and his motivations, his connections to Bruce’s past do seem a bit convoluted, but as rival superheroes it creates an interesting dynamic between them. Yes, Babs resumed the role of Oracle during the final battle in Joker War to help coronate the Bat Families efforts to defeat the Joker’s army of thugs terrorising Gotham. She’ still Batgirl as well, but seems to switch between the two roles now – at least for the time being.
How does Ghost-Hunter move his legs to run with that long baggy costume?!?
Years of training LOL! I know what you mean, its must be nearly impossible to jump about like that in the Ghost-Hunter costume. I’d be tripping over my own feet!