Batman Eternal #4 Review

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Batgirl, Batman, Batman Eternal, Batman Eternal #4, Batman Eternal #4 Review, DC Comics, Derek Fridolfs, Dustin Nguymen, James Tynion IV, Jason Fabok, Jim Gordon, John Layman, Scott Snyder, Stephanie Brown, The New 52

Batman Eternal #4

Review by Paul Bowler

The situation for Jim Gordon gets a lot worse in Batman Eternal #4 and Batgirl clashes with Batman following her fathers bail hearing. With a gang war breaking out between Carmine Falcone and the Penguin, and Forbes promoted as the new Commissioner of the GCPD, it makes Batgirl even more determined to clear Gordon’s name. Meanwhile, having fled for her life, Stephanie Brown makes desperate a call for help…

Batman Eternal #4 charts the shocking aftermath of Gordon’s bail hearing, as the full details of the train crash are read out in court. The evidence is pretty damming and even Gordon is left questioning his own sanity as the full enormity of the people who were killed and the damage he caused finally begins to sink in. This taught story by Scott Snyder & Jams Tynion IV, together with John Layman’s script, and consulting writers Ray Fawkes and Tim Seeley, really hammers home Gordon’s plight and the effect his downfall will have for the GCPD, Batman, and of course Batgirl.

The scene were Batman confronts Batgirl after she has beaten some of Pyg’s henchmen to a bloody pulp is excellent, with the Dark Knight even taking a few punches himself, as he tries to get through to Batgirl. The tension between Batman and Batgirl in these scenes is almost palpable, which in turn is heightened by the fact that Gordon has doubts about his own actions, something that must be heartbreaking for Barbara to endure.

This issue also finds Stephanie Brown alone and scared on the street of Gotham following her New 52 debut last issue, where she discovered that her father was the Cluemaster, along with who is was working for, and what they have planned for the city. Stephanie manages to find a phone and call home. What follows keeps us all guessing, nothing is quite what we expect, and Stephanie’s phone call unwittingly puts her in even more danger. Batman Eternal #4 shifts effortlessly between these multiple plot strands: entwining them seamlessly with Barbara’s account of the bail haring, Batman also pays Falcone a visit, and there are some big changes happening at GCPD as well.

The artistic duties for Batman Eternal #4 are handled this issue by Dustin Nguymen, along with inks by Derek Fridolfs, and the colors are provided by John Kalisz. There is a great deal going on in this isse, Nguymen’s kinetic style manages to keep the transition between scenes sharp and fluid, allowing the issue to unfold at a brisk pace. While the fight between Batgirl and Batman was brief, it was really well handled, as the emotional impact the bail hearing had on Barbara was reflected in the way she handled Pyg’s thugs and stood up to Batman.

The rest of the issue looks great as well. Each location has a very distinctive look, from the vivid hues of the courtroom and GCPD, to the dark streets of Gotham, the luxury of Falcone’s penthouse, and the deep shadows of the Batcave, this issue of Batman Eternal also takes us inside the imposing walls of Blackgate Penitentiary.

As well as featuring a striking cover by Jason Fabok, this issue is gripping reading, and a real page turner. With its great story and art, Batman Eternal #4 is one of the best issues so far in this new weekly series. There are some great scenes between Batman and Batgirl in this issue and the grim closing moments are really intense!

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Batman Eternal #3 Review

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Batman, Batman Eternal, Batman Eternal #3, Batmobile, Brad Anderson, DC Comics, James Tynion IV, Jason Fabok, Jim Gordon, Scott Snyder, Stephanie Brown, The New 52

Batman Eternal #3

Review by Paul Bowler

Gang war breaks out in Batman Eternal #3 as Gotham City is rocked by a power struggle within the criminal underworld. With his old friend Jim Gordon arrested for causing the train crash in the subway station, the Dark Knight continues his search for evidence to help him. When the crime war begins GCPD seems unwilling to help Batman contain the violence. Also, get ready for the New 52 debut of Stephanie Brown!

With Gordon languishing in a cell at GCPD, the situation is grim, and even Batman’s analysis of the evidence fails to offer up many new leads. The return of Carmine Falcone also spells big trouble for the Penguin; soon Gotham is reeling from an explosive outbreak of violence. Batman Eternal #3 is a blisteringly good read, with its story and script by writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV (consulting writers Ray Fawkes, John Layman, and Tim Seeley) and great art by Jason Fabok, the events following the aftermath of the train crash begin to escalate dramatically.

There are some great scenes at the GCPD, particularly where Lieutenant Bullock and Captain Sawyer have a heated confrontation with Forbes. Gordon’s arrest has really shaken the department to the core, tempers are frayed, and it’s not looking good for Gordon either. The responsibility for arresting Gordon is also weighing heavily on the shoulders on the new recruit Jason Bard; this certainly wasn’t how he expected his first day on the job to turn out. Bard’s conversation with Gordon in the holding cells is especially poignant, even Jim Gordon feels the evidence is stacked against him, it’s a great scene, and Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV pitch it perfectly.

As the scene shifts to the Penguin at his Iceberg Casino the full implications of Falcone’s return to Gotham begins to sink in. However, there is more at stake here than just the Penguin’s empire. The corruption in Gotham reaches all the way to the top, as shadowy meetings begin to shift the balance of power for all concerned.

Batman Eternal #3 features some terrific art by Jason Fabok, the action doesn’t let up for a moment, and with such a large cast of characters, Fabok does a terrific job, and the colors by Brad Anderson are excellent. I really like the pages in the Batcave, the attention to detail here is staggering. The moments in GCPD are also handled really well, drawing you into the story. The Batmobile adorns Fabok’s awesome cover for Batman Eternal #3 as well, and the car looks stunning in the issue too. I really like this Batmobile, it’s like a pimped up version of the Tim Burton movie Batmobile, and I hope we get to see a lot more of it as Batman Eternal progresses.

Batman Eternal #3 also features the long awaited debut of Stephanie Brown in the New 52 continuity. Its great to see Stephanie again, I always liked the character, and Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV make this issue a fitting introduction for her. Snyder and Tynion have remained entirely faithful to the essence of the character, and they way her involvement in events also ties into the main storyline of Batman Eternal is really inspired.

Batman Eternal #3 is another great issue in this new weekly series. With great plotting and characters, the debut of Stephanie Brown, and with all the big changes affecting the criminal underworld and GCPD, this is an issue not to be missed!

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Batman Eternal #1 Review

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Batman, Batman Eternal, Batman Eternal #1 Review, Brad Anderson, Commissioner Gordon, DC Comics, Gotham City, James Tynion IV, Jason Fabok, Scott Snyder, The New 52

Batman Eternal #1

Review by Paul Bowler

Now that Batman’s 75th Anniversary year is well under way, the celebrations really kick into high gear this week with the release of Batman Eternal #1, the first issue of a new weekly series that will focus on the relationship between Batman, his many allies, his enemies, and even Gotham itself, as the Dark Knight’s world is explored over the course of this year-long event. With its all star creative team consisting of Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, Jason Fabok, John Layman, and Tim Seeley, we can rest assured that Batman Eternal and its year-long storyline will have us eagerly returning to Gotham City week after week.

This debut issue with story and script by writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV (consulting writers Ray Fawkes, John Layman, and Tim Seeley) with art by Jason Fabok, certainly gets Batman Eternal #1 off to an explosive start, as we first get a glimpse of what the future holds for the Dark Knight, before returning to the present where a series of events place Commissioner James Gordon on the wrong side of the law.

With its fantastic opening tease fanning the flames of the future Batman Eternal #1 quickly introduces us to a new arrival in Gotham City, Jason Bard, a Lieutenant newly transferred from Detroit to join the GCPD. Gordon has assigned Bard to be the new Lieutenant night shift, a role that Jim Gordon himself once held. However, when Jim calls in for backup the new recruits first collar quickly proves to be an eventful one.

Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV masterfully weave these scenes where Bullock shows Bard around GCPD while the action unfolds at a nearby museum, where Gordon is busy protecting a group of children and fighting off a vicious attack from Professor Pyg as he attempts to transform them into Dollotrons. The dialogue over the comlink between Gordon and Batman really builds the tension here, as the Dark Knight is delayed, and is still on en route to the scene. These opening scenes really highlight the close bond Gordon and Batman have. When the Dark Knight does arrive, Gordon accompanies him in chasing their quarry.

Batman goes after Pyg while Gordon races after the stray henchman who makes a break for the subway station. What follows is a brilliantly tense and exhilarating series of events that will keep you glued to every page, as Jim makes a split-second decision that could change his life and career forever. Snyder and Tynion keep us hanging on every word as this sequence, along with its terrifying consequences and equally devastating repercussions unfold.

The art by Jason Fabok is also excellent; there are so many stand-out moments in this first issue of Batman Eternal: the battle in the museum is brilliant, its really frenetic and exciting, with Batman making one hell of an entrance. Fabok makes Batman look really powerful and imposing, especially when he catches up with Pyg, he also includes some really fine detailing on the Bat-Suit as well. Each character is clearly defined, with excellent facial expressions, and the sense of urgency in he build up to the scene with the subway train is almost palpable.

The colors by Brad Anderson really complement Fabok’s art too; the Gotham skyline seamlessly reflects the way the narration depicts the city, casting a new light on this familiar skyline. From the explosive showdown in the museum to the climatic moments in the subway station, this issue looks incredible.

With Batman Eternal #1 also featuring an amazing cover by Jason Fabok , this first issue is a really stunner. Batman Eternal #1 certainly lives up to all the hype, and this action packed debut issue really gets things off to a great start. Needles to say I’m hooked, and I’m confident that Scott Snyder and his exceptionally talented creative team can meet the challenge of producing this new weekly Batman series, and if this first issue is anything to go by its bound to keep us looking forward to our weekly visits to Gotham City.

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Batman #28 Review

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Batman, Batman #28, Batman Eternal, DC Comcs, Dustin Nyguyen, Harper Row, James Tynion IV, Scott Snyder, Zero Year

Batman #28

Review by Paul Bowler

So far, Batman: Zero Year has certainly lived up to all expectations. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s 11-part retelling of Bruce Wayne’s early career as Batman has offered a decidedly modern twist to the Dark Knights origin, while remaining  entirely faithful to the legacy of the character. Last month, Batman #27: Part 7 of Zero Year, ended with the Batman trapped in the catacombs beneath Gotham City, fighting for his life, and mocked by the Riddler for his apparent lack of detective skills. We take a break from Zero Year for this month with Batman #28, the flash-forward “spoilers” issue Scott Snyder, together with co-writer James Tynion IV and artist Dustin Nyguyen; have created to bring us a preview of Batman Eternal.

Batman #28 provides a fascinating glimpse into the future of what this special 75th anniversary event will hold, as we discover that  Gotham City is in lock down, and a curfew is now rigorously enforced. For reasons that strike close to home, Harper Row has chosen to break this curfew. After managing to find the “magic words” to get her past the barricade, Harper is taken to an exclusive nightclub, one of the few left in Gotham, where Harper is determined to meet the new Kingpin of Gotham, with a little help from Batman of course. However, the Dark Knights world is very different place now, and he has lost so much, even the city he is sworn to protect. Harper’s new costume as Batman’s crime fighting ally is also revealed, working together, they confront Gotham’s new Kingpin, but there is one last secret still waiting to be revealed…

My, of my, how Gotham has changed. Batman #28 gives us a good sense of what Batman Eternal will be like, completely game-changing events have transpired, the Dark Knights world has seemingly been turned on its head, and even the criminal underworld has been shaken to its core. The reasons behind the lockdown are also very surprising, bringing added emphasis to Harper Row’s return, and the new role she has assumed. This issue features the debut of Harper Row’s new costume, with an outfit that has gained much speculation, but its reveal here is clearly a defining moment for the character, as is her code name and the crime-fighting methods she employs.

Snyder and James Tynion IV also bring many surprise in the shape of Batman’s allies, clearly the Dark Knights world has suffered a major upheaval, the city, the police, even the new Kingpin of Gotham now see him in a different light. Indeed, when the new Kingpin of Gotham is revealed, its one of those rare serendipitous moment in comics where a cracking plot twist catches you completely off guard and wraps itself around your neck.

Batman Eternal is a series that Scott Snyder has developed along with his former student, James Tynion IV (Red Hood and the Outlaws), who launched Talon with Snyder, and worked with him on the Batman backup stories and annuals. Tynion brings his outstanding character work to this issue, there some fantastic flourishes, as we take this secret glimpse into the future, and see a Gotham that is even more dangerous and crazy than ever before.

Dustin Nguyen, whose art will also feature in Batman Eternal, handles the artistic duties on this issue, while Greg Cappulo works his magic on the extra pages for Batman #29. Nguyen worked with Snyder on American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares, as well as the Superman Unchained backups. Here with Batman #28, Nguyen brings a very fluid, and kinetic feel to the action, from the sweeping dark tones of the Gotham’s streets, to the gleaming and opulent interior of the nightclub, which leads to the aforementioned showdown with Gotham’s new crime boss, Nguyem’s work is perfectly suited to Gotham, and together with Derek Fridolfs inks and colorist John Kalisz, I’m pleased to say that Batman #28 is a mighty fine looking book indeed.

Batman #28 is a great sneak peek at what the rest of 2014 has in store for the Dark Knight. Snyder and Tynion deliver a sterling issue that is full of surprises, which, together with a spoiler-ific final page and Nguyen’s art, makes Batman #28 a thrilling trip into the future before Zero Year resumes in Batman #29 next month.

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