Dark Knights Death Metal #1 Review

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Batman, Batman Who Laughs, Dark Knight Death Metal #1, Dark Knights Death Metal, Dark Knights Death Metal #1 review, DC Comics, Greg Capullo, Joker, Justice League, Metal, NCBD, Scott Snyder, Sjuperman, Wonder Woman

Dark Knights Death Metal #1

Review by Paul Bowler.

DC Comics major, world changing event of the year kicks off in Dark Knights Death Metal #1, reuniting the all-star creative team behind Dark Knights: Metal and Batman Last Knight on Earth, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, for an epic encore that is sure to rock your world and the DCU to the core!

Following in the wake of Year of the Villain and Scott Snyder’s run on Justice League, Dark Knights Death Metal #1 plunges us straight into the heart of a dark new DC Universe.  The Earth has been enveloped by the Dark Multiverse, Perpetua is cutting a swathe of carnage across the multiverse, and the Justice League are now almost completely at the mercy of the Batman Who Laughs. Humanity clings on, battling to survive in a hellish, twisted world, while Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman have become separated and continue to fight on against the terrifying horrors of this new reality.

Dark Knights Death Metal #1 rocks right from the outset, quite literally in fact. Scott Snyder weaves an engrossing narrative peppered with intricate exposition that effortlessly draws you into this warped new reality. Wonder Woman is now Queen of the Underworld, the realm which had formally been Themyscira is now a fiery gulag, with cages and pits for those unfortunate enough to have been condemned to its depths by the Batman Who Laughs. Its great to see Diana take centre stage, the banter with her loyal ally — a rather emaciated  Swamp Thing –  is also brilliantly written by Snyder, and the build up to Wonder Woman’s eventual face off with the Batman Who Laughs leaves you in no doubt that Snyder’s firing on all cylinders here. Of course the one, true Dark Knight is waiting in the wings for his moment to strike, and believe me when Batman makes his move everyone sits up and takes notice.

Needless to say artist Greg Capullo brings every aspect of Snyder’s head-banging action-packed script to life in the most amazing ways imaginable. Capullo’s depiction of the Earth, along with its heroes and villains, warped almost beyond all recognition by the Dark Multiverse is an awe inspiring sight. You will find yourself flicking backwards and forwards through the pages as you try and process the sheer scope and scale of everything Capullo has achieved here, together with the inks by Jonathan Glapion and colors by FCO Plascencia, as Wonder Woman challenges a furious dinobot Bat-Rex, Robin’s lurk like grinning gargoyles on the rooftops, the charge of Batman’s undead strike team will blow your mind, and the Batman Who Laughs sinister delight in the chaos he has unleashed is so palpable it almost seeps from the page. 

You’d be forgiven for thinking this all sounds a bit overwhelming, because you’d be right. It is a little. Fear not though, for, if like me you don’t tend to read big comic book events all that often these days, Dark Knights Death Metal #1 does feature an in-depth recap of sorts around the mid-way point, so even if you’ve not read anything leading up to this event, you will be able to jump right in and enjoy it without too much trouble as Snyder has done a superb job in ensuring the big reveal of the new prisoner in the pit provides you with all the backstory you’ll need to bring you up to speed.

Events in Dark Knights Death Metal #1 also build to a thrilling, jaw dropping showdown and cliffhanger that’s so ingeniously orchestrated it will rip your synapses to shreds as it sets the stage for the conflict to come.

The hype and expectation surrounding Death Metal has been phenomenal. Some might argue the Perpetua, Dark Multiverse and Batman Who Laughs storylines have now been milked for all their worth. For me though Dark Knights Death Metal #1 delivers the goods on every level, Snyder and Capullo are on great form, it more than lives up to the hype, and looks set to change the landscape of the DC Universe by the time it concludes next year.

As we begin to take our first cautious steps out of the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown here in the UK its has been nice to enjoy some new comics again. I have to say as well that DC Comics are really knocking it out of the park right now and leading the way with some fantastic new issues and events as the comic book industry begins to restart after the shutdown. Dark Knights Death Metal #1 gets this comic book event off to a fantastic start, and it has all the ingredients that will make it a sure-fire-hit!

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder / Artist: Greg Capullo

Inks: Jonathan Glapion / Colors: FCO Plascencia / Letters: Tom Napolitano

Cover: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, and FCO Plascencia

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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

 

Batman #51 Review

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Alfred Pennyworth, Batman, Batman #51, Batman #51 review, Batmobile, comics, Danny Miki, DC Comics, DC Rebirth, FCO Plascencia, GCPD, Gotham, Gotham City, Gotham Is, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Scott Snyder, The Bat-Cave, The Court of Owls, The Joker, The New 52

Batman #51

Review by Paul Bowler

In the wake of recent events Batman #51 sees the Dark Knight facing a new challenge. Batman has battled so often to protect Gotham from his deadly rogues gallery of villains over the years, from everyone to the Joker, the Court of Owls, and now Mr Bloom, so how will Batman deal with a quiet night in Gotham City..?

Scott Snyder has written for three different characters who have worn the mantel of the Bat, including Dick Grayson during his initial stint on Detective Comics, to Bruce Wayne on Batman, and Jim Gordon in the recent Superheavy arc. Now as Scott Snyder’s incredible run on Batman with artist Greg Capullo concludes in Batman #51, we can reflect on how their collaboration on this title has transformed it into a modern classic, and their tenure in Gotham is sure to down in history as including some of the finest Batman stories ever told.

Now that Mr Bloom is presumably pushing up daises somewhere, Batman #51 presents the Dark Knight with an unusual challenge – a seemingly uneventful evening in Gotham City! Scott Snyder’s final story in this run is a clear love letter to both the character of Batman and the fans themselves as past and present become one. Centred around the powerful resonance of a small life-styles piece in the Gotham Gazette, Gotham Is delves into the world of Batman and the Gothamites he has vowed to protect in a way quite unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. From the wonderful opening scenes in the Bat-Cave featuring Bruce and Alfred, which Snyder makes both emotionally moving and brilliant fun; wounds old and new are simultaneously healed via a patchwork quilt of new developments, before Batman races away into the night on a clear road to Gotham in spectacular fashion!

Of course, we all know there’s no such thing as a quite night in Gotham City, or is there? A sudden power outage soon brings with it some more pressing concerns and a new threat to the city. Scott Snyder’s dazzling writing style and excellent characterization makes Gotham Is an absolute joy to read, we are treated to a wonderful scene with Jim and Batman next to the Bat-Signal, there’s an intriguing mystery right at the heart of the story for Batman to solve, and plenty of our old Arkham favourites are on the loose as well!

Needless to say, Greg Capullo’s artwork for this issue of Batman is as stunning as ever. From those stylish and fun moments in the Bat-Cave, to the dramatic face-off in Arkham, Capullo channels the narrative of Gotham Is across a wondrous montage of interconnected scenes that beautifully addresses elements from previous arcs, and sets everything up for a glorious final page that will simply take your breath away. Danny Miki’s inks brilliantly highlight every nuance of Capullo’s work, but it is in those shadow swathed scenes during the blackout, on the rooftop of GCPD, then deep below ground, and high over a silhouetted Gotham skyline where Danny Miki really excels. FCO Plascencia’s colors infuse this issue with an uncanny blend of vibrant and muted tones throughout, with flashes of bright purple enhancing the inside the new cape while the vivid yellow of the new Bat-Insignia on Batman’s chest that skilfully blends the old with the news almost leaps off the page at you, and that stunning final scene… Quite frankly, this issue looks incredible!

Featuring a stunning regular cover by Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, and FCO (Which, incidentally, I think would make an brilliant poster, please make this happen guys!), as well as a terrific variant cover by John Romita Jr. , Batman #51 concludes in the most fan pleasing way imaginable, as Scott Snyder rounds off the narrative of his previous story-arcs in fine style, and effectively brings his tenure with Greg Capullo on Batman full circle in the most heartfelt, exciting, and moving way imaginable. It’s a thoughtful, funny, intense, dialogue-heavy issue, and to say more would spoil it, but suffice to say I enjoyed every single moment of it – even though my enjoyment was tinged with a little sadness that Batman #51 is Snyder’s and Capullo’s final issue.

DC’s Rebirth event has initiated a major wave of change throughout the DCU that is going to herald some big developments in the Bat-Universe. Even though Scott Snyder is indeed moving on from DC’s flagship Batman title, he isn’t leaving the Dark Knight behind completely; in fact, Snyder will now be fronting the brand new monthly series All Star Batman that will also feature art from some of the finest talents in the industry: including John Romita, Jr, Jock, Sean Murphy, and many more. With its epic storyline All Star Batman allows Snyder to use some of the villains that he never got to focus on that much before, such as Two-Face, Mr Freeze, and Catwoman, together with a rotating roster of superstar artist, and back-up stories featuring Duke Thomas. Meanwhile, Greg Capullo will be busy over the next six months working on an uber secret project with Mark Millar, and that’s certainly something that we will all be looking forward to as well. Scott Snyder has also confirmed that he will be working with Greg Capullo again on a new project for DC Comics in 2017 at some point, and I’m sure we will all be excited to see what that will be.

So, as we say farewell to Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo with Batman #51 and their brilliant run on Batman with Danny Miki and FCO Plascencia, there’s still Batman #52 written by James Tvnion IV to look forward to before this current volume of Batman ends and everything changes in the Rebirth event. With Tom King taking over on Batman, while James Tynion IV helms Detective Comics, with Tim Seeley on Nightwing, and with Scott Snyder writing All Star Batman, these are certainly exciting times for Batman fans!

I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing nearly every issue of Snyder’s and Capullo’s run on Batman. Their take on Batman got me back into reading comics regularly again with Batman #1 (2011). Actually, I was still recovering from badly injuring my left hand at the time – a glass broke while emptying the dishwasher and sliced right though my middle finger, palm, and thumb – but their amazing storylines helped inspire me though that particularly dark time, and now I’m writing and reviewing comic books and stuff here on my blog, and on other sites now as well. So, thank you Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo for your legendary run on Batman, because thanks to you guys, for me, and I’m sure for many others besides, Gotham Is: “Batman, fan, forever.”

Publisher DC Comics / Writer: Scott Snyder / Art: Greg Capullo

Inks: Danny Miki / Colors: FCO Plascencia / Letters: Steve Wands

Cover: Capullo / Miki / FCO / Variant Cover: John Romita, Jr.

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Batman #50 Review

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Bat Bot, Batman, Batman #50, Batman #50 Review, Bruce Wayne, comics, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Gotham City, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Mr Bloom, Nathan Fairbairn, Scott Snyder, Superheavy Part 10, The New 52, Yanick Paquette

Batman #50

Review by Paul Bowler

The Dark Knight returns to Gotham City in the extra sized Batman #50 for the thrilling conclusion of Snyder and Capullo’s epic Superheavy story-arc! Bruce Wayne has regained his memories and reclaimed the mantel of the Bat to join Jim Gordon in the battle against Mr Bloom and save the city they have sworn to protect.

Batman #50 sees the return of Bruce Wayne to the cape and cowl as Mr Bloom and his super-powered-seed army lays siege to all of Gotham. With the city reeling from Mr Bloom’s onslaught, Batman, Jim Gordon, and Powers Internationals army of GCPD Bat-Bots unite against Gotham’s towering new super villain, and the fate of the city will be decided as Batman’s showdown with Mr Bloom reaches its thrilling conclusion!

Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s Superheavy arc saw Jim Gordon step up as Gotham’s new Bat-Bot suited Dark Knight following Batman’s apparent demise in Endgame while Bruce Wayne – now without his memories of being Batman – forged a new life with his old flame Julie Madison. Jim became the Batman the city needed at this dark time, but Bruce’s past wouldn’t rest easily, the Joker also survived Endgame, albeit radically changed by the experience, and now Mr Bloom’s rise to power has forced Bruce to sacrifice his newfound life to become the Batman again. Superheavy Part 10 stands as the total culmination of everything Snyder and Capullo have achieved with this story-arc, and it is only now that we can begin to fully appreciate the immense scope and scale of this game-changing storyline as it races towards its city shaking finale!

The beard may be no more, but Bruce Wayne is well and truly back in Batman #50 all kitted out in a new Bat-Suit and ready to give the citizens of Gotham a Batman they’ve never seen before – the Dark Knight they’ve deserved all along. Meanwhile, it’s all going to hell in Gotham as Mr Bloom and his seed-powered minions go on the rampage, while Julia Pennyworth tries to get the injured Jim Gordon to safety, and the Robo-Bat-Suited Commissioner Sawyer leads Gotham’s robo-suited Finest in the fight against Mr Bloom.

Just when it seems that all is lost, the one, true Dark Knight finally returns, rising from the shattered vestiges of Gotham’s most iconic symbol. It’s the rousing moment we’ve all been waiting for since Superheavy began and Snyder delivers it with a series of fan-pleasing moments, revitalized by the Dionesium and with Penny One to welcome him back, its clear Batman is relishing every moment of being back in the cape and cowl. This issue, perhaps more so than any before, exemplifies everything that Snyder and Capullo have done during their tenure on Batman. Sure, Batman #50 is packed with city smashing drama, but as fun and exciting as all the Bat-Bot action is, it is instead the emotionally charged character moments Snyder uses to punctuate the drama at key moments that really strike a chord, especially the moving reunion between Batman and Gordon, we also discover what happened to Duke Thomas’ parents, and there’s a bizarre connection amidst some recently acquired evidence that provides a sinister and unexpected connection to Mr Bloom’s origin.

Greg Capullo has well and truly surpassed all our expectations with his artwork on this issue. It looks absolutely stunning! Every page will have you mesmerised by the way Capullo maintains the fluidity and pace of the plot, infusing every scene with a staggering level of detail that almost defies description, to make Batman #50 one of his finest issues ever. From the symbolic moment of Bruce choosing of a new costume, to its eventual reveal, the nail biting tension in the Bat-Blimp high over Gotham, though to Gordon’s resolve to find another way to get the job done, and the bombastic smack down between Batman and Mr Bloom, Capullo pulls out all the stops here, along with Danny Miki’s brilliant inks, and FCO’s glorious colors, to deliver the rousing finale for the conclusion of Snyder’s epic Superheavy storyline. If this issue was a gym session, then suffice to say it’s probably the most extreme work out of Capullo’s artistic talents we’ve ever seen.!

The redesign of the Bat-Suit is both subtle and effective, with some classic embellishments – one in particular being a symbolic fusion of the old and the new in a way that I‘m really pleased to see carry over from Gordon‘s EVA Bat Suit – along with new gloves and cape, but despite all the upgrades and tech its still good to see that some things never change; especially when it comes to Batman getting the boot in during a fight!

In the build up towards its climatic moments, Batman #50 finds all the players in place for the final fight against Mr Bloom. With the Collider kicking off like Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun all over Gotham, Batman and Mr Bloom going toe to toe in scenes that makes Man of Steel look positively tame by comparison, a daring rescue that will grab you by the scruff of the neck and leave you punching the air with glee, and Gordon calling on his Rookie one last time to bring us to possibly the biggest moment of the entire arc as the fate of Gotham City teeters on a superconductive event horizon that burns with hope for a better tomorrow…

Batman #50 also features an eight page coda, written by Scott Snyder, and featuring terrific artwork by Yanick Prouette and colors by Nathan Fairbairn As epilogues go, this little interlude actually proves to be just as powerful and as moving as the main bulk of the story in the issue. The initial focuse is on Jim Gordon, there are some wonderful scenes here, lots of familiar faces, and it seems that there are going to be some pretty major changes at the GCPD as well. Of course it’s when Jim and Batman finally discuss everything that happened since Endgame as they survey the wounded city before them that are really this codas finest moments, and there’s even time for a reconciliation between Duke and Bruce, and some poignant reflection for Julie Madison.

Well… here we are. Yes, as we now know, Batman #50 is indeed Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s penultimate issue of Batman. Their run on this series has been a tremendous achievement; and its brought us so many incredible stories and iconic moments. Snyder and Capullo have redefined the mythology of the Bat itself, and then some! Having announced their tenure will conclude next issue with Batman #51, Snyder and Capullo have been saying for a while now that they plan to reunite on another project in the near future. In the interim, Batman #52, by James Tvnion IV and Rafael Alberque will bring this current volume to an end before Batman relaunches in June with a new creative team as part of DC’s forthcoming Rebirth event.

I will look to the future with a mixture of sadness, trepidation, and anticipation for the future of this title, along with Rebirth and the changes it brings to DC Comics, and excitement for what Snyder and Capullo will do next. For now though, let’s not dwell on goodbyes, or what the future might hold just yet. Instead, we should celebrate this incredible giant-sized 50^th issue of Batman, along with the momentous accomplishments that Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have achieved on this title together with Danny Miki and FCO Plascencia. What a team! Batman #50 is a full-on epic issue in every sense of the word, the story and art will blow you away, and you will be left with an overwhelming sense that you have just read one of the greatest Batman issues ever made.

Publisher DC Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder / Art: Greg Capullo

Inks: Danny Miki / Colors: FCO Plascencia / Letters: Steve Wands

Epilogue Art Yanick Parquette / Epilogue Colors: Nathan Fairbairn

Cover: Capullo / Miki / FCO

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Batman #48 Review

Tags

Bat Bot, Batman, Batman #48, Batman #48 review, Bruce Wayne, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Gotham, Gotham City, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Mr Bloom, Scott Snyder, Superheavy, The New 52

Batman #48

Review by Paul Bowler

Mr Bloom’s deadly seeds begin to flourish in Batman #48, unleashing an army that could turn everyone in Gotham against its new Batman. Gordon must face the chaos that Mr Bloom has unleashed on the city, but his robotic nano-carbon Bat-Suit has been destroyed, and the new Dark Knight is running out of options fast… Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne’s new life without the shadow of the Bat is thrown into turmoil, when he encounters a stranger whose return instigates a chain of events that might change Bruce’s life forever…

Batman #48 finds Jim Gordon reeling after the attack from Mr Bloom’s super-powered-seed army, just as he was on the verge of unmasking Gotham’s newest super villain. Now, as Batman emerges from the wreckage of the Bat-Truck, this eighth part of Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s Superheavy arc becomes a nail biting battle for survival for Jim as Mr Bloom’s grand design for Gotham blossoms amidst a super-powered riot of violence and damnation. Meanwhile, Bruce returned to the park bench where his new life began after Endgame, where he meets a mysterious man who also miraculously survived an “accident” nearby.

Yes, the Joker is back, and it seems the clown prince of crime has also survived Endgame without the memories of his past life, or so it would seem… Now that Bruce’s memories have begun to return following his argument with Duke and the haunting vision in the subway station in Batman #47, it is perhaps ironic that Bruce Wayne has met this man – who we are led to believe is the Joker – that also just happens to be in the same state of mind which Bruce found himself in after he survived the events of Endgame. I love the ambiguity of these scenes, Snyder has pitched it so well, and you will find yourself hanging on every word.

It is here, in Batman #48 that we begin to see how Snyder is brining the pieces of the Superheavy arc together. We’ve watched as Gordon stepped up to become Gotham‘s new Dark Knight, seen the introduction of the new robot Bat-Suit, addressed the very essence of what Batman really stands for, and witnessed the surprise return of the amnesic Bruce Wayne living a new life with Julie Madison and working at the Lucius Fox Center for Gotham Youth. Now in Batman #48 we have a chance meeting that sees Bruce and the Joker sitting on a park bench, as if they were just two ordinary guys, and with the menace posed by Mr Bloom also drawing notable comparisons with terror threats and social divisions now faced in the world today, everything is now eclipsed by the impending conclusion of what is Scott Snyder’s most innovative and cathartic Bruce Wayne story of all.

Just like the Joker was to Bruce’s Dark Knight, in many ways Mr Bloom has become the arch nemesis to Gordon’s new Batman, and this issue presents Gotham’s new super-villain with a chance to really up his game. With the seeds of Mr Bloom’s influence now sprouting like weeds from the cracks in society all over Gotham, the full extent of Mr Bloom’s powers, his plans for Gotham, and its citizens becomes clear. Even Jim finds himself unable to escape from the gip of his foes schemes and paraded as an example to reinforce Mr Bloom’s warped ideology. Yet, on a park bench, the lives of Bruce Wayne and the Joker have been inexorably drawn together in Gotham once again, but this time their fates are converging from drastically different perspectives, and it’s a sure bet everything will hinge on the outcome of this bizarre turn of events.

Snyder has explored the dark, almost symbiotic parallels between the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime in ways that few could have imagined possible: from the raw terror unleashed on the Bat-Family by the Joker in Death of the Family, the early origins were then revisited in Zero Year and remoulded, before the savage showdown in Endgame brought both of their worlds crashing down around them, and now we reach a point where everything culminates with their resurrection in Superheavy. Of course the sublime twist this time is that Bruce and the Joker now find themselves on the opposite sides of the mirror. The scenes here on the park bench between Bruce and the Joker are some of the most intense, thought-provoking, and memorable that Snyder has ever written for the characters. Yes, Jim Gordon’s role as the new Batman has been fascinating to explore, all the new gadgets, the Bat-Bot, and giant robots are great fun, but these are the moments that now repay our faith in Snyder and the entirety of this arc as a whole.

Greg Capullo has certainly pulled out all the stops for this issue. Every page is a mesmerising tour de force of striking visuals from Capullo, from Gordon confronting the unnervingly creepy Mr Bloom and the onslaught of his super-seed-powered doppelgangers, to the beautifully crafted scenes with Bruce and the Joker, and Mr Bloom’s monstrous new form, Capullo’s work on Batman #48 is some of his finest ever. Danny Miki’s inks bring added definition and clarity to every page and FCO Plascencia’s sumptuous use of color immerse us totally in the atmosphere of the story. The sheer scope and scale of this issue is immense: from the turmoil sweeping across Gotham, Mr Bloom cuts a swath of terror that slices right into the very heart of the city itself, unearthing the dark parallels with many contemporary issues, and the scenes in the park resonate powerfully with the raw emotion of the decision that Bruce knows he now faces. The team on this book are simply amazing, the story, the art, it all clicks together so perfectly and it makes every issue breathtaking to read.

Batman #48 is a resounding success on every level. Frankly, if this issue doesn’t dispel any doubts you might have had about this arc; then nothing will! The thrilling events over the final pages will have you on the edge of your seat as horror strikes at everything Bruce has come to cherish, while Gotham and Gordon writhe in Mr Bloom’s clutches, the path to the island of stability goes critical, and Geri Powers finally gives the order we‘ve all been waiting for. But nothing, absolutely nothing can compare to the way the heartbreaking closing scene kicks the door in at the last possible moment to make your jaw hit the floor…

So, after the all shocking events in this issue, were will things go from here? Will Bruce end up having to give up his new life with Julie Madison and his work at the Lucius Fox Center for Gotham Youth helping the deprived areas of Gotham to become Batman again? After all, that “final invention” is still sitting there in the Bat Cave gathering dust. Could it be that the Joker will end up being the one that ironically gets the chance of a new life instead of Bruce? Whatever the final outcome, I’m sure Snyder’s labyrinthine imagination has conjured up a resolution in Batman #50 that will completely blow our minds, and we won’t even see it coming!

Publisher DC Comics / Writer: Scott Snyder / Art: Greg Capullo

Inks: Danny Miki / Colors: FCO Plascencia / Letters: Steve Wands

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Batman #47 Review

Tags

Batman, Batman #47, Batman #47 review, Bruce Wayne, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Gotham City, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Mr Bloom, Scott Snyder, Superheavy, The New 52

Batman #47

Review by Paul Bowler

Following a surprise attack by new super villain, Mr Bloom, Jim Gordon must now face the ultimate test as Gotham’s corporate funded Batman. Having learned the full scale of the Powers Batman Programme, Jim Gordon tracked Mr Bloom to a long forgotten pathway in the Narrows. But his enemy has a nasty surprise waiting for him. Now, as Jim battles for survival in his confrontation against Mr Bloom, Bruce Wayne has a startling recollection about the past that could well change his life, and Gotham City, forever…

Batman #47 finds the new Batman caught in the vice-like grip of his own robotic Bat-Suit after Mr Bloom – Gotham’s new super villain who has been selling seed implants to criminal gangs that give them superpowers – turned the tables on him! This latest instalment of Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s exciting Superheavy arc entwines several key plotlines, with Jim Gordon fighting for his life, Batman #47 also heralds some unexpected developments for Bruce Wayne, and Mr Bloom’s grand schemes begin to blossom.

After refitting the Robo-Bat-Suit with a blocking device to neutralise Mr Bloom’s powers, Gordon tracked his foe to the area that was once know as Blossom Row in the Narrows. But when Mr Bloom somehow overrode his commands and turned Gordon’s “rookie” partner against him, Jim Gordon suddenly found himself at the mercy of his own Bat-Suit! Scott Snyder piles on the tension and suspense here as Gordon battles the combined threat from his own Bat-Suit and Mr Bloom. Meanwhile, Duke must find a way to escape from the new Iceberg lounge, and Bruce Wayne’s new life without the legacy of the Bat following the events of Endgame is thrown into turmoil when he is forced to look into the shadows of the past.

I really like how this issue unfolds. Snyder certainly puts Gordon though his paces in Batman #47, there’s a sense of poignancy and urgency in Gordon’s fight against his robotic partner, and the way he outwits his own suit whilst still managing to stay one step ahead of the super-powered attack of Mr Bloom shows just how far Jim has come since he stepped up to become Gotham’s new Batman. The scenes between Bruce and Duke in the subway station are another big highlight of this issue, and it’s a defining moment for these characters as Bruce’s past converges with the present as it screeches down the shadowy tracks of fate towards him.

Greg Capullo’s art remains as spellbinding as ever. The dynamic panel layout places us right at the heart of the action, especially during the fight between Gordon and his robo Bat-Suit. Gordon’s struggle reaches some death defying heights, and there is a distinct claustrophobic feel to Batman’s face-off with Mr Bloom as well that feels extremely disquieting. But it’s that aforementioned scene between Bruce and Duke in the subway station where Capullo really shines this issue, with a magnificent fusion of story and art – one that also packs an incredibly powerful emotional punch; and will no doubt probably become the most iconic moment of this arc. As ever, Danny Miki’s intricate line-work makes every aspect of Capullo’s art leap from the page, and FCO Plascencia’s glorious use of color and tone makes this issue of Batman a veritable feast for the senses.

This issue rounds off with Gordon and his team returning with a prisoner, but their victory is short lived, and its not long before Mr Bloom is able to strike back. Well, as another Bat-Truck bites the dust, it’s almost impossible to talk about this issue of Batman without totally spoiling the killer twist that awaits us in the closing pages. So, even though this review will be going out a bit late, let’s just say that a certain someone is back, and while this characters return might not have been wholly unexpected – especially considering Bruce’s surprise return at the start of this arc – it’s certainly a lot quicker than any of us could have expected!

Batman #47 is packed with big game-changing events, Scott Snyder gets right to the emotional core of this arc with this issue, and together with Greg Capullo’s excellent artwork; they bring a whole new slant to the Superheavy storyline in the most dramatic, and entirely unexpected way imaginable as we gradually begin progressing towards the conclusion. One thing’s for sure, waiting for Batman #48 is going to be no laughing matter…

Publisher DC Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder

Art: Greg Capullo

Inks: Danny Miki

Colors: FCO Plascencia

Letters: Steve Wands

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Batman #46 Review

Tags

Bat Bot, Batman, Batman #46, Batman #46 review, Bruce Wayne, comics, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Gotham City, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Mr Bloom, Scott Snyder, Superheavy

Batman #46

Review by Paul Bowler

Jim Gordon faces his toughest battle yet in Batman #46, with his future as the new corporate funded Robo-Suited Batman in doubt, the former Police Commissioner and Marine must show this city he is the Batman they need as he confronts Mr Bloom – the new super-villain in Gotham that’s been selling seed-like implants to criminals to give them super-powers. Batman’s mission to stop Mr Bloom will take him to the darkest corners of Gotham City, but it could prove a risky move against such an unpredictable adversary…

Batman #46 sees the fate of the new Batman hanging in the balance. However, it wont be the corporate big-wigs that will decide Jim Gordon‘s future, but instead the outcome of Batman’s battle with Mr Bloom – who has just spectacularly gate crashed the press conference at the Powers Building! Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s new Superheavy story-arc kicks into high gear in Batman #46 as Batman finally gets to square off against Mr Bloom!

The fight between Batman and Mr Bloom in this issue has been a long time coming, but it certainly proves to be worth the wait! Mr Bloom seems to relish using his extraordinary powers, the meticulous precision of his attacks is shockingly graphic, cultivating a swath of terror across the rich lawn of Gotham’s high society, and his contribution to the fundraiser ensures that even Geri Powers gets to look evil right in the eye. Fortunately for the Powers CEO, Gordon, in his black-yellow EVA Bat-Suit, still has “rookie” mode and Julia to watch his back at a crucial moment, but the outcome of this tense encounter proves as insightful as it does unexpected.

Scott Snyder orchestrates the slick action and character moments in this issue to perfection, making this easily one of the most impressively structured issues in the Superheavy arc so far. Having survived Endgame, Bruce Wayne’s life is no longer overshadowed by the legacy of the Bat. Bruce is deeply committed to his new role at the Lucius Fox Center for Gotham Youth, where he is working tirelessly to help the deprived areas of Gotham after the horror and destruction caused by the Joker virus, and he’s also in a relationship now with his former sweetheart Julie Madison. Scott Snyder continues to explore this brand new era for Bruce’s character in Batman #46 with an especially moving scene between Bruce and Julie, where we learn more about the uncanny connection from the past that has subsequently entwined their fates to bring them together in the present, which culminates in a beautifully romantic moment between them.

Greg Capullo’s artwork for this issue is as exceptional as ever, his work on this series never ceases to amaze me, and there are some spectacular pages and layouts in Batman #46 that will simply leave you in awe of Capullo’s artistic talents. From the unflinching violence of the opening moments as Mr Bloom and Batman slug it out, though to the steamy interlude between Bruce and Julie, there’s also the imaginative birds eye view which oversees Duke’s mission at the new Iceberg Lounge where ice breaks the ice in the most poignant way imaginable, and the “prototypes” of the Batman Programme whose names alone will send your imagination stomping all over Gotham City are just a few of the many highlights in this issue of Batman. Danny Miki’s inks hone the fine details and nuances of Greg Capullo’s work to perfection, while FCO Plascencia’s exquisite color palette matches the tone, emotion, and atmosphere of ever scene magnificently.

Superheavy Part Six finds Jim and his allies facing the most difficult of decisions in the aftermath of Mr Bloom’s attack on the Powers Building. The full extent of Powers Batman Programme becomes clear as a result, danger strikers at the Iceberg Lounge, and Batman goes all Daryl Dixon on us with a new Batmobile as he races to a showdown in a long forgotten pathway in the Narrows…

Batman #46 is another superb issue from Scott Snyder, together with outstanding artwork by Greg Capullo; it takes the Superheavy arc to a whole new level. There’s a few surprise plot twists thrown into the mix to keep us on our toes, and the gripping conclusion is sure to keep us all hanging in suspense until the next issue!

Publisher DC Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder

Art: Greg Capullo

Inks: Danny Miki

Colors: FCO

Letters: Steve Wands

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Batman #45 Review

Tags

Bat Bot, Batman, Batman #45, Batman #45 review, Bruce Wayne, comics, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Gotham City, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Mr Bloom, Scott Snyder, The New 52

Batman #45

Review by Paul Bowler

Following last issues post Zero Year introduction to Mr Bloom, Batman #45 returns to the present, where Jim Gordon is Gotham’s new robo-suited Batman. However, it seems Bruce Wayne survived Endgame! Without the shadow of Batman in his life, Bruce now works for the Lucius Fox Center for Gotham Youth, and is reunited with his former sweetheart Julie Madison. When Batman breaks into a warehouse to investigate Mr Bloom – the new super-villain selling seed-like implants that give criminals extreme powers – Gordon finds himself trapped. Now, after Batman’s close call with the Devil Pig Gang, Jim Gordon must re-examine his role as the new Dark Knight protector of Gotham before time runs out for city…

Batman #45 finds the former marine and Police Commissioner Jim Gordon facing his greatest challenge so far as Gotham’s corporate funded Robo-Batman. Trapped in a furnace, seemingly with no way out, this latest instalment of Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s new Superheavy story-arc places Gordon in mortal danger and confronts him with a situation that makes him question if he really has what it takes to wear the cowl.

Scott Snyder turns up the heat for the new Batman in Superheavy Part 5, as Gordon has to find a way to escape from the industrial furnace before his Bat-Suit fails. Snyder really gets inside Gordon’s head during these opening scenes, as Jim rapidly assesses the situation Batman-Style, while also keeping his personal feelings in check, and finding the right mindset to ensure that all that Batarang practice finally pays off! Outgunned and outnumbered Jim now faces his most crucial lesson of all about what it really means to be Batman…

A number of plot threads entwine during this issue. Bruce and Julie Madison are busily helping the kids at the Lucius Fox Center for Gotham Youth, the area is still littered with the wreckage of the trophies from the Bat-Cave the Joker used for his parade during Endgame, and the horror and devastation caused by the Joker virus is still clearly evident. The relationship developing between Bruce and Julie is really moving, we get to learn more about Julie’s past, and the bond they share is inexorably linked with paths their lives have taken.

Batman #45 is one hell of an action packed issue, Greg Capullo’s art captures the essence of every scene perfectly, and the way Capullo has Gordon evaluate the situation and escape from the furnace is brilliant. The Bat-Bot goes into full “partner mode” this issue, it’s another action-packed moment, and it works so well seen the context of Jim’s predicament. Danny Miki’s inks accentuate the finer details and nuances of Capullo’s art, especially in the scenes between Bruce and Julie, there’s also an interlude featuring Duke and Daryl that nicely refers back to the events of Batman #44 & We Are Robin #1, and FCO’s sublime colors take us from the roaring orange-purples-and reds of the furnace to the icy blue depths of Gotham were the Collider that Jeri Powers company has built to make one giant leap for man – and the periodic table – to the “island of stability” bring all the elements of story and art together in a way that is quite simply astounding. As for Mr Bloom, well, suffice to say we finally see him in action, and its blooming incredible!

Bruce’s solution for dealing with the trophies proves to be utterly inspired too, and completely indicative of everything Snyder and Capullo have set out to accomplish with this arc. Batman #45 builds towards an exciting climax, with the powers-that-be poised to decide the new Batman’s fate, Jim must step up and show who’s the boss – just as terrible danger prepares to strike during a key moment of “censored” dialogue!

Batman #45 is another excellent issue in the Superheavy arc from Scott Snyder, with terrific artwork by Greg Capullo, this storyline continues to throw new and unexpected curve balls our way with every new issue. The various plot strands seem to be coming together now, all of the characters get a good share of the limelight as well, and the stage is now set for one hell of a face-off between the new Batman and Mr Bloom!

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder

Art: Greg Capullo

Inks: Danny Miki

Color: FCO Plascencia

Letters: Steve Wands

Cover Capullo/Miki/FCO

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Batman #43 Review

Tags

Bat Bot, Batman, Batman #43, Batman #43 review, Bruce Wayne, comics, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Scott Snyder

Batman #43

Review by Paul Bowler

In the aftermath of Endgame, Jim Gordon is now Gotham’s new robo-suited Dark Knight. Batman’s investigation into the deceased criminals with enhanced abilities, who were poisoned by the radioactive implants that gave them super-powers, has now become personal. In Batman #43 a new super-villain begins to make his presence felt in Gotham City, but what can Batman uncover about this mysterious Mr Bloom?

Batman #43 sees Jim Gordon’s life as Gotham’s new corporate funded Batman getting even more challenging, as Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s new story-arc finds the former marine and Police Commissioner seeking assistance in his investigation from someone with a connection to the Bat-Suit’s technology – Bruce Wayne!

Entwining flash-forwards, flashbacks and the present with superlative ease, Superheavy Part 3 continues to enrich and develop Jim Gordon’s new role as Batman. Following Bruce’s apparent death in Batman #40 while battling the Joker, issue #41 and #42 then went on to reveal that Bruce Wayne had indeed survived, and was now working at a Recreation Center in Gotham. Now in Batman #43 last issues surprise cliff-hanger begins to unfold as Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne meet for the first time since Jim took over as Batman.

Scott Snyder deftly wrong-foots us again with another surprise plot-twist that few could have expected or predicted. Yes, Bruce’s back, well, sort of, but he’s not exactly the same man he used to be either. Bruce is working at the Lucius Fox Center for Gotham Youth, where he has dedicated himself to the charity helping the neighbourhoods badly affected by the chaos unleashed in Endgame. Gordon has gone to Bruce to ask for his opinion on the seed-like implants Mr Bloom has been selling to criminals in the area. But Jim also needs Bruce’s help with the co-opted Waynetec in the Robo-Bat-Suit, so he can work more covertly as Batman without his every move being monitored by Powers Corp and the GCPD. However, this is a very different Bruce Wayne now, one whose been building the foundations of a new life – with goals and ideals which he cares deeply about.

As much as the Superheavy arc has been about Jim stepping into the role of Batman, this issue illustrates how its still very much a story about Bruce Wayne, primarily by address the burning issues of how Bruce Wayne came back, and why he stopped being Batman. As detailed in Alfred’s especially moving account to Clark Kent, the extraordinary circumstances of Bruce’s resurrection means his life is now free of the dark shadow of his parents murder, and in this remarkable issue Scott Snyder provides us with a fascinating insight into what kind of man Bruce would be if the Batman died and only Bruce Wayne came back. While Bruce is not exactly suffering from amnesia, he’s now a man who could no longer be the Batman, certainly not in the way we once knew, and on the flipside, with Jim Gordon becoming the new Batman, it’s also highlighted the enduring power of Batman’s legacy like never before whilst simultaneously re-examining why the Dark Knight matters so much to the people of Gotham, and the world itself.

Characters from Zero Year also return in Batman #43, including young Duke Thomas, and Bruce’s former girlfriend, Julie Madison, is back as Bruce’s new love interest. Julie Madison is also working with the kids at the Rec Center set up by Lucius Fox; which is open to all the neighbourhoods of the Narrows to provide a safe environment for the kids to play and meet up. Julie brings a fascinating dynamic to this storyline, she’s someone who understood Bruce long before he was Batman – and it’s clear she will have a key role to play in this arc. Alfred also makes a welcome return this issue – in perhaps one of Snyder’s best scripted scenes ever – alongside a rather bemused Clark Kent as the circumstances of Bruce’s miraculous return become apparent…

Batman #43 is a glorious fusion of story and art. Greg Capullo’s work on this issue is nothing short of outstanding: from the barbed enticement of a flowers allure on an impressionable young mind, to the everyday setting of the rec center, along with the beautifully dream-like quality of Alfred’s monologue, the unsettling implications of the final invention, and the excitement of the action-packed closing moments all collectively – in my humble opinion – make this one of Capullo’s finest issue to date. Every aspect of this issue is brought to life in vivid detail; each emotional beat of the story resonates perfectly, effortlessly drawing us into the characters lives and their surroundings.

Bruce is also sporting a new look, with slightly longer hair, and with the beard completing the transformation, Lumber-Bruce will certainly be an interesting change of pace for the character. The scenes between Gordon and Bruce were another big highlight of this issue, surpassed only by the interlude with Alfred and Clark, and of course we also get our first look at the new villain of the piece – Mr Bloom – whose gangly distinct look sublimely befits the character in more ways than one. Danny Miki’s inks bring added flourish to enhance Capullo’s art further, making every detail jump from the page, and FCO Plascencia’s wonderful colors are as exquisite as ever.

As you may have guessed from Greg Capullo’s stunning cover for Batman #43, Mr Bloom finally steps from the shadows in this issue. So far, Mr Bloom’s true motives have remained unclear, although Jim has a hunch about links with events that happened in Gotham years ago. Mr Bloom’s plans begin to take shape this issue, as his unique brand of evil – which has taken root in the cracks in society caused by Endgame – begins to flourish in the Narrows of Gotham. Scott Snyder has created a complex and compelling new adversary for Jim Gordon, and it looks like Mr Bloom will certainly be a challenge for the new Batman.

This issue builds to a tense and menacing climax. Stepping out from the Bat-Bot for the evening, Jim takes to his black and yellow-trimmed EVA Bat-Suit to investigate a warehouse – with Julia Pennyworth providing backup via the com-link – and figure out how Mr Bloom has drawn all the gangs to him. Web spinning wisecracks and Robocop references quickly spiral into a mash-up of bullets, sharks, and batarangs that tips Batman out of the frying pan and into the fire while Mr Bloom’s clandestine business dealings proves that he is no mere weed as be begins blossoming in the fertile soil of Gotham’s dark garden of crime…

If any doubts remain about the direction of this current arc, this issue goes a long way to put them to rest. Far from just killing Bruce off in Endgame simply for the sake of it and putting Jim Gordon in the Bat-Suit to shake things up in the Bat-Universe, we can now begin to see the whole picture, and its evident that Scott Snyder is crafting a story here that brings a new aspect to the 75 year mythos of Batman in a way that’s entirely fresh, and exciting.

With Bruce’s return I was expecting this to be a less Gordon-centric issue, fortunately that’s far from the case, if anything, it actually puts Jim and Bruce right at the heart of this storyline, and I’m really enjoying how this arc is developing. Batman #43 is a sensationally good issue, this is a master class in storytelling from Scott Snyder, and Greg Capullo’s art continues to make every issue of Batman a visual epic on every level.

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Batman #42 Review

Tags

Bat Bot, Batman, Batman #42, Batman #42 review, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Mr Bloom, Scott Snyder, The New 52

Batman #42

Review by Paul Bowler

Jim Gordon’s new role as Gotham’s nano-carbon-suited Dark Knight continues in Batman #42, as the city recovers from the traumatic events of Endgame. Gordon now faces the challenges of life as Gotham’s robotic law enforcer, and more surprises await as the all-new Batman hits the streets of Gotham City…

Batman #42 mixes duelling action figures, Gordon’s new perspective of Gotham as Batman, and plenty of high-octane app driven action as Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s exciting new story-arc kicks into high gear. Its fascinating to see Jim Gordon’s viewpoint of Batman’s world, his “old person” translation of the tech and tactics continues to raise many a wry smile, but the former Marine and Police Commissioner has really stepped up following Batman’s demise in Endgame to become a corporate funded Batman, one that works inside the system in conjunction with the GCPD and the local governments for the people of Gotham.

Superheavy Part 2 continues to drive the narrative by flashing forward and backwards as events unfold. The city is still licking its wounds after the chaos inflicted by the Joker. Jim begins to find his new life as an “official” Batman to be far more complex than he first thought, Powers Corp and the GCPD are the one’s calling the shots, and as a result there are certain lines that Jim won’t be able to cross like his predecessor.

Batman makes a grim discovery at the morgue after Precious Precious mysteriously dies – poisoned by a high-tech radioactive implant. It would seem there have been other victims too, with implants that also gave them enhanced abilities, and the connection between their deaths provides an unsettling mystery for Gordon to mull over. Jim also attempts to hone his Batarang skills in this issue, his bond with Julia and Daryl continues to develop, and a new Batmobile debuts as another super-powered menace goes on the rampage in the Narrows.

I really like how Snyder is gradually developing this new story-arc. Gordon is striving to become the Batman he wholeheartedly believes Gotham needs, but Jim knows he’s got a lot to prove before the city will have faith in him – especially in the downtrodden communities of the Narrows. This new Batman isn’t all just about the high-tech Bat-Bot either. Jim has his own streamlined Bat-Suit for when he has to get out of the robotic-suit and work in the field as Batman, its a clever move by Snyder, and really creates an interesting spin on the new format. There’s a classic nod to the past as well; with a particularly apt use for some digital camouflage.

One notable difference I’ve found with this arc is the level of humour Scott Snyder has weaved into the narrative. It’s cleverly done, never overstated, and strikes a good balances between the wit and the big action set-pieces. The kids squabbling with the action figures and Commissioner Sawyer’s quip about the Bat-Bot being on charge are both priceless, while Gordon’s “superpower” and added incentive for giving up smoking are also nice touches, but it’s the running gag about Gordon’s Batman not having a Batmobile that really steals the show.

Greg Capullo’s art raises the bar once more for this series, the page layouts convey the pace and tone of the plot perfectly, and the sheer attention to detail in Batman #42 is stunning. The new Bat-Suit is really beginning to grow on me now, its got so many cool abilities, and Capullo is clearly relishing every opportunity he gets to show the suit in action. None more so than here, as the Bat-Bot goes toe to toe with a Triad leader with the ability to use the very bricks and mortar of Gotham itself against Batman. The sleek black Batman Bat-Suit that Gordon wears for his EVA’s from the Robo-Bat-Suit is also superb, and I love the classic hints of yellow trim on Gordon’s suit – especially the Bat-Symbol! As ever, Danny Miki’s sublime inks and FCO’s mesmerising colors fuse seamlessly with Capullo’s art to make Batman #42 another tremendous, almost cinematic experience. Batman’s fight with Gee Gee Heung is a ground shaking smack down, the scenes in the morgue are dark and brooding, and the new Batmobile / Bat-Van is a high-tech juggernaut that packs one hell of a punch!

Batman #42 is an action-packed issue that also sets up a wealth of plot threads for the rest of this arc. It would seem “Officer Batman” has found his first super-villain. While the mysterious Mr Bloom remains an enigma for now, there is a notable scene between Gordon and one of his colleagues as they reach a new bat-understanding, and last issues jaw-dropping ending is taken a step further too – with some very surprising results!

I think I’ve overcome my initial reservations about the bunny-eared Bat-Bot’s design and Gordon taking over as Batman. Seeing Jim Gordon experiencing Gotham from Batman’s perspective feels like a breath of fresh air for the title, if anything it actually brings us closer to Gordon’s character than we’ve ever been before. Batman #42 continues to build on the foundations of this new story-arc. Sure, the tone and style is very different from Snyder’s previous Batman storylines, but quintessentially it’s still Batman at its core, and if this issue is anything to go by Gordon and the legacy of the Bat are still very much as inseparable as ever…

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Batman #41 Review

Tags

Batman, Batman #41, Batman #41 review, comics, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Scott Snyder, The New 52

Batman #41

Review by Paul Bowler

Some months have passed since the Joker unleashed the Endgame virus on Gotham City. Now in Batman #41 we rejoin a city whose infrastructure and citizens are far from healed. Gotham’s Dark Knight has fallen, but a new era will rise, one where Jim Gordon take over the fight against crime following Batman’s demise – equipped with an advanced high-tech Bat-Suit – to become the all new Batman and protector of Gotham City!

Following the epic showdown between Batman and the Joker in Endgame, the time has come to discover where Snyder Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s next major story-arc will take us. After all the teasing images and New Comic Book Day sneak peeks the “All New Batman” finally makes his debut in Batman #41, as Scott Snyder’s fifth year in Gotham ushers in a whole new direction for Batman when Jim Gordon suits up as Gotham’s new robotic Dark Knight.

The people of Gotham are still recovering from the carnage that Endgame wrought upon the city and their lives. Batman has seemly perished along with the Joker during their fateful final battle. A new Bat-Signal beams down from the night sky as Jim Gordon gets ready to hit the streets in his new Bat-Suit, plummeting from a modified airship to face a bio-electrical creature attacking Little Cuba in the Narrows. After months of training and indecision, the time has finally come for Jim Gordon to find out if he’s ready to be Batman!

Endgame was certainly a game changer, in every respect. So, how do you follow that? Easy, instead of just putting someone else in the cape and cowl who we might’ve expected to carry on the legacy of the Dark Knight, Scott Snyder boldly circumvents the been there, done that, and already got the T-Shirt approach to bring us something far more innovative and unexpected in Batman #41 as Jim Gordon takes centre stage in the new Bat-Suit. The GCPD’s most stalwart Police Commissioner and former Marine is the third character Scott Snyder has written for in the Batman suit. This issue really allows Jim Gordon a chance to shine like never before as Snyder intercuts present events with Jim’s journey to becoming Batman over the last three months, from his initial meeting with Geri Powers, to sharing his thoughts with Harvey Bullock about the project, the ingenious narrative approach will keep you thinking “Bat-Thoughts” all the way, and it even knowingly speaks to some fans reservations when Jim claps eyes on the Nano-Carbon “Robobat-Bunny” suit for the first time.

This issue also introduces Geri Powers, the CEO of Powers International, who has big plans to honour the memory of Batman’s work, one what will shape the very future of law enforcement in Gotham City. Jim and Geri have a lot in common, and their banter makes for some of the issues best moments. They seem to share a vision to restore peoples trust in the city and the systems which run it, the GCPD didn’t exactly do a very good job protecting Gotham’s citizens during the Endgame crisis, so their new Batman will become an extension of Gotham City itself rather than being perceived as an outlaw, and hopefully rebuild faith in the city.

Greg Capullo’s art is as exceptional as we’ve come to expect from his work on this series. His portrayal of Gotham is as impressive as ever, Capullo seamlessly melds current events with the flashbacks, and it’s fascinating to see these insights into Gordon’s path to accepting his new role as Batman. Danny Miki’s inks complements Capullo’s art perfectly, bringing added intensity and clarity to every page, while FCO’s exquisite colors and tones heighten the emotional impact of Batman’s demise while balancing it with the exciting debut of the new robotic-suited Batman.

From the opening monologue in the twilight, to the stark symbolism of the new Bat-Signal mirroring how much things have changed since Endgame, though to Jim’s first mission in the Bat-Suit – and just for the record, I loved the app for those color schemes – the times they sure are a changing. The suit itself is a terrific design, one that’s bristling with high-tech wizardry, armaments, gadgets, and perhaps most surprisingly of all, it also possesses incredible agility that belies the suits size. It’s not long before Batman is going toe to toe with the bioelectric creature in Little Cuba, the battle is intense to say the least, but it is Jim’s experience and quick thinking that soon pins down who is actually controlling the creature and where they really are.

Capullo has also given Gordon a new look. Jim has been hitting the gym – no pun intended – and the training has certainly paid off. Thrown in a new buzz cut, lose the moustache, and 46 year-old Gordon looks completely different – younger even, ripped, but still very much the Jim Gordon of old. Does it stretch credibility too far? Well, perhaps just as tad, but once you actually see Jim in action wearing the new suit and get on board with his reasoning behind what he’s trying to accomplish by becoming Batman, everything just seems to click into place, and holy Bat-Bot Batman, does that bunny-eared robo-suit have some tricks up its sleeves! This is a Batman working inside the law, as part of the system, but more importantly it gives credence as to why Jim needs to be physically fit, he can’t always rely on the power of the high-tech Bat-Suit, as being the right man to be Batman sometimes means using stealth rather than bruit force to get the job done…

Batman #41: Superheavy Part 1 confidently sets up this brand new story arc in fine style, it might be all monsters and robots on the surface, but its the underlying themes of what Gordon and Powers are trying to achieve that knits everything together so well. Jim has been provided with a great supporting cast of characters too, I especially liked the scene with Lieutenant Bullock, there’s even a new “cave” of sorts, and it all makes the transition into this new era that much easier to accept – if anything it feels like a completely natural progression of events following Endgame.

So… is Batman #41 any good, does this new Jim-Bat concept really work, that’s the burning question isn’t it? Well, it’s difficult to decide after only one issue, but I‘d say that Snyder and Capullo have played an absolute blinder here. It does work, it’s as though they’ve spliced the classic Batman elements with the GCPD, added a Sci-Fi sheen of Robocop, and the result is probably one of their boldest, action-packed, and most off-the-wall stories ever. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m still not 100% completely sold on the idea, but it did genuinely surprise me just how good this new Bat-Bot / Jim Gordon storyline actually turned out to be.

This may not be the Batman we are accustomed to, but it’s going to be a blast to see how Jim Gordon settles into his new role and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store for Gotham’s Nano-Carbon Dark Knight. Snyder and Capullo have certainly defied all our expectations once again! Gotham’s new robotic-suited protector makes an impressive debut in Batman #41, in a slick, exhilarating, and thrilling new storyline – together with a killer final page to round off the issue – I have a feeling that Jim Gordon’s tenure as Batman is going to be pretty damn good!

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