Batman Eternal #41 Review

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Batgirl, Batman, Batman Eternal #41, Batman Eternal #41 review, comics, Gotham, Harper Row, James Tynion IV, Joe Quinones, Kelsey Shannon, Kyle Higgins, Ray Fawkes, Red Hood, Red Robin, Scott Snyder, Tim Seeley

Batman Eternal #41

Review by Paul Bowler

A new threat menaces Gotham in Batman Eternal #41, as the children infected by the nano-swarm are drawn to a warehouse, where assembly has begun on a giant transmitter. It’s up to Red Robin, Batgirl, Red Hood, and Harper Row to investigate and stop whoever is controlling the nano-controlled teens before the device can be activated.

With Batman busy dealing with the Riddler, Batman Eternal #41, finds Red Robin and his allies tackling the threat posed by the nano-tech virus in this fast-paced story from writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, with script by Kyle Higgins, and consulting writers Ray Fawkes, and Tim Seeley. From its chilling opening moments, the terrible power of the nano-swarm is finally revealed, and even Gotham’s protectors are unaware of the terrible danger they now face.

The spotlight falls on Red Robin, Batgirl, Red Hood, and Harper Row this issue as events focus on the victims of the nano-virus and the way they are being manipulated into building a strange device in an old warehouse. I really liked these opening scenes as Red Robin takes charge, he even keeps Batgirl and Red Hood in line, but it is the moments between Red Robin and Harper Row that really shine here. Harper is understandably worried her brother, Cullen, is also affected and inside the building. The way Red Robin persuades Harper to remain on the roof and monitor the situation is handled really well, and the advice Red Robin offers Harper is especially heartfelt and poignant.

Though initially I felt the art by Joe Quinones with colors by Kelsey Shannon seemed a little too bright and breezy, after a few pages Quinones’s bold lines and sharp attention to detail soon won me over, and together with Shannon’s vivid colors, this issues art actually really suited the nano-tech slant and themes of the story perfectly. This issue features some really inventive panel layouts as well: the stakeout merges seamlessly with the view from Red Robin’s binoculars, the brief interlude with Spoiler was also exciting, and the battle in the warehouse were Red Robin, Batgirl and Red Hood make a valiant stand against impossible odds is a kinetic flurry of dynamic angles and inter-cutting perspectives.

The Swarm also features the surprise appearance of a Bat-Villain, one whose there to see the nano-tech is used to its full potential, and someone that also coincidentally has a tenuous connection to the technology used to hypnotize Jim Gordon. Its clever how these throwaway remarks all tie into the major events that kicked off Batman Eternal, the ongoing sub-plot with the nano-swarm now makes a lot more sense as well, especially now that we are beginning to see how it actually slots into the overall scheme of things.

While I’m not entirely sure Batman would approve of Red Hood going all ballistic during the fight inside the warehouse given the age of the targets, despite the fact he uses rubber bullets, this issue of Batman Eternal is an action-packed spectacle that still finds time to squeeze in one last big surprise. With the nanites set to tear the Narrows of Gotham apart, a life changing decision will be made, and a new hero will rise to defend Gotham City. Batman Eternal #41 is a cracking issue of this weekly DC Comics series, with great story, art, and lots of surprises, it’s certainly an issue not to be missed.

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Batman Eternal #17 Review

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Arkham Asylum, Batman, Batman Eternal, Batman Eternal #17, Batman Eternal #17 Review, Batwing, DC Comics, Derek Fridolfs, Dustin Nguymen, Harper Row, James Tynion IV, Jason Kalizi, Jim Corrigan, John Layman, Ray Fawkes, Scott Snyder, The New 52, Tim Seeley

Batman Eternal #17

Review by Paul Bowler

Arkham Asylum is in the grip of a terrifying new horror. Batwing and Jim Corrigan were sent by Batman to investigate the Asylum, where they both encountered supernatural forces, before uncovering the horrifying truth. Meanwhile, Red Robin and Harper Row find a new lead in Tokyo that could solve the mystery of the nanovirus that is slowly killing her brother. Many years ago Gotham faced a power that even Batman struggled to defeat. Now this same dark force is gathering in Arkham’s shadowy depths, soon he will rise, and the city will tremble before him.

Batman Eternal #17 delves ever deeper into the hellish events unfolding beneath Arkham Asylum, enlightening us with a series of flashbacks that offer us greater insight to the cause of what’s happening in Arkham, while other plot threads involving Batman’s allies continue to play out and reach new turning points. With it’s tightly plotted story by writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, with script by Ray Fawkes, and consulting writers John Layman, and Tim Seeley, Batman Eternal #17 casts a spectral eye over the horrors emerging within Arkham while other significant characters and events in this weekly series also get a share of the action.

The Savior is a terrific story that sees Batwing and Jim Corrigan faced with the full horror of what has been happening in Arkham, as they confront the spiritual manifestation of Deacon Blackfire himself in a cavern below the Asylum. Deacon Blackfire’s spirit has returned to unleash havoc on Gotham City. The story of this deranged cult leader, who first appeared in the four part mini-series Batman: The Cult (1988), is told here though a series of flashbacks. It’s revealed how he preyed on the homeless, using drugs to subvert them to his cause to create an army beneath Gotham and begin a war on crime. Blackfire even captured Batman and attempted to brainwash him, but the Dark Knight managed to turn the Deacon’s minions against him and they killed him.

As well as the ghostly happenings in Arkham Asylum, Batman Eternal #17 catches up with Red Robin and Harper Row in Tokyo where their investigation into the nanobots released in Gotham has brought them to the Akihabara District, and a meeting with Sergei Alexandrov. Meanwhile, back at Wayne Manor, Alfred’s daughter, Julia, confronts him about his decision to dedicate his life to serving the Wayne family, leading to some particularly emotional scenes where Alfred’s dignified silence conveys everything the ideal he serves so loyally means to him.

Dustin Neguyn’s art for Batman Eternal #17 really gives a dark and chilling edge to the scenes in Arkham, with Derek Fridolfs inks also enhancing the foreboding atmosphere, to make Batwing’s and Jim Corrigan’s plight seem all the more desperate. The investigation by Red Robin and Harper Row in Tokyo provides a stark contrast to the main events of the issue, as they confront Sergei Alexandrov in his high-tech lab, while the scenes back in Gotham at Wayne Manor serve as a backdrop to Julia’s argument with her father. Each location is given its own distinct pallet and tone by colorist Jason Kalizi, with vivid hues used for the interludes in Tokyo and Wayne Manor, while the flashbacks featuring Deacon Blackfire have more a grainy, darker tone, and the pitch black shadows beneath Arkham are punctuated with a shimmering blend of unearthly energies from beyond the netherworld.

With the return of Deacon Blackfire, channelling his spirit via the lumbering form of Maxie Zeus, and with the Joker’s Daughter as a maniacal sidekick, this issue ends on a supernatural high, and sets in motion a series of startling events and ghostly transformations. I really like how Batman features in this storyline, as the past entwines with the present, it shows just how flexible and versatile the format of a weekly series can be. Personally, I really like Batman stories when they dip into the realm of the supernatural like this, especially when the art and the story works so well together. Batman Eternal #17 is an excellent issue with and exciting story, great character moments, and enough dark paranormal twists in the plot to keep you guessing right up until the final page.

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Batman Eternal #15 Review

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Arkham Asylum, Batgirl, Batman, Batman Eternal, Batman Eternal #15, Batwing, Batwoman, DC Comics, Derek Fridolfs, Dustin Nguyn, Harper Row, James Tynion IV, Jason Kalisz, Jim Corrigan, John Layman, Ray Fawkes, Red Hood, Red Robin, Scott Snyder, Tim Seeley

Batman Eternal #15

Review by Paul Bowler

Gotham’s gang war is over following the blood soaked showdown between Penguin and Carmine Falcone. While Jim Gordon had to make a decision that could alter his life forever, Lieutenant Bard and Batman reached a new understanding after tackling the corruption within the GCPD, leading to the arrest of Commissioner Forbes and the Mayor. Batman Eternal #15 follows Red Robin’s mission to Tokyo, while Batgirl and Red Hood run into Batwoman in Rio. Plus, as Batman and Bard deal with the remaining gangs in Gotham, we return to Arkham Asylum, where Batwing and Jim Corrigan must confront the hellish forces which have been unleashed there.

Batman Eternal #15 juggles multiple pot strands, building successfully on the aftermath of the gang war, while also giving the rest of Batman’s globe trotting allies’ time in the spotlight, as well as the sinister events in Arkham Asylum. With its fast paced story by writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, script by Ray Fawkes, along with consulting writers John Layman, and Tim Seeley, Batman Eternal #15 makes good use of all the characters and finely hones each aspect of the multiple plot threads that have been gradually building over the course of this weekly series.

The Common Limit sees Red Robin pilot his aircraft to Tokyo, having uncovered the stowaway Harper Row en route, who is determined to find out who is behind the nanotech that is slowly killing her brother. There are some really fun moments between Red Robin and Harper during these early scenes, the banter between them is excellent as well, especially when Harper gets his name wrong and dons a makeshift mask, something that nicely links into the Bluebird crime-fighting persona we know she will eventually adopt (as we saw in Batman #28) to fight alongside Batman.

As Batwing and Jim Corrigan explore Arkham the full extent of what has been happening begins to become apparent. While they may seem an unlikely team, the combination of Batwing’s hi-tech suit and Corrigan’s in-depth knowledge of occult forces, actually works really well, and the characters seem to have stuck up a very natural bond. Their descent into the lower levels of the Asylum is quite unsettling, we catch sight of Riddler’s cell, a shadowy stairwell finds an inmate babbling with all kinds of madness, and the Scarecrow’s fate is almost as disturbing as the bizarre manifestations in his cell.

Two further interludes, one involving Batman and Lieutenant Bard as they round up the remaining gangs members, the other with Batgirl, who has reluctantly teamed up with the Red Hood, on her mission in Rio to find evidence to clear her father of causing the Gotham train crash, although brief, ensure that both subplots are kept bubbling away in the background. I really like the dynamic between Batman and Bard, it’s very different to the one the Dark Knight had with Gordon, and I look forward to seeing how it develops over time. Batgirl and the Red Hood also had some intense scenes, and it was good to see Batwoman show up as well.

Dustin Nguyn’s art for this issue of Batman Eternal is excellent, together with Derek Fridolfs inks, the various locations and extensive cast of characters are all handled really well. Nguyn’s art brings a real sense of kinetic action to every scene, especially the segments in Arkham, with its sinister supernatural elements and hordes of raving lunatics lurking down in the Asylums shadowy depths. The colors by Jason Kalisz also gives each section of the story its own distinct tone: from the crimson hues inside Red Robin’s aircraft, the greys and blacks of Gotham are in stark contrast to the purple neon glow over a back street in Rio, while the horrors of Arkham are cloaked in mixture of deep shadows and ghoulish magic as Batwing and Jim Corrigan explore its secrets.

Batman #15 rounds everything off with a thrilling double edged cliff-hanger, one that will see Batwing’s reliance on the technology of his armoured suit pushed to the limit, while in Arkham’s basement Corrigan must face a new terror waiting in the darkness. I really enjoyed this issue, the various plot elements all meshed together well, and I also liked how we finally got to return to the storyline in Arkham as well. All in all then, I’d have to say Batman Eternal #15 was a good solid issue, the story and art were really impressive, and I look forward seeing how the intriguing global adventures with Batman’s allies and the supernatural storyline in Arkham pans out, as well as the impact they’ll have on future events in Batman Eternal.

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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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Batman #18 Review

Tags

Alex Maleeve, Andy Kubert, Batman, Blackgate, Bruce Wayne, Damien Wayne, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Gotham City, Greg Capullo, Harper Row, James Tynion IV, Sandra Hope, Scott Snyder, The New 52, Zero Year

Batman #18

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

If the psychological damage inflicted upon the Bat-Family by the Joker in Death of the Family wasn’t enough to contend with, tragedy struck again when Damien, the ten year old son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghull, was brutally slaughtered in Batman Incorporated #8. The requiem for Robin continues across all the Bat-Titles this March as everyone close to Batman has to come to terms with the shocking news of Damien’s death.

Overwhelmed with grief, Batman’s life starts to spiral out of control. It falls to Harper Row, the young electrical engineer who once helped Batman in the past, to try and make the Dark Knight see reason before his reckless crime-fighting spree gets him killed.

Scott Snyder handles the aftermath of Damien’s death in Batman #18 by crafting an incredibly moving tale, albeit one with two distinctly different creative teams. The first part of Batman #18 is by Scott Snyder, Kubert and Sandra Hope, while the closing half of the story is handled by Snyder and James Tynion IV, and Alex Maleeve.

This issue features the return of Harper Row, who assisted Batman after he helped her deal with a gang that was bullying her brother. Harper and her brother, Cullen, are still living together in the Narrows of Gotham City with the hope that the Wayne Foundation will soon honour its promise to redevelop the area. Batman #18 opens with Harper and Cullen as they set out to visit their father in Blackgate Penitentiary. The visit doesn’t go well, their father upsets Cullen, and then blames Harper’s “special friend” for getting him sent to jail.

After the unpleasant visit to Blackgate, they return home, where Harper decides to go out looking for Batman. She is deeply concerned about the changes she has noticed in him recently. Even though he told her to end her activities, Harper has continued to monitor Batman’s movements, and over the last week she has been shocked by the level of ferocity she’s witnessed Batman using to apprehend ordinary street criminals – even operating during the daytime – almost as if he is consumed by a pain that feels strangely familiar to Harper.

Harper’s fears that Batman’s relentless crusade against crime is wearing him down, to the point where he is actually beginning to make dangerous mistakes, are realized when Batman is caught off guard by a surprise attack from a thug involved in Ultra-Dog fights. However, when Harper takes it upon herself to intervene, the Dark Knight is far from pleased, and the ensuing war of words inadvertently leaves them both with more than a few home truths to dwell on.

Unperturbed by Batman’s violent outburst, Harper visits Wayne Tower the next day and has a meeting with Bruce Wayne – where she asks him to help her send a message to Batman. That night Batman meets Harper on a rooftop overlooking Wayne Enterprises. Batman apologises for lashing out at her before and Harper explains how she recognised his pain, comparing it with how badly she felt after her mother was murdered. Those dark days would’ve destroyed Harper were it not for the memory of her mother’s advice that helped Harper to find the light in her life again. It is this one word that Harper shares with Batman, a silent message glowing in the night, a light which she hopes will help Batman find the strength he needs to overcome the pain of his loss.

Batman #18 is a remarkable issue by Snyder and Tynion that sensitively deals with Bruce’s reaction to Damien’s tragic death. Both aspects of this story are well handled by Snyder and Tynion, they work extremely well together, and the transition between their scripts is almost seamless. It would have been easy for Snyder to have had Batman go off the rails like he did after Jason Todd was murdered by the Joker in Death of the Family (1988/89), however by utilising the return of Harper Row in Batman #18 Snyder and Tynion have the opportunity to explore Batman’s grief from an entirely new perspective. The way Harper pushes Batman to confront the grief she herself once faced is truly inspired, as is the way they both unwittingly discover an inner catharsis that neither of them were expecting to find as a result.

There has been a lot of speculation about whether Harper will be the next Robin. While this is a distinct possibility, the similarities between Harper’s story and Tim Drake’s origin could just be a red herring to keep readers guessing, I believe Harper’s real potential lies more with her operating on the fringes of Batman’s twilight realm. Harper isn’t interested in finding out Batman’s secret identity, neither does she want the right to fight by his side, all she wants is to make Batman realize how much Gotham needs him – and that she is not prepared to watch him die while he is consumed by a pointless vendetta against his own pain.

Batman #18 also offers readers a very striking mix of artistic styles. Adam Kubert’s art is inked by Sandra Hope, and portrays the Dark Knight as a muscle bound engine of vengeance who goes all out to vent his pent up fury on Gotham’s petty criminals. The final pages by Alex Maleev offer a more refined interpretation of the Dark Knight, one which I feel gives an even greater emotional resonance to the stories closing moments. The different styles don’t really detract from the overall effect of the story, in some ways it actually enhances it, although of the two I preferred Maleev’s take on the Dark Knight as it seemed more in keeping with the overall tone of the issue. Greg Capullo and FCO Plascencia’s cover for Batman #18 features Robin’s empty red laced books; it’s a powerfully understated image, and one that instantly surmises the emptiness of Robin’s death.

Snyder and Capullo’s next big story arc, Zero Year, begins in June with issue #21 and will explore the secret history of Bruce Wayne’s transformation into Batman. The death of Damien Wayne will no doubt seem even more poignant as we look back at Bruce Wayne’s early years in the months ahead. Batman #18 not only provides a fitting coda to Robin’s demise, it also brings Harper Row closer to the legacy of the Bat, and gives Batman a chance to openly face up to his loss and look to the future with a newfound resolve to be the strength that Gotham needs to survive.