Batman #101 Review

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Batman, Batman #101, Batman #101 review, Bruce Wayne, Catwoman, Clownhunter, DC Comics, Gotham, Guillem March, James Tynion IV, Joker, Joker War, Lucius Fox, Punchline, Robin, Tomeu Morey

Batman #101

Review by Paul Bowler

A new dawn rises over Gotham City in Batman #101 as the dust settles in the aftermath of Joker War. The full impact of the Joker’s reign of terror and the effect its had on the citizens of the city is now realised in the cold light of day. Batman chooses a bold new path for his war on crime as Bruce Wayne’s life is changed forever, and why exactly is Cole Cash – a.k.a.-Grifter, now working for Lucius Fox?

It’s time to ring in the changes as writer James Tynion IV sets out a new direction for the Dark Knight in this somber, emotional and reflective issue of Batman. Joker War might be over but the fallout from what the Clown Prince of Crime did to the city using the Wayne fortune will have long lasting ramifications for Bruce Wayne. Tynion delivers some terrific character moments for Batman and Lucius Fox as they reevaluate their lives in the wake of the traumatic  events they each suffered, both mentally and physically, during Joker War. Fox now has control of the Wayne fortune, the board of Wayne Enterprises want Bruce quietly sidelined from the company, and Batman is going to have to tighten his utility belt with a more cash strapped, low-tech, approach to crime fighting.

Guillem March’s strikingly detailed artwork for Batman #101 brings vivid clarity to the events in this issue. Numerous pages are awash with swapping vistas of Gotham as Batman looks back on simpler times, where Commissioner Gordon always stood by the Bat-Signal, Robin fought by the Dark Knight’s side, and Alfred was ever present in the Bat-Cave to offer advice.  Now all these constants in Batman’s life are gone, March’s artwork beautifully encapsulates these reflective, emotionally charged moments, whilst Tomeu Morey’s subtle colors heightens them perfectly in the Dark Knight’s powerful scenes with Lucius Fox and his tender soul-searching moments with Catwoman. Batman’s no-holds-bared fight with Lucius Fox’s new bodyguard, Grifter, is another highlight as well.

Along with having Bruce relocating his operations as Batman to a more modest location in Gotham, Tynion also acknowledges what Joker War will mean for Bat and the Cat relationship now. Tough decisions need to be made to accommodate the new status quo Bruce has adopted to allow himself to work off the grid as leaner, more self-sufficient Batman, and Catwoman being the number one target of Gotham’s underworld after stealing the Wayne fortune back from the Underwriter isn’t exactly going to make things any easier for them or their relationship going forwards.

Brief mentions of Punchline’s media message and Clownhunter’s vigilante antics also get thrown into the mix to keep those plot lines bubbling away in the background for future issue to explore. Although this issue comes across initially as being rather downbeat after Joker War, there’s a distinct move by Tynion here to really start to place his stamp of the character with a more back-to-basics approach. With its excellent character driven narrative by James Tynion IV and terrific artwork by Guillem March, Batman #101 heralds a new beginning for the Dark Knight – in more way than one!

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer: James Tynion IV / Artist: Guillem March

Colors: Tomeu Morey / Letters: Clayton Cowles

Cover: Guillem March & Tomeu Morey

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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 #95 Review

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Batman, Batman #95, Batman #95 review, DC Comics, Gotham, James Tynion IV, Joege Jimenez, Joker, Joker War, Joker War Part 1, Lucius Fox, Punchline, Tommy Morey

Batman #95

Review by Paul Bowler

Joker War gets underway in earnest in Batman #95 as the Clown Prince of Crime and the Dark Knight prepare to square off for their greatest battle yet! The Joker’s motivations have changed. He’s gone all out to gain the upper hand, and Joker is hell bent on ensuring this will be the final chapter in their eternal conflict. Batman’s life is already in ruins and Joker War has  only just begun!

The much touted final showdown between Batman and the Joker explodes — quite literally — in the pages of Batman #95 with Part One of writer James Tynion IV’s highly anticipated Joker War. Following the shock revelation of the Designer’s true identity and Joker having now seized control of the Wayne fortune, the issue quickly establishes the dramatic shift in the Joker’s goals with an insightful flashback to Batman’s early years as he races in the Batmobiile to a previous showdown with the Joker, and Tynion skilfully uses this opportunity to tug at our heart strings as the conversation between Alfred and Batman highlights some particularly striking parallels between past and present circumstances.

Indeed, the fallout from Alfred’s death seems to permeate virtually every aspect of this issue for Batman. Never has Batman needed his oldest, most trusted friend more, and never has he seemed so desperately alone without him. As we rejoin events in the present day Tynion dramatically relays how Bruce’s fortune, Gotham, and even the law have all been taken by the Joker and turned against the Dark Knight. Even Lucius Fox has succumbed to the Joker’s influence, thus giving the Clown Prince of Crime access to all the wonderful toys, and the GCPD has been rendered powerless because of the Underwriter’s legal machinations. Everything that made Batman what he was has been completely stripped away and the Dark Knight is now effectively on the run.

Joege Jimenez’s art for Batman #95 is sumptuously rendered and vividly detailed. The opening flashback, which dovetails sublimely into a high octane Batmobile chase, together with the gloriously gloomy depiction of Gotham, the tantalising glimpse of a new Bat-Suit that’s highly reminiscent of the ice-tech look of George Clooney’s final costume in Batman & Robin (minus the nipples thankfully), and Batman’s face-off with Punchline are all action-packed moments that are beautifully realised by Jimenez’s impressive artwork and Tommy Morey’s exquisite colors. For me though the biggest highlight of the issue was the Joker splurging the cash as he returned to the very origins of the legacy of the Bat itself in the most macabre way imaginableIt! It’s a brilliant, creepy scene, and genuinely chilling. 

That aforementioned showdown between Batman and Punchline is another great moment in this issue. Although I found Punchline’s debut a few issues previously something of an anti-climax after all the hype surrounding her, she’s beginning to grow on me a little bit now, and her fight with Batman in the compromised Mini-Bat-Cave saw significant improvements in the characterisation and depiction of the Joker’s new partner.

As cliffhangers go, this issues a doozy, and I can’[t wait to see how Dark Knight fights his way out of this one! Batman #95 provides a bombastic opening salvo to Joker War and certainly gets this major DC Comics Bat-Event off to a great start. Tynion’s run on Batman continues to go from strength to strength with every issue, he’s really firing on all cylinders now, and the art team on this book is also doing a fantastic job. So, will Joker War really turn out to be this much hyped final conflict between the Joke and Batman? No, I don’t believe that for a moment either, but it sure looks like we are going to be in for a battle Royale whatever happens after the dust has settled in the wake of this epic Batman event!

Publisher:DC Comics

Writer: James Tynion IV / Artist Joege Jimenez

Colors: Tommy Morey / Letters: Clayton Cowles

Cover: Jimenez & Morey / Joker Variant Cover: Francesco Mattina

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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 #86 Review

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Alfred, Batman, Batman #86, Batman #86 review, Brice Wayne, Catwoman, City of Bane, Danny Miki, DC Comics, Deathstroke, Gotham, James Tynion IV, Lucius Fox, Nightclimber, Slade Wilson, Tony S. Daniel

Batman #86

Review by Paul Bowler.

A new era begins in Batman #86, but the Dark Knight’s world has changed forever. Bane is defeated and one of Batman’s oldest allies is dead. Now as Batman begins to rebuild his life and embarks on his bold new vision for Gotham, Deathstroke arrives in town, hired under a deadly new contract that threatens everything Batman is striving to achieve…

New series writer James Tynion IV takes the helm of DC Comics flagship Batman title for this next chapter in the life of the Dark Knight, together with the epic new art team of Tony S. Daniel and Danny Miki, for a story that instantly sets the tone for an entirely new directions as Batman starts to pick up the pieces after Alfred’s death. Their Dark Designs Part 1 gives us poignant insight into Batman’s radical new approach towards Gotham, indeed Alfred Pennyworth’s untimely demise in City of Bane inevitably hangs heavily over this issue, and consequently because of these opening scenes it also resonates just as powerfully in the wake of Batman’s confrontation with Deathstroke as well.

Batman has other allies though who will seem to be just as crucial to the Dark Knight’s designs during Tynion’s run. So, with Catwoman undercover and working a room full of Gotham’s high-fliers at the New Wayne Campus and Lucius Fox crafting Batman new and ever more wonderful toys in an immense subbasement workshop, Batman is free to deal with the lethal contract killers he’s been monitoring. Tynion is clearly going all-out with some new, and inventive technological innovations for the Dark Knight’s arsenal, and this issue sees the debut of the perhaps Batman’s most fearsome vehicle to date – the Nightclimber!

Needless to say the artwork that graces the pages of Batman #86 is little short of phenomenal. The pencils by Tony S. Daniel combined with Danny Miki’s inks are like a match made in heaven, and together with the vibrant colors by Tomeu Morey this issue is a veritable feast for the senses. From the opening rain-swept scenes over Gotham with a contemplative Batman, to witnessing the hired killers gathering in secret, and the deft inter-cutting between Batman’s conversations, first with Catwoman and then Lucius, there is a rich fluidity and consistency to the art that is staggeringly beautiful. Of course, Deathstroke is the one who has been brought in to lead this band of hired killers and the showdown with Slade Wilson – though brief – is still impressively depicted.

Closing things out with an intriguing mystery, a night sky full of memories, and a dark epilogue Batman #86 gets the new creative teams run off to a pretty good start. However, Batman #86 follows what has arguably been one of the most divisive runs in recent times for Batman comics. So is Batman #86 a bold new era or damage control? I honestly cannot decide as this issue felt like a little of both to me. I still feel that Tom King’s run has done immeasurable harm to the legacy of the Dark Knight, but, if anyone can fix things I’m sure James Tynion IV is the man to do it. Fingers crossed, eh?

Publisher: DC Comics Writer: James Tynion IV

Pencils: Tony S. Daniel Inks: Danny Miki Colors: Tomeu Morey

Letterer: Clayton Cowles Cover Tony S Daniel & Tomeu Morey

Follow @paul_bowler

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 #20 Review

Tags

Alex Maleey, Basil Karlo, Batman, Clayface, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Greg Capullo, James Tynion IV, Lucius Fox, Scott Snyder, The New 52

Batman #20

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

 

Clayface has returned to Gotham City, embarking on a lucrative crime spree,  using his powers to blackmail and terrorise his wealthy victims. While investigating the death of Brain Wayde, the architect developing the Gotham Initiative, Batman discovers that Wayde was murdered by Clayface. It seems that the magical properties of the clay that turned Basil Karlo into Clayface has mutated Karlo’s DNA. Clayface can now actually become the people he mimics, but his own DNA is gradually being corrupted by the clay. Bruce Wayne arranges to meet Lucius Fox at Wayne Enterprises, to order a protective suit for Batman, but he is shocked when Lucius transforms into Clayface and attack him.

Cornered by Clayface in the Wayne Enterprises R & D Lab, Bruce Wayne is powerless to stop Clayface ransacking the armoury. Bruce tries to use a squad of Bat-Bots to defend himself, but Clayface mimics Wayne’s voice and deactivates the robots. Clayface reveals how he killed Brian Wayde before capturing Bruce and throwing him into a crusher with Lucius.

After using a prototype Batman suit to escape from the crusher, Bruce leaves Fox to recover while he goes after Clayface. Having used Bruce Wayne’s identity to rob a bank, Clayface flees the scene on a motorbike, using tendrils of clay to cover his escape back to Wayne Enterprises. Once inside he is attacked by Batman in his new armoured suit. Batman uses a barrage of chemicals and solvents against Clayface, even a massive electrical charge, but Clayface is too powerful and overpowers him. Commissioner Gordon and the Police arrive just as Clayface is about to rip open Batman’s faceplate, and reveal the Dark Knights secret identity…

Batman #20 follows on from last issues brilliant cliff-hanger with Bruce Wayne in mortal danger as Clayface attacks him in the armoury at Wayne Enterprises. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have done a superb job of realising the full potential of Clayface; the way his powers have mutated makes him a deadly adversary. What is even more chilling is how Basil Karlo is losing himself in the identities of the people he duplicates.

There are some terrific scenes of carnage in the R & D Lab, brilliant rendered by Greg Capullo’s art, with inks by Danny Miki and colours by FCO Plascencia. The raw power and strength of Clayface is terrifying to behold, as he tosses a Batmobile around like a toy. What is really disgusting though is how he swallows Bruce Wayne whole, drawing him into his body, before disgorging him later to dispose of him with Lucius in the compactor. As the walls of the compactor begin to close in on them, Bruce and Lucius search through the mangled pieces of equipment, where they find a prototype Bat-Suit amongst the discarded junk. Bruce puts on the red-winged Bat-Suit and uses it to get them out of the crusher. I never thought I’d ever see anything like a Star Wars Trash Compactor scene in a Batman comic, but this was fantastic. It was pure genius on Scott Snyder’s part to make the prototype Bat-Suit a clear homage to the animated Batman Beyond series, particularly when Lucius says how the armour is faulty and would take at least twenty years to fund and perfect.

Scott Snyder ensures that Batman #20 dovetails nicely into the flash forward – where Bruce Wayne robbed a bank and shot Gordon – that opened the previous issue. The action never lets up for a moment as Clayface returns to Wayne Enterprises, where Batman confronts him wearing his new Bat-Suit with heavy epidermal protection. Batman uses every chemically based strategy in his arsenal against Clayface, but nothing seems to have much effect. Clayface begins to morph horrifically during the fight, taunting Batman with disembodied faces from his Rogues Gallery.

It’s very clever how Batman manages to trap Clayface in a panic chamber, using his own mutated DNA against him, to create the perfect cage for the shape shifting villain. Batman also manages to prevent his secret identity being revealed, although it does stretch credibility a little to think how close everyone is to knowing Bruce’s secret without even realizing it. This minor quibble aside, Batman #20 still manages to provide a highly emotional climax.

After Clayface unwittingly taunts Batman from inside the panic chamber, he transforms into Damien Wayne, little knowing what a profound affect his distorted observations will have on the Dark Knight.

Later in the Bat-Cave as Bruce discusses the case with Alfred, he admits how deeply Damien’s death has affected him, but that he is not losing himself in his grief like he did when Jason died. Alfred offers to sit with Bruce a while and they view the playback of Damien’s last mission with Batman against the Reaper using VR goggles. This poignant conclusion to a Requiem for Robin is all the more remarkable as it says so much by saying so little.

The back up story by James Tynion IV and Alex Maleey sees Batman and Superman facing dark supernatural forces summoned by two teenagers in an old apartment block. Superman does his best to hold back the Will O’ The Wisp, but its magic weakens him. Batman approaches the spirit of Becca, who helped summon the demonic creature. With her help Batman finds a scrap of paper they used to summon the creature. Batman translates the Gallic writing and sends the creature back to its own dimension. Becca’s spirit gives Superman some sound advice, before slowly fading away. Ghost Lights has been a great supernatural adventure for Superman and Batman, and it also manages to address some of the issues Batman has over Damian’s death.

Batman #20 is another thoroughly entertaining issue from Snyder and Capullo, and it leaves us eagerly awaiting the start of Zero Year next month.