Batman #33 Review

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Batman, Batman #33, Batman 75, Batman Day, Bruce Wayne, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Greg Capullo, Riddler, Savage City, Scott Snyder, The New 52, Zero Year

Batman #33

Review by Paul Bowler

It’s the showdown that will decide the fate of Gotham City, as Batman confronts the Riddler in Batman #33, the special extra-sized finale of Zero Year! Following the terrible destruction unleashed by the Riddler’s actions during the superstorm, the city was transformed into a flooded post-apocalyptic urban wilderness. Batman survived and returned to free Gotham from the Riddler with the help of Lieutenant Gordon and Lucius Fox. Batman set out alone to find the Riddler in his secret lair. Now, with a military air strike on the way, the Dark Knight must solve the greatest challenge of his early career to save Gotham City and defeat the Riddler.

Batman #33 marks the conclusion of the epic Zero Year storyline by Eisner Award-winning writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo. Their bold re-imagining of Batman’s origin has offered us an entirely fresh perspective, one that has remained eminently respectful to the character, and skilfully redefined it within the context of DC Comics’ New 52 continuity.

The final countdown has begun, fighter jets have been scrambled from Fort Robbins, but the Riddler intends to misdirect the air strike towards a series of strategically placed explosives that will detonate and sinks the entire city. While Batman faces the Riddler’s challenge in the museum, the Dark Knight’s new allies, Lieutenant Gordon and Lucius Fox, together with the Special Ops Seals, must find a way to delay the air strike. This final part of Savage City brings a complex, thrilling, and fittingly cerebral edge to Batman’s showdown with the Riddler, as the Dark Knight tackles the complexities of Nygma’s deadly high-tech version of the circular Oroboros game – first seen in Batman #22 when Bruce originally encountered Nygma in the museums Egyptian exhibit.

With the Sphinx looming over them, this setting – so ingeniously hidden in plain sight all along and masterfully revealed last issue – not only provides a fitting backdrop for their final battle, it also links back though virtually every aspect of Zero Year itself. The way Scott Synder brings everything together in Batman #33 is staggeringly brilliant, and it is this total summation of everything that Zero Year stands for which now ultimately culminates with a gripping battle of intellects between the Dark Knight and the Riddler.

The Riddler and his web of puzzles and schemes have been an intrinsic part of Zero Year, yet it perhaps only now, as we approach the climax of this storyline, that we can fully appreciate how masterfully Snyder and Capullo have not only woven the character into the narrative of Batman’s origin, but also re-defined this classic villain in a way that has made him infinitely more compelling than ever before. Nygma and his ego-driven narcissistic designs for Gotham has given a fascinating insight into the psychology of the Riddler, believing himself slighted by the world around him, Nygma has basked in the chaos and destruction he’s unleashed in order to prove his point to the city while challenging the Dark Knight and the citizens of Gotham to evolve and defeat him. Batman #33 is a veritable showcase of Edward Nygma’s uncanny ingenuity and cunning as Batman races against time to solve each of the twelve mind-bending historical riddles entwined in the games lethal web of lasers.

Over the course of Zero Year, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have explored many facets of the Dark Knight’s origin. The flashback sequences have often proved to be the most compelling aspects of all and with Batman #33 Snyder and Capullo continue to explore the psychological trauma caused by the murder of Bruce’s parents during his teenage years. We see his life beginning to take a dark, and self-destructive path, and it is only through the events in Batman #33 that we learn the full extent of Bruce Wayne’s struggle with depression, as well as the lengths he was prepared to go to erase his pain, and the resolve that gave him the strength to fight his way back through the darkness with a decision that would see him leave Gotham City and begin the journey that would ultimately set him on the path to becoming Batman.

Greg Capullo’s incredible art work never ceases to amaze me. Batman #33 is easily one of Capullo’s finest issues to date, the level of detail on every page is staggering, and I guarantee when you’ve finished this issue you will be reading it again right away to savour each and every panel Greg Capullo has crafted for this Zero Year finale. Danny Miki’s inks and FCO Plascencia’s colors are superb, the shading, details, and rich color pallet is a joy to behold, and the amazing work of this artistic team on Batman #33 has, quite literally, blown me away. As well as Capullo’s, Miki’s, and FCO’s stunning cover (Great to see FCO also credited on the cover now as well), Batman #33 also has two excellent variant covers by Bryan Hitch and Paolo Rivera.

The intellectual battle between Batman and Riddler is just one of the many highlights this issue, as fate spins like penny, Gordon and Lucius also get their moment in the spotlight. Greg Capullo is the absolute master of conveying the characters emotions, their expressions, their stance, everything just works together so perfectly. Seeing the Riddler and Batman face to face, with Nygma finally seeing Batman as a worthy adversary, transcends their battle of wits to a whole new level. Incidentally, they are both wearing purple gloves, another nice touch that makes Zero Year’s reworking of Batman’s origin feel so special. Likewise, the scenes between Alfred and Bruce, and the way that Bruce’s past strikes a deeply moving, and emotionally charged symmetry with the Riddler’s grand design for Gotham, and its subsequent aftermath, will I’m sure, leave a warm smile on your face.

Scott Snyder concludes Zero Year with a brilliant coda that personifies his love and respect for the character of Batman, and through his deeply personal, and emotive re-envisioning of Batman’s origin, Snyder has ensured that Zero Year delivered everything he promised, and then some. Gothamites are made of strong stuff, the city will rebuild, and Bruce’s speech at Wayne Enterprises, and the announcement he makes on this day heralds the dawn of a new age, and the simple gesture of a surprise gift heals a rift with a bond of life-long friendship. Above all though, it is the final, closing scenes of Zero Year that are the most magnificent of all, and the clarity of this moment is one that will remain with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

Batman #33 is a stunning finale to Zero Year, as Batman’s confrontation with the Riddler concludes the third arc: Savage City. Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s epic twelve issue re-imagining of Bruce Wayne’s early crime fighting career has encompassed the classic elements of the Dark Knights origin, modernising and redefining many of the iconic cornerstones that have defined the character over he last seventy five years. I think Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, and FCO Plascencia have done tremendous work on Batman, I’ve enjoyed all the storylines, and I think Zero Year in particular has been their most outstanding achievement of all!

So what’s next for the Dark Knight? Well, in August, Batman #34, and the Batman issues which follow, will be jumping forward in time, to coincide with the events and continuity that takes place directly after DC’s current weekly series, Batman Eternal. Batman #34 will be a stand-alone story, co written by Gerry Duggan (Who is also writing this October’s new series Batman Arkham Manor), is a spooky detective story, with art by Matteo Scalera. This will lead into Snyder and Capullo’s next Batman story arc, Endgame, which begins in October’s Batman #35, Endgame, is also set in the same continuity as Batman #34 and both take place right after the ending of Batman Eternal.

Batman Endgame will be a six part storyline, and it promises to be Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s most exciting story yet. Endgame is Snyder’s and Capullo’s big story for Batman’s 75th anniversary, boasting an extensive cast of characters and thrilling cataclysmic events. Each issue will also feature back-up stories that link into the main arc of Endgame, co written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, with the artists changing monthly.

Batman #33 is extra special in many ways, not only because it’s the final issue of Zero Year, it also happens to be released on Wednesday, July 23rd, as part of DC Comics international Batman Day celebrations for the 75th Anniversary of Batman. So, enjoy Batman #33 and have a happy Batman Day Batfans!

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Batman #32 Review

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Batman, Batman #32, Batman #32 Review, Bruce Wayne, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Savage City, Scott Snyder, The New 52, The Riddler, Zero Year

Batman #32

Review by Paul Bowler

The endgame draws near in Batman #32, the penultimate issue of Zero Year, as Batman sets out to take back control of Gotham City from the Riddler. Having survived the chaos unleashed by the Riddler during the superstorm Batman, along with new allies Lieutenant Gordon and Lucius Fox, worked together to track the source of the Riddler’s signal during his daily address to the city. Now, as Batman closes in on the Riddler, the Dark Knight must face the most deadly riddle of all as the final battle for Gotham City begins…

As the final act of Zero Year unfolds, Savage City continues Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s epic reimagining of Bruce Wayne’s early career as Batman. Weaving a compelling blend of classic and modern elements from the characters seventy five year mythology, Zero Year has brought an entirely new perspective to the many pivotal, and defining moments of Bruce Wayne’s life, while also effectively modernizing the Dark Knight’s origin within the framework of DC Comics New 52. Batman #32 continues to build on the uncanny symbiosis between the past and present that Zero Year has established, as this penultimate issue of Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s sweeping epic takes Batman’s conflict with the Riddler to a whole new level as Zero Year comes full circle to present the Dark Knight with his greatest challenge of all.

Having traced the Riddler’s signal from the screen in Gotham square, Batman and his allies prepare to make their move on Nygma. The flooded urban wilderness of Gotham City also provides the perfect cover for their mission, with Gordon and the Special Ops SEALS using the tunnels to their advantage, Batman also takes an equally stealth route, while Lucius Fox monitors their progress and relays instructions. However, the Riddler’s network of automated drones and robot weapons systems are everywhere. With Gotham’s fate now hanging by a thread, Batman must use all his skills to find the Riddler, but as the web of puzzles begins to tighten Nygma is ready to taunt the Dark Knight every step of the way.

Over the course of Zero Year we have witnessed events unfold as Bruce returned to Gotham after his years of training. Its been fascinating to see this brash, arrogant young man, embark on his crime fighting career, he’s had some tough lessons to learn along the way, arguing with Alfred and locking horns with Lieutenant Gordon, while the trauma of his parents murder continues impact on his actions. There have been crushing defeats along the way too, but perhaps the most important lesson of all has been for Bruce to finally realize that he can’t do it all. He needs allies, and it’s been fascinating to see Bruce overcome his differences with Lieutenant Gordon and begin working with Lucius Fox. Indeed, Jim Gordon and Lucius Fox both have pivotal roles to play in Batman #32, especially Lucius, and his scenes with Batman are excellent.

Similarly, I think the way Scott Snyder eloquently shifts the focus of this issue to the bond Bruce has with Alfred, is brilliantly handled, as we arrive at what proves to be the most significant moment in Zero Year so far. Snyder’s writing here will simply blow you away; he captures and bottles the very essence of what Batman is all about in one, superbly crafted scene that will have you hanging on every word, every step, and every narrative beat as the conclusion approaches.

Greg Capullo’s art is as incredible as ever, Batman #32 looks amazing. The combination of Capullo art and Danny Miki’s inks works wonders this issue, from the underground tunnels, to the shadowy depths of an elevator shaft, the Riddler’s robot drones are another highlight, as is the depiction of a ravaged, overgrown, Gotham City, Batman #32 perfectly captures every nuance of Snyder’s work, and FCO Plascencia’s colors are really stunning, with superb tones and textures throughout. Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, and FCO have really pulled out all the stops for this issue, and those last few pages will take your breath away!

Batman #32 is an exciting, action packed issue, and sets the stage for the Zero Year finale. The way Scott Snyder leads up to this so ingenious, that it will have your jaw hitting the floor with the sheer ingenuity of it all. Greg Capullo’s cover for this issue is also really striking, with Batman snared in the strands of the Nygma’s web, which in turn is suspended within a question mark, while a swathe of purple bisects the cover as the Riddler looks on. Batman #32 also has a Biker Batman variant cover by Tony Moore, a must for those who enjoyed Batman’s dramatic entrance from last issue. Batman #32 was a great issue, it keep me guessing right up until the final page, and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the epic conclusion of Zero Year!

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Batman #31Review

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Batman, Batman #31, Batman #31 Review, Bruce Wayne, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Gotham, Greg Capullo, Jim Gordon, Savage City, Scott Snyder, The New 52, The Riddler, Zero Year

Batman #31

Review by Paul Bowler

The second chapter of Zero Year: Savage City continues to explore the full scope of the Riddler’s grand design for Gotham City in Batman #31. Having moulded the environment of Gotham back to a primal level, the flooded city is now cut off from the outside world and overgrown with vegetation. The Riddler has issued a challenge to the citizens of Gotham, they must create a riddle which even he cannot solve, only then he will return control of the city to them. Everyone believed that Batman was dead, now the Dark Knight has returned. Batman has to learn to work with his new ally, Lieutenant Gordon, doing whatever it takes to survive the Riddler‘s deadly puzzles…

This third arc of Zero Year: Savage City is quickly shaping up to be the most compelling segment of Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s bold reimagining of Bruce Wayne’s early career. Their new take on the classic elements from the Dark Knight‘s mythology has constantly impressed on all levels. Now we see the total sum of the Riddler’s master plan coming to fruition, as Batman, Gordon, and the people of Gotham must find a way to rise to the Riddler’s challenge in order to survive the post-apocalyptic urban wilderness Gotham City has become.

Having recovered from his injuries Batman has now returned to assist Lieutenant Gordon, and together with the help of Lucius Fox they begin to formulate a plan to track the Riddler’s signal and uncover his actual location. Batman must confront the Riddler with a puzzle as he makes his daily address to the city on a giant screen. Timing will be crucial for their plan to succeed and Batman will be tested to the limit as he challenges the Riddler at his own game.

The final act continues to gather momentum in Batman #31 as Zero Year sees the Dark Knight and his new allies, Jim Gordon and Lucius Fox, finally working together against the Riddler. Scott Snyder sets up a great confrontation between Batman and the Riddler in part ten of Zero Year. In an extraordinary battle of wits, skill, and endurance, the Dark Knight’s verbal sparing with the Riddler is superb, and the physical challenges Batman has to face beneath the coliseum are some of the most intense and exciting scenes we’ve seen so far in Zero Year.

From its stunning cover featuring Batman overlooking the Gotham skyline from his high vantage point, with his new costume for Savage City illuminated in the twilight haze, through to the astonishing level of detail in every scene that follows Greg Capullo’s art for Batman #31 is simply stunning. Capullo’s depiction of a Gotham City flooded and overrun with dense vegetation is superb, the ravaged buildings, together with the underlying sense of decay and despair, utterly immerses you within the harsh reality of this rundown ecosystem. Danny Miki’s inks and FCO Plascencia’s colors are as incredible as ever, and they complement Capullo’s art perfectly. Batman sure knows how to make an entrance, and this issue is no exception as it delivers a real, punch the air: “hell yeah!!”, moment that will leave you with a very big grin on your face as he arrives to confront the Riddler.

I also really liked the way Snyder and Capullo intertwine the event in Batman #31 with the flashbacks where Bruce’s teacher at school gives him a problem to solve as Batman is challenging the Riddler in Zero Year. It highlights the incredible synergy that Snyder and Capullo have brought to their run on Batman, and the way in which the many elements of Zero Year are beginning to draw together is truly inspiring – it works on so many levels, and you get a real sense of things building towards an epic conclusion.

The makeshift Bat-suit that Bruce has put together is another highlight of this issue. This is a Batman ready for war, a Dark Knight on a crusade to reclaim the city he has sworn to protect. Essentially comprised of clothes that he has just thrown together, it illustrates that Batman is much, much more than simply the suit he wears. In many ways he doesn’t even need the costume or the gadgets, Bruce is Batman, with or without the costume, the Dark Knight is the very essence of his being, and the way he continues to modify the outfit this issue transcends everything we have seen before.

Batman #31 is a terrific issue, exciting, and brilliantly tense, Batman ends up facing his toughest challenge yet of his early career. The way Batman puts his final question to the Riddler totally sums up the issue for me, tough as nails, and never, ever, prepared to back down; no matter how impossible the situation or complex the puzzles solution might be. This is why I’ve always loved reading Batman comics since I was a kid, this is why I think Snyder and Capullo are so freaking awesome at what they do, and this is why I’m enjoying Zero Year so much.

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Batman #30 Review

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Batman, Batman #30, Batman #30 review, Danny Miki, DC Comics, FCO Plascencia, Greg Capullo, Savage City, Scott Snyder, The New 52, The Riddler, Zero Year

Batman #30

Review by Paul Bowler

Savage City begins in Batman #30 as the Dark Knight faces the greatest challenge of his early crime fighting career. The Riddler’s plan to hack into Gotham’s power grid has succeeded; the restraining walls protecting the city have fallen, leaving Gotham at the mercy of the super storm. Batman is defeated, missing and presumed dead. The Riddler now has free reign over Gotham, a city now flooded and overgrown with dense vegetation, and transformed by Nygma’s grand design into a deadly post-apocalyptic nightmare.

The third arc of Zero Year introduces us to a radically different version of Gotham City. Its one we first glimpsed way back in Batman #21, where the city has been moulded into a completely new environment by the Riddler’s scheme. Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s new take on the Dark Knight’s early career continues to explore new territory, as Batman evolves to survive amidst the urban wilderness that Gotham has now become.

While the Secret City and Dark City sections of Zero Year revisited many of the classic elements from Batman’s origin, with this third and final chapter, Savage City, the foundations are set for the ultimate showdown between Batman and the Riddler. Snyder and Capullo’s reimagning of the Bruce Wayne’s early years has been nothing short of a revelation, offering a modern perspective, whilst remaining entirely respectful to the characters time-honoured legacy.

The intriguing opening moments of Batman #30 leads masterfully into the beginning of Savage City. With all of Gotham laid out before us we rejoin Bruce Wayne as he wakes to find himself in a very different city to the one he knew. Having escaped from the crashed weather balloon Bruce was saved by a family and taken in. In the month that he was unconscious the Riddler has effectively cut Gotham off from the outside world, there is no way in or out, and the flooded city has become engulfed by vegetation.

Batman is believed to be dead. Now the Riddler appears on a giant screen once a day to issue a challenge to the people of Gotham, saying that if anyone can present him with a riddle he cannot solve, he will return control of the city to them. While it sounds simple, there is a heavy price for failure, and the Riddler takes no prisoners. It is during one such address that Lieutenant Gordon instigates a plan to strike back at the Riddler.

Now that the Riddler has control over the grid, he can work everything remotely, machinery, street lamps, automated surveillance, and no one knows where he is. Having transformed Gotham the Riddler has created the ultimate riddle, changing the environment of the city to revert things almost to a primal level, and thereby challenging the population to evolve if they are to have any chance of finding and defeating him. Savage City shows how the Riddler has embodied the issues of climate change, evolution, harsh economic times, and global terrorism, in order to challenge the city to outwit him – presenting them with his conception of Gotham’s future – having orchestrated events to implement his vision by churning all these existential influences together and plunging Gotham into an entropic maelstrom of his own narcissistic design.

The Riddler takes centre stage this issue, as the narrative unfolds it becomes clear how his scheme is engrained within the structure of Zero Year itself, even the stories name is intrinsically linked to Nygma’s plans. I also really liked the opening scenes, where the young Duke Thomas fills us in on what’s been happening. Bruce also makes contact with Alfred, in a particularly moving scene, where, believing he has failed the city, he has to confront his innermost doubts and decide whether or not he can claw himself back from this defeat. Scott Snyder writes such beautiful, emotive dialogue for this scene, and you can almost feel Bruce’s voice cracking with raw emotion.

From its lush green cover, to the incredible reveal of Gotham’s new skyline, Greg Capullo’s art depicts the ravaged city magnificently, smashed by storm and flood, it is now a bleak, desolate place overrun with lush vegetation. The moment where Bruce wakes up and we pull away from the glass of water, is simply sublime, and I really liked how Capullo brings the harsh, grimy, reality of this new Gotham to life on the page. Batman #30 looks incredible, Danny Miki’s inks and FCO Plascencia’s colors are as stunning as ever, you’ll really want to read this issue a few times just to soak up the visual spectacle of it all, it’s breathtaking.

Batman #30 is a terrific issue, packed with action, and an exciting conclusion that is punctuated with another defining moment for the saga. Savage City looks set to be the most exciting segment of Zero Year of all, and I can’t wait to see what Snyder and Capullo have in store for us as Zero Year progresses towards its conclusion.

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