Future State Robin Eternal #1 Review

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Batman, DC Comics, Eddy Barrdow, Future State, Future State Robin Eternal # review, Future State Robin Eternal #1, Magistrate, Megan Fitzmartin, NCBD, Robin, Robin Eternal #1 review, Spoiler, Stephanie Brown

Future State Robin Eternal #1

Review by Paul Bowler

Future State Robin Eternal #1 provides a thrilling, action-packed new chapter in DC Comics line-wide Future State comic book event as Robin strikes back against the Magistrate’s oppressive regime in Gotham. A regenerative drug that could make his cybernetic forces immortal is en route to the city. Robin and Spoiler must embark on a daring heist at 20,000 feet to intercept it, but will Tim and Stephanie Brown’s emotional baggage jeopardise their mission or prove the key to its success?

DC Comics Future State has so far provided an intriguing glimpse into a possible future for the publishers core titles and characters. Future State Robin Eternal might not be the most catchy sounding addition to the line-up on glancing at the solicitations but new rising star writer Megan Fitzmartin (Supernatural)  has clearly brought her A game to the table for this jaunt into a future vision of Gotham, and fans of Tim Drake’s Robin and his former girlfriend Stephanie Brown, a.k.a Spoiler, will find plenty to enjoy here. Tim Drake’s Robin  has been pushed from pillar to post somewhat in recent times, so its great to see him being put front and centre like this in Future State.

Megan Fitzmartin crafts a fast-paced, action-driven story, laced with strong emotional beats for the character. It seems that Tim has soldiered on alone as Robin as the Magistrate’s regime took over Gotham – banning the masks and costumed vigilantes with his advanced technology and cybernetically enhanced forces. Believing that Batman, Bruce Wayne, has been killed, along with the betrayal of Jason Todd, and Dick Grayson in Arkham, this lone Robin is desperate to find a way to stop the shipment of a new drug derived from the Lazarus Pit that can make the Cybers unbeatable. Fitzmartin skilfully highlights just how Stephanie’s and Tim’s former history still makes things strained between them, and there’s a welcome reunion with an old We Are Robin member as well that’s also beautifully written into the narrative.

This futuristic looking Gotham is realised with some pretty amazing artwork too. With pencils  by Eddy Barrdows (Detective Comics), inks by Eber Ferreira, and colors by Adriana Lucas, Future State Robin Eternal boasts a distinctly vibrant, almost Cyberpunk vibe that dynamically cascades across the stylish page layouts. From the stunning rainswept opening battle between Robin and the hulking Cyber high on the new prototype drug, through to Tim’s emotional scenes with Spoiler, along with his reunion with Darcy, and the inevitable team-up with Robin leading his allies on an exciting Mission Impossible style heist to intercept the shipment of the Lazarus Resin are  all just some of the many highlights brilliantly crafted by the artistic team for this impressive looking issue. 

While I don’t tend to go in for comic book events that much I have to say I’ve found Future State quite entertaining so far — from the issue I’ve read anyway. Future State Robin Eternal #1’s creative team seizes the premise of this possible future and runs with it for all its worth. The ensuing result proves extremely satisfying indeed, Future State Robin Eternal is a veritable showcase of creative verve, and the issues thrilling cliffhanger provides a great hook to bring us back for the conclusion in the next issue.

Publisher DC Comics

Writer Megan Fitzmartin / Pencils Eddy Barrdows 

Inks Eber Ferreira / Colorist Adriana Lucas

Letterer Pat Brosseau Cover Irvin Rodriguez & Emanuela Lupacchino

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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 Eternal #4 Review

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

Batman Eternal #4

Review by Paul Bowler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Batman Eternal #3 Review

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

Batman Eternal #3

Review by Paul Bowler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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