SYNOPSIS: Batman and Guy Gardner face the secrets of the universe!
As you can see from the synopsis, not a lot to talk about this time, especially with there being no Batman: Black & White in this issue!
“The Invader, Part 3” sees the conclusion of writer Joshua Hale Fialkov and artist Lisandro Estherren’s short story as Batman and Green Lantern Guy Gardner deal with a strange visitor who makes The Batman hallucinate some terrifying visions.
Clocking in at eight pages, it’s a very quick conclusion, with Guy Gardner being as much of an ineffective hindrance as a help. As usual, Batman fights through his fears to find the solution and provides the voice of logic, with a dash of compassion thrown in.
The style of art makes for a dreamlike feel, pairing well to the material. It’s not my favorite depiction of Batman (or Guy, for that matter), but I’d say the art is well done. Just not for me.
Fialkov wraps things up tidily and excels at capturing that Bwah-Ha-Ha era Justice League dynamic between Batman and GL. This definitely feels like a lost tale from that run.
While amusing, it’s hard to recommend this issue of Batman: The Brave And The Bold on the strength of its Batman content, given how fleeting it is. Without a Black & White to beef it up, it felt pretty underwhelming overall, with the conclusion to “The Invader” being a very brisk read. – Javier E. Trujillo
GRADE: C+
