This month’s issue of BATMAN comes with an asterisk, as it’s a tie-in issue to DC’s big event, “Absolute Power”. This isn’t a shock, as it’s bluntly printed on the issue’s cover.
So, while reading the issue (I haven’t kept up with the event like Boudin Pockets, who has been enjoying it), I wanted to be fair in my review.
Chip Zdarsky kicks off the story with Batman and Catwoman taking a trip to steal an item that’s under heavy surveillance (to say the least). While Zdarsky’s run on the title has ranged from mixed to negative for me, I do think he’s written these two well together. That doesn’t change here, as the teamwork aspect just gels. Zdarsky zeros in on the two’s years of knowing each other, and celebrates their working as a unit, and I appreciated that part of the issue.
However, the events unfolding within the book were pretty lost on me, and was met with a “meh”. I’m not exactly interested in Batman in the jungle during the day, nor am I too invested in mother boxes and boom tubes with our Dark Knight. How well this may tie in with the event, it’s unfair of me to judge. As a solo BATMAN issue, it’s……..meh?
Mike Hawthorne takes over art duties, and he gets a variety of opportunities to stretch his skills. Regardless of the story, the settings are pretty fun to look at, as are the action and static shots of buildings/vehicles/environments. It’s a good-looking book, so a tip of the cap to Hawthorne.
This issue is double-sized, and only half is a Batman story. The other half is more focused on Gotham City and other characters from that world, and is more reliant on knowing what’s going on with “Absolute Power”. So to that effect, I have no opinion.
Overall, not a required reading, and loyal BATMAN readers may be a little lost. I’m conflicted in my rating, as I didn’t love it but definitely didn’t hate it. – Ryan Lower
