This month’s issue of BATMAN is a mixed bag for me. On one hand, Batman is doing some Batman things. He’s investigating a murder scene, staying in the shadows, working with Gordon. It’s what I like to see. On the other hand, there are surrounding actions that are raising a few flags.
In the fallout of Mayor Nakano’s death, Batman has to meet quietly with Bullock (recently back on the force) to discuss specifics. Gordon is also there, to help gather other suspicious details concerning the murder. Meanwhile, Mr. E. Nygma is having dinner with the new mayor and this new character Leonid. There’s also a plot building where Thomas Wayne once steps outside of the family, and there is an odd finale between Batman and Gordon.
Writer Chip Zdarsky really has me back and forth on this one. There’s a lot of good mood and atmosphere building, with (like I said above) Batman doing Batman things. I like that he’s working with Gordon, even if it isn’t in the traditional sense we’ve grown accustomed to. I appreciate this angle involving Nygma and am invested in how that will play out. Those are good elements the writer is building that I’m “all in” for.
It’s the questionable moments that really have me scratching my head. First off, this Thomas Wayne angle. It seems for a while that both talent and fans(?) have pushed this “if Bruce Wayne helped with his money more than punching bad guy” BS, and that has a brief appearance here too (with some “on the nose” dialogue). If there’s anything that annoys me more than that, it’s this additional fascination of late to dirty up the Waynes, in this case, Thomas. I don’t for one-second buy this “hinted” misstep that Zdarsky is writing. It’s a bit eyerolly (technical term) and feels desperate in trying to be shocking.
Yawn.
Artist Carmine Di Giandomenico takes over artistic duties this month, and he does a great job. He helps really sell that mood when Batman is being the world’s greatest detective, while also putting Batman in shadow throughout the issue. I like his designs and look forward to seeing more of it (although I don’t think he’s on next month’s issue).
Overall, BATMAN #154 is a mixed bag, leaning slightly toward more positive than negative. The Court of Owls is looming, though it’s a slow build getting there. Batman is being a great detective, but Zdarsky is taking some odd detours that I’m not feeling.
