Last month’s jumping-on point of BATMAN #1 (which apparently over half a million comic fans read) left us with a new look, a new Batmobile, and a Robin cliffhanger. This week’s continuation gives us an entertaining “all-in-one-night” adventure.
We get a lead-up to the final page of the last issue, showing us Robin taking down some bad guys and getting stopped by the police. Where things go from there delves into spoiler territory, and I’ll only say I didn’t see it coming. Or what came next. Or what came next.
Nothing too crazy, shocking, or unbelievable…but interesting.
Intercut with the present is a past driving lesson that Bruce gave to Tim. It shows some dayside interactions between the two, Damian, and Alfred (R.I.P.). This lesson seems to pay off by the issue’s end.
Writer Matt Fraction had all eyes on his story last month, given it was only the fourth time in Batman’s history that there was a new starting point on this legacy title. While that story felt big, sort of bright, and a tad uneven (then sort of recovered), this issue takes us through an unpredictable night amongst the dynamic duo. I think the writer does a good job with character interaction, and they’re constantly ramping up the obstacles. Their night isn’t easy, and that only adds drama.
The flashback driving lesson seemed to slow down the story a bit for me. While it’s not bad by any means — and yes, it paid off — it still was just “OK.”
Jorge Jiménez continues art duties and is playing things more grounded and closer to the chest than in the last issue. This is a smaller issue, and he’s up to the assignment. I appreciate his clarity in the combat scenes and the focus remaining on the characters. The shiny-ness is still there, but there’s good blending around it to keep some atmosphere.
At times, I was starting to think this issue was going to dip, but by the end, it completed a story while leaving us a bit to chew on for next month. Fraction has a good hold of Batman, while Jiménez has a good eye for him. The story is entertaining, the look is good, and there’s enough to keep me interested in where it’s going next. – Ryan Lower
