If issues had a soundtrack, BATMAN #13 would be “Sound of da Police” by KRS-One (look it up).
“Bad Seeds” is underway, and Batman (aka Batmang, aka Big Boy) takes out 20 pages of aggression on Vandal Savage’s crew.
This issue’s title is “Siege Tactics” and that’s exactly what it is. Writer Matt Fraction gives you a couple of pages of our hero saving Harvey Bullock in his apartment, then the rest of the issue is him just kicking ass. I’m curious how a writer scripts an issue with such little dialogue, and full of action. I’m not lying when I’m saying it’s all action.
It’s. ALL. Action.
Which means artist Matteo Scalera has a lot of the heavy lifting to do, and he crushes it. This issue is action piece after action piece in the same building. Yet it’s always something different, and never boring. I’ve always dug the guy’s art and this is another example of his strengths.
Overall, it’s an issue where Batman is kicking ass for nearly 99% of the it, ending in a confrontation that has me looking forward to what’s next. – Ryan Lower
