Batman #29

Good

A good book in my opinion is a combination of quality writing and quality art. This book has hit the perfect balance, I love it to pieces. I can’t think of how best to describe the perfect fusion of Snyder and Capullo, the pair play off each other so well that it’s just incredible. The reason I’m fawning like this is because of the opening and closing of this issue.

At the beginning we see certain actions, that a young Bruce Wayne took, which led to that terrible event in Crime Alley. Capullo draws the Wayne’s in such a way that I genuinely felt that they were a loving family, this combined with Snyder’s fantastic playful dialogue leads to a real sense of foreboding and tragedy at the events we know are about to play out. What really gives it such an impact though is the end of the book, where we see the murder of the Wayne’s intercut with moments of Wayne’s second greatest failure.

Batman’s one of my favourite heroes for one reason. He represents overcoming tragedy, and inner strength. That’s why I like it when we see him fail. It reminds us that even the best and most well prepared can fail, and how we’re not defined by these failures. Instead it’s how we pick ourselves back up and make great things out of great tragedy. Snyder clearly gets this and using the death of his parents as a metaphor for failure and having him fail yet again is extremely interesting. Especially as I've no doubt that his eventual success will be even more thrilling.

I did find Batman’s guilt complex pretty troubling, but it's completely in character with the Wayne that Snyder's been building.

The action in this book’s well executed and clear, the fight with Dr Death is visually creative. Of particular mention is how Capullo draws the demented Doc in such an interesting way, with the bones constantly reforming that you can’t help but be repulsed by this monstrosity.

I briefly want to hit on one specific moment, the Bat-blimp. I honestly don’t care how outlandish it is, that was awesome! I love it.

Bad

Overall I’m struggling for bad points in this book. If I’m completely objective it could be said that the stories a bit convoluted especially for an origin story. But that criticism feels unfair. The whole book just feels epic.

Verdict

If you’re not reading this book, then I suggest you go out and pick it up immediately! This is easily the best thing I read this week.