This issue made my head hurt
Going into this comic I knew it was going to be one of two things. A one-shot, a standalone story that has nothing to do with anything only leading through character development or balls to the walls action or a tie-in to next months Court of Owls event that will leave me on the edge of my seat just like Batman, Nightwing, Batman & Robin before this. So I was not expecting much just a simple quick fun romp through Gotham City….I’m a lover of all things Batman but even I know when a comic is garbage.
The comic starts off with Batman thinking how Gotham can just bring out the worst in everyone to the point where “smaller horrors” performed by Random Joes won’t phase you. Someone stole Grandma’s Purse? Who cares we have a psychotic two-faced ex-district attorney dressed in a two-tone suit robbing banks while men, women and child are running amok dressed costumes representing each a different bird stopping crime by land sea and air. So yes living in Gotham would an could make you crazy to the point where you might kill yourself? Well according to the first 2 page spread it might! The story starts off very interesting but the more you read the more it feels like the downtime between action scenes in an action movie: only interesting enough to get you to the next boot in the face. Things like Batman yelling catch while throwing the baby of all batarangs just don't fit.
For those who aren't up to speed with Gordon we see a little insight on what's been bugging him but it feels forced.
So we finally get to the last couple of pages in the comic and find out who is up to all of this (as if the cover didn't tell you already) and ask Why is this person doing this? How did they escape Arkham? How did they find a way to control specific Gothamites to kill themselves? If you thought you were going to get answers to these questions and more you thought wrong. The only answer we get is the proverbial "This ends now" + boot to the face combo. The last fight scene boggles my mind because if you've been reading any of the other Bat-books (Batman & Robin 4 and 7 specifically) he was already prepared for this kind of attack
Batman & Robin slight spoilers:
So he gets hit (a third time) by the same kind of supersonic blast and he temporarily screams in agony even though he admits to have dampeners on the next page? Come on guys. The last gripe comes in the fact that this issue ends the same exact way as it does in the last issue (Issue 7)
If you don't believe me here's the ending to issue seven. Compare this with the ending to this issue and I dare you to tell me it isn't the same.
The best thing I have to say about this comic is that the art does a great job in showing Batman as force to be reckoned with. Sure in some of the scenes he looks extremely bulky for no reason (check Batman's upper left thigh on the cover, nice protruding piece of thigh muscle there) but I'm assuming that in this comic we're looking at Batman the Muscle not the Detective so I'm forgiving it. While the antagonists looks a bit weird in my opinion the art makes sure to convey their level of insanity.
All in all even if you're a great Batman fan as I am: don't get this book. Even if you read the past 7 issues I'm letting you know now that the White Rabbit that's on the left of the cover? The one that's been teasing Batman and manipulating several of Batman's enemies throughout this entire run? She WOULD fit into a weird sadistic/sexy Alice in Wonderland type of vibe but guess what? She's not even in the issue. She's just there to pull you in for a buy to support the comic. Save your money for the next issue since it's a Court of Owls tie-in after that invest your money elsewhere.
