The Psychotic Perspective: Batman #13
Knock, Knock
It almost seems unnecessary to even talk about Batman #13 since it will probably be the single most discussed Batman issue of this year with the possible exception of the climax issue of the series depending on what Joker and Snyder have cooked up. Nonetheless, I paid extremely close attention to this issue, and I am ready to throw in my two cents. Hopefully, you will find my thoughts worthwhile.
This is the first issue of what is likely to be Snyder’s final run on Batman for he has committed himself to leaving the land of Batman to fertilize the much dryer fields of Superman. Few would argue that Snyder’s run has been exceptional, but with a name like “Death of a Family,” harkening back to the classic story arc wherein Jason Todd met his bloody demise and Batman endured one of his greatest defeats, Snyder has built up extremely high expectations. Is this the beginning of Snyder’s magnum opus, or has Snyder promised more than he can deliver?
In this issue, Joker returns with a bang by breaking into the police department, terrorizing Commissioner Gordon, and killing half a dozen police officers. As Batman investigates, the Bat Family starts to deal with the shock of Joker’s return. Joker soon calls Batman out by promising to kill Mayor Hady by midnight.
It’s All in the Delivery
As much as I expected Snyder to keep my interest, it was actually Capullo and the rest of the art team which really captured my attention. I’ve always enjoyed Capullo’s work, but this seemed to go beyond mere quality sketching and enter the realm of something greater. I do not know who coordinates all the artists on a comic book, but someone had a definite vision for this issue, and that person made sure the whole team worked together towards that goal.
The attention to detail on this issue is stunning. For instance, we get our first glimpse of Joker at the bottom of page three when we see his foot stepping out of a van. By itself, this would be a lackluster scene, but the colorist layered a blue/purple filter over the image which immediately gave the panel a menacing yet familiar Joker feel and brought Joker’s theme music from the animated series to my ears. An example of this level of attention to detail can be found on almost every page. The framing of the vials at the top of page eight is just a tiny bit too close making the reader feel everything is just a bit off in the world. On page ten, the full page is taken up with Batman talking to his agents as they discuss Joker’s actions, yet the panels are designed in such a way that they make the shape of Batman’s cape symbolically representing the way the protégés have evolved through Bruce’s legacy. The artistic director was on his A game on this issue.
To be fair though, I do have two artistic gripes. First, Damian’s leg was rendered in an extremely awkward pose in one scene. Are we to understand that his knee bends sideways? Also, I do not think the Capullo’s tight headshots for the cover art are well suited to his style. Again, I like Capullo’s work, but he is not an artist who transmits amazing amounts of detail or has an especially excellent grasp of human facial expressions, and without such, the close-up covers look fairly bland and boring to my eyes.
Something Big Is in the Works
Snyder promised a unique and epic Joker story, and I believe that is just what we are getting. I was hoping that we would see a fresh take on the Clown Prince of Crime, and that is exactly what Snyder delivers. Do not get me wrong, Joker still feels like Joker, but he is not up to his old tricks.
More than any other, this scene encapsulates the difference of Joker’s approach in this issue as opposed to his old methods. It is a bit early to tell, but I think Joker is truly furious with Batman for perhaps the first time.
Can Snyder Write All Batman Comics?
I’ve said this before, but one of the things I like best about Snyder’s writing is the dialogue. He seems to always know exactly what words a character would say in any given situation. For instance, the one panel that featured Red Robin had him inquiring immediately about how Joker pulled off his stunt at the police station. That one panel of characterization for Tim is a more accurate representation of him than anything we have seen in Teen Titans for the past year. Though not all Batman characters have had as rough a year in the writing department as Red Robin, all the characters are equally well represented in this issue.
The Lost Half a Star
This would be a perfect issue if not for one scene, Joker’s attack of the GCPD. I do not buy that simply by taking out the lights, Joker would be able to kill a half dozen armed police officers.
First, flashlights are standard issue for every cop. Commissioner Gordon had his out in a few seconds. Why didn’t everybody else? If everybody had their flashlights out, it would have been completely bright in the room.
Second, since when has Joker been a great hand-to-hand combatant. Do not get me wrong, Joker has some martial arts skill, but he is no expert. If Joker were going hand to hand against two police officers, I think he would be downed pretty quickly. Yet somehow, he can get behind the officers and just snap their necks without them fighting him at all? This makes no sense. Surely they had their weapons drawn. Why not simply shoot at the guy who grabs their neck?
Tease
This issue has a short backup of sorts wherein Joker tries to convince Harley Quinn to remove her own face. It is excellent as is usual with Snyder and Tynion’s work. The artist, Jock, does an excellent job as well. Through Batman’s perception of events, we can see that Joker seems a bit off, but we can see this even more clearly through Harley’s eyes.
Bat Droppings
A few more scattered thoughts.
Joker seems to be taking Batman on a very nostalgic journey making many nods towards the past battles between the two.
Joker beats up Alfred at the end of the issue and implies that he knows about Bruce’s secret, but there is still room for doubt. Joker could be targeting Alfred because of Bruce Wayne’s funding of Batman Incorporated.
I was glad Mayor Hady lived through the issue since killing off Gotham mayors is nearly as cliché as killing off Batman’s girlfriends at this point. Let’s see a mayor actually stick around and grow as a character for once.
Bruce’s Bat tech is a tad excessive in this issue for my tastes. Bruce can measure Gordon’s vital signs just by being within ten feet of him? Come on!
The issue was very violent and dark. I do not mind in the slightest.
Many have speculated that Alfred will die in this arc, but unless Alfred dies in the next issue, then I do not think he will be killed by Joker. It would we awkward to have spared him in the first issue of the series only to kill him in the last issue. Think of how ticked people were that Neo and Trinity died in the final Matrix movie after being resurrected in the first two.
Conclusion
Though not quite perfect, this is a great start to Snyder’s final Batman story. I am eager to see where things go.
