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March 8, 2005
review: "Batman 636-7"
After all the "Gang War" nonsense has finally died down we're left with the real purpose of all the cross-over-palooza: a pared down Batman universe with less "official" sanction of the Bat-crew. Barbara Gordon is no longer the eye-in-the-sky, all seeing, intrigue and tension killing voice in Batman's ear. The police no longer view Batman as an ally. The public doesn't know what to make of him. His sidekicks are spread out thinly over the city and outlying communities (Robin and Batgirl are now Bludhaven residents).
It seems that the reality of having a team that is so entrenched in the city and it's workings finally hit the editors at DC. With Batman as basically an arm of the police, with highly sophisticated intelligence and real-time monitoring of everything in the city (via "Oracle"), it created a Bat-world of gadgetry, but no real drama or tension. Batman didn't have to get out of dilemmas--he never got into them.
So, in the two most recent issues we have Gotham's new crime lord, Black Mask, establishing his reign, and we have Batman at odds with pretty much everyone around him. Seems like old times. The story so far has been best when dealing with Black Mask, who talks like he's halfway to being the Joker with funny asides as he threatens those around him, and Mr. Freeze. The Batman story so far is action based, which is fine, with touches of Nightwing admiring him, which is also fine; however, in order to hold our interest the story better have something at stake for Bats (enter Red Hood). It will be interesting to see how this leaner, meaner Batman pans out. I'm hopeful.
(Recommended)
(review by Sean Ferrell)
Posted by sferrell at March 8, 2005 10:03 AM
