Review: Batman Secret Files - The Gardener #1

With nary a fanfare, the Bat-event of the year, Fear State, meanders through your comic book shop. Building on elements from Ram V’s run on Catwoman, coupled with the goings on across a myriad of Bat-books, Batman Secret Files The Gardener seeks to prune back the problems of Ivy whilst looking to restore some connectivity to a certain clown girl.

Batman has invaded the Gardener’s domain. However things are a little different this time around. Plant monsters and killer vines are no longer the flavour of the day. Instead, we get a sweeping monologue that looks to supplant the various versions of Ivy into a more cohesive whole. In doing so, we get to see a wide range of the DC Universe’s flower folk.

James Tynion IV is an impressive writer. In his hands, this elevated character has managed to entwine a fans favourite with her own past; the result is a story that makes a ton of sense. Tynion’s strength, much like his previous stable mate Scott Snyder, is that he can certainly set up a story. For books like this, with its middle, middle and middle format, this skill works perfectly. Unlike Snyder, Tynion can actually stick the landing. With the seeds of the story sown in Catwoman, I do wonder how this book would have worked in Ram V’s hands. Maybe more horror tinged? Anyway, Tynion weaves a magical spell of logic and love that delivers, despite not actually moving Fear State along by much, more than a few key moments and already assumed elements.

As good as Tynion is, it is the art that is going to go through the ranges of like and dislike. Christian Ward’s art, with its Dan Brereton influences, is going to garner some attention. I, for one, love it! Where there is a garden you are going a lot of green. Ward colors the the book with every aspect of plant life; flashes of red chlorophyll like elements interspersed within the traditional green, seeded at times in browns ensure that Batman and his cold, steel world seem appropriately anti-social in comparison. The figure work, probably where the Brereton influences may well lay, seem a tad out of perspective when viewed with a traditional eye. This would be a massive mistake; the off kilter characters give their presence a sort of ephemeral look, as if the there are ghosts of Ivy’s past just passing through. Letter Tom Napolitano has been quietly been doing his business for DC over the last few years, delivers perhaps a tour de force with a font that has to contend with strong character designs cast amid the fusion of fauna and a huge amount of verbiage.

Lost amid the Fear State books, this is a little gem of a book, reminiscent of Fear State Alpha with its unusual designs. Tynion has gone a long way to ensuring that fans get what they have been calling for; no, make that what readers and Ivy and Harley themselves deserve. Recognition of how important they are to each other, and how important their love and relationship is to the DC Universe.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art & Color – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; James Tynion IV
Art by; Christian Ward
Letters by; Tom Napolitano
Published by DC Comics

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network