After the last issue, Batman, Batgirl and Red Hood are feeling a little fractious. The Hood is annoyed at the all knowing Batman and Batgirl is somehow stuck in the middle. Of course, there is the slight problem of still having a couple of Jokers running around and now Joe Chill has been kidnapped. How does it all tie together?
Geoff Johns appears to have approached this book as his own Killing Joke in some ways. By using three Joker proxies, he has been able to match a Joker to a hero, complete with built in PTSD. The inclusion of Joe Chill hints at Jokers knowledge of Batman more than Bats knowledge of his arch enemy. At times, this is Batman by the numbers, but it’s a Batman from a few years back in tone. Regarding Chill, Johns uses the character in a way to possibly not show the heroic side of Batman, but the perceived error of his ways, if you believe in Red Hood’s world view; Batman can’t even let the person who killed his parents die repeating his keeping the Joker alive mantra after all his atrocities. Johns, a great writer in his own right, is not against using others ideas, situations or dialogue. Whilst the Killing Joke is probably the most prevalent, there are aspects of Under the Red Hood in play, a reversed Teen Titans moment and he even has time to homage himself with an ending that is practically the Doomsday Clock. Did I mention the return of the “let’s use 9 panel pages so the readers know this is a serious book”?
One of the big attractions of this series was the chance to see Jason Fabok’s art back in the bat-universe. During the the third act of this issue, he doesn’t disappoint, However, to get there you have to get through the talking heads, flat figure work and Batgirl’s constantly pained pout. I understand that in the conversation pieces, of which there are a lot, there will be a lack of dynamism, but c’mon on! Some of the figure work looks so wooden. Maybe the 9 panel page doesn’t suit Fabok; DC’s go to “serious look page design” can be challenged. Towards the end of the book, Fabok gets to work his magic and work it well. I may seem I am being harsh here, and it may be that my expectations have exceeded my reality again, but even with the critiques, the art is still head and shoulder above nearly everything that DC are putting out in their main line. Along for the artistic ride is colorist Brad Anderson, who has seemingly single-handedly given DC superheroes a more mature vibe. Consider, how this series feels the same as Doomsday Clock; it’s not just that Gary Frank and Jason Fabok are similar with their own versions of a bulky Neal Adams; it is the colors that given this world it’s oxymoronical vibrant darkness. Finally, letterer Rob Leigh delivers a great font that allows the art, colors and environment to breath.
I was so looking forward to this series, which was odd given who much I dislike the Joker. The concern was, that like Johns’ Doomsday Clock, it would promise so much and fail to deliver. Well, DC got the “lateness” problems out of the way by delaying the book, prior to the pandemic, so at least it shipped kind of on time. Still, with the three heroes being challenged by their own personal Joker history, I would have liked to have seen some sort of resolution. I also found the neat bow of who created who first a little too sickly sweet. In comparison, Batman #100 reads better, has better character interaction and has some form of resolution, temporary as it may be. Finally, are the minor shocks and reveals worth the cost? Thats up to you to decide, but remember, Black Label is not main continuity, so does it even make any difference?
Writing – 3 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
Overall – 3.5 Stars
Written by; Geoff Johns
Art by; Jason Fabok
Colors by; Brad Anderson
Letters by; Rob Leigh
Published by; DC Comics / Black Label
Author Profile
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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
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