Regular Batman writer Tom King is joined by Flash writer Joshua Williamson. After the recap, we get a fantastic splash page spoilt by some of the most clunky dialogue from Batman I have read in a long time: “This place…I’d know it anywhere. I’ve known it ever since I fell down here as a child”. Not, “I recognise this place because its the same one I have!” The botched attempt at gravitas aside, the pairing start pulling out the stops, with conversations between father and son, which due to the orphan nature of Bruce is always fun when it happens. Here, families are mentioned and pleas are heard, before the Batman and Flash hit the time stream in a miraculously repaired treadmill. Now, I haven’t read The Flash books for some time, but I was surprised who quickly (no pun intended) Flash could repair the treadmill. I mean it is future tech after all and they are on earth that isn’t their timeline?
The incomparable Jason Fabok returns on art duties, providing pencils and inks which gives the book a level of maturity that I feel is missing in this story. Fabok’s style is more blocky, somehow more solid than Porter’s work on The Flash part of the story. Still Fabok tries hard to show a level of kinetic energy when the Flash is around, as if realizing that to have him just stood around is a waste of this characters presence. Fabok’s Batman is right up there with the best artists over the last few years. Regardless of your thoughts of New 52, it was the period where DC had Greg Capullo on Batman and Fabok, after Tony S. Daniels, on Detective Comics, creating fantastic art every issue. Colors are provided by Brad Anderson who seems equally at ease in the dark depths of the Cave and the swirling chaos of the time stream.
Batman #21 was a fantastic book, which promised so much out of this crossover. Three parts in and we are no further forward. Sure the interlude between Bruce and Thomas was good, but I would hope that after the arc is completed we get some answers other than a continuance of the “there is someone else, there is something else” message that is always hinted at.
Writing – 3.5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
STORY BY Joshua Williamson and Tom King
ART BY Jason Fabok
COLORS BY Brad Anderson
LETTERS BY Deron Bennett
COVER BY Brad Anderson and Jason Fabok
PUBLISHER DC Comics
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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