Picking up shortly after that previous issue here we focus on two concurrent storylines. One sees the world’s greatest detective hunting down clues to find the person that took the shot designed to kill one of Batman“s closest allies. While Batman is on his quest, the man who took the shot is in far less of a hurry. Instead he has chosen to pull up a seat, crack open a drink, and sit down and have a conversation with his father. A conversation that showcases their tumultuous relationship and gives us some of the same clues Batman is seeking.
It is within this conversation that the reasoning behind the final act of the last issue begins to show itself. Demonstrating that it goes beyond just being about Batman. There is this need to prove oneself that ties into the complexity of parental dynamics. How the need to find acceptance conflicts with a similar and perhaps stronger desire to prove dominance. It is a compelling way to build on the themes of what makes Batman who he is. When his familial comfort was destroyed in front of him it leads him to become a legend. For others that never had that comfort and are instead raised in an atmosphere of scorn and ridicule, it can yield a driven person of a much different degree. When those two forces meet you have a compelling dynamic that is much more satisfying than who is a better puncher.
First, we need to get there and it is within that sequence this issue falters. It comes off as an issue that is more interested in what comes next than what is in front of us. Seeing Batman work his way through criminals and ninjas does have an entertaining quality to it. What is lacking is a sense of urgency and emotion. With the mystery over the final moments of the last issue remaining the tension is undercut. Also considering everything Batman has gone through as of late you would expect some of that to show. Yes, at the end of the day he is Batman but if the purpose is to push him to a boiling point you would want the water to at least feel like it is getting warmer. Â Instead, we get normal by the book Batman. Of course, there is still plenty of time to tell this story it just comes off as an opportunity missed to tell a more impactful story.
On the art side, Tony S. Daniel works well in controlling the speed of this story. All of Batman“s parts read quickly due to the utilization of splash pages and large panels. Sequences are severely decompressed as it majorly jumps around from moment to moment to trim each sequence to its vital essence. Although the dialog does not always reflect the gravity of the situation the general scripting and page makeup convey that fast pace. The story then severely slows down during the conversational moments. As those large panels and splash pages are juxtaposed against the use of the classic nine-panel grid.
King is infamous for his use of the nine-panel grid and here it makes as much sense as ever. It slows the story down to focus on the emotional stakes that will be driving this arc. Daniel conveys a sense of intimacy by keeping his camera tight and focused. Each panel zooms in on a specific individual and often just a body part or partial face. This works to demonstrate the distance between this two-characters as well as allowing the emotional to become visible. Each subtle movement or change in expression is punctuated.
Clayton Cowles lettering also deserves special mentioning. Lettering is the artform within comics that can go unnoticed and under-appreciated. Usually, you only notice lettering when it is not up to par. Cowles has been working with Tom King now for some time and this issue clues us into why that may be as he is given a lot of responsibility in directing the reader’s eyes. When you have massive splash pages in comics the focus is typically on the action so words are limited or absent. Here the opposite occurs where a cavalcade of text accompanies one massive image. Without the right placement or even the right word accompaniment, it could read poorly but it works rather well. Also, the little trick to demonstrate radio interference was both clever and effective.
Final Thoughts:
As an issue, Batman #56 gets ahead of itself too much at times as it seems more interested in the confrontation that is forthcoming rather than the journey to get there. When it slows down to focus on what drove the story to this point it is a much more fascinating read. One that harkens back to the emotional and thematic core that made Batman into an icon.
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Writer: Tom King
Pencils: Tony S. Daniel
Inks: Tony S. Daniel and Danny Miki
Colors: Tomeu Morey
Lettering:Â Â Clayton Cowles
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- A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.
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