Review: Batman #61
Synopsis:
What if Bruce Wayne had a different personality? How thin is the line between reality and insanity? Is multiple personality disorder really a thing, or is it just another way for a criminal to plead insanity and get away with murder? This issue opens all those cans of worms and more. We start this tale on what appears to be a young Bruce Wayne standing over the bodies of his parents. But wait, we cut to an adult Batman answering Commissioner Gordon’s bat-signal, seemingly in the present day. A WTF moment if ever there was one in Batman.
The Creative Team:
Tom King weaves an intricate tale of memories found and present day mind tricks. We wonder if Bruce Wayne is beginning to succumb to his Psychosis. Is this the present day or is it 20 years ago? Are the past and present beginning to blur together in a sea of contempt? The Batman is on the trail of a mobster Frank Galla, who may hold some answers to all the questions raised in this issue. What keeps us glued to each page is the questions raised from the opening scenario. What appears to be just a retelling of the origin story becomes a compelling noir style mystery. Great stuff includes revisiting the trial of Joe Chill and the scene where James Gordon is walking young Bruce Wayne to Joe Chill’s cell, or so we’re led to think.
Travis Moore gets the Batman. His facial expressions on each page tell a story and we know the seriousness of the situation. As always Gotham is a dark and gloomy hell hole. Not even Detroit has it this bad, they can survive without the Batman! The looks of terror on the corpses of Thomas and Martha Wayne tell the story, the look on Bruce’s face conveys fear, sadness and loss. It’s a great opening splash page. Highlights include Batman’s fight with some of Galla’s goons and the chase on top of a train.
In Conclusion:
Everything is not as it seems in this tantalizing tale. We get a look into the young Bruce Wayne and the beginning of the mental disorder that would create the Batman. It almost unfolds like an episode of Gotham. Only we see what might have happened if Young Bruce had gone further off the deep end. Not everyone reacts the same way to the same predicament. The end of this issue is so great that it would be a crime to reveal anything more, so let’s just say…In the immortal words of Gomer Pyle…Surprise, surprise, surprise. To be Continued. **** (9.2 rating)
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Writer – Tom King
Art – Travis Moore
Colors – Tamra Bonvillain
Letters – Clayton Cowles
Publisher – DC
Author Profile
- Kevin Given has studied with “ Longridge Writers Group †and “ Writer’s Boot Camp †a speech/communications major from the University of Maine Presque-Isle/Orono sites. He has created the “ Karl Vincent Vampire Hunter †franchise which includes novels and comic books. They can be found on amazon, Indyplanet and Kindle. For a limited time you can get digital copies of “ Karl Vincent: Vampire hunter †# 1 and “ Files of Karl Vincent †# 1 for free on Indyplanet. Kevin is producing the third novel in the series “ Dracula Rising †(working title) and developing “ Foul Blood †into comic book form. Don't forget to check out the YouTube show " Comics: Let's Talk " hosted by Kevin Given
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