Review: Batman, Prelude to the Wedding: Batgirl vs. The Riddler #1

We“ve seen this story before. Bad guy kidnaps someone and put a ticking clock on our hero to find them before they die. But Tim Seeley and Minkyu Jung know what they are doing when they turn this old chestnut into an intriguing battle of wits between Batgirl and the Riddler.

With classic Batman villains each taking on a member of the Bat-family, Riddler has drawn Batgirl. This turns out to be a great matchup since they both depend on their wits as much as their brawn. Riddler has kidnapped four people. Batgirl has to solve the riddles in time to save them. Each of the victims is guarded by Riddler“s goons.

In a nod to Netflix“s 13 Reasons Why, the clues are on cassettes. Barbara has to solve the one riddle to get the clue for the next. The cassettes contain more than riddles. Ed Nygma gives some insight into his motives. Although, just as in 13 Reasons, The Riddler remains an unreliable, but engaging narrator.

It is fun seeing Batgirl work out the clues that take her all over her Gotham neighborhood. Seeley (Green Lanterns, Imaginary Fiends, Hack/Slash) is having a good time with this match up and it shows in this story.

Having just as much fun, are Minkyu Jung (Nightwing, Batgirl) and Jose Marzen Jr. (Infinity Countdown, Y: The Last Man) They take us on a strange tour of one of Gotham“s nicer neighborhood. From cemetery to church and so on, They give us a real feel for this part of town. Since Batgirl really doesn“t have much to say after the first couple of pages, it is important to get her emotional state from the art.

They make sure to deliver.

These Prelude to the Wedding stories have been fun. It is interesting to see how the various members of the Bat-family pair off with the big guns of Batman“s rogues gallery. Batman and Catwoman“s marriage plans seem to be the worst kept secret in Gotham. It is hard to see how the city will survive the ceremony.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Writer: Tim Seeley
Penciller: Minkyu Jung
Inker: Jose Marzen Jr.
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Dave Sharpe

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Andy Hall

Sent from the future by our Robot Ape overlords to preserve the timeline. Reading and writing about comics until the revolution comes. All hail the Orangutan Android Solar King!