Gotham gets just a little bit creepier in this installment of DC's ongoing Batman weekly, when it looks like one of the worst characters in DC history is leading some kind of limb-chopping cult and The Spectre is on the case.
"I use an Nth Metal condom when I screw Zatanna. Or, at least I tell her that."
This issue sees our favorite burger joint-named fugitive from the clutches of Scott Lobdell investigating the strange sickness the children from the Professor Pyg take down were suffering from. One of the biggest selling points to me for this series was that it was going to feature my favorite Robin in a capacity that might redeem his thus far unappealing portrayal in the New 52 continuity. It's a bit telling that it took the death of Damian and the removal of Dick as Nightwing before he came back into the picture, but I, for one, welcome back Timothy Drake. And here he gets more than just a short cameo.
My review's a week late, but hopefully not a dollar short.
Well, there's not a whole lot of capital to spend on this issue, anyway. It's a transition issue. There's not a lot of new revelations, twists, or plot development. As you might imagine from reading the first three issues, it takes a pretty natural course with what was already laid down: Jim Gordon is thrown to the wolves by the authorities, Barbara goes nuts over the betrayal, Stephanie Brown is in a lot of trouble, Forbes demands the police go after Batman, and Batman unsuccessfully tries to intimidate Falcone.
When we last left our hero, he was reeling from the apparent guilt of his friend, Comissoner Gordon, in the collision of two subway trains, which cost massive casualties. GCPD newcomer Jason Bard came into town just in time to be in on the arrest of Gordon for the crime. As we join Batman and Gordon in this issue, the former is visiting the latter in a holding cell and things are looking increasingly troubled.
I know this blog of mine is mostly for reviewing Japanese animation, and frankly I don't even review Japanese comics much, but we all know how much I love Batman (don't we?), and I figured I'd start giving reviewing some comics a chance. I bided time until I could review something Batman-related from the beginning of a story arc or a new book, but with Snyder's Batman still on "Zero Year" and Tomasi's book doing something I want to wait to see pan out, I was a little concerned when I would have a chance.
Oh, Bruce. You say that to all your future meat shields... I mean, partners.