Batman: Gotham Knights #45 Review

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Reviewer: Mike “Skitch” Maillaro

Story Title: Knights Passed Part Three: Fathers and Sons
Written by: Scott Beatty
Penciled by: Roger Robinson
Inked by: John Floyd
Colored by: Noelle Giddings
Lettered by: Bob Pinaha

Story Title: Sidekick
Written by: Kimo Temperence
Art by: Nathan Fox
Colored by: No one…it’s a black and white story
Lettered by: Clem Robins

Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC

A modest proposal…

I know people are pretty pumped up for Christian Bale, but I think Warner Brothers should have gone another route. My favorite Batman movie is still Batman: The Movie from 1966. Adam West was great delivering lines like, “Robin!! Hand down the shark repellent Batspray!” and “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb, ” and my personal favorite, “Thank god that noble porpoise jumped in the way of that torpedo just in time!”

In this vein, I really think they should play the next Batman movie for laughs. No, not unintentional laughs like laughing at how painful the last three Batman movies, but silly laughs like the old Batman movie. So instead of Christian Bale (who will probably make a great Batman) I want to see the Porcupine. Yes, that’s right! Good old Ron Jeremey! He would bring a whole new meaning to Batpole! Get Jenna Jameson as Harvey Quinn, and I think we’d have a Batman movie I’d have to see. Warner Brothers, you can have these ideas for free!

Then again, maybe ideas like this are the reason this is….

My first Batman Review!

Despite the fact I read four Batman books every month (six if you count the Superman/Batman and Generations), and that I have written just over 90 reviews for 411mania in the last 5 months, this is the first time I am reviewing a Batman comic. I suspect this is the heart of a giant conspiracy that involved my editorial staff (Hi Dave, Daron, and John!) and a rabid chimpanzee…or maybe it’s just luck of the draw. Either way, I will get to the bottom of this mystery!

Enough nonsense. On with the review

The Bat titles have been consistently good reads since Bruce Wayne: Murderer, but Gotham Knights tends to get overshadowed by its two older brothers. Not surprising as Batman in the middle of the sales bonanza Hush arc by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, and Detective Comics is written by the masterful Ed Brubaker. But Gotham Knights is the little Bat-book that can, with consistently great stories that range all over the Bat-Family.

The theme this month is Fathers and Sons. During this Knights Passed arc, Social Services has been investigating Bruce Wayne’s bizarre history with his wards. Since the death of Jason Todd, Social Services has been searching for something to pin on Bruce Wayne, who they perceive as a dangerous caretaker. Meanwhile, Kirk Langstrom has his own problems. Even though he has been partially cured of being Man-Bat, his son Aaron still has a bat-like mutation. Kirk doesn’t want to approach Batman with this problem, as Bruce has done enough for him and his family. But Aaron is determined to fix his family, so he has been hiding in the Batcave. I haven’t read much with Man-Bat, but I always thought of him as more of a villain, but he seems to resemble Curt Conners, the Lizard from Spider-Man.

This issue ties up these two intriguing arcs with some slightly sappy moments, including Bruce Wayne breaking down in tears when Social Services asks some probing questions about what he tried to do for Jason and how that led to his death. This issue has several great moments, with Tim Drake, Alfred, and Dick Greyson all going into depth on how they see Bruce Wayne, as well as Bruce’s own take on his bizarre little family.

Meanwhile, in the back-up Black and White story, a little boy has left his baby brother on the Batmobile, asking Batman to make the baby his next Robin. We get a pretty touching story of Batman trying to return the kid to his family, and the boy’s amusing response.

How’s the writing?

While I did think the story bordered on being sappy, Beatty managed to keep the balance perfectly. He even manages to slip in some humor, with Batman asking a criminal on the run from Man-Bat, “What makes you think I’m the better option?”

I enjoy Beatty’s work every month on Gotham Knights and Ruse. Since Brubaker is leaving Detective, I would really like to see them move Beatty to Detective. With Detective 800 coming at us quickly, I would love to see one of my favorite writers tackling this huge project.

The back-up story was pretty fun, although to be honest I usually don’t even read the Black and Whites. If I wasn’t reviewing this issue, I probably would have skipped it, especially since the art was painful to look at (see the next section). But Kimo Temperance managed to make this a clever little story with a great ending.

How’s the art?

Roger Robinson has been working on Gotham Knights for a long time, and he really has helped define this series. In this issue, he draws great tense scenes at Wayne Manor, and switches tracks easily to show some dynamic action with Batman and Man-Bat working together to stop some criminals. The Bat titles are such a mix of styles and subjects, and Roger Robinson has no problem keeping up with whatever Beatty throws at him.

For the back-up story, the art was pretty hard to distinguish. There were a lot of times I really didn’t know what I was looking at. I don’t mind stylized art, but when it gets to the point where it becomes abstract, it really takes away from the story.

Is it worth your $2.75?

Even though I usually don’t read the Black and White backups, I can’t complain about paying $2.75 when you get a full story and a back up. Besides, Scott Beatty is a great writer, and since he took over this title, every issue of Gotham Knights has been fun to read. Highly recommended.