Reviewer: Mathan Erhardt
Story Title. Chapter Six
Written by: Greg Rucka
Penciled and Inked by: Klaus Janson
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Colored by: Steve Buccellato
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
Now at this point you have to know that Ra’s al Ghul gave Batman a potion so that Bruce could communicate with the spirits of his parents. Bruce took it and finally gets to have a heart to heart with his family.
The issue begins in an alley. Boy oh boy does the disapproval of a parent sting. Especially when it’s a parent who been dead for a quarter of a century and you’ve spent most of your adult life honoring their memory, in your own special way.
Speaking of father/child relationships: Nyssa has some serious father issues. Not that you wouldn’t too if your father didn’t save you from a Nazi death camp. But really, using your own sister as a pawn for revenge strikes me as odd. And what is Misha planning to do with that glowing green bullet?
Back in the alley, Thomas gives Bruce the third degree, and then demands to see the Batman costume. Bruce gives him what he wants, to their disappointment. Then we go to Alfred who notices that Ra’s has broken into the Cave again.
Back at Nyssa’s, Talia is awake and oddly indebted to Nyssa, the woman who killed her a couple of times last issue. However, due to the Lazarus Pit technology, Talia still walks among the living. During their conversation we find out about Nyssa’s mom. We also witness some of the horrors Nyssa endured in the concentration camp.
Bruce’s conversation with his parents comes to a close, as we learn how they envisioned their son’s future.
Rucka is doing a fabulous job on this series. He seems to have nailed Ra’s and Batman dead on. I’m a huge fan of Ra’s so I’m really enjoying this series. Nyssa has the making of pretty good villain. I’m really curious to see what Talia’s role will be in the big picture and learn what’s the deal with the glowing green bullet. Thomas and Martha Wayne seem like real parents. I think that’s the best compliment I can give.
Janson’s art fits the mood of this book perfectly. From the horror of Nazi doctors, to a decrepit Ra’s al Ghul, everything looks perfect. Nyssa’s anger on page three is an example of the way Janson shows emotion perfectly. Thomas and Martha look just like Bruce remembers them, but perhaps more importantly exactly the way I remember them.
Now I promised myself that the next time I saw Clem Robins name as letterer I would give him a shout out. Clem’s name pops up in many of the comics that I review, and even more comics that I read. His lettering doesn’t distract from the story but it still adds much to each issue. The way he letters what Bruce is actually saying in the real world perfectly conveys his state of unconsciousness. And again in page three, he captures Nyssa’s anger. Letterer’s are the unsung heroes of comics. Colors are apparent. Penciler’s get all the fans, and writers get all the fame. But without letterer’s comic books would make very little sense. Letterer’s are an important part of enjoying comics, and Clem is one of the best.
