Reviewed by: Mathan Erhardt
Story Title: Broken City Part Four
Written by: Brian Azzarello
Penciled and Inked by: Eduardo Risso
Colored by: Patricia Mulvihill
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Editors: Will Dennis & Bob Schreck
Publisher: DC Comics
Batman is still on the hunt for Angel Lupo. This brings him into contact with the duo that Penguin mentioned last issue; Fatman and Little Boy. It is more of a confrontation than a conflict, but both parties stand their ground, making it a tense situation. They inform Bats that they are also after Angel, and they intend to get him first.
Batman is stymied by the confrontation and takes it out on every criminal the encounters for the rest of the night. He essentially locks Gotham down until he gets what he wants. After a conversation with Det. Allen, from Gotham Central fame, in which Batman gleams some insight about the case, Bruce has a nightmare. Y’know the same nightmare he’s been having for about twenty-five years. But dreams are a window to the subconscious and it helps Bruce put some of the pieces together.
That night Bats has another encounter with Croc. This time it ends in a hail of gunfire from a familiar face, and with Batman vowing to save Angel Lupo. To be continued?
Azzarello writes some pretty dense stories, and this is one of them. Every line is filled with subtext and every word carries incredible weight. The standoff between Batman and Fatman and Little Boy was particularly well played. And Bats conversation with Allen is great. The dream sequence is as chilling and haunting as anything I’ve ever read. Azzarello offers a harrowing peak into how Bruce’s mind works.
Risso and Co are on top of their game. Fatman and Little Boy are a nice addition to Bat’s usually wacky rogues gallery, with a subtle rather than garish look. The scenes with Batman venting on the criminals of Gotham is great beautiful to look at. And who doesn’t love seeing Batman hunched atop a statue? Again the dream sequence looks amazing. It is just how dreams are, reality, only not quite right. Risso captures something about Batman, a quality that I can’t quite put my finger on. All I know is that his Batman is now one of my favorites. It’s up there with Adams, Aparo, and Breyfogle, at least in my book.
