Reviewer : Tim Byrne
Story Title : N/A
Writer : Paul Jenkins
Arist : Jae Lee
Colorist : June Chung
Letterer : Rob Leigh
Editor : Mike Carlin
Publisher : DC Comics
I also reviewed issue #2 of this mini, so I guess by default, this review will be focussed on those aspects which strike me as particularly different or improved from last time.
Batman is drugged by Two-Face, and suffers hallucinogenic flashbacks to pivotal points in his past.
Paul Jenkins is a skilled writer. Of that I have no doubt. Having watched his work on Spider-Man, among other things, he certainly knows how to craft a compelling story. Unfortunately, although there are a few scenes that strike a chord, the overall story here is less than gripping. Batman as a ‘dual’ character? No kidding. The idea that Bruce Wayne is a mask, and Batman the real person? Old news.
Let’s face it. The mechanism of the drugging of Batman is really nothing more than a plot device which Jenkins attempts to use for a psychological exploration of certain ‘issues’ of Batman. The difficulty is that the insights fail to produce anything that hasn’t been plowed over on a number of previous occasions.
And the plot makes some suspension of disbelief difficult. The justification for [Two-Face] not removing Batman’s mask is lame, and does not ring true at all.
Jenkins touches on several of the key tragedies in the Batman mythos (Bruce’s parents, Jason Todd, the shooting of Barbara Gordon), as he tries to summon up emotional chords. Although this shouldn’t work, it is here that Jae Lee really steps up to the plate. His depiction of the Joker’s profile through a partly-opened door is wonderfully seamed and evil. The picture of Jason in Batman’s arms is suitably epic, aided significantly by June Chung’s background colouring.
The interaction between Alfred and a young Bruce is also well-written, and its nice to see something from the ‘Black hole’ between the death of Bruce’s parents and the donning of the cowl.
As mentioned, the art is affecting, although more as a series of still depictions rather than a visceral montage of action shots.
