The third round of the New 52 is now out. Alphabetical reviews start right now with “Batman.”
General Information
Title: Batman #1
Author: Scott Snyder
Illustrator(s): Greg Capullo (pencils), Jonathan Glapion (inks) and FCO Plascencia (colours)
Cover Date: November 2011
Cover Price: $2.99
Buy the digital edition.
Premise
Gotham is not one of the world’s nicest cities, but that doesn’t mean everyone has given up on it. While in his Bruce Wayne persona, our title character announces a plan to revitalize development in Gotham. Meanwhile, Batman is called upon for a highly unusual crime with a very disturbing suspect.
High Point
High, high, high… highest.
Low Point
The art is frustrating. On a two page spread with a variety of villains, it’s nailed, making every character immediately recognizable with or without their costumes. A few pages later, we see Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake and Damien Wayne standing together without their masks. If they weren’t different heights, it would be very hard to tell which was which.
The Scores
On one level, it’s almost impossible to be truly original with Batman. The character is so iconic that his cartoon had no title card, and nobody seemed to notice. They knew exactly who he was on sight. The opening fight is an original situation, and I don’t think I’ve ever read Bruce Wayne taking such an active role in Gotham. (Note: my Bat history is weak, limited to Chronicles volumes from the 1940s and the issues on ComiXology. Still, ComiXology covers the last 115 issues of the title, so if he’s done this before in the eponymous title, it hasn’t been recently.) The last page bombshell is a good one, too. I give it 4 out of 6.
The artwork can irritate. It’s a style of slightly off model art with character shapes comparable to Ed McGuinnes work, but with much finer inking. I just wish the faces had a bit more detail. If you aren’t a villain, your face doesn’t really stand out. I give it 4 out of 6.
The story is well formed. We start with a quick establishing mission, get a sense for the new status quo for the unmasked Bruce Wayne, and then move into the new mystery that really grabbed my interest. I give it 5 out of 6.
The characterization of Batman and Bruce Wayne is extremely well done. There are solid moments for the supporting cast as well, but none that get more than a character reflecting (if not character establishing) line or two. I give it 4 out of 6.
The emotional response is strong. I’ve never been a huge Batman fan, as I prefer less brooding heroes than he usually is. This take tones down the brooding and steps up the detective, which is enough to get me in. I give it 5 out of 6.
The flow is very well done. I may not be a huge fan of Capullo’s style in terms of line work, but I can’t fault his storytelling. I give it 5 out of 6.
Overall, it’s another strong first issue, from the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” pile of relaunch strategies. I give it 5 out of 6.
In total, Batman #1 recieves 32 out of 42.
The New 52
Here are handy links for the reviews of all 52 new #1 issues:
- Action Comics
- All-Star Western
- Animal Man
- Aquaman
- Batgirl
- Batman
- Batman and Robin
- Batman: The Dark Knight
- Batwing
- Batwoman
- Birds of Prey
- Blackhawks
- Blue Beetle
- Captain Atom
- Catwoman
- DC Universe Presents
- Deathstroke
- Demon Knights
- Detective Comics
- The Flash
- Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
- The Fury of Firestorm
- Green Arrow
- Green Lantern
- Green Lantern Corps
- Green Lantern: New Guardians
- Grifter
- Hawk and Dove
- I, Vampire
- Justice League
- Justice League Dark
- Justice League International
- Legion Lost
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Men of War
- Mister Terrific
- Nightwing
- O.M.A.C.
- Red Hood and the Outlaws
- Red Lanterns
- Resurrection Man
- The Savage Hawkman
- Static Shock
- Stormwatch
- Suicide Squad
- Superboy
- Supergirl
- Superman
- Swamp Thing
- Teen Titans
- Voodoo
- Wonder Woman
So if in this title they crank up the “detective” component and tone down the brooding, how does it compare to the actual Detective title?
I think they’re launching a special Brooding Knight title for that stuff.
Detective also has a detective aspect to it, thankfully. “Batman” is more of a detective with a tone akin to the latter prime time hours on a major network, while “Detective” feels more like something HBO would run in the later hours of their schedule. In “Detective,” Batman interacts with Jim Gordon and Harvey Bennett directly, with even Alfred appearing only as a hologram, establishing more of a “loner” feel to the book. In “Batman,” the team definitely includes Alfred, Dick, Tim and Damien in much more active roles, in addition to Gordon and Bennett.