Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Batman #15
DC Comics
Snyder, Capullo & Glapion
The best DC book being published nowadays continues to provide a tremendous reading experience cover to cover. This month continues with Batman playing the dangerous game of Russian roulette with the Joker, while the backup continues the Joker's super villain recruiting trip. The book is fantastic read as Snyder provides plenty to think over once the book is completed. If you pick up one book then this is the one to pick up.
Batman stares down the Joker as the Joker continues to toy with Batman using riddles and making Batman question whether or not the Joker knows his secret identity. However, Batman walks through the process of seeing through the Joker and his madness as he manages to convince himself that the Joker is just a man twisted by toxins and nothing more. It's brilliant stuff that Snyder maps out for the reader as we get a concrete idea of what each character is really all about and how they work through obstacles in their own unique way.
As Batman muscles his way through the confrontation on the bridge a very odd thing occurs that I'm not quite sure what to make of. The Joker gets toxin on Batman's bare hand. The question is: why is Batman not wearing gloves when he had them on in previous panels? They didn't burn off because he goes from wearing them to not wearing them prior to the explosion. I couldn't tell if this was a misstep or a hidden gem but I needed some sort of clarification and never got it. I can't assume anything at this point but it wasn't something I was thrilled to see included (or excluded if there was an explanation).
The rest of the issue is a beautifully captured family meeting. Bruce, beaten, is rescued and confronted by the rest of the Bat family (minus Alfred). The entire sequence is tremendous. Batman tries to dismiss certain things and cover up others as his partners persist and challenge him. They tried it his way and it failed and now they want answers. Bruce reveals a chilling story about his first encounter with the Joker's calling card. It's an amazing set of scenes.
Capullo is outstanding on art. I'm not sure I've seen him pencil the entire Bat family before and he nails them all. Faces, body language and attitude. The book is a terrific artistic display. The only gripe I would have is that I wasn't thrilled with Bruce's eyes. He looks stoned but this may be part of the beaten look that Snyder is calling for. However you look at this book it's a terrific visual story. Personally, I love the panel layouts and placements but it's all gold.
Batman is the complete read each and every month. The backup just helps to fill in some of the back-story of this arc and it is exceptionally done as it captures the interaction between the Riddler and the Joker exactly how I would imagine it to be under the circumstances. Slip up with the gloves aside, this comic book is a fantastic read. The last page, the last line is particularly exceptional and it may be the most memorable line written by Snyder throughout his fantastic run on Batman. A great read.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
