Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Batman #29
DC Comics
Snyder, Capullo & Miki
The latest issue of Batman returns the book to the "Year Zero" arc and returns the book to the five dollar price point, albeit for a forty-page comic. The arc with the Riddler seems to have wrapped up with a good read that delivers the usual high quality storytelling and stellar artwork that we have come to know from Snyder and Capullo. The comic is punctuated more because it's a learning experience for Batman rather than the usual successful closure the reader might be accustomed to. This is another good issue to pick up.
The comic book excels when it comes to the final confrontations. Gordon goes against the Riddler, while being met with resistance from his partner, the crooked Corrigan. While Gordon tries to match wits with the Riddler, Batman tries to foil part of the Riddler's plan and is met with Doctor Death.
The epic Batman tales all seem to involve an x-factor that makes the battle a little tougher for the Caped Crusader to master. This one takes place atop a weather balloon with multiple factors, including a super storm and a race against various plot devices, that make the battle a real tension filled drama.
The comic also manages to squeeze in some moments between Bruce Wayne and his parents, Batman and Alfred and Batman and Gordon. All of these interfaces aren't Earth-shattering but they do help to frame up the events of the issue, especially the ending.
The artwork is truly amazing. The comic is action heavy and the artwork helps elevate the action into something special and memorable. The coloring helps present a comic that is rich in tones that push along emotions and story themes in ways that are not typically seen in comics. Capullo also pays some homage to previous Batman works, such as Frank Miller, which bring a familiarity to the scenes in a classic way. Just picking up the book and looking at the pictures gives you a complete story and that is saying something.
Batman is one of the best books out there today and is DC's strongest book by far since the inception of the New 52. This particular issue ties up a lot of the Year Zero storylines that have been cooking for a while now. The comic doesn't reinvent anything in the Batman mythos but augments some adventures to his already rich history. This is a very good issue and is one I recommend checking out. Where does Snyder go from here?
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
