Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Batman #4
DC Comics
Snyder, Capullo & Glapion
The fourth issue of Batman focuses mostly on Batman's obsession with finding the Court of Owls. However, we learn the detective work began years before Bruce Wayne even became Batman. This issue is good because it manages to tie the current storyline into a story that could fit into continuity without sticking out in the minds of Batman enthusiasts. The issue doesn't move the plot forward in the current timeline a whole lot and doesn't really contain much action but it is an entertaining read nonetheless.
Bruce Wayne recovers from the previous issue's cliffhanger. While he rests, he does some detective work on the Court of Owls. While this is occurring he gets a visit from Dick Grayson, his old sidekick.
Dick expresses his concern for Bruce's health and explains how the Commissioner is also showing some level of apprehension towards Batman's angle on the Court of Owls. Basically everyone seems to think Batman is over-obsessing. Bruce blows off Dick at first, which drives Dick away. However, Bruce calls back his former protégé and they talk through Bruce's entire history with regard to the Court of Owls. It goes back to the weeks immediately after Bruce's parents were killed.
While I liked how Snyder works in this "secret" case that Bruce researched regarding to the Court of Owls I found the delivery to be off. This was mostly because I felt Bruce wouldn't feel the need to completely reveal himself to Dick of all people. I could certainly see him having this conversation with Alfred in the "remember when" context but with Dick it feels likes it's a forced heart-to-heart. However, the writing is superb and the flashback story itself is fairly dramatic, so it works pretty well.
Capullo excels in his page layouts. Throughout the flashbacks scenes he has the wide-screen view but the panels shrink as the story goes on. With full-page images in the background it really gives a unique feeling to the story that Snyder is telling. Again, Capullo struggles with making the characters distinguishable without their masks on. However, he does provide a wider range of boyish facial expressions for Dick that helps to keep the former sidekick looking young while still having the ability to deliver adult dialogue. Capullo is definitely redefining himself and bringing a fresh look to Batman.
Batman may very well be my favorite book of the re-launch. Snyder is proving that there are still aspects to Batman that haven't been defined in the decades that the character has seen print. The Owl story is building to something special and it looks like a payoff could be coming in the next issue based on the cliffhanger. It isn't too late to jump on this book. I definitely recommend doing so.
3.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
