​Batman #2

Comic review by Paul Fiander

Written by Tom King
Pencils David Finch
Inks Matt Banning & Danny Miki
Colored by Jordie Bellaire
Published by DC Comics

The arrival of Super powered heroes to Gotham has caused Batman a bit of an issue. They saved him and a plane full of people because they can do things that he is incapable of. There is a joke in the Big Bang Theory where Sheldon says “With enough startup capital and training I could be Batman” (or words to that effect). This for me is the biggest draw of Batman as in a way this statement is completely true. Batman is just a man, a extremely wealthy and clever man but a man nonetheless. This has always been a big part of his appeal to me, now though we have to ask ourselves is being a Superheroes without powers enough?

Tackling Batman’s place in the world is a bold step for Tim King. As the new writer on one of DC’s biggest books he could have played it safe and I don’t think anyone  would have minded. However his choice to question the need for Batman makes for some great interchanges between the characters especially Bruce and Alfred. On the writing side King has got right into the flow and the same can be said for the artistic side as well.

David Finch is giving us characters that are muscular but not too a ridiculous level. This goes for Batman as well as Gotham Girl and Gotham himself. This is true in framing shots as well as during the action scenes we see especially in the early fight. Finch’s Batman is not like the last rendition of the character we had from Greg Capullo but the departure is not that far either. The most important aspect for me is the consistency of the image through the issue. I hate to see characters balloon up and down in size from panel to panel. The Inkers Matt Banning and Danny Miki must also take credit for this as they help maintain the cohesive feel of the art throughout.

Batman has always been my favourite DC book, and this latest creative team seem at the moment to be doing a great job. The issue ends with a bit of a bomb and a hint to the future and this really just adds a cherry the appetising feast King and Co are creating.

Preview Images and Variant cover