DC Comics reviews 2/19/20 – Justice League #41, Batman #89, DCeased Unkillable #1

Batman #89

Their Dark Designs really has the feel of an instant classic Batman arc. James Tynion IV is in the midst of something special and the stakes are raising each issue.

Batman is chasing the four assassins while seeking answers to the link connecting his greatest rogues. As he closes in Batman finally sees The Designer, the architect of his current pain.

It’s always a risky play for Batman writers to throw in so many of his Rogues Gallery, but Tynion is making it work thanks to an underlined mystery with The Joker, Penguin, The Riddler and Catwoman. It always helps that Tynion doesn’t make Batman an unbeatable, all knowing character incapable of being outsmarted.

Tynion has made Lucius Fox a vital component of his Batman run and the Batman/command center cast member has a fresh dynamic. It doesn’t hurt that Tynion is introducing some cool new Lucius invention every issue.

Art responsibilities were shared this issue between Carlo Pagulayan, who handles Batman’s sequences, and Guillem March, who tackles Catwoman’s impromptu team-up with Harley Quinn. This is a huge difference in the two skill sets  as Pagulayan skews more towards highly realistic looking pages while March has a very stylized approach.

It’s a styles clash, but doesn’t distract too much from the story.

This arc has delivered from the start and Tynion is bringing it big time and that’s even before the big reveal of The Joker’s next big plan.

If you’re not reading Batman now you’re missing one of DC’s strongest titles that’s completely regained its momentum.

Rating: 10 out of 10