DC Comics reviews 12/1/20 – Batman Catwoman #1, Justice League Endless Winter #1

Batman #104

In a lot of ways, Batman has become more super ninja than a superhero largely incapable of being defeated and always having a strategy for victory.

James Tynion IV continues to challenge that notion in his Batman run. Playing in to that ultimate ninja theme, if Batman were a ninja he’d be Snake Eyes, and Tynion sets up Ghost Maker as his Storm Shadow.

Nightwing helps fill in the character’s background via flashbacks he tells Barbara. The notion that Bruce Wayne made a friend on his training tour is intriguing although Tynion arguably didn’t spend enough time on this aspect of the Batman/Ghost Maker rivalry.

Bringing Nightwing does add a sense of familiarity as similar themes were explored in the initial Rebirth Nightwing arc Better Than Batman.

Clownhunter and Harley Quinn’s interaction isn’t as engaging this issue, but adding Spoiler and Orphan into the mix was a positive step.

What wasn’t the best encouraging was the plethora of artists working on the issue. Ryan Benjamin, Danny Mimi, Bengal and Guillem March have very different styles and there’s little visual cohesion here beyond the strong color work of David Barron.

This was the weakest installment of the arc thanks to a lack of story advancement and the clashing art.

Rating: 7 out of 10