DC Comics reviews 7/13/21 – Infinite Frontier #2, Rorschach #10
Batman: Urban Legends #5
Maybe DC should have Chip Zdarsky write more Batman stories? So far, this Batman/Red Hood story has been an excellent take on both characters and the introduction of the new Rogue, Cheer, has played out nicely. Zdarsky sets Cheer up as the kind of recurring Batman Rogue that could have some staying power for years.
Eddy Barrows (with Eber Ferreira and Diogenes Neves) and Marcus To handle the art for this chapter. To has always been a great artist for drawing young characters and having him work on the Jason Todd Robin flashback sequences was a smart move. Barrows provides his usual stellar highly detailed and expressive work.
As has been the case with the last few issues of Urban Legends, this main story has been the highlight. Marguerite Bennett writes an intriguing story about a potential ally/enemy for the Batgirls. Sweeney Boo’s art playful art style is one that works best with the appropriate characters. The Batgirls aren’t going down the same dour and depressed mindset of other members of the Bat Family, but Boo’s art still didn’t feel like a great choice.
Meghan Fitzmartin’s take on Tim Drake seems off and it’s wasting a rare solo showcase for the third Robin. Fitzmartin writes Tim Drake like Brian Michael Bendis meaning very little of his thoughts and interactions with people seems consistent with how he’s normally written.
Matthew Rosenberg and artist Ryan Benjamin wrap their Grifter arc. The payoff is worth it although Rosenberg writes Grifter’s dialogue a bit too forced in some occasions particularly when he interacts with Batman and Nightwing. Benjamin’s art is solid for the character and this creative team likely should be moving on to the title Rosenberg teases at the end. That would be a smart move for DC and provides a natural follow-up for this intriguing conclusion.
Zdarsky and company sell this issue mostly on their own, but Grifter fans will likely be very glad they stuck with the anthology series as well.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10