DC Comics review 2/7/23 – Batman #132, Static Shadows of Dakota #1

Batman #132

The Bat-Man of Gotham arc is playing out in a weird time in the rest of the DCU. Batman is still heavily involved in the Lazarus Planet but he’s on another planet with a Gotham completely different than the one he was ripped from by Failsafe.

Gotham is under control of Red Mask and Two-Face while other familiar Rogues are operating in the employ of the one-percenters. Hoping to find a way home,

Batman tries to crash an elite party only to come into contact with the last people he wanted to see in this world.

Yeah, the story might be a little weird, but writer Chip Zdarsky is doing some creative work in this new Gotham playground. Zdarsky likes to keep Batman on the defensive and this arc has been another great example that a Batman where he’s not fully in control is a far more interesting version of The Dark Knight.

Artist Mike Hawthorne has a nice and tight clean style that makes for smooth action sequences. Hawthorne has crafted a broken down Gotham that looks appropriately bleak and battered.

Colorist Tomeu Morey gives this Gotham a sickly hue as if it’s ready for a hero to emerge. And who knows? Maybe that hero is Bat-Man?

This arc might line up oddly with current DC continuity, but it’s been a refreshing change of pace delivering some nice surprises and welcome twists.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10