DC Comics reviews 10/3/23 – Batman #138, Shazam #4

Batman #138

Chapter 4 of The Gotham War has a pretty great twist — one that is so good it’s almost a shame it’s tied to this weak Batman Civil War story.

This issue picks up from last week’s installment where Batman defeats and kidnaps Red Hood. Writer Chip Zdarsky takes Batman to an extreme level with a concoction that seems like he should have utilized much earlier. And on Joker instead of one of his closest allies. Zdarsky’s Batman has been spiraling for a few months now and he’s about to crater out.

Batman’s mental crisis continues as Nightwing and Robin confront him, prompting an assist from Damian. Gotham War has already been drastically compromised by all of Batman’s allies siding with Catwoman, who’s plans to save Gotham remain laughable. At worst, it’s insulting to longtime Batman readers to suggest Catwoman had the key to redeeming Gotham all along while Batman just beat up murderers, thieves and crime bosses.

How long would Zdarsky and Tini Howard’s Batman and Catwoman books where Batman is the president of Arkham Asylum and Catwoman just robs rich jerks last before cancellation?

Zdarsky has done some impressive work making Batman pretty close to irredeemable even with the “it was all Batman Zur-En-Arrh’s fault’ excuse handy. Ironically the character treated the best through this run has been Tim Drake, a character victimized by shoddy writing from Brian Michael Bendis and Meghan Fitzmartin. This is classic Robin III and Zdarsky fully understands what makes Tim special.

Jorge Jimenez’s art is also special. He’s got such a flair that makes the action feel like the combatants are leaping off the page. There’s an energy and legit sense of drama in every panel. Tomeu Morey’s colors enrich the backdrops and sell the moments as significant and important. Clayton Cowles’ lettering also spotlights the drama and emotion.

The twist and big reveal is superb. It might be enough to salvage The Gotham War, but there’s a realistic concern that the damage done to Batman might be too much for Zdarsky to overcome.

Rating: 7 out of 10