DC Comics reviews 12/4/24 – Absolute Superman #2, JSA #2

Batman #155

This Dying City arc has been one of the best Batman present day stories in years. Writer Chip Zdarsky is juggling a lot of subplots, but this issue he started to reveal to readers exactly what’s up his sleeve.

With Jim Gordon arrested under suspicion for possibly killing the mayor, Batman tries one more look at the crime scene for a clue that would exonerate his longtime ally. But there was truth to the tease last issue that Gordon was having an affair with the mayor’s wife. She’d been a long-suffering character in the Batman books and Zdarsky figured out a way to give her more agency and play a vital role in this arc.

Beyond Gordon’s troubles, Batman also has to deal with the hostile takeover from his “brother” and another from The Riddler. The business drama works as Zdarsky is balancing out so many very compelling aspects of Batman and Bruce Wayne.

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Jorge Fornēs fills in for Jorge Jimenez on art. That’s not a downgrade by any means as Fornēs is an immensely talented storyteller, who has a good sense of how-to best frame Batman the investigator, Batman the vigilante and Batman the man. The artwork is really sensational and Fornēs should be at the top of DC’s list whenever a fill-in Batman artist or an ongoing Batman artist is needed. Tomeu Morey’s colors complement Fornēs’ style and letterer Clayton Cowles provides his usual consistency work with dialogue and sound effects.

Of the various titles that started new arcs with the beginning of the All-In initiative, Batman might have benefitted the most. This hasn’t just been a solid arc. It’s been one of the best reads from DC in the last quarter thanks to some very inspired work from the creative team.

Rating: 10 out of 10