Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Review: DC Rebirth: Batman #7 “Night of the Monster Men-Part One”

Submitted: Ken Trickey, Comic News Writer
23 September 16

Plot: Steve Orlando and Tom King
Pencils and Inks: Riley Rossmo


A looming nor’easter hurricane threatens Gotham in the first Rebirth crossover. Batman, Batgirl, and Nightwing converge to evacuate the city under Batman’s leadership. Clayface, Orphan, and Spoiler also join the team in a smaller capacity. Before the plan can get underway however, a monstrous, grotesque zombie resembling the giants from Attack on Titan crashes through Gotham’s cityscape wreaking havoc and threatening lives. Determined not to let another life be lost while on duty, Batman launches towards the creature without fear. Using some cool new high tech gadgets and his wits, Batman fights a behemoth that may look more at home in a series like Superman or Green Lantern, proving that it’s not the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog, or in this case, bat. If you enjoy a good Batman story, this is a great issue for you.

This story feels well fleshed out. The history between the characters is palpable. The loss and regret Batman feels following Tim Drake’s death is pushing him to his limits. He jumps in front of danger without any thought to self-preservation. It’s clear he blames himself for what happened, and this makes him feel more human to the reader. Batman is frequently cast as a stoic character without much in the way of emotion, but this time around it’s quite obvious the Dark Knight has been wounded beneath his armor.

Even though Batman has to fight a monster over two stories tall, the authors didn't neglect the fact that Batman’s greatest asset is his ability to investigate. Where did this creature come from? Are there more of them? What weaknesses can be exploited so they can be dispatched quickly? The team launches their investigation while simultaneously trying to evacuate vulnerable people in areas susceptible to flooding, as previously planned.


The Verdict: This is an enjoyable Batman story. If you're a Batfan, I would recommend picking it up. It doesn't change the character in some drastic way or add anything new, but that's okay. Sometimes you just want to sit back and read a good story.





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