There are a lot of comics out there, but some just stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we’re taking a look at James Tynion IV and Jorge Jimenez’s epic run on “Batman.” In the wake of DC’s ‘Infinite Frontier’ initiative, this “Batman” run has more interesting narrative elements than ever before. You won’t believe some of the incredible pages from Jorge Jimenez either. If you are new to comics or lost interest in this run in the past, now is the perfect time to jump on board. I’m here to build a case for why fans cannot afford to miss a single upcoming issue of “Batman” by James Tynion IV and Jorge Jimenez.
Who Is This By?
Writer James Tynion IV is now a well-known creator over at DC. Tynion’s landmark “Detective Comics” was a key title for the ‘Rebirth’ initiative that proved his growth as a writer. Tynion was able to utilize some of these elements from DC team books for “Justice League: Dark” with artist Alvaro Martínez Bueno to produce more epic supernatural DC titles. Over the past couple of years at DC it has been refreshing to see Tynion’s name on DC comic books. The name almost guarantees something about the comic will be interesting.
The takeaway from this Batman run is that it is created by rising stars at DC. Jorge Jimenez has a strong recent run of comics from the publisher. Jimenez recently drew issues of “Justice League” written partially by Tynion and his frequent collaborator Scott Snyder. Jimenez drew some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful issues of that exciting run that pushed boundaries. There are certain artistic elements in “Justice League” that paved the way for “Batman.” The sleek art from “Justice League” #38 proved that Jimenez is capable of telling big stories with lots of different characters. This same skill would be essential to the vast amount of supporting cast members in this big “Batman” run.
What’s It All About?
This is going to be the tricky part. Tynion and Jimenez’s “Batman” run is not just about one simple thing right now. First off, Tynion has done a great job introducing new characters at a steady pace while spotlighting some of your favorite Batman cast members. Punchline is definitely a fan-favorite that has led to some fascinating story developments in recent months. Punchline is the Joker’s new girlfriend. In the pages of Batman and special issues written by Tynion readers have seen Punchline’s progression from student to underboss. Alexis Kaye’s newest status quo is one of the most interesting changes to the book yet and a narrative element that I wouldn’t dare give away in this article.
The shocking part of the book is that Punchline isn’t the only new hero. Bao Pham is a rogue Joker henchman-beating vigilante known as Clownhunter. He is also 17-years young. Giving Batman a conflicted relationship with a younger character is not a new idea but the angst and unfiltered rage from Pham rings true. Lately whenever Clownhunter is on the page Ghost-Maker isn’t far behind. These characters seemingly exist to imbue Bruce Wayne’s life with a level of chaos that would make Deadpool run for the exit. Bruce Wayne’s life gets even more complicated when you factor in the presence of Harley Quinn. Quinn is now reformed and has even helped out Batman during key moments. We aren’t even done describing the relationships between some of these characters.
What Makes It So Great?
The pure chaos of Tynion’s run is what makes it so exciting. This title has a massive scope and has spent most of the title thus far battling The Joker. Tynion’s Batman is defined by his limitations. A huge aspect of the series is Wayne’s loss of wealth which happened early in the run. Wayne’s lack of resources went on to define the plotting of the title. It took a surprising amount of time for Tynion to establish all the players in the series. Several plot threads in the current Batman title hinge on the events of “Future State: The Next Batman.” “Future State: The Next Batman” introduced us to one of Tynion’s most surprising new villains. The mini-series also gave us a glimpse into the future of Batman which Tynion directly references in this week’s issue.
Continued belowWhen you single maybe one issue of the title or only focus on the early issues, Tynion’s run can really seem disorienting and unfocused. Thankfully, everything in this run feels methodical and paced carefully when considered as a whole. The Designer storyline was one of the highlights early in the run that teased the new status quo for Wayne and the next huge storyline for the series. Due to so many changes and all these characters, I have no idea where Tynion is going next with Batman. The level of unpredictability of the series and the combination of incredibly hostile supporting characters is absolute bliss.
Jorge Jimenez is a solid artist who is able to capture truly awe-inspiring pages. Jimenez’s final page in “Batman” #106 came directly out of nowhere. Jimenez uses so much shadow and contrast in this scene. This incredibly imaginative look at Batman fuels some of the entries behind his best art in the comic. Jimenez is excellent at managing a huge cast of characters with an incredible amount of detail. Jimenez can capture movement between panels really well allowing for some incredibly engaging fight sequences. There’s also a grounded approach to the art even though this a title full of costumed heroes. For the most part, Jimenez focuses on facial details and what a person in a costume would like if they were to fight crime.
Tynion has even referenced that this series is looking to evoke a manga influence which Jimenez captures perfectly within the scope of DC Comics. The best parts of the art are the occasional pages with immense detail. I wish Jimenez could keep that same level of detail in every interior page. Also, I don’t believe a conversation about the artwork in the title is complete without mentioning Jimenez’s female anatomy. The vast majority of women including Barbara Gordon and Harley Quinn have a very similar exaggerated body type. Even if these figures were accurate every woman looks nearly the same under Jimenez’s interior art. It’s easy to tell his characters apart thanks to the details in costume and color but Jimenez’s pages with Quinn and Gordon could use finesse.
How Can You Read It?
“Batman” is available monthly on digital devices, comic book shops, and in a collected edition at a bookstore near you.
