The DC3 decided to take on the Herculean task of covering DC’s weekly books! Our coverage will rotate between creator interviews, issue reviews and annotations, and long-form pieces on featured characters. This, friends, is the DC3kly!
Batman Eternal #15
Written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV and Ray Fawkes
Illustrated by Dustin NguyenWho is behind the hell beneath Arkham Asylum? Can Batwing and Jim Corrigan hope to stop it before it breaks out and consumes all of Gotham City?
On the Cover: Dustin Nguyen continues his excellent cover work for this series with a triptych of images – Batwoman and Red Hood, Batwing being taken under Arkham, and Robin and Bluebird, all connected by the shock of red associated with Kate Kane.
How is the Story Progressing?: The story has three major focuses this week, with a brief check in with Batman himself as the fourth piece.
The majority of the story follows Jim Corrigan and Batwing through Arkham Asylum, where they meet a variety of villains in various roles. Magpie is pretending to be the receptionist, Joker’s Daughter is underground, and we see the result of Scarecrow’s kidnapping from a previous issue.
When we check in with Red Robin, he figures out that Harper Row has stowed away on his plane, and Tim tries to get Harper to not tag along, a proposition that seems doomed from the start.
Meanwhile, back in Rio, Batgirl and Red Robin come across Batwoman, also investigating Dr. Mangaravite, due to a connection with the Crime Bible. She, Babs, and Jason decide to work together, which is a pairing I don’t think we’ve ever seen in any Bat comic.
The issue ends with the reveal of Mister Bygone, a seemingly new villain, who is seemingly behind the events occurring under Arkham, though I doubt very much that is the case.
New 52 Debuts: Magpie – one of the first comics I ever bought was “Batman” #401, which featured Magpie on the cover. While never a major Bat villain, she has made appearances in series like “52,” “Blackest Night,” and even popped up on Beware the Batman, and has the distinction of being the first villain Batman and Superman teamed up to fight in post-Crisis continuity.
Mister Bygone appears to be a new character, and is positioned to be one of the major players in this book. Personally, I think this isn’t going to be the case (more on that in a bit), but the reveal is set up to make us think he’s important. He sort of looks like a weird Frankenstein’s monster who went to finishing school.
“Batman Eternal” Debuts: Although she appeared in a panel in #2, here is the first time we see Batwoman interact with anyone, or speak any lines in “Eternal.”
Visuals: Dustin Nguyen is one of my favorite artists in this rotation, and this issue shows why time and time again. He, along with inker Derek Fridolfs and colorist John Kalisz, create a palette for their issues that stand out amongst all the other teams. Their issue feel more lived in, and spooky, without being overly dark or serious. The fact that Nguyen is launching “Descender” at Image might mean that he won’t be around for the last few months of “Eternal,” which is a real shame.
Three Big Questions: 1. What’s up with Bard and Batman?
Last time we saw these two interacting, Batman was lecturing him about using criminals’ lives as bait, and Bard seemed to give zero fucks. Now, we see them shaking hands and agreeing on the collective methods of their operation.
When I read this, my first thought was, “that’s not really Batman.” There’s no indication of that given, but it just seems to undo so much of what was done when they butted heads. Could Bard have a faux Batman out there to make him look just? I don’t really think so, but something felt fishy about that scene.
Continued below2. Will Batwoman have a substantial role?
In that initial “First Thanksgiving” teaser, Batwoman and Maggie Sawyer were prominently featured and yet, here we are, more than a quarter into the series, and she’s just now popping up. Have plans changed, or are we about to see a big increase in Batwoman action?
3. When are we actually getting Deacon Blackfire?
Last week, Vince did a hell of a job talking about Deacon Blackfire, and he finally gets a name drop in the October solicits, but c’mon man, how much longer will they tease him without delivering? We all know he’s coming – the name “Blackfire” appeared in #1, so cut the shit guys – give us the good Deacon!
Final Verdict: 7.7 – This, visually, was a thrill, but the plot dragged just a little.
P.S. – If not abundantly clear, I write each piece before reading the next issue, even if makes me look like a fool.
Batman Eternal #16
Written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion and Ray Fawkes
Illustrated by Dustin NguyenRed Robin is out to solve the mystery of the nanovirus spreading among Gotham City’s poorest, but Harper Row isn’t going to let him do it alone! Can Batwing escape the clutches of The Joker’s Daughter?
On the Cover: Ngyuyen provides another colorful and beautiful cover, although this one feels a little generic, like it could have been used for almost any issue. Taken alongside the “Futures End” covers, the “Eternal” ones have felt less story specific at times. This continues that trend.
How is the Story Progressing?: This issue has two brief interludes – one in Gotham, following up on last week’s Batman/Bard interaction, and one in Tokyo, following up on Tim and Harper.
Tim and Harper encounter some weird tentacle-like obstacles in Tokyo, before Harper is able to diffuse them. It is then that we see Sergei, a New 52 creation who trained Bruce in his pre-Batman days, pop up again with his chimp Maxwell.
Batman observes Bard shoot a criminal in the hand, and Bard knows it. I discussed last week how the Bard/Batman interaction was odd, and this somewhat contextualizes it. Batman isn’t trusting him, but is pretending to do so. After that, Vicki Vale shows up to flirt/get info from Bard. This pairing is an interesting one, and should play out in the weeks ahead.
The main thrust of this issue, however, is what is happening at Arkham. We get the confirmation that Professor Milo is the bowl-cut wearing white coat at Arkham that popped up in #6, as well as an extended sequence between Batwing and the Joker’s Daughter. She talks a lot about “daddy,” and we’ve obviously been assuming that she means the Joker – and maybe she still does, but we also get a look at who we’ve been clamoring to see: Deacon Blackfire.
New 52 Debuts: Professor Milo has been identified, so we can count him as a New 52 debut.
Ditto Deacon Blackfire, who we all knew was coming, finally appears. Again, check out Vince’s piece from last week for all your Blackfire needs.
“Batman Eternal” Debuts: None to speak of, beyond the two above, and Milo has technically appeared before.
Visuals: Nguyen and co. return again, and continue their excellent work. This issue was a little more Arkham-based, and so the work is a little less diverse than in the past, but it continues to be quite good. Maxie (the husk of a man that Blackfire will inhabit) and Blackfire, especially, come off as truly eerie.
Three Big Questions:
1. Will the Joker play a part at all?
I find it hard to believe that this “ultimate” Batman story wouldn’t have either the Joker or the Riddler involved, as early reports were saying. Well, last week, we saw the Riddler’s cell, and we have the Joker’s Daughter going on and on about her daddy this week, so I would bet there will be something involving those two. But, who knows – maybe DC is going all “52” on us by eliminating the major players to allow others to shine.
Continued below2. Are we all shipping for Harper Row and Tim Drake at this point?
I know Vince was shipping Tim and Joey Day a few weeks ago, but I feel like they are working real hard to set up Tim and Harper to be the Tim and Stephanie Brown of the New 52. Even if she does look like a poor man’s Grifer.
3. What are Vicki Vale’s intentions?
I really can’t tell if she’s in this for a story, or if she is trying to bone down with our boy Bard. Could she and Batman be working together? She isn’t really set up as having much of a relationship with Batman, but who knows? He’s everywhere in Gotham.
Final Verdict: 7.3 – Both the art and the story were a little off of last week’s pace, but the reveal of Deacon Blackfire goes a long way.
The Series So Far: 7.5 – This has been a really fun series to cover for a bunch of reasons, and it just keeps amping it up. Despite big gaps in certain stories (hi, Stephanie Brown!), the book flies along at a breakneck pace and is a real joy to read. A little more consistency wouldn’t hurt it, but such is life on a weekly series.
