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If DC is going to commit to delivering weekly adventures of Batman and friends, you can bet the DC3 is going to match them. In our second week of “Batman Eternal” coverage, I’m going to take an extended, in depth look at the series so far. We’ll talk about what’s happened, where the series is going, and what you should look out for. Of course, that means spoilers, and that means a disclaimer.
I will be discussing spoilers for the the first two issues of “Batman Eternal.” If you have yet to read the issues, and still want to be shocked when Alfred dies at the end of the first issue, turn back now!
In future weeks, these reviews and annotations won’t be quite as expansive, but we wanted to make sure the first installment was oversized – unlike “Eternal” itself!
Just kidding about Alfred! Seriously though, that’s your warning! Now let’s dive into “Batman Eternal” #1
Written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Jason Fabok
Page 1
The beginning is the end is the beginning. No, it’s not The Smashing Pumpkins, it’s the first page of “Batman Eternal,” which opens on “The End.” Gotham is in flames, Bruce bound crucifix-style on the bat-signal, the logo of the Bat carved into his chest. It’s a catastrophe of biblical proportions that calls to mind the apocalyptic future of Grant Morrison’s “Batman” #666. Whether or not that’s where the “Eternal” team is headed, it’s only the beginning of what looks to be an extended love-letter to the 75 year history of Batman.
It’s worth noting at this point how strange the timing of “Batman Eternal” is. We’re currently two-thirds of the way through ‘Zero Year’ over in “Batman” proper, with Gotham facing the torrential Superstorm Rene. While the destruction by water and fire are separated by some 5+ years of comic book time, the close proximity of ‘Zero Year’ and “Eternal” does, at some level, lessen the impact of both stories. It’s also somewhat mind-boggling to think we’ll be nearly twenty issues into “Eternal” before “Batman” catches up. Oh well, you can’t win them all.
Pages 2-3
After the hellish vision of things to come (Snyder and Tynion do love their teases) we’re introduced to Jason Bard, the newest member of the GCPD. Bard is a pre-existing DC character making his New 52 debut. Pre-New 52, the character acted as a GCPD officer, a private investigator, and love interest/fiancé of Barbara Gordon. Here, he’s an optimistic young officer coming to Gotham under the wing of Jim Gordon. In a lot a ways, Bard’s characterization here is reminiscent of Gordon himself in “Batman Year One.” He’s the sole bright-eyed point of view offered to readers as they embark on this new and dismal journey.
Pages 4-7
Bard’s introduction transitions into the first major action set-piece, as well as the first Bat-rogue of “Eternal.” Surprise, surprise, it’s the fantastically underutilized Professor Pyg! While Fabok doesn’t depict him dancing around, singing nonsensically, he does through in some exploding, machine gun toting robot pigs (eat your hearts out, penguins from Batman Returns).
Fabok turns in some terrific sequential storytelling here. Pyg careens through a warehouse his his personal plane, firing out rounds of poisoned needles on innocent children. Of course, Batman is on the scene to save the day, dressed to nines in the bat-armor last seen in ‘Night of the Owls.’ Which leads to this delightful panel:
Page 11
While Gordon is chasing his goon through the Gotham subway (more on that later), Batman utterly lays into Pyg, who can do little more than spout off ham related nonsense. Quite uncharacteristically, Batman retorts with his own pig-related humor. We’re also treated to a thoroughly creepy appearance by Alfred, who bears a striking resemblance to his deceased Earth 3 counterpart, The Outsider. Alfred warns Batman that two subway trains are bearing down on each other, in the vicinity of Gordon and his man.
Continued below
Seriously, get out of the cave every once in a while, Pennyworth.
Page 12
Coming back to Bard, Harvey Bullock shows the rookie around GCPD, introducing Captain Maggie Saweyer and Major Forbes along the way. Forbes displays a clear vendetta against Gordon, establishing a corrupt streak in the police department and foreshadowing the tragedy set to play out over the following pages. It’s great to see such a focus on the police of Gotham, an aspect that has been neglected in the New 52. We’ve been told that each writer has a particular “wheelhouse” they are working out of, and it would be great to see someone like Tynion IV or Kyle Higgins using “Eternal” to resurrect the “Gotham Central” concept.
Pages 13-18
I’ll admit, the team took this first issue much farther than I would have expected over these pages. Having cornered his quarry in the subway, Gordon holds the man at gunpoint, warning him to submit.
From Gordon’s perspective, we see the flamboyant man, referred to as Grady by an associate, clearing brandishing a gun of his own (page 13, panels 2 and 3). However, Grady is clearly confused and frighted by Gordon’s commands, insinuating that he actually isn’t holding a weapon. On the count of three, Gordon fires, attempting to disarm Grady. The shot misses its mark, hitting an electrical box. This is when it all goes to hell.
The box explodes, apparently preventing the oncoming trains from switching tracks. The gathered assembly is left to helplessly watch as the two trains collide at full speed.
Pages 19-20
Of course, in the aftermath of such tragedy and destruction, Batman remains the detective. He immediately begins to reason through the chain of events. He informs Gordon that there was no gun, though Gordon swears he saw one. Furthermore, the circumstances of the oncoming train’s inability to divert don’t add up, as the box he hit doesn’t control the rails. There’s clearly more to the situation than meets the eye, but faced with the overwhelming enormity of the situation, the commission does the only thing he can; accept guilt, and submit to arrest by Jason Bard, the very man he was waiting to meet.
The issue closes with one final look at the bloody and beaten Bruce from the first page, with menacing disembodied caption:
Overall, this is a fantastic debut for the weekly series. Its fast pace, snappy dialogue, and high stakes make this twenty page comic a surprisingly dense read. One can only wonder, if one issue can cover this much ground, how much will we get in fifty plus?
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy
Next up, we have this week’s “Batman Eternal” #2, wherein the writers slow things down and introduce the first Big Bad.
Written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Jason Fabok
Page 1
We open on the office of Sebastian Hady, Mayor of Gotham. Here he meets someone he…didn’t expect.
Again, with the five years. Five years ago, five years later, DC has such a bizarre obsession with the number 5 these days. It’s like the new 52 or something. Ha.
But in all seriousness, with the specific time frame referenced, it’s worth wondering if this (for now) mystery individual will come into play towards the end of ‘Zero Year,’ or if this is just a general nod to the established “beginning” of costumed vigilantism.
Pages 2-3
As with issue #1’s much welcomed focus on the GCPD, issue #2 gives a short but appreciated nod to the Gotham Gazette featuring reporter Vicki Vale. With the available size and scope, “Eternal” is a great opportunity to give spotlight to the smaller players in Gotham, and I certainly hope this is a trend the writers continue to follow.
Pages 4-5
In a double page spread accented with inset panels, various Bat-family members react to the news bomb dropped by the Gazette regarding Gordon’s incarceration. Nearly every major character is represented, barring Dick Grayson. Though we’re still a month out from the end of “Forever Evil,” we already know the fate of Nightwing. However, there’s no clear indication of when his new status quo will catch up with the events of “Eternal.” His absence is rather obvious, and it would be a shame to not see the character until the book is in double digits.
Continued belowHowever, his absence does appear to set the stage for Tim Drake to play a much larger role than he has recently. It’s also great to see more tangential bat-characters like Batwing and Batwoman featured prominently. However, pages such as this one call to mind similar scenes in the main “Batman” book that herald line-wide crossovers like ‘Night of the Owls.’ With the already massive buy-in required to follow “Eternal,” I think it would be wise to keep these character’s stories, at least as they pertain to the events at end, in book.
Pages 8-9
Back to Hady and the mysterious man, the duo philosophize about the true nature of Gotham and what gifts it can bring to the one who tames it. The man is one with power, the power to frighten city officials and ensure Hady’s election as mayor. He also has a vendetta against Gordon, who he describes as “a snake” that rejected the kingly gift of his office as Commissioner while delivering the city to “lunatics in costumes.”
Just who is this mystery man? Who could have such power and connections, as well as harbor a deep seated resentment towards Gordon and the more colorful types of Gotham? Could it be Major Forbes? He has the resentment, but not the power. I guess we’ll just have to read on…
Pages 10-11
“Eternal” has bucked expectation to this point, but it’s here that the issue takes another unexpected swerve. While investigating the scene at the subway, GCPD Officer Strode encounters an ominous man with red hair and a green suit. The man knows things about Strode that he shouldn’t, claims the power to make people forget, and has an intimate knowledge of the evils plaguing Gotham. Oh and he has skulls in his eyes. While his identity isn’t explicitly, he bears a striking resemblance to…
Jim Corrigan, a.k.a. The Spectre! This certainly falls in line with hints about Ray Fawkes’ intention to cover the “supernatural” side of Gotham.
Pages 12-13
We quickly move over to Arkham Asylum, where we we’re introduced to Doctor Phosphorous. The villain insists that he is hearing voices. Of course, that’s a Tuesday at Arkham, and the staff quickly dismiss him. It turns out there’s merit to the madman’s ramblings, as the source of the voice is revealed: a ghostly figure known only as “Blackfire.” This could be a nod to the character Deacon Blackfire, introduced in “Batman: The Cult” by Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson. As presented here, the character has far more in common with the prominent “Batman Beyond” rogue, Blight.
Pages 14-17
We get a playful bit of dialogue in an extended seen with Batman and Catwoman. Knowing what we know from “Batman” #28’s flashforward, this scene has extra significance. I originally guessed that Selina’s contempt of Batman in that issue might stem from “Forever Evil” fallout. However, this issue suggests that their falling out is yet to come, which makes each moment between the worth close attention.
At the very least, we’re a long way removed from Guillem March illustrated leather romps.
Pages 18-20
Just as the first issue moved the story along further than anyone would have guessed, issue #2 takes things a step further by revealing at least one the masterminds at work. Upon inspection of the subway security footage, Batman is able to successfully identify the man Gordon was pursuing. This tips him off to the identity of the man currently in the company of Mayor Hady…Carmine Falcone!
The Roman has returned to Gotham. Somewhat surprisingly, the mob boss bears the scars of an encounter with Catwoman recounted in “Batman Year One.” Snyder has made a concerted effort to keep as much of Miller and Mazzucchelli’s seminal origin in place, but this an extremely specific nod to a continuity that remains in limbo. With at least one villain exposed, it’ll be interesting to see what new twists “Eternal” has in store.
Issue #2 isn’t the bombastic outing that the first issue was, but it does a far better job of depicting the potential scope for “Batman Eternal.” It brings in several off the wall characters while tipping its hand regarding the previously teased “supernatural” elements of Gotham. Finally, the issue delivers in a way that many books fail to, giving a major payoff regarding the man behind the curtain just one issue after the strings are pulled. Any who expected “Eternal” to drag its feet due to its accelerated publishing schedule can drop that notion immediately.
Continued belowHowever, the book definitely suffers from some pacing issues. By throwing so many concepts and directions out so quickly, the book has a haphazard and scatterbrained feel. Hopefully this is only the case in this first arc, as Snyder and Tynion prepare to lay the groundwork for the more focused individual arcs to follow.
Final Verdict: 7.8 – Buy
The Series So Far: 8.1
There you have it, the first of many in depth breakdowns of “Batman Eternal.” Feel free to share your thoughts and theories, and check back next week as the DC3 puts the spotlight on Stephanie Brown!
