‘Dark City’ reaches it’s startling conclusion in this oversized issue, further cementing ‘Zero Year’ as one of the best “Batman” tales in some time.
Written by Scott Snyder
Illustrated by Greg Capullo and Dany Miki
Colored FCO PlascenciaThe “DARK CITY” chapter of “ZERO YEAR” reaches its conclusion in this amazing, extra-sized issue! Now, the next chapter of Zero Year is almost upon us, and we’ve saved the best for last! What corners of Batman’s past will be revealed? And how will they impact his very near future? Find out here!
It’s safe to say that a Batman comic hasn’t felt like this much of an “event” since the latter days of Morrison’s “Batman and Robin” run. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo continue to push the envelope regarding how big and bombastic they can make their year long saga. Furthermore, their love and appreciation for the character’s long legacy and history continues to shine through in surprising ways, making for the perfect celebration of the Dark Knight’s 75 year history.
The story brings the black out, Riddler, and Doctor Death subplots to a head. The events in the present (as it were) build against the back drop of one iconic night in Crime Alley. In this way, Snyder manages to give weight and power to a story we’ve seen told and retold countless times, from innumerable angles.
In recent years, the Riddler has become one of my favorite Batman rogues. Very much the anti-thesis to the Dark Knight, Nygma’s bright colors and convoluted word play make for a wonderful foil. Unfortunately, the character often goes under-utilized. (That is, at least as a villain. Paul Dini’s semi-heroic take on the character will always be one of the best). While the character ended up getting the spotlight in ‘Hush,’ his big-bad status was undermined by the fact that he was thrown in at the last moment. In ‘Dark City,’ however, The Riddler proves his worth as a villain in spades, crafting kooky death traps and besting Batman at every turn. His scene with Gordon in Wayne Tower stands out as one of the best sequences in entire issue.
While Gordon faces down Edward Nygma, Bruce squares off against Doctor Death. Death is, admittedly, a less engaging villain than the Riddler. However, Snyder throws an interesting twist into the character’s history and motivations, tying his fall back to Bruce’s past and paying off on seeds planted earlier in the arc. Also, Capullo goes a long way towards making Death one of the most visually striking rogues in some time. Over the course of their strugge, Death, whose rapidly bones grow and adapt to stress and damage, grows to resemble a demented demonic skeleton. It’s fantastic imagery, and some of Capullo’s best character work to date.
Throughout ‘Zero Year,’ Snyder and Capullo have made a point to highlight various iconic and influential incarnations of the Bat. Previous issues have referenced Batman’s Golden Age origins, ‘Year One,’ and Batman: The Animated Series. For “Batman” #29, the team takes a trip back to the Silver Age. They certainly aren’t afraid to shy away from the sillier aspects of the Caped Crusader. Bat-blimps, ?-emblazoned weather balloons, and absurdly complex murder machines run rampant throughout the issue, bringing a bit of levity to the grim proceedings.
That zaniness is starkly contrasted by another aspect of Bat-history. “Batman #29” features several homages to the Frank Miller, “Dark Knight” incarnation of Batman. Through a humorous poke at “All-Star Batman and Robin” and an artistic tribute to one of “Dark Knight Returns'” most iconic images, Snyder and Capullo pay tribute to Miller’s (mostly) beloved work.
I’ve already referenced how wonderful and important Capullo’s contribution to this issue is, but it really can’t be understated. With each passing issue of “Batman,” the artist outdoes himself in new and unexpected ways. With the extra page count (a whopping 40 pages, not bad for just an extra dollar) Capullo is granted space to let his art take over the entire page, resulting in a number of brilliant splash pages. The debut of the Bat-blimp is one such page. The oblong behemoth appears out of the clouds, outlined in the glow of Plascencia’s violent tinged lightning, dwarfing the GCPD’s puny zeppelin. Another splash page uses the oddly hued lightning for a different affect, the previously referenced “Dark Knight Returns” homage.
Continued belowColor has played a particularly important role in ‘Zero Year.’ Colorist FCO Plascencia has toyed with the expectation of what a Batman book should look like. Sure, the artist still employs many dark colors and gray tones, particularly in flashbacks to the night in Crime Alley and Batman’s fight with Doctor Death. However, the artist’s use of greens, purples, and oranges bring a distinct and somewhat unsettling personality to the book. The coloring also hearkens back to “The Killing Joke,” yet another iconic piece of Batman history.
The issue culminates in a series of silent panels, contrasting the destructive force of Superstorm Rene with the devastating murder of the Waynes. It’s an incredibly powerful sequence, where-in all the emotion is conveyed exclusively through Capullo’s lines, Miki’s inks, and FCO Plascencia’s rich colors. Of all these powerful images, there’s a particularly provocative panel that stands out above the rest; Martha Wayne gunned down from behind, her body blocking the reader’s view of the shooter, with the fiery bloom of the gunshot forming a halo around her bloodied head. It’s downright haunting.
Each arc of Snyder and Capullo’s “Batman” has brought something new to the table. ‘Court of the Owls’ added a frightening new group of villains to the rogues gallery and built on the secret history of Gotham. ‘Death of the Family’ took Batman’s relationship with the Clown Prince to dramatically disturbing new lows. However, it’s arguable that ‘Zero Year,’ while primarily a protracted origin revamp, brings more depth and nuance to these characters than either of the previous arcs. The team has long since proved that this period in Batman’s history is ripe for potential stories. Now, as we prepare for the post-apocalyptic Gotham witnessed way back in “Batman” #21, it’s hard not to be excited about what lies in store.
Final Verdict: 9.2 – Buy, if you aren’t one of the one hundred thousand or so already doing so.
