Do you like Batman? Do you wish the Big 2 published more anthology books? Do you go crazy for top-tier art from some of the best creators in the business? If you answered yes to any of those questions, prepare to get excited for the latest volume of “Batman Black and White.”
Written by Chip Kidd, Neal Adams, Maris Wicks, John Arcudi, and Howard Mackie
Illustrated by Michael Cho, Neal Adams, Joe Quinones, Sean Murphy, and Chris SamneeThe legendary, Eisner Award-winning series BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE returns in a brand-new six-issue miniseries featuring tales of The Dark Knight by some of comics’ greatest writers and artists! This first issue kicks off with stories by Chip Kidd and Michael Cho, Neal Adams, Joe Quinones and Maris Wicks, John Arcudi and Sean Murphy, and Howard Mackie and Chris Samnee!
There’s no shortage of Batman books these days. Starring in four in-continuity books, four digital series, and featured in dozens of Bat related books, there are an alarming number of ways for you to get your Batman fix. So you have to ask yourself, do I need another Batman book? When the book in question is the return of the prestigious “Black and White” format, then the answer is “No, this is the only Batman book you need.”
If you aren’t familiar with the format, “Black and White” gives writers and artists the opportunity to tell an 8-page Batman story, free of continuity. Teams can play it safe, or go off the wall crazy. The caveat is that it must be in black and white. DC has assembled an all-star cast of writers and artists (with, admittedly, a few head scratchers) to craft the first five short stories. This is a wonderfully diverse set of stories, showcasing a number of moods, themes, and characters from the Batman universe.
First up is a story from graphic designer Chip Kidd (Batman: Death by Design) and artist Michael Cho. Cho’s style, similar to artists like Darwyn Cooke and Dave Bullock, is a delightful call back to the Silver Age. As such, this story, in which Robin must track down a missing Batman, is fairly lighthearted and fun. While it looks fantastic, some odd perspectives used by Cho towards the end of the story make the ending a little muddled, detracting a bit from its overall enjoyability.
Next up is an absolutely bonkers story from the legendary Neal Adams, entitled ‘Batman Zombie.’ Done completely in pencils, no inks, ‘Zombie’ is a brilliant showcase of classic Adams’ art. Those who read Adam’s recent “Batman: Odyssey” may not be surprised to hear that Adams goes absolutely bonkers with his eight pages. While the story is very nonsensical at first, Adams pulls it into perspective by stories end, delivering a thought provoking look at Batman’s relevance in everyday social justice issues.
Third we have a fun diversion from the bat, with a Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy centric story from Maris Wicks and Joe Quinones. Quinones’ smooth, rounded style perfectly matches the tone of Wick’s witty and energetic script. This is a delightfully fun romp through Gotham, proving that not every story about Batman has to be harrowing and dark. The last page will definitely put a smile on your face, that is, if Quinones’ Poison Ivy didn’t already, “wink, wink.”
Arguably the best of the bunch is ‘Driven,’ a story devoted to Batman’s relationship with the Batmobile. Written by the all-star team up of John Arcudi and Sean Murphy, the story intercuts a high-speed chase through Gotham with some fantastic Bruce and Alfred shop-talk. The best part? Murphy’s inspired Batmobile design, and mash-up of the Christopher Nolan Tumbler and the classic Animated Series incarnation.
Wrapping up the issue is the Howard Mackie penned, Chris Samnee illustrated ‘Head Games.’ Though Samnee has become a huge name in the past few years, particular for his work on “Daredevil,” this is surprisingly the least impressive story artistically. Samnee’s unique visual style is somewhat diminished under a very heavy layer of ink. Still, slightly below-par Samnee work is nothing to snuff at. Perhaps even more surprisingly, Mackie delivers a great murder mystery, which threatens to get in the way of Bruce’s professional life. The ending is as surprising as it is disturbing, a real treat for long-time Bat-fans.
With nary a lackluster story in sight, “Batman Black and White” #1 is a resounding success. With all the flack DC seems to get on what seems to be a daily basis, its great to see a book that is so geared toward fostering creative spirit and goodwill.
Final Verdict: 9.5 – Buy. Don’t let Villain’s Month overshadow what is likely the best book DC will publish this month.
