The first part of “Endgame” was an action-packed romp with a Jokerized Justice League that ended with one of the most fetching splash pages featuring the Man of Steel. Scott Snyder and company, in “Batman” #36, escalate the tension by continuing to excel at the elements that have made this “Batman” run an instant classic: family, mystery, and a stunning exploration of the Dark Knight Detective.
Written by Scott Snyder
Illustrated by Greg Capullo“Endgame,” part 2 – it’s a story arc so steeped in mystery, all we can tell you is the title!
“When he attacks you, he attacks us all, this family. My family.”
With Alfred’s passionate words, the “Batman” creative team promises to not only tell a bombastic story, but to make it personal as well. Alfred is accurate when he says the Bat-family hasn’t been the same since their last dalliance with the Clown Prince of Crime in the “Death of the Family” storyline. He’s attempting to topple Batman and bring about, appropriately, the Dark Knight’s endgame. The word endgame is defined as the ultimate part of any game (such as chess) and the Joker is, as witnessed in both the main story and the back-up, playing what appears to be his final twisted joke on Batman. Snyder, artist Greg Capullo, inker Danny Miki, and colorist FCO Plascencia ruthlessly and beautifully test Bruce both physically and mentally by having him confront not only his most heinous villain, but also himself. Bruce has doubts about his role as the symbol of Batman and this exploration is intelligently written and impressively rendered.
Snyder forces Batman to confront his greatest fear: what if his mission was all for nothing? Batman wonders if, at the end of his life, the only thing that will greet him is, “cold, empty laughter.” The Joker represents the complete opposite of what Batman stands for, yet they are very much alike in more ways than Bruce would like to acknowledge. Both deal in the art of subterfuge and fear, yet utilize those attributes as tools of strength in very different ways. In “Batman” #36, the Joker uses those qualities for purely evil and sadistic reasons, while Bruce must be Batman in order to protect the people and ideals that he loves above all else. The Joker has realized Batman will never join him and now, as Julia says so succinctly, the Joker has become, “friend turned enemy”. Snyder is an expert on the Joker, Batman, what they stand for, and the relationship that results from their symbolism. This issue continues Snyder’s exploration and proves he has so much more to say about these seventy five year old icons.
Capullo is a master at both scenes of pure action as well as intimate scenes of conversation. In the first few pages of this issue, we get to experience a high-octane and dynamically choreographed fight scene between Batman and Superman. Coupled with the ingenuity of Batman’s brain that Snyder so naturally brings to the page and the care that Capullo takes in his artistic choices, an action scene becomes so much more than a mindless diversion: it becomes art. Both writer and artist prove why theirs is one of the best creative marriages in comics.
Capullo is also, like Snyder, able to bring a dynamism to intimate scenes and accentuate each character’s personality. In a touching moment between a man and his children, Alfred goes through many emotions while talking with Bruce and Julia. Shock, anger, defenselessness, and resignation are brilliantly projected through the versatile artistry that reliably emanates issue to issue from Capullo’s pencils. Another intimate scene of another sort is horrifically portrayed, with a stench of death and the claustrophobia of a prison palpably emanating off the page. Whether it’s a quiet moment between a friend or a foe, Capullo can evoke any mood or emotion.
Capullo’s art wouldn’t have as much depth as it has without the amazing inking stylings of Miki. Miki’s inks accentuate the mastery of Capullo’s pencils. Alfred’s drive and determination to face the Bat-family’s threat head-on comes through in one particularly poignant panel that contains only Alfred’s face. The precision in the way Miki utilizes his inks is subtle, yet breathtaking. Whether it’s during intimate moments such as this one or an action scene involving Superman, Miki is a more than worthy partner to Capullo. In the issue’s awe-inspiring final scene, Miki’s versatility shines with his ability to enhance the horror and danger to sweat-inducing levels.
Continued belowTogether with Miki’s inks, Plascencia’s color palette aids in bringing a vibrancy to Capullo’s pencils. Red is the only color on one page where Batman and Superman duke it out. The symbolism of that color adds a horrific tint to the proceedings. The scene with Alfred, Bruce, and Julia features the blue glare that emanates from the computer screens. Whether it was intended or not, the blue bouncing off the Batsuit makes it appear like the classic blue and gray togs. The meeting between hero and villain also has the touch of a classic color scheme being remixed in a wonderfully creepy new way. Plascencia, like Miki and the rest of the creative Bat-crew, evoke mood and foreboding throughout the issue.
Last issue’s back-up story left me intrigued and feeling that there was something hidden beneath the surface. As the reader will discover, I was correct and James Tynion IV’s back-ups in both that issue and “Batman” #36 (as well as other issues of other past comics) are integral to the entire story going forward and especially connected to this issue’s big reveal. The care and planning that Snyder and Tynion take in crafting “Endgame” so far becomes even more apparent in this issue. They get into the Joker’s mind completely and it is a very scary thing indeed. This is a true madman who has lost his humanity. The writers explore a villain in new ways despite the fact that he has had many classic stories told about him over the decades.
For those of us who grew up on Batman’s exploits in the 1990s, it’s nice to see yet another classic Bat-artist depict him in his current series. Last month we received some haunting Kelley Jones artwork. The back-up for November features Graham Nolan’s art and Gregory Wright’s colors. Nolan’s art can be seen in some of my favorite Bat-epics such as “KnightFall” and “KnightsEnd.” His simple, yet very emotional, style clashes in an affecting way with the dark story and makes it that much more powerful. The combination of Nolan’s art and Wright’s colorful palette evoke a feeling of shadow lurking behind the light. The use of flashback artists in the back-ups is not only a perfect way to celebrate Batman’s 75th anniversary, but to also emphasize the possibility (which obviously isn’t really there, but is still a fun idea) that “Endgame” is Batman’s final “game”.
Each member of the creative team helps to produce an issue that feels important. We want to find out what happens next because the characters are so real to us. Snyder, Capullo, Miki, and Plascencia mix their strengths together to bring us a book bursting with ideas and excitement. They not only bring the symbol of Batman to glorious life, but more importantly, the man behind that symbol. Mixed with the thrills and excitement are intelligent explorations about character and diverse themes. What more can one ask out of an intelligent Batman story, let alone any comic book?
Final Verdict: 9.2 – “Batman” #36 is not only the second chapter of “Endgame”. It’s an issue that, like the rest of Snyder and Capullo’s run, deserves to be reread many times to gain the nuances of story and art. It’s a great example of the power of an art form that we all love and cherish.
