Not that Batman needed a change of pace so soon into its new status quo, but that's what issue #44 delivers. Regular writer Scott Snyder is joined by co-writer Brian Azzarello and guest artist Jock. While this chapter may be a significant stylistic departure from the rest of Superheavy, thematically it's a relevant as any issue before it. It also happens to be one of the strongest chapters of Snyder's run.
This issue unfolds five years in the past, in a time when Gotham is still recovering from the events Zero Year and Batman is eager to prove that he can maintain control of his city by solving a seemingly simple murder case. Naturally, that's easier said than done. That case winds up driving at the heart of one of the big themes of Snyder's run - the idea that Batman doesn't know his city as well as he thinks. There's a very pragmatic quality to the script as it explores the malaise felt by the downtrodden and ignored citizens of Gotham. When you're living in a city wracked by economic inequality, organized crime and police brutality, what relevance is there to the idea of a guy who dresses up in spandex and punches people in the face? What problems does Batman actually solve? Why does he think he can save his city by acting alone? These are the questions our hero wrestles with in this issue, and it all ties back to the larger Superheavy conflict rather nicely.
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This issue unfolds five years in the past, in a time when Gotham is still recovering from the events Zero Year and Batman is eager to prove that he can maintain control of his city by solving a seemingly simple murder case. Naturally, that's easier said than done. That case winds up driving at the heart of one of the big themes of Snyder's run - the idea that Batman doesn't know his city as well as he thinks. There's a very pragmatic quality to the script as it explores the malaise felt by the downtrodden and ignored citizens of Gotham. When you're living in a city wracked by economic inequality, organized crime and police brutality, what relevance is there to the idea of a guy who dresses up in spandex and punches people in the face? What problems does Batman actually solve? Why does he think he can save his city by acting alone? These are the questions our hero wrestles with in this issue, and it all ties back to the larger Superheavy conflict rather nicely.
Continue reading…
Continue reading...