‘Batman #24’ Review
Written by Tom King | Art by Clay Mann | Published by DC Comics
Many have already heard of the big reveal that happens on the final page of this issue, and for those who have not been staying current with this Batman series, it may seem strange from afar. In reality, it is a major character moment that has been building since Tom King first took over this series. After ‘The Button’ crossover, a lot of hype has been built around Superman: Doomsday Clock and what that means for the DC comic book universe. I have a feeling though the biggest impact ‘The Button’ will have is with the character of Batman.
During that event Batman got the chance to do something he had not done since he was a child. He communicated with his father ever so briefly. Due to reality and time hopping shenanigans he came face to face with Thomas Wayne from the Flashpoint universe. Thomas pleaded with Bruce to stop being Batman and try to be happy. Considering the history of Batman a moment like that will do wonders to his psyche.
King decided not to focus on that right away we instead got what was perhaps his best Batman issue yet with The Brave and the Mold. Thematically it ties in wonderfully and again touches on the psyche of who Batman is as a person and a hero. Is he doing what he is doing to avenge his parents or is there something more?
Some may find issue with King’s lyrical dialog. By no means is it attempting to be realistic, instead focusing on stylistic banter that resembles a twenty-first-century version of iambic pentameter. With this issue, we see how that style of speaking contrasts when he is speaking to someone like Gotham Girl versus Catwoman. There is a level of familiarity and openness with Catwoman that does not exist with other characters.
Batman is one of the few series at DC right now that is not getting by simply by being familiar. King is attempting to take one of the longest running characters ever on a journey, unlike anything he has ever been on before. It is a journey that is not necessarily dictated by whatever villain he is facing off with, but rather one where Batman does some serious self-reflection. Batman was told to live a normal life by his own father, a father that clearly knew the same pain that he did. What we are seeing is if Batman or Bruce Wayne even remembers what normal life is like anymore. I see his actions at the end of this issue not a proclamation of love rather a desperate attempt to find the normalcy that has evaded him since that faithful day his lost his parent. The only question is if he will ever be able to find it.
****½ 4.5/5
