The transformation of Damian Boy Wonder to Batman begins.
When I first learnt that Kubert was working on an
exploration of the events that led to Batman 666, I was happy until I found
that he was writing it and it was a 4 issue miniseries.
Kubert has never been a strong writer in my opinion but he
was a stellar artist, so keeping my fingers crossed I delved into this book.
And I can say one thing; the art is beautiful and detailed.
While Damian’s design changes throughout the issue, the others are done very
well – from Talia to Gordon.
But when I try to get into the plot, it all falls
apart. First page only, Damian feels out of character and this continues in a
very rushed manner, never showing any character development.
A 4 issue miniseries is a very cramped space to do an origin
story for Damian the Bat and it show. Batman’s death is very underwhelming (especially
since Grant portrayed him like the uberman!) and Damian’s reactions are weird
to say the least.
SPOILERS FOLLOW……………
On a night patrol, Batman (which one? Bruce or Dick?) and
Damian come across a pile of dead people meshed with Joker’s signature laughing
fish.
And right of the bat, Damian is squeamish. Huh? The guy who
almost killed Tim and killed a villain in his first outing of Robin (not to
mention the many ninjas of the League of Assasins) is feeling sick seeing the
bodies?
And then Batman picks up a laughing fish and it explodes,
killing him. Hugely underwhelming death. You can feel Kubert trying to cram in
as much story as possible. One panel of a funeral later, we see Damian enacting
a very different role – that of guilt.
Apparently he feels he should have died instead of Batman.
Huh?
Then he goes to the League, makes a quip about a Halloween costume
fetish (huh?) to the ninjas and asks for help from Talia and Ra’s (who’s
apparently been revived again? How exactly?).
Talia instead drones on about the origin story for Damian
and Ra’s says Damian is now supposed to be the next Batman. That is not
something Ra’s would ever say.
We then get a few shots of Damian interrogating and killing
various members of the Rogues gallery . Back at Wayne Manor, Alfred is finally
seen. Where’s Dick, Barbara or Tim? Yup, except for Talia’s expository
monologue, we didn’t get anyone’s reaction to Batman’s death.
Alfred says Batman would never have killed to get his way.
This is further pushed upon Damian at the church, where I finally get what I’ve
been asking for – a good reaction. Apparently, Gordon retired from the Police
and joined a church. I get that, and Kubert draws him exceptionally well. More
of that was needed.
As Damian comes back to the Batcave, he’s greeted by a
returned Bruce and Alfred the cat (see Batman #666). I would have cared for
this reveal a lot more if the lead-up had been any good.
Throwing out years of character development, Damian is back
to being wooden and confusing.
The art is still wonderful but the dialogues and pacing is
horribly done.
If you care to know more about how Damian became Batman, you
can probably read this. But somethings are better left in your head.
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