Last month saw a number of stories reach their finales, so aside from the Pygmalion story, everything here is a fresh start that should appeal to new readers. It's also a collection of incredibly different genres, which is good for an anthology like this. Of course, the flip side of that is there's a good chance that at least some of them won't be your cup of tea, but let's take a look at how each of them turned out.
Batman: Pygmalion part 2
This chapter is divided into two distinct sections. The first is a continuation of the ideas and plot threads of the first chapter, while a twist half way through creates a markedly different story that will continue into next month's final chapter. The chapter's opening immediately gets you back into the story's premise with Batman's narration. Its contemplative and introspective tone raises the question of what identity can mean to a person, and how much of Batman's is tied to his vigilante persona. Within the context of the story so far, it suggests that a part of that identity is inextricable from how he sees himself when he wears the mask, memories or no.
The story repeats itself when Batman stumbles upon Catwoman. She notices that something is off about him, and gives a similar, metaphor-laden speech about identity. This sort of commentary is less effective the second time around, and feels out of place coming from Catwoman. She's never been the type to give enigmatic advice about strategy or the sensibility of caution. Her usual critique of Batman's methods is interesting to see when put before an amnesiac Batman more receptive to alternate ideas, but it's not dwelt upon for long.
The final visit of the night is with Commissioner Gordon, who has little to say about Batman's altered state. There's a brief mention of why the bat signal exists, but their rooftop rendezvous primarily serves to give us the big twist reveal.
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It turns out that Gordon lured our protagonist to the rooftop to arrest him on the testimony of... Batman! Yes it turns out that there's another Batman who is trying to capture the one we've been following, and claims he's an imposter. It's a genuinely shocking twist that forces the reader to immediately reexamine everything they know so far. How much of what has been shown could plausibly be someone else rather than the real Bruce Wayne? Are things like his appearance and skills just a coincidence? What about the way he seemed to instinctively know Catwoman? Could it be that the other Batman is actually the imposter?
At the same time, it also raises the question of to what extent this reveal undercuts the theme of reexamining Batman. When it's made clear that, yes, the man we've been following is not the real Batman, the entire story is reframed. Instead of Bruce challenging what he knows of himself and his identity, it's just some guy who coincidentally happens to look a lot like Bruce and has a bunch of his skills. The same perspective on the Bruce/Batman identity could be gained by asking a random Gothamite their opinion on what they would do if they were Batman. There's still one issue left, so we'll see how much this affects the story's ability to execute on its core premise.
March's art continues to be able to cleanly and effectively convey the action on the page. It's very reminiscent of the house style that was popular at DC in the 2000s. It has few frills and is what you'd expect from a mainline Batman book. His experience and skill with bringing Batman and Gotham to life are clear. The way his cape billows in the night air and the glow of the bat signal awash the scene in atmosphere are all the work of a veteran.
Score: 7/10
Wild Dog: Here Comes Trouble! part 1
"Wild Dog" is an irreverent satire of the superhero genre that takes established tropes and waves them around in their absurdity. It should come as no surprise that Kyle Starks' other big DC writing credit is Peacemaker Tries Hard!, since this feels like if you mixed Peacemaker with Punisher. "Wild Dog: Here Comes Trouble!" takes that same attitude of highlighting what it would be like if a normal(ish) person tried their hands at the superhero gig, but goes even further in making them a nobody.
Wild Dog is just a guy, to quote Christian Bale, "wearing hockey pads". He walks around with a gun using his old college mascot as his symbol. Everything we take for granted about superheroes like their seemingly professionally designed costumes and branding is gone. There is no iconic city like Gotham or Metropolis for him to protect, but rather an unremarkable city in the Midwest (though I and Barry Allen would challenge the assertion that "the Midwest ain't got no heroes").
The fact that no one seems to care or even want to think about superheroes in this city makes his actions all the more ridiculous. He's got your standard violent vigilante background, right down to the questionable tour of duty and the murdered girlfriend. It's the kind of thing plenty of writers would use to create an overly grizzled "badass", but here we just see him talking about his plans to a local hot dog vendor. Criminals are confused more than anything when he appears, and even those that are afraid of him treat him like an annoyance. He's a bit unhinged, and that makes him more of a liability than the rebel with a cause antihero that you see when the trope is played straight.
"Wild Dog: Here Comes Trouble! part 1" is a fun start to a ridiculous lampoon of the street level hero we've seen in so many forms. Fernando Pasarin's art is just gritty enough to give it that authentic "it was a dark and stormy night" feel that you'd expect from a Batman or Moon Knight pastiche, but Matt Herms' colors often keep things light, lest you forget how you should feel about a "superhero" that named himself after a football mascot dog.
Score: 7.5/10
Aquaman: Communion part 1
Fishermen must be really sick of seeing Aquaman show up. It's such a common opening for his stories that he hops on deck, pissed off about people fishing in waters they shouldn't be, and this comic is no exception. When a wayward anglerfish they've caught leads Aquaman to a disturbance deep below the ocean, he discovers a high tech hidden base teeming with robots and aliens.
As with a lot of these 10 page "part x" chapters of a larger story, there's not really enough here yet to make any conclusions. Everything so far is simply introducing the premise of the story. Gabriel Hardman covers both writing and art, and what the chapter lacks in content it at least makes up for in style. The dark pencils and coloring effectively convey the sense of diving into the ocean's abyss. The linework is incredibly detailed and stylish that gives the page a rough quality and adds to its gritty yet fantastical atmosphere.
For what narrative is here, it's at least an interesting hook for those into pulp science fiction. It's got a talking Gorilla piloting a suit of robot armor; what more could you want?
Score: 7/10
The Wager
Almost everything about this story is exactly what I want out of a Batman comic. To start things off, Matteo Scalera's art is absolutely gorgeous. The level of detail put into the cityscapes makes it feel real on a level that very few artists are able to accomplish. The dark shadows of night contrasted against the white snow is a brilliant use of the black and white format, and that same level of beautiful contrast is applied to the dramatic lighting of the characters' faces. You could stare at each and every page just admiring the talent at work.
Matthew Rosenberg's script fits perfectly with the atmosphere Scalera creates. It's a moody, slow burn that leans into Batman's role as a detective. His interactions with Etrigan are incredibly entertaining as the typical manhunt becomes a game. At no point does it detract from the grim tone of finding the child's killer, and yet it still manages to add a bit of sardonic levity to the whole situation as they race to find him first. It blends the supernatural and noir elements of Batman together perfectly.
There's just one point of this story that sours the whole thing for me. At the end when the perp taunts Batman that he'll get out of prison within a few months, Batman decides to release him into the hands of Etrigan. It's an instance of writers trying to find loopholes in Batman's "no kill" policy where if he actively allows someone to die, then it shouldn't count. It absolutely does, and giving a criminal up to a demon from Hell who plans to kill them, if not worse, is completely against what Batman's code of ethics stands for. It makes for a powerful moment, but not one that fits Batman.
Score: 8.5/10
Recommended if…
- You want to see a new perspective on what it means to be Batman
- You like irreverent superhero spoofs
- Moody detective stories with gorgeous artwork are something you like
Overall
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #7 is a varied collection of mostly new stories. Each of them offer something different that still manage to entertain in their own way, whether that be a lampooning superhero satire, a pulpy underwater sci-fi, or an atmospheric supernatural detective story. There should be at least something here for everyone.
Score: 7.5/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purposes of this review.
