Beast World #3 review

Tom Taylor has taken the same world-ending infections terrorizing DCeased and DC Vs. Vampires to the main universe. After stopping an alien invasion, Amanda Waller causes most nations to transform into beasts against their will. Now, it is up to the surviving heroes to undo the nightmare reality of the Beast World.

Keeps The Doctor Away

Following Batman's infection and recapture, Nightwing hires his old friend Bridget Clancy to find a cure. Although this is absolutely not Dr. Clancy's previous field of study, Nightwing trusts her to take care of his mentor. Imperceptibly, she has also been keeping quiet about knowing his secret identity the entire time he's been her neighbor. Luckily, none of her young children hiding in the Tower discover this out as well. In any case, Detective Chimp arrives at Titan's Tower with a batch of theories to help work out a solution. Most importantly, Bobo believes that the none of the beast's erratic behavior is as random as it may appear.

Despite their seeming mindlessness, someone or something is controlling their actions. Because Garro is a hivemind, it stands to reason that Detective Chimp's hypothesis is correct. Part of his theory exposes their potential motivation to suppress infrastructure. In fact, the chaos directly benefits and implicate Amanda Waller. Yet, the chaos exceeds Amanda's control and has to fight back the beasts with Peacemaker's help. Not even Brother Eternity is an option, after Garro thwarts his own parasitic invasion. All things considered, there may be something or someone else at play here.

Controlled Chaos

The scale of this event looms large over the Titans and the other heroes. For instance, Starfire and Donna Troy continue confronting Black Adam in Khandaq, amid worries that they too will succumb to infection. With all due respect, the events of JSA: World War III (2007) would prove that people should be far more afraid of Adam than infected Titans. Still, Lucas Meyer does a good job of making the Titans look engaging this time. In particular, Donna Troy takes it upon herself to try to fix Garro with the Lasso of Persuasion. Using the lasso, she can keep their massive friend passive long enough for the other heroes to handle the threat. Apparently, the lasso is only as strong or effective as Donna's iron will.

Alternatively, several cool moments happen in general. Firstly, Power Girl arrives in the nick of time and saves a plane from rabid bird men. Unfortunately, this causes the Garro parasites to choose her as a better host and allows Tom Taylor to invoke a corny Fleisher Superman reference! As a result, we end up with an admittedly beautiful flame bird version of Power Girl, possibly as reference to her Kryptonian DNA. Secondly, Jon Kent shows up to help "Paige" by using his new Ultra Instinct-like transformation introduced in Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent. With his enigmatic electric blue form, he is able to divert Power Girl away from the bystanders. Finally, my favorite moment in the book is simply a tease of Amanda Waller's plans for the mysterious prisoner of Stryker's Island.

Recommended If...

You have faith in Tom Taylor's plan for the Titans.
You're excited by anthropomorphic beast people.
Rooting for Amanda Waller's massive heel turn.

Overall

I wholeheartedly believe that the same crowd of people who have enjoyed series like DCeased will not have issues with Beast World. If readers can tolerate the wonky premise, the overall tone, decent artwork, corny dialogue, and silly characters; then they will have fun with this. Otherwise, there aren't very many new reasons to stop if you've already begun. Donna, Waller, Detective Chimp, and Jon Kent's appearances rank among some of the highlights of this issue. While I'm still waiting to see how it all weaves together, this issue is the most entertaining the event has been so far.

Score: 7.5/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purposes of this review

19 comments

Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)

December 26, 2023

Interesting read but a big reason as a part of why I don't read DC Comics new stuff anymore is that their events are not terribly inspired. Endless winter. Lazarus planet. Now Beast planet. Knightmares. They just seem to be summed up with goofy or wacky sounding premises out of an episode of Rick and Morty or something. I recently read Infinite Crisis and the whole omac Saga and Blackest Night. They seem to have a much better handle on things back then.

Blockhead Jr.
December 26, 2023
You're not wrong.
Just a comic fan
December 26, 2023
With Tom Taylor, I can confidently say that he writes stories around those moments that are sure to be posted on twitter, reddit, etc. It's a fanservice-driven writing whose stories' only purpose is to reach that specific emotional or humorous "Well, that happened" moment. There's no logic or deep understanding behind any of this.
And it tells you that. Right in your face. The point of making Batman into a werewolf is just so that he can be called a werewolf and you laugh at the silliness of it.
"Detective Chimp and Dr. Clancy are examining Wolf-Batman now"
"That is a truly absurd sentence"
"Remember a time where we never said setences like these?"
Never mind that his adoptive father may have actually killed people while being a wolf or that the world is going to hell. What Nightwing really needs right now to express how he truly feels about this whole situation....is to say something that sounds funny.
1. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
  December 26, 2023
  I think that DC Comics is in a stage where they absolutely need to make some strong creative decisions in order to get back the footing they've lost amongst the Wednesday Warriors. It just seems more aggravating that they don't seem very serious about things.
  1. Just a comic fan
    December 26, 2023
    to get back the footing they've lost amongst the Wednesday Warriors.
    I'm afraid I don't know who they are and I would like to know more. Did they offer some criticism regarding DC Comics current decisions?
    It just seems more aggravating that they don't seem very serious about things.
    Yeah. I agree. We could argue when did this actually started, but after Dark Crisis I really felt like there was a soullessness in almost everything DC is doing(I'm still liking what PKJ is doing with Superman). During the time Snyder seemed to control the direction DC was going, for all it's flaws, I still could see that he put his heart into it. I see Williamson doing the same thing now, since the Dawn of DC, as well as the other events written by other writers....and I swear I can smell the gear, the engines, the cheap manufacture, the plastic of it all.
    1. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
      December 26, 2023
      My understanding in my feeling amongst the people I've spoken to and people I hear on YouTube including retailers, some creators, people on this site and others and from my own personal experiences I think there is an issue with quality with where DC is going. I didn't exactly get their information. I use the term Wednesday Warriors for people who would normally go to the comic stores each week to pull lots of titles not getting the impression that they're happy with DC these days. I can suggest however that Snyder has had nothing to do with the direction of the comics. As for the criticisms of where comic books have been specifically with DC there are recurring problems that don't seem to be changing any time soon. I think Gail Simone offered a very good criticism of modern Comics including DC.
    2. Just a comic fan
      December 26, 2023
      I can suggest however that Snyder has had nothing to do with the direction of the comics
      No, I agree. I was just trying to reference that period after Rebirth where Snyder more or less coordinated things with other writers, during Year of the Villain, as Metal started to gain more presence than Doomsday Clock. I don't think he is responsible for things as they have been/are now.
      I use the term Wednesday Warriors for people who would normally go to the comic stores each week to pull lots of titles not getting the impression that they're happy with DC these days
      Ahhh. I see.
2. Just a comic fan
  December 26, 2023
  I don't think I'm the best person to say this, because of my bias against Dick Grayson, but maaannn, does Nightwing suck as a character. There isn't a bottom dip enough you could put Batman or Jason in that would make him sufficiently better. There just isn't.
  Nightwing is just too white bread. Too perfect for his own good. He has no drive like Batman or Red hood, which, in this context, I wouldn't put as synonym to motivation. Motive? Sure. Call it Will-to-live, Will-to-power, depending on which philosophical perspective you're coming from, but Nightwing lacks that. He lacks that deep, energetic, unconcious, visceral force that pushes him to do things like Batman and Red Hood do. That thing which is both a gift and curse, which make these two characters so captivating as opposed to Dick Grayson. I could say more. Honestly, almost everything about Nightwing turns me off.
  The only times I ever actually liked the character was his time as Spyral agent(which I think should be his permanent role as DC's James Bond), as Batman in Snyder's Black Mirror and as robin trying to be his own man in the Teen Titans cartoon series. The rest? Nothing.
  Edit: That Red Hood tie-in was really good. Probably the only thing worth salvaging from this.
  1. Just a comic fan
    December 26, 2023
    Jason's failures are immeasurably more interesting to me than Dick's successes.
    100% agreed.
    before this push by dc to make Nightwing their golden boy. They ruin characters all the time by trying to make too much of them.
    Just to be clear, I'm not saying I liked or excused in any way what he did to Wally, but, in this regard, that's the only thing King had it right about how we should've seen Wally West. Not as hope incarnate. As if his leading presence would mark the definitive comeback of DC as good again(just like it's happening with Dick Grayson). But rather acknowledge the character for all he was(including his flaws) and despite of that, or maybe because of that, show that he can be an inspiration for others.
    Honestly, there's things about current Joker and the way he has been written that I've been waiting to say it, but still can't be bothered to organize my thoughts about it. I'll say this. It may not seem like it. It may have absolutely have nothing to do with it. But, I think deep down DC was whishing for Batman Who Laughs for a very long time and they just didn't knew what name or form he would have had yet. Because if you look at how current Joker and BWL are written, there's few differences between them. BWL was a singularity event waiting to happen. The ultimate outcome of DC wanting to write nothing but "murderous clown" with no sense of humour forever and ever. The only thing that limited them was the scope. The fact that he still was very human, still "Batman street level" criminal. BWL was just the perfect thing to get rid of all that. I know I almost sound like a conspiracy nutjob saying this.
    1. Robin MB
      December 27, 2023
      Oh lord that's really a thing? I guess I'm the Robin Who isn't Laughing
      https://media0.giphy.com/me...
    2. Just a comic fan
      December 27, 2023
      The deeper mystery is why anyone at dc thought we needed a Harley Quinn Who Laughs too.
      Holy crap, I forgot about that one. Now, I just remembered that Batwoman Who Laughs not only exists, but I still think there's something being set up for her. Jeez, they really can't let it go...
    3. Bruce Vader
      December 27, 2023
      I really like The Batman Who Laughs, but if they're handing out "Who Laughs" to anyone, then he becomes less interesting.
      I'm still trying to find out why he looks almost exactly like Judge Death though.
    4. Just a comic fan
      December 27, 2023
      I like the character too. More so for the hellraiser inspiration in it's design than the Judge Death. I think the problem was that he was exposed too much too fast and little overreliance on Joker's gimmicks and manner of speech, rather than something that was genuinely Batman-like.

Madeleine

December 26, 2023

Dick might as well stop wearing a mask for all the good it does him...

Professor Chimp's revelations on the beasts attacking infrastructure were interesting in light of Jason's ruminations on police, vigilantism, and social inequality in the Gotham tie-in. It was as if he was having a dissociative episode. His self-loathing and pessimism were perfectly in character, but this eloquence emanated from an intact but suppressed personality and was in juxtaposition to his wolf form's activity culminating in mauling Ratcatcher, a villain with his own problematic sense of justice. Jason's susceptibility to suggestion and stubbornness should have brought him into a canon collusion/collision with Waller long ago. Or has it? My knowledge of New 52 is spotty.

Blockhead Jr.
December 26, 2023
Didn't read the Jason tie in.

Robin MB

December 27, 2023

So is this a good read so far? The comments seem to differ from the review score a lot

Robin MB
December 27, 2023
Thanks for the answer I tend not to hate fluff that much since a lot of my favorite heroes are either super Grim dark now or in a trauma conga line. Might pick this up
1. Blockhead Jr.
  December 28, 2023
  This is a trauma conga line for sure, but I know some people like a little bit of that old song and dance.

Tyranus

December 30, 2023

I want to point out that they gave Power Girl telepathic powers and have now turned her into a phoenix. Jean Gray going to be suing for stolen identity!

Anyway, I am glad the likes of Starfire is finally getting her due.

However, this is Taylor we are talking about. I am waiting for this story to fall apart and go nowhere in the end. Though this is his chance to finally not pull a Taylor and give a satisfying ending to a book.

Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
December 26, 2023
Interesting read but a big reason as a part of why I don't read DC Comics new stuff anymore is that their events are not terribly inspired. Endless winter. Lazarus planet. Now Beast planet. Knightmares. They just seem to be summed up with goofy or wacky sounding premises out of an episode of Rick and Morty or something. I recently read Infinite Crisis and the whole omac Saga and Blackest Night. They seem to have a much better handle on things back then.
1. Blockhead Jr.
  December 26, 2023
  You're not wrong.
2. Just a comic fan
  December 26, 2023
  With Tom Taylor, I can confidently say that he writes stories around those moments that are sure to be posted on twitter, reddit, etc. It's a fanservice-driven writing whose stories' only purpose is to reach that specific emotional or humorous "Well, that happened" moment. There's no logic or deep understanding behind any of this.
  And it tells you that. Right in your face. The point of making Batman into a werewolf is just so that he can be called a werewolf and you laugh at the silliness of it.
  "Detective Chimp and Dr. Clancy are examining Wolf-Batman now"
  "That is a truly absurd sentence"
  "Remember a time where we never said setences like these?"
  Never mind that his adoptive father may have actually killed people while being a wolf or that the world is going to hell. What Nightwing really needs right now to express how he truly feels about this whole situation....is to say something that sounds funny.
  1. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
    December 26, 2023
    I think that DC Comics is in a stage where they absolutely need to make some strong creative decisions in order to get back the footing they've lost amongst the Wednesday Warriors. It just seems more aggravating that they don't seem very serious about things.
    1. Just a comic fan
      December 26, 2023
      to get back the footing they've lost amongst the Wednesday Warriors.
      I'm afraid I don't know who they are and I would like to know more. Did they offer some criticism regarding DC Comics current decisions?
      It just seems more aggravating that they don't seem very serious about things.
      Yeah. I agree. We could argue when did this actually started, but after Dark Crisis I really felt like there was a soullessness in almost everything DC is doing(I'm still liking what PKJ is doing with Superman). During the time Snyder seemed to control the direction DC was going, for all it's flaws, I still could see that he put his heart into it. I see Williamson doing the same thing now, since the Dawn of DC, as well as the other events written by other writers....and I swear I can smell the gear, the engines, the cheap manufacture, the plastic of it all.
      1. Papa Grande ( formerly deevo)
        December 26, 2023
        My understanding in my feeling amongst the people I've spoken to and people I hear on YouTube including retailers, some creators, people on this site and others and from my own personal experiences I think there is an issue with quality with where DC is going. I didn't exactly get their information. I use the term Wednesday Warriors for people who would normally go to the comic stores each week to pull lots of titles not getting the impression that they're happy with DC these days. I can suggest however that Snyder has had nothing to do with the direction of the comics. As for the criticisms of where comic books have been specifically with DC there are recurring problems that don't seem to be changing any time soon. I think Gail Simone offered a very good criticism of modern Comics including DC.
      2. Just a comic fan
        December 26, 2023
        I can suggest however that Snyder has had nothing to do with the direction of the comics
        No, I agree. I was just trying to reference that period after Rebirth where Snyder more or less coordinated things with other writers, during Year of the Villain, as Metal started to gain more presence than Doomsday Clock. I don't think he is responsible for things as they have been/are now.
        I use the term Wednesday Warriors for people who would normally go to the comic stores each week to pull lots of titles not getting the impression that they're happy with DC these days
        Ahhh. I see.
  2. Just a comic fan
    December 26, 2023
    I don't think I'm the best person to say this, because of my bias against Dick Grayson, but maaannn, does Nightwing suck as a character. There isn't a bottom dip enough you could put Batman or Jason in that would make him sufficiently better. There just isn't.
    Nightwing is just too white bread. Too perfect for his own good. He has no drive like Batman or Red hood, which, in this context, I wouldn't put as synonym to motivation. Motive? Sure. Call it Will-to-live, Will-to-power, depending on which philosophical perspective you're coming from, but Nightwing lacks that. He lacks that deep, energetic, unconcious, visceral force that pushes him to do things like Batman and Red Hood do. That thing which is both a gift and curse, which make these two characters so captivating as opposed to Dick Grayson. I could say more. Honestly, almost everything about Nightwing turns me off.
    The only times I ever actually liked the character was his time as Spyral agent(which I think should be his permanent role as DC's James Bond), as Batman in Snyder's Black Mirror and as robin trying to be his own man in the Teen Titans cartoon series. The rest? Nothing.
    Edit: That Red Hood tie-in was really good. Probably the only thing worth salvaging from this.
    1. Just a comic fan
      December 26, 2023
      Jason's failures are immeasurably more interesting to me than Dick's successes.
      100% agreed.
      before this push by dc to make Nightwing their golden boy. They ruin characters all the time by trying to make too much of them.
      Just to be clear, I'm not saying I liked or excused in any way what he did to Wally, but, in this regard, that's the only thing King had it right about how we should've seen Wally West. Not as hope incarnate. As if his leading presence would mark the definitive comeback of DC as good again(just like it's happening with Dick Grayson). But rather acknowledge the character for all he was(including his flaws) and despite of that, or maybe because of that, show that he can be an inspiration for others.
      Honestly, there's things about current Joker and the way he has been written that I've been waiting to say it, but still can't be bothered to organize my thoughts about it. I'll say this. It may not seem like it. It may have absolutely have nothing to do with it. But, I think deep down DC was whishing for Batman Who Laughs for a very long time and they just didn't knew what name or form he would have had yet. Because if you look at how current Joker and BWL are written, there's few differences between them. BWL was a singularity event waiting to happen. The ultimate outcome of DC wanting to write nothing but "murderous clown" with no sense of humour forever and ever. The only thing that limited them was the scope. The fact that he still was very human, still "Batman street level" criminal. BWL was just the perfect thing to get rid of all that. I know I almost sound like a conspiracy nutjob saying this.
      1. Robin MB
        December 27, 2023
        Oh lord that's really a thing? I guess I'm the Robin Who isn't Laughing
        https://media0.giphy.com/me...
      2. Just a comic fan
        December 27, 2023
        The deeper mystery is why anyone at dc thought we needed a Harley Quinn Who Laughs too.
        Holy crap, I forgot about that one. Now, I just remembered that Batwoman Who Laughs not only exists, but I still think there's something being set up for her. Jeez, they really can't let it go...
      3. Bruce Vader
        December 27, 2023
        I really like The Batman Who Laughs, but if they're handing out "Who Laughs" to anyone, then he becomes less interesting.
        I'm still trying to find out why he looks almost exactly like Judge Death though.
      4. Just a comic fan
        December 27, 2023
        I like the character too. More so for the hellraiser inspiration in it's design than the Judge Death. I think the problem was that he was exposed too much too fast and little overreliance on Joker's gimmicks and manner of speech, rather than something that was genuinely Batman-like.
Madeleine
December 26, 2023
Dick might as well stop wearing a mask for all the good it does him...
Professor Chimp's revelations on the beasts attacking infrastructure were interesting in light of Jason's ruminations on police, vigilantism, and social inequality in the Gotham tie-in. It was as if he was having a dissociative episode. His self-loathing and pessimism were perfectly in character, but this eloquence emanated from an intact but suppressed personality and was in juxtaposition to his wolf form's activity culminating in mauling Ratcatcher, a villain with his own problematic sense of justice. Jason's susceptibility to suggestion and stubbornness should have brought him into a canon collusion/collision with Waller long ago. Or has it? My knowledge of New 52 is spotty.
1. Blockhead Jr.
  December 26, 2023
  Didn't read the Jason tie in.
Robin MB
December 27, 2023
So is this a good read so far? The comments seem to differ from the review score a lot
1. Robin MB
  December 27, 2023
  Thanks for the answer I tend not to hate fluff that much since a lot of my favorite heroes are either super Grim dark now or in a trauma conga line. Might pick this up
  1. Blockhead Jr.
    December 28, 2023
    This is a trauma conga line for sure, but I know some people like a little bit of that old song and dance.
Tyranus
December 30, 2023
I want to point out that they gave Power Girl telepathic powers and have now turned her into a phoenix. Jean Gray going to be suing for stolen identity!
Anyway, I am glad the likes of Starfire is finally getting her due.
However, this is Taylor we are talking about. I am waiting for this story to fall apart and go nowhere in the end. Though this is his chance to finally not pull a Taylor and give a satisfying ending to a book.

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Beast World #3 review

Keeps The Doctor Away

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