Last month's issue wrapped up all of its ongoing stories, which means that this should theoretically act as a perfect jumping on point for anyone looking to start something new. That hasn't been the case across the board since the series began. The question is, will these new stories be worth picking up DC's latest anthology collection.
Batman: Mother's Day part 1
This return to Gotham Academy is a surprisingly typical Batman story, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. It hits a lot of familiar tropes for the character, creating a sense of familiarity that hopefully lays the groundwork for future chapters to build off of. Like many before it, this Batman story opens with Bruce Wayne at a high class social event that puts him in a position to witness a crime. Leaping into action (and abandoning his date), he gives chase to the Man-Bat-like creature fleeing the scene. It's a brief but exciting chase that allows Kerschl's artistic talents to shine. I especially like the idea of Batman hiding caches of gear across the city so he can change at a moment's notice.
Bruce's date for the event is Isla MacPherson, professor at Gotham Academy. As you might expect, she takes Bruce running off to mean that he's ditched her due to his playboy wandering eye. Things aren't helped when he's photographed embracing the supermodel who he helped after the attack. Again, it's the usual drama that tends to crop up whenever Bruce Wayne finds a new love interest. He'll inevitably be forced to shirk his romantic obligations, leading to misunderstandings. Thankfully the story seems to not want to dwell on the miscommunication errors, as Bruce is seemingly able to explain himself by the end.
The biggest draw of this comic for me was a chance to see Maps in action once again. In fact, she seems to be working for Batman in a semi-official capacity now. He's given her a communicator so he can contact her, and is at least tolerant of her dressing up as Robin. If this means that she'll be showing up with more frequency then I'm all for it. However, that being said, she seems to have lost some of her signature cheerfulness. Kerschl writes her with a lot more attitude and aggression than she's usually shown with. It's not enough to drastically change the character, and it's good to have her back. She still has the same level of determined inquisitiveness when it comes to finding clues that makes her a fun protagonist.
Score: 7/10
Artemis: The Poison Within part 1
This first chapter of Artemis' story acts as part overview for the character and also a glimpse into her current identity crisis. Ever since her conception in the 90s, she's often been seen as the more violent and aggressive alternative to Diana's Wonder Woman. She is a warrior first and foremost. Here, we see the internal struggle she face with reconciling that role with her complex facets. She has her duty to her queen, her responsibility to her people, and the expectations put upon her by her position. It's her desire to move beyond violence that will drive the story moving forward, and hopefully give us a greater insight into her character.
Score: 7/10
Nameless
Sometimes these short stories are seemingly used as a way for creators to pitch their original concept in the hopes that it gets picked up later. This definitely feels like one of those times. Duke Thomas, AKA The Signal, is technically in the story, but only has the smallest handful of lines. He could easily be replaced with any other Gotham vigilante with no change necessary (it would even fit more because it takes place at night). Instead, the entire focus is given to introducing the titular villain "Nameless".
A former henchman with only weeks to live due to exposure to Joker's toxin, he decides to devote his last days to taking down those he thinks have ignored people like him. His persona is intentionally constructed from bits and pieces of other, often forgotten, villains. Even his face is a loose collection of random features. The problem is that his thesis of being part of an overlooked segment of society and "bring[ing] the heroes down to our level" never comes together in a coherent way. His motivations don't make a ton of sense, and the cliffhanger that his master plan was to inspire some sort of mass revolt comes out of nowhere. We never have a very good reason to care about the central character, despite a modestly interesting premise.
Score: 4.5/10
Lois Lane: The Game prologue
The line between journalist and detective has always been a blurry one. Never is that more true than when Lois Lane gets a good scoop and decides to take the investigation into her own hands. When a murdered woman is part of a group of riddle and treasure hunt enthusiasts, it gives her the perfect opportunity to use her skills to hunt down what happened. As this is only the prologue, we aren't told much except the general premise. It meanders a bit as it jumps from one orchestrated clue to the next, but hopefully it will lead to a Riddler-esque battle of wits.
Score: 6/10
Batman: The Cheeseburger
In order to maintain at peak physical condition, Batman must constantly sculpt his body with the utmost care. That includes workout regimens, life scheduling, and dieting all measured out to the smallest degree. It should come as no surprise that this leaves no room for relaxation of self-indulgence. It's an unpleasant and stressful lifestyle, and with the story's title it's not hard to figure out where this is going.
When Clayface attacks a fast-food restaurant, Batman springs into action to stop him. Ricardo López Ortiz's art is full of energy and its manga-inspired style brings a level of kinetic action to the fight scenes that follow. Where it ties back to the story's premise is when we learn why Clayface has gone on a rampage. He cries out in anguish at how difficult it is for him to enjoy even the simplest human pleasures. Every limb and every taste bud must be consciously crafted in order for him to use them. His failure to even enjoy a cheeseburger is what sends him over the edge.
The parallels between Clayface's suffering and Batman's choice to live his life as a serious of carefully considered actions are clear. The story maybe goes a bit far in overstating its case by having Clayface repeat the same ideas multiple times, and at one point even saying that maybe Batman knows what he's going through. Regardless, while the ending is predictable, there's a satisfying catharsis seeing Batman lay out all the reasons he shouldn't eat a cheeseburger, yet savors the bite anyways.
Score: 7.5/10
Recommended if…
- You are looking forward to a return to Gotham Academy and Maps
- New villain concepts are something you always look forward to
- Batman just needs to relax every now and then
Overall
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #10 offers a new start for all of its stories, and they mostly deliver well enough. Nothing here particularly stands out above the rest, but there should at least be something for everyone. Returning to Gotham Academy is fun, and Watters' humorous take on Batman's obsession with perfection makes for a good way to close out the collection.
Score: 6.5/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purposes of this review.
