Well, well, well, look who it is. Seriously, I thought I was the only one in the world looking forward to this comic because I was reviewing it. These massive delays between issues seriously make me question the point of releasing this comic as a “monthly” title when most people will probably discover the trade for the first time at some point in the future.
Still, we are where we are. As for where we were…
Does it Count if it Happened in a Flashback?
One of the recurring issues of the ‘89 series was how little Batman seemed to appear in a comic with his name on it. Well, we do see Bruce in the Batsuit for the first time…in the past, where he confronts the real Firefly, who dies of fright on seeing Batman. This reaction prompts Bruce to go undercover as Lowery to find out why. I do appreciate the plot moving forward with this issue, but I have to ask if this was the best way to do it.
Speaking of moving forward, once we get to know why Bruce is doing what he does, we get little check-ins with the other key players in the story. Dr. Quinzel manages to leak that Firefly (a.k.a Bruce) is in Arkham, for which her boss takes credit. This is my favorite part of the story, seeing men in power abuse their underlings doing all the work. Extra points to Sam Hamm for utilizing Harleen really well, considering the past history of her mainstream counterpart. I mean, I think she has all the motivation she needs to become Harley Quinn at this point. Would you blame her?
(I just realized that both Selina Kyle and Pamela Isley, in the universe of these movies, were women who their bosses took advantage of and later tried to murder. So this is actually a recurring theme of the universe…or a blatant attempt at copying. Your call.)
Barbara also sees the news report and gets arrested by the FBI. Here’s hoping she becomes Batgirl next issue!!!
It's Amazing What a Darker Tone Can Do For a Comic
Another one of my gripes was that Echoes had a much brighter color palette for a story set in the '89verse. Colorist Leonardo Ito brings his A-game here, and yes, while most of the story seems to be taking place at night, allowing for a naturally darker tone to be used, the flashback and asylum scenes really pop. The backgrounds are a bit lacking to be honest, but I’m willing to be a bit lenient here. Especially considering the nightmare fuel we get in this scene…
Show Spoiler
Crane figures out that Bruce isn’t reacting to the image of Batman with fear and, as a result, isn’t actually Lowery. So he gasses him with a dose of his ‘totally-not-fear-gas’ which leads to Bruce being forced to reveal his identity.
Recommended If
- You remembered this book was coming out
- You’re not a particular fan of costumes.
- You are still ok with a slow burn. Like a slooooooow burn.
Overall
The problem with Batman ‘89 Echoes actually stems from issues that are not really apparent on the page. The lack of a proper schedule kills any momentum for a book that really isn’t treading any new ground. Personally, this isn’t that bad a story; there is a lot to like about the art, and I’m mildly interested in seeing what happens next. But as of now, nothing in the story has failed to convert this book from ‘mild’ to ‘must read’ for me.
Score: 7/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purposes of this review
