Yes!
As a Batman fan, THIS is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life!
Well, except for Batman packing heat, this is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life when it comes to Batman in a comic book universe.
No damn people who can fly, run super fast, or shoot a laser out of any body part…or ring.
Just “regular people.”
Like BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT, I guess DC finally figured out that Batman's comic book counterpart doesn't have to live in a fantastical world.
Writer Brian Azzarello brings us a Batman that we all know and love -- with a few tweeks. The Batman of this universe is young, impulsive, and quite cocky. While there’s certainly a touch of “A-Hole Batman” here, he also seems to be having fun and enjoying what he’s doing.
Truth be told, this is my first comic book encounter with the Doc Savage. Other than seeing the 1970s DOC SAVAGE movie starring Ron Ely, I’m pretty much clueless when it comes this character.
In this incarnation, ‘ol Doc is portrayed as “the perfect man.” With his superior intellect, physical strength, and uncompromising sense of morality, he feels that it’s his calling to help fellow mankind.
Sound familiar?
Yes, there is sort of a Batman/Superman dynamic here, but Doc can’t fly and isn’t from another planet.
The story sort of plods along in the beginning, but picks up as the story progresses. In a nutshell, The Batman and Doc Savage meet up at several points while looking into the murder of a shady Gotham socialite. If you like Azzarello’s grittiy writing style, you know what to expect and will enjoy it as well.
LOVED Phil Noto’s art! What a great combination of art deco-ish architecture and futuristic and old technology. There’s a bit of a BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES vibe here in terms of aesthetics -- and that’s a good thing.
Guns aside (and it‘s not that big of a deal actually), I think I’m going to LOVE this Batman and the “First Wave” DCU.
(Here's to a Batman monthly set in this universe as well!)
