BATMAN BEYOND #1 manages to take the idea of the animated series
and bring it into the DC Universe without sacrificing anything. This
issue doesn’t exclude what went on in the cartoon, but rather matures
it and blends it into a story that manages to pull out some very cool
surprises along the way. Being a fan of the cartoon, I was very
pleased.
The story opens with two murders at Cadmus Labs -- the 2039 version
of Arkham Asylum. The conversation happening during the opening, seems
to indicate that a killer from Bruce Wayne’s past is back. Meanwhile,
Terry McGinnis is trying to fill the shoes of being the new Dark Knight
while having to live under the tutelage of an old, crippled but still
brilliant Bruce Wayne. Wayne is the experienced detective, McGinnis the
young soul filled with a passion for crime fighting.
Writer Adam Beechen does a great job of using dialog and examples
of their fundamental differences in how to approach being Batman. The
focus here is with Bruce Wayne and Terry McGinnis, and Beechen knows the
success of this series depends on people buying that relationship.
There’s also no backing away from violence in BATMAN BEYOND #1.
The artwork is solid though, it’s clear Ryan
Benjamin really focused his energy on the Batman look. The costume in
the show was rather boring looking, but the shading and layering in this
issue is great. However, the best artwork issue wide is the cover by
Dustin Nguyen. - Justin Gonzalez
