Big apologies, Bat-fans! This review is a week late because I got my release dates mixed up. (Don' t worry -- I'm reading today's
SIRENS and
DETECTIVE as soon as I finish writing this.)
I seem to be confusing lots of things lately; when I reviewed issue #5, I didn't notice that Paul Dini didn't write it until Jett caught my error and corrected me. But as I said then, I hope guest writer Chris Yost considers that a compliment.
Last issue was devoted almost entirely to Man-Bat and Huntress. (Though we did see Damian driving away on a motorcycle. As far as I'm concerned, he could have kept right on going. Forever.) Their battle across Gotham's rooftops cut back and forth with a priest's struggle to find faith (and even sanity) after all of all of the crazy disasters, catastrophes, and other comic book crossovers that have plagued his city. By the time Huntress and Man-Bat crash into his little cathedral, the voice of "God" instructs the priest to kill this latest batch of violent visitors.
And speaking of violent, the Huntress had already decided to kill Man-Bat if the fall didn't kill them both first. (Not to mention the priest with the shotgun.)
Issue #6 begins with an explanation of the voice of "God," and Yost nicely ties it in with the street-level crime-and-punishment motif that's been driving this new addition to the monthly Batman comic stable. Dick and Damian have bigger roles in this issue, but the most important part of the narrative is the Huntress struggling with what to do about Man-Bat.
Most of the issue works except for one character fumble that I can't quite buy -- the Huntress notices that Man-Bat sees someone that her eyes can't, but after realizing what's really going on (and even vocalizing it), she still tries to interfere and almost gets several people (including herself) killed. I think that could have been handled a bit better, or at least a bit more clearly.
As for the art, Dustin Nguyen's unique but handsome style continues to lend itself perfectly to these pages, and he and Yost make a good storytelling team. The reveal of "God" is brilliantly done via the artwork, and colorist extraordinaire John Kalisz nicely contrasts the stark Gotham streets with the warmer light coming through the church's stained glass windows.
Meanwhile, the MANHUNTER backup continues to impress. In just a few pages, writer Mac Andreyko efficiently (and effectively) balances new Gotham D.A. Kate Spencer's personal, professional, and extra-professional lives. He keeps the character interesting, and he keeps his readers on their toes. And I love the way Sal Cipriano's muted colors add so much nuance to Jeremy Haun's pencils and John Lucas's inks. This is another fine bit of storytelling, ending with our hero in quite a pickle.
This is a great title, and it continues to succeed in expanding and deepening the world of Gotham City without Bruce Wayne. But as always, that doesn't mean I'm not ready to get the big guy back in action.
I give the main story a B and the MANHUNTER backup an A. - John Birely
