Written by: Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV
Art by: Greg Capullo, FCO Plascencia, Danny Miki, Kelley Jones, Michelle Madsen
Publisher: DC
Batman #35 is one of the best Batman issues I have read in a while, and reminded me why I always trust Scott Snyder.
I can already tell that it promises to be a story for the ages. The issue is set after Batman Eternal, and I am glad that there aren’t any continuity issues to hold back this arc, even if this results in other problems. After the mixed feelings from both the Zero Year arc, and the ongoing Eternal arc, readers were waiting for a big story, and Endgame delivers on that front.
The issue features the first part of Endgame, and puts the reader right in the middle of the action. I loved the inclusion of the Justice League, instead of regular Batman villains, as it made for an substantially more interesting fight. As seen in the cover, the Justice League appear to be combating Batman, for reasons revealed later. The action is extremely entertaining, and hooks the reader immediately. The issue showcased Snyder’s skills in narration, especially with the introduction through the Gotham Royal Theater. The story concludes with a cliffhanger that also implies the return of a certain character.
The riveting story, however, is not the only aspect worthy of praise; Capullo’s art is as masterful as ever. The colors accentuate each Justice League member, and succeed in adding more tension. Batman’s new suit would have hardly had such an effect without Capullo’s art and Plascencia’s colors.
The B story, The Pale Man, comes from Tynion and explores the back story of a character who is central to Endgame. I didn’t enjoy it at first, but as the story progressed, I was amazed by the coherence of the entire issue. More mystical themes are discussed, and a certain character is seen in a completely new light. The supernatural feel to the story did not diminish it in any way, and I eagerly await the progression of this storyline. The art by Jones and Madsen felt appropriate to the story. The colors were a lot more dark, which helped accentuate the contrast between the panels.
One problem with the issue is that the secondary story seemed to drag on for just a couple of pages. It needed to be a bit tighter to have the intended effect. Also, readers might definitely face problems with the continuity jumps between the various ongoing arcs. Some readers might have no idea why Julia knows Batman’s identity and this makes the timeline seem convoluted. Although Snyder uses this method often, it could easily be avoided for more accessibility.
That I loved the issue is an understatement, but I hope that the story arc can maintain the level of action, exposition, foreshadowing, and anticipation. I would hate to see such a brilliant idea take the same route as Zero Year. Wytches might be great, but it seems that Scott Snyder might have outdone himself with Endgame. Batman #35 is definitely worth picking up, and is easily accessible for newer readers as well, as it marks the beginning of something special.
