Written by: Dan Abnett
Art by: Phillip Tan
Published by: DC Comics
This is probably single darkest issue of Metal so far, and that’s a good thing.
Dan Abnett takes us underwater to meet Bryce Wayne, which is probably the only thing that could be a little cheesy in this book. Other than name, this book does not play around, and it does not take prisoners. Like the other three Metal tie-ins Batman the Drowned #1 is yet another origin story for these villains.
This is a story of a woman scorned, and that certainly brings another dimension to these proceedings. Like most of the other Metal tie-ins, this one concentrates on the loss of a loved one and how far someone will go to either get revenge or justice. Sometimes those lines get blurred. The action in this book is done well–not over the top, but there’s more action than any of the other tie-ins thus far. It does seem like they might be upping the ante with the crossovers, as we are finally coming to one with the “One that Laughs,” which has a potential to be the craziest Batman yet.
Philip Tan takes the reigns on the art department, and we all benefit from it. Everything from the action sequences to the sheer terror on faces of both Aquaman, Mera but also Bryce as she is going through a transformation are all top notch. Metal in general is turning out to be one of those special events where everything just clicks. And Philip Tan adding to the pedigree of some of the great artists working on these books is just an icing on a cake.
Batman: The Drowned #1 is certainly the darkest tie-in yet, and that is saying a lot. We’ve seen Batman lose so many family members and friends through these chapters that anything more gruesome is bound to be something special.
