Batman #697 – Review

By: Tony Daniel (writer and artist), Sandu Florea (inker)

The Story: Life After Death, Part 6… The Conclusion: Batman, with a small army of helpers, descends on the chaos of Devil’s Square in Gotham after the Black Mask has released his toxin. Batman breaks through the enemy lines and makes a run on the Black Mask himself. Black Mask is not exactly defenseless…

What’s Good: There’s a lot of action in this book, many obstacles big and small, and none of them are easy. And on the art side, I still think that Tony Daniel draws a great Batman. He’s thin and muscular, and twisting and turning in the air, around gunshots and explosions and bad guys. Daniel draws Dick Grayson as if he’s making it all look easy. Batman defies gravity without looking like he’s breaking the laws of physics. He creeps out of the river or jumps through fire like he lives for this. Daniel draws good dynamics and he keeps a chaos of action from being confusing.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Picks Of The Week

Ray’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Batman and Robin #10 -Batman’s finally coming back, and Morrison’s writing not only good stories, but entertaining ones as well. This should definitely be in everyone’s pull list. If you haven’t been reading this, hunt down all 10 issues, you won’t regret it.

Most Anticipated: Green Lantern Corps #46 – With this Blackest Night arc coming to an end, we can expect nothing short of pages of epic emerald warriors taking on Nekron. It’s Blackest Night, and it’s a fat issue. A must pick for its story and its value.

Other Top Picks: American Vampire #1, Superman 80-Page Giant #1, Batman #697, Amazing Spider-Man #625, Nation X #4

DS’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Just got back from overseas work, so I have to pass on this question while I catch up.

Most Anticipated: Guardians of the Galaxy #24 – some of my favorite moments in the Marvel Universe have revolved around Adam Warlock and his struggles against the Magus. I can’t wait to see how Abnett and Lanning play this one out.

Other Top Picks: Batman #697, Avengers Vs. Atlas #3, Marvel Boy: The Uranian #3, Green Arrow #31.