Batman #704 – Review

By: Tony Daniel (writer and artist), Ian Hannin (colorist)

The Story: My favorite Batman (Dick Grayson) tackles the reaper with Robin. Catgirl. A poseur follower of Catwoman’s gets in the way. She’s going to be a problem, because Bruce wants her off the streets. In the meantime, bigger fish are showing up.

What’s Good: Daniel delivers classic Batman: weird criminals, capes and cowls, clever tech gimmicks and a rich, playboy secret identity. Throw in a femme fatale (check!) and you have everything you need. The issue is fast-paced (take down Reaper, lose Catgirl, get new instructions, head off on missions, deliver message, get caught in the middle, all in under 30 pages) and the writing is brisk and smart. On the dialogue, I loved the responsibility that Bruce lays on Dick (“Gotham is your city when I’m not here”), but nuanced by the clever, exuberance that Dick hasn’t outgrown (“That was a Bruce move…”).

Artwise, Daniel puts dynamism on the page. Check out Batman and Robin leaping across the rooftops, or Batman taking down Reaper. He also does beautiful detail, as in Selina Kyle, or the textured detail of Catgirl’s boot in Reaper’s craggy face (or the wrinkles in the clothing, the dust, the dirt, etc…I could go on). The effects of the rain, on the fight scene and on Dick running cast a cool, threatening mood over the Gotham that Dick now owns (when Bruce isn’t there….).

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Amazing Spider-Man #648 – I said in my review that this was the perfect Marvel comic book.  I want my Marvel superhero comics to be written by guys who love and read comic books, so Dan Slott is perfect.  This issue hit all the right beats.  Runner-up: American Vampire #8 – This would have won almost any other week.

Most Anticipated: Hulk #27 – Last month I said this title is the current owner the championship belt for “Best Current Ongoing Superhero Title”.  I still feel that way and can’t wait to see what new goodness Parker and Hardman have in store for us.

Other picks: Batman, Inc. #1, Haunt #11, Morning Glories #4, Whatever Happened to Baron von Shock #4, Spider-Girl #1, Chaos War: Chaos King #1 (it has Kaluta art!)

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: American Vampire #8 – A fairly solid week of releases, but American Vampire took it up a notch, continuing to make me care about a new character, bringing back an old one, introducing the inevitable vampire hunters without making the lame in the slightest, and finishing off the issue with what was probably the biggest cliffhanger/revelation of the month thus far.  A really good issue for a really good series.

Most Anticipated: The Flash #6 – It’s been a while since the last issue and it’s only made me more impatient.  I love this book.  It’s good old fashioned superhero fun with great art.  If you don’t mind spandex, it’s basically a book that’s impossible to hate and one of the best titles DC is currently putting out.  I can’t wait to see how this arc ends and the build-up to Flashpoint begins.

Other Picks:Morning Glories #4, Batman: the Return, Batman Incorporated #1, Avengers #7, Green Lantern #59, Brightest Day #14, Superman #705

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6 – Although there were a few problems here and there, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6 gave me what I wanted. I needed real closure and satisfaction after having followed Gotham since Battle for the Cowl. Morrison closed his story with some pretty impressive ideas and imagery.

Most Anticipated: Batman Inc. #1 – OMG! OMG! So many things. Don’t know which I want most! I can’t wait for Warlord of Mars #2, and Batman #704 looks cool, but what’s up with Batman Incorporated? An international traveling Batman show? Well, Grant Morrison is an original thinker and Yanick Paquette is a great artist. This one is my top.

Other Picks: Warlord of Mars#2, Batman #704, Green Lantern #59, Green Lantern Corps #54, Legion of Superheroes #7