DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was originally published on Patreon.]
STORY: Dan Jurgens
ART: Bernard Chang
COLORS: Marcelo Maiolo
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Bernard Chang with Marcelo Maiolo
VARIANT COVER: Kalman Andrasofszky
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)
Rated “T” for Teen
Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Fingerprint
“Brave New Worlds”
The animated television series, “Batman Beyond,” debuted in January 1999. Set in a futuristic Gotham City (Neo-Gotham), the series introduced a teen-aged Batman, Terry McGinnis, a 17-year-old high school student. A reformed troublemaker, the athletic teen had a sense of personal justice, and circumstances lead him to steal the “Batsuit.” Eventually, the elderly Bruce Wayne accepted Terry as the new Batman and guided the teen in his exploits.
This future Terry McGinnis Batman crossed over into DC Comics and eventually became part of its mainstream universe (the DCU). An older version of Tim Drake, the third teen to become Batman's sidekick and partner, Robin, has replaced McGinnis as the future Batman. Drake is now the star of the “DCYou” relaunch of Batman Beyond. This new Batman Beyond is written by Dan Jurgens, drawn by Bernard Chang, colored by Marcelo Maiolo, and lettered by Dave Sharpe.
Batman Beyond #1 (“Brave New Worlds”) presents THE definitive future of the DCU (according to DC Comics). It is, however, different from the world of the original Batman Beyond. Tim Drake is a future Batman without Bruce Wayne to guide him. Drake fights to keep Neo-Gotham safe from Brother Eye, which destroyed the future.
Outside the safe confines of the city, Drake is about to meet a mysterious, but familiar ally who might be able to help Batman in the fight to raise humanity from an opponent that has already won. Meanwhile, Terry McGinnis' younger brother, Matt, wonders if, under different circumstances, his older brother would have given him the Batsuit.
I had misgivings about this new Batman Beyond series; I don't know why. However, the series is in safe hands with Dan Jurgens, who was one of the writers on The New 52: Future's End, the weekly event miniseries that was the precursor to this new Batman Beyond. Artist Bernard Chang offers solid storytelling, eye-pleasing compositions, and sharp graphic design that looks even better with Marcelo Maiolo's coloring. I think I will add Batman Beyond to my reading list.
B+
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux
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