DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Dan Jurgens
ART: Bernard Chang
COLORS: Marcelo Maiolo
LETTERS: Travis Lanham
COVER: Ryan Sook
VARIANT COVER: Martin Ansin
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2016)
Rated “T” for Teen
Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
“The Return” Part One: “Escaping the Grave”
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, but circumstances lead him to steal the “Batsuit.” Eventually, an 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). Although he was briefly replaced as future Batman by an older version of Tim Drake (the third teen to become Batman's sidekick and partner, Robin) McGinnis is back as Batman of the future in the Rebirth relaunch of the comic book series, Batman Beyond. This new series is written by Dan Jurgens, drawn by Bernard Chang, colored by Marcelo Maiolo, and lettered by Travis Lanham.
Batman Beyond #1 (“Escaping the Grave”) opens in Jokerz Town. This is a downtrodden neighborhood in Neo-Gotham ruled by a gang that calls itself the Jokerz. Terry's friend, Dana Tan, is held prisoner by the leader of the Jokerz, Carter. He is plotting to return life to the corpse of Batman's ultimate adversary, The Joker. Terry is ready to take on the gang, but he is ready to be Batman again.
I plan on reading future issues of this incarnation of Batman Beyond because it is one of my review assignments for the @ComicBookBin. DC Comics provides CBB with PDF copies-for-review of most of its titles. On my own, I am not sure that I would be a regular reader of Batman Beyond; I tried to get into the 2015's DCYou relaunch of the series (which featured Tim Drake as Neo-Gotham's Batman), but it did not intrigue me enough to make the effort to find or buy issues, beyond the first issue, which I actually liked.
I am a little intrigued by this Jokerz story line, but the story does not grip me. Writer Dan Jurgens' script is professionally competent, but lacks imagination, so the result is pedestrian work. Bernard Chang's art and Marcelo Maillot's colors result in unattractive art, but competent storytelling. Honestly, if this book does not improve, it will be little more than just more Batman product.
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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