DC COMICS – @DCComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.; Declan Shalvey
INKS: Danny Miki; Declan Shalvey
COLORS: Dean White; Jordie Bellaire
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: John Romita, Jr. and Danny Miki with Dean White
VARIANT COVER: John Romita, Jr. and Danny Miki with Dean White; Jock; Declan Shalvey with Jordie Bellaire
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (October 2016)
Rated “T” for Teen
Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
“My Own Worst Enemy” Part 1
When I first read The New 52 Batman #1, which was written by Scott Snyder, I found it enjoyable, but I did not think of it as a comic book that I had to follow every month. I actually preferred The New 52 version of Detective Comics, written and drawn by Tony S. Daniels. Daniels' run on Detective Comics was over in about a year, while the Snyder-written and Greg Capullo-drawn Batman became a bestselling, critically-acclaimed hit.
I returned to Snyder-Capullo Batman for the start of the “Zero Year” story line (Batman #21). It started off brilliantly, with at least three superb issues, but “Zero Year” came to define everything that was bloated about the second half of Snyder's run as writer on the Batman flagship comic book. The story arcs were too long, and while each arc had at least one fantastic issue, many of the other issues were story line padding or read like filler material.
Now, here comes DC Comics' latest publishing event/initiative, “Rebirth,” and with it comes a new Batman comic book, All Star Batman. This series will be written by Scott Snyder and drawn by “superstar” artists and hot up-and-comers. The first story arc is drawn by John Romita, Jr. (pencils) and Danny Miki (inks); colored by Dean White; and lettered by Steve Wands.
All-Star Batman #1 (“My Own Worst Enemy” Part 1) opens at Auggie Mac's Diner, somewhere in the Midwest. The bustling restaurant's routine of serving comfort food to regular Joes and Janes is interrupted by a pitched battle between Batman and the team of Firefly and Killer Moth. Why are they fighting, other than the fact that they are hero vs. arch-enemies? Well, it involves Two-Face, and Batman may find that no one is on his side this time.
So count this as one of those fantastic first issues of a Batman story arc that Scott Snyder does so well. Hell, if you are just looking for a darn good read and don't mind that it ends on a to-be-continued, you could not go wrong with All Star Batman #1. Romita, Jr. and Miki make a dynamite art team, and Dean White's rich hues are eye-candy colors. I have flipped through this book several times over the past few days; graphically, it is that pretty.
All Star Batman #1 includes a second story, written by Snyder and drawn by Declan Shalvey. It has an intriguing premise, although it is not hell-bent action as the lead feature. Still, it adds to my excitement about All Star Batman. Hopefully, this opening arc does not start to feel like it is running too long and is bloated. But really, what is going to change? Thus far, Snyder has gotten nothing but encouragement from readers, the fan press, and the powers-that-be at DC Comics, so why should he change what he is doing? This is not necessarily a rhetorical question.
A
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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