Batman reconnects with his city.
Not only is Batman one of the few books from the initial New 52 lineup to survive until the present day, it's also the only series to still feature the same creative team. But all good things must come to an end, and with DC Rebirth looming the time has come for Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo to bid farewell to Gotham City (for now, at least). Batman #51 serves as a coda to their long run, wrapping up loose ends and setting the stage for future conflicts. And while all of that is great, the real brilliance of this finale comes in its simple, poignant examination of what Batman means to his city.
The conceit of issue #51 is that it explores a "quiet night" for Bruce Wayne in the aftermath of his return. Things are slowly returning to normal in the city, but a mysterious blackout leads Batman on a nightlong trek across Gotham to track down the culprit. This format allows Snyder and Capullo to touch base with a number of familiar faces. Certain beats in this issue even directly mirror the events of Batman #1, giving this run a nice sense of symmetry.
Capullo certainly makes that whirlwind journey a feast for the eyes. For such a quiet story, there's a sense of motion propelling Batman along from his first stop to his last. There's a lot of interesting work being done with light, shadow and color in this issue. The true utility of the new Batsuit becomes apparent when Capullo and inker Danny Miki render Batman as a stark silhouette lit only by the gold outline of his Bat symbol. As strong as the action is, one of the most impressive scenes is also one of the simplest. The reunion between Batman and the reinstated Commissioner Gordon also relies heavily on silhouetted figures and body language to convey information. Throughout the issue, FCO Plascencia's mix of murky shadows and brief moments of intense color further highlight the emotional impact of Snyder's script.
Again, the plot in this issue is secondary to the emotional celebration of who Batman is and the impact he's had on his city. One of the central themes of this book has been the idea that Batman doesn't know his city as well as he thinks he does. There's also the idea that Gotham is a place that changes and tests those who choose to live within its borders. Snyder turns those ideas on their head here. Much like how the realm of Albion ebbs and flows based on the health of King Arthur, Gotham is a city that has become as strong and resilient as Batman himself. There's a strong undercurrent of optimism in this issue, one that becomes the ultimate rebuttal to the philosophies of villains like Joker and Mr. Bloom. Gotham may be a hard place in which to live, but Batman has proven that it isn't beyond saving. Nor is it pointless to try.
The Verdict
It would be silly to expect anything less than greatness from the final chapter of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman saga. This issue ties up all remaining loose ends while creating a fitting sense of symmetry with the beginning of the run. It sports more terrific art from Capullo, Miki and Plascencia and offers a powerful meditation on the impact Batman has had on his city. What more could readers ask for?
Editors' Choice
→
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire