Last dance for the Cat and the Bat?
This new story arc has been nothing if not inconsistent in quality. The first chapter ranks as one of the series' strongest to date, while the follow-up hit a major snag with its murky storytelling and weird fixation on broken backs. Fortunately, issue #11 puts "I Am Suicide" back on track, as it focuses plenty of attention on the Batman/Catwoman dynamic and how the rest of Batman's new team factor into the conflict.
Tom King's scripts take on a decidedly more surreal tone whenever he teams with Mikel Janin. That's a good thing, as their creative fusion really helps give the series a distinct voice and flavor very much unlike the rest of the Batman family. But it does mean that readers have to accept a certain "heightened reality" quality to the dialogue at times. There's a strong flashback sequence that focuses on Batman's pursuit of Catwoman in the aftermath of her mass murder spree. Their back-and-forth certainly doesn't read like natural, organic dialogue, but it's effective in terms of contrasting their respective backgrounds and personalities. There's a very tragic, doomed quality to this romance that's always dysfunctional on even the best of days.
As for the present-day material, this arc isn't focusing on Bane as much as I'd like, though at this point he must have set some sort of record for the most consecutive issues spent not wearing pants. But this chapter does do a lot to flesh out the other members of Batman's team. Punch and Jewelee have a fun Harley/Joker thing going on, while Bronze Tiger proves himself to be more than mere hired muscle. King also excels at showcasing Arnold Wesker's troubled personality. Among other questions, it appears that this arc will answer the question of what purpose the Ventriloquist serves without Scarface by his side.
Janin delivers plenty of surreal and sometimes mind-bending imagery to match King's surreal writing. The standout scene involves a maze-like, amazingly intricate splash page following Catwoman and Wesker as they work their way through the bowels of Bane's fortress. Janin is equally impressive when it comes to plain, simple emotion, as well. This is a story that unfolds in one of the worst, most physically and emotionally draining corners of the DCU, and Janin has no trouble seizing that fact and making the most of it in his work.
The Verdict
Tom King and Mikel Janin's latest Batman arc bounces back after a disappointing issue. Batman #11 delivers plenty of great Batman/Catwoman material while also fleshing out the rest of Batman's new team. And Janin's art never fails to impress, whether the focus is one mind-bending page design or more subtle forms of storytelling.
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