The rogues gallery gets bigger.
Already consistently one of DC's best ongoing series, Batman ended 2017 on an exceptional high note thanks to Batman Annual #2 and the short, delightful "Superfriends" story arc. The downside to being on a hot streak like that is eventually a book becomes its own worst enemy. Batman #38 isn't a bad comic, but merely one that's unable to meet the same lofty standard set by its recent predecessors.
The cover bills this issue as "The Origin of Bruce Wayne," and while technically accurate, that doesn't mean what readers are likely expecting. Writer Tom King divides his focus between Bruce's attempts to help a newly orphaned boy and the rise of a new killer in Gotham. King has done great working revamping Batman villains both major (Riddler, Bane) and very minor (Kite Man), but this is the first time we've seen him attempt to add a significant new member to Batman's rogues gallery. That's largely where this issue stumbles. There's a definite appeal to the idea of Batman discovering a new foe even as they're in the midst of their evolution. But with so much emphasis on how this new character echoes villains like Mr. Zsasz and Two-Face, they never really come into their own or feel like a fully realized player in the Gotham underworld. In the end, King's pitch for this character strikes me as a better overhaul of an existing Batman villain (one who shall remain nameless here), than as fodder for a wholly original creation.
Still, much of what makes King's Batman run so enjoyable remains on display in this issue. Much as he has in recent Batman/Catwoman and Batman/Superman-centric stories, King threads a cleverly constructed narrative that constantly bounces between protagonists and mirrors itself in fun ways. King also knows how to open a story by putting readers off balance and then letting the tale slowly reveal itself over time. This issue covers a lot of ground from start to finish, but it rarely feels rushed or compressed as a result.
Visually, this issue manages to fit alongside the rest of the series reasonably well despite featuring an entirely new guest art team. What Travis Moore's pages lack in style or sheer, eye-popping detail they make up for in clean line-work and confident storytelling. Moore, like every artist on this series, pays careful attention to page structure and giving King's narrative the methodical pace it needs. Colorist Giulia Brusco ensures that the book maintains a somber, uneasy mood throughout. Much of the series has unfolded in the bright of day, so it's refreshing to see Batman plunged back into shadow and the pressures of being the Dark Knight Detective again.
The Verdict
Batman #38 is a perfectly solid and entertaining comic, just not one that meets the same high standard as the previous few chapters of the series. This issue struggles to establish its new villain as a worthy addition to Batman's rogues gallery, but at least it manages to offer a well-rendered, carefully constructed detective story. There are far worse ways to spend $3.
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