It's not everyday that you celebrate Batman's 75th Anniversary... And things are just getting started with all the celebrations and nods to the Caped Crusader's milestone year, not to mention all the other stuff fans can look forward to in the long run. That being said, it's also been a long time since I've reviewed a comic book issue proper... And I'm glad that one of the most anticipated new titles finally hit this week in comic book stores, namely DC Comics' new and weekly ongoing Bat-title "Batman: Eternal".
Truth be told, I've mellowed down on the weekly comic pull list and have made it a preference to pick up collected editions instead... But I couldn't deny picking up and checking out the first issue to this new ambitious series, which follows the Pre-New 52 formula of having a new issue each week as started by the likes of "52" and "Countdown" before it. With famed and current Batman creative talents such as Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, John Layman, Tim Seeley, and Jason Fabok onboard, how can this new Batman title not appeal to anyone who's a fan of the Caped Crusader and his adventures? Is it an easy jump-in point for veterans or even if you have no current knowledge of The Batman and his activities? Let's find out with a review on this new comic book baby that celebrates "Batman 75".
SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW OF COURSE, so read at your own risk.
From the look of the cover alone, "Batman: Eternal" screams Epic - The kind of epic you'd want to dive into and give a shot at no matter what the outcome may be. You see The Dark Knight in his New 52 form, standing gloriously and with blood soaking in the midst of his symbol on his chest, and his cape fluttering amidst the heavy rain and thunder, laying out images of his allies and comrades in the war against crime.
Of course, it's just a cover... And as the saying goes "looks can be deceiving" and they very much are, as this issue is just the start of things and paints a very troublesome future for our hero, his dual identity of Bruce Wayne, as well as those closest to him and his beloved city of Gotham.
So the gist of the plot is this - We get a pretty grim intro into the future, showing a post apocalyptic Gotham burning and a helpless and bloody Batman exposed as Bruce Wayne tied to a broken Batsignal... Watching his city burn and a voice taunting him that he lost everything. Flashforward to the present, and Batman and Commissioner James Gordon are working together to capture a mob of criminals led by the insane mastermind villain known as Professor Pyg. The chase is pretty much successful, until something terrible goes down in Gordon's part that's both shocking and mysterious, and sets the stage for a big event that'll unravel as Batman: Eternal goes on.
So in effect, you have a big conspiracy and mystery happening that'll affect Batman and his allies one way or the other, and if The Dark Knight can't do anything about it, it's as Alfred said in Christopher Nolan's epic film of the same name... "Some men just want to watch the world burn". Who could it be? Who knows... But Scott Snyder and his team have their say on it, and I can honestly tell you the story is compelling enough with this intro to warrant taking a look at the next few weeks. What will go down? And how does the teaser image that appeared last Thanksgiving play into things?
Take it as you will, but I very much give "Batman: Eternal #1" the thumbs up for checking out just because it's a swift dive into action and mystery for The Dark Knight on his 75th Anniversary. Of course, it may not be too accessible for first time readers, but the art and pacing alone will not get anyone confused, and there's plenty of material in the interwebz or otherwise to catch up on Batman lore and history.
So grab Batman: Eternal #1, now in stores.
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