Comic Review: Batman (2016-) #64

Batman #64

DC Comics

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Guillem March

Warning: This review contains spoilers for the recent DC Comic’s event ‘Heroes in Crisis’

As much of a pain it has been to be reading King’s absolutely average/ almost robotic take on Batman, I was eagerly looking forward to this week’s issue, which was written by Flash writer Joshua Williamson, for another 4-part Batman/Flash team-up crossover special event. And the most ironic thing is, it’s a tie into one of DC’s most recent controversial stories and I’m genuinely enjoying it more. Whatever your opinion is on Heroes In Crisis, I personally hate the story but found this issue of Batman to be enjoyable.

The premise? We deal with the fallout of the recent tragedy at Sanctuary and how it’s affecting Batman and Flash’s psyche (this issue focuses more on the Caped Crusaders batty brain). The heroes are broken, shocked and a little out of touch. We witness a Justice League team-up versus their Amazo doppelgangers but things go awry when Batman sees the ghosts of heroes past fighting. And this is another ironic moment for this issue. Joshua Williamson is delving further into the psychology of the heroes and how death and tragedy affects them. Sound familiar? Well, that’s because that is what the entire original concept of Heroes In Crisis was meant to be. And then Delightful Demigod Dan Didio came along and ruined everything. But anyway.

I really wish Williamson wrote Batman. Between this and the fantastic 4-Part ‘The Button’ tie-in (hey! remember that story that was helping tie in with Doomsday Clock? Yeah that was 2 years ago. Come on, DC. YOU’RE KILLING MY HYPE! ahem, excuse me), he writes a much better Batman than Tom King has. King’s Batman is this mopey almost robotic figure, but Williamson adds in the little things that bring out the “man” in “Batman”. He’s flawed, emotional, grief-ridden. But he’s not moping about, Bruce is saving lives when tragedy hits Central City at the Flash Museum. I hope the place isn’t under too much damage because really that’s just making things more dramatic and depressing, especially for Barry who’s becoming inconsolable after the apparent death of Wally.

Williamson and March channel the energy with each page fantastically. I was always a fan of March’s art style from some of his work during the New 52, particularly his work with Batman on Detective Comics. Seeing the destruction of the Flash Museum is a sight to behold, the action is full force with the Justice League and we feel the Speed Force surging with us as we see Flash try to cheer the locals of Central City. But what’s great again is Williamson putting Bruce in his detective roots. Him and Flash investigating this new mini crisis (as if there wasn’t enough crisis’ to be dealing with) is certainly going to be a highlight, if the previous team up showed us anything.

Not going to lie, I’m happy we’re keeping away from King’s current ‘Knightmare’ filler arc. This is a bit abrupt but I’m just glad we have a decent writer on Batman. It feels like a detective mystery, something the main Batman title desperately needs, and I’m excited to see where we go next with the last page.