Batwing #25 Review

Written by: Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti
Art by: Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferreira
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 6, 2013

Sweep the Leg

Since Luke Fox took the mantle of Batwing, the title has really taken off.  Gray, Palmiotti and Pansica have turned a book that was being ignored into one I look forward to each month.  This month they use the Zero Year event to give Luke Fox what is essentially his "zero issue".  No, we don't actually get to see Luke become Batwing, but we do get to see him take the steps toward becoming a hero.

Time traveling back six years we get to see a young Luke Fox, a good kid and an aspiring MMA fighter.  In school, he befriends an intelligent outcast named Russ and tries to help him deal with the bullying he deals with on a daily basis.  Cue the montage.

The book reads like a mix between a teen coming of age flick crossed with an action movie.  Think Karate Kid mixed with Revenge of the Nerds.  Yes, the story is filled with cliches...a wise and inspiring mentor, bullies who get what's coming to them and a nerd that is more than people realize, but since it's a comic we also get a 90's-like villain transformation and Batman.

Yes, since this is a Zero Year tie-in we get the Dark Knight, but he is nowhere near essential to the tale.  In fact, his appearance seems a little too forced for my liking.  The introduction of Luke's first villain is essential and sets up a very dangerous and personal threat that I hope will reap dividends in the title going forward.

The art is split between regular artist Eduardo Pansica and Julio Ferriera.  The biggest compliment I can give Ferriera is that I didn't realize there were two artists on the book.  Although most of the other Zero Year books seemed to go gritty, Pansica and Ferriera give us a clean and brighter look.  It is a look that fits the tone and subject of the book nicely.

Bits and Pieces:

Batwing #25 is a good issue that shows us the beginnings of Luke Fox as a hero.  It is not an essential title as a Zero Year tie-in, but is nice for fans of Batwing and Luke Fox in particular.

8.0/10