Batman: The Dark Knight #28 Review

Written by: Gregg Hurwitz
Art by: Ethan Van Sciver
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: February 26, 2014

A New Bat in Town

The Dark Knight has been an odd book in the New 52.  Sitting somewhere just outside the normal New 52, It hasn't been involved in crossovers or tie-ins.  At the start, it seemed like it was going to be Batman versus some of his crazier rogues in a grittier world that would cash in on new readers enamored with the Nolan movies.  It didn't quite work out that way.  

Since Gregg Hurwitz took over it's been the book to read if you like drawn out stories with uninteresting villains featuring a Batman that quite frankly sucks at his job. Gregg Hurwitz announced the book was cancelled and it would end with a Man-Bat story.  This is the beginning of the end...Man-Bat vs the "freakin' pterodactyl"

It's really hard to walk anywhere in Gotham without running into a Man-Bat.  Recently they've even been spotted in Neo-Gotham and by a certain group of teens who ride around in a van with their talking dog.  Well, Gregg Hurwitz has picked the villain to be the antagonist in his Batman swansong, but it's not what you expect.  It's not Kurt Langstrom.  

I usually hate spoiling things like that in my reviews, but Hurwitz is not subtle in his story telling either. In fact, that's my main gripe this month.  The story could have been a nice little mystery, but Hurwitz skips right to the chase, literally.  I guess with only a couple issues to go he couldn't waste time but it ends up feeling really rushed.

All is not lost though.  What is here is still interesting and I was surprised I was enjoying it as much as I did.  Man-Bat always mirrored Batman, but in this tale he also mirrors the Wayne Family.  It's an interesting, personal and dark take on the whole Man-Bat mythos.

Speaking of dark, this book doesn't have it's usually look.  Nope, Ethan Van Sciver is in the house and I loved the look.  It is vibrant, action packed and gruesome.  His Man-Bat is awesome and everything in this book looks great.

Bits and Pieces:

I haven't been a huge fan of The Dark Knight and I hate the Man-Bat.  Guess what?  This is one of my favorite issues of this series.  Gregg Hurwitz gives the reader an interesting take on the Man-Bat, it's just a shame it felt a bit rushed.  Ethan Van Sciver's art is as good as expected and makes the book feel more vibrant than usual.  I am actually looking forward to next issue for the first time in a long time. Too little too late is appropriate here, but it's better than too nothing never happened (?!?!?)

7.9/10