Batman Beyond 2.0 #15 Review

Written by: Kyle Higgins
Art by: Thony Silas
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 1, 2014

The Bat Men part 7 of 7: Second Chances

Sometimes story arcs end with a bang.  Other times they end with the characters learning valuable lessons about themselves.  This ending has both.  Not only that, but Kyle Higgins ends The Bat Men story by showing a growth in the main characters that sets up the future of the series as well as being a really heartfelt story on it's own.

Kyle Higgins finishes his Bat Men arc in grand fashion.  Terry has grown a bit, Bruce gets a second chance and Kirk Langstrom gets to atone for his past.  Each characters fate seems natural and fits the story.  What makes it so great, though, is how the other characters in the Beyond Universe are affected by the decisions and actions of the main characters.  Terry's relationship with Dick Grayson in particular.  

Throughout the arc it seemed that Bruce was pitting the two against each other.  In fact, Bruce came off as pretty horrible in a couple instances.  However, at the end of this issue the reader is reminded how great Bruce really is, even if he can't make things work in his own personal life.  Kurt tells him to make the best of a second chance and this is the beginning of that.

Speaking of Kurt Langstrom, Higgins has used this arc to show a broken and old man who just wanted a family.  He mirrors Bruce in ways way beyond just being the Man Bat.  What I liked most about Higgins portrayal is that the whole Man Bat thing takes a backseat to the actual man. Unfortunately, I'm not a real fan of how Kurt ends the arc, though I like the reasons behind it.  I'd love to hear what others think.

If you want to know how Thony Silas' art is, just check out my past reviews for this book.  That may sound like a cheap ploy, but it's not.  I'm just tired of writing how great Silas' art fits this book.  It's as perfect a match of art to story that I've seen in a while.

Bits and Pieces:

Batman Beyond 2.0 #15 is a great finale to the Bat Men arc.  It ends with a bang, but it's what the characters learn about themselves and each other that make it great.  Thony Silas' art is a great match for Higgins' story and characters.  It's the characters that make this book and after this arc the book is stronger than ever.

9.0/10