Art by: Mikel Janin
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 25, 2014
Trial of the Century
Batman Eternal started out like it a bat out of hell, throwing more plot lines than any reader could possibly digest. Unfortunately, most of them stalled out to move on to the next. James Tynion to the rescue. This issue puts the bus back in drive and we're finally hitting the road again. This isn't my favorite issue of the series, but it's one that was needed so much to get this book back on track.
James Tynion dials back the action to give us one of the most dialogue heavy issues yet. I'm usually against a "wall of words" issue, but I really liked what Tynion gives us. The dialogue is good on it's on, but it's the interactions I love. Gordon telling Batman he will trust the system that both of them have seen fail over and over again, Tim Drake and Alfred discussing Julia and Harper Row, Jason Todd and Barbara Gordon discussing rage, ect.
Of course, the main attraction is the beginning of Gordon's trial. He's trusting the system, but after opening statements, he's already behind the 8-ball. The he gets a surprise visitor in jail. I'm not sure what it will mean to Gordon or his trial, but it sure as hell turns his world upside down.
The other important event deals with Detectives Bard and Harvey Bullock. Bard may be new on the scene, but he has a plan. A plan that just might be crazy enough to work. We'll have to see if Batman goes along with it and if it's on the up and up. However way it goes, it will be interesting.
Mikel Janin's art is really good this issue. With the action toned down, Janin gets to show his prowess drawing facial expressions and he nails it. His work on James Gordon was great, but Tim Drake is a close second.
If I had to pick a downer this issue it's the cliffhanger. Like I said above, I'm not sure how it will figure into Gordon's trial, but here it felt a little forced and shocking for shocks sake.
Bits and Pieces:
James Tynion get s the ball rolling again by starting up a bunch of stalled plot lines. The most important being James Gordon's trial, but I liked almost everything else as well. It's a dialogue heavy issue, but don't let that discourage you, it's real good. Mikel Janin's expressive art fits this type of issue to a tee and is a welcome addition after last weeks debacle. I hope we get more issues like this in the weeks to come.
8.0/10
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