Batman Beyond 2.0 #34 Review

Written by: Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel
Art by: Thony Silas
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: September 20, 2014

Family Ties

Batman Beyond 2.0 only has a handful of issue left, but Higgins and Siegel use this one to setup more than push forward.  That's not a bad thing since what they setup is pretty damn awesome.  This arc has been about Family, but it's also clear it's about living up (or down) to reputations.  Everyone and everything seems to be heading towards a huge final confrontation.  I can't wait until it happens and when it does, issues like this one will make it all the better.



Terry has been timeline hopping and it hasn't gone unnoticed.  It seems that every time he returns, Bruce has left him case files.  Oh Bruce, always on the case.  Terry goes to the person he always goes to bitch about Bruce...Dick.  However, Dick tells Terry that as long as he plays with Bruce's Toys, he has to play by Bruce's rules.

Meanwhile, Inque is still trying to recruit Melanie.  It has to do with her getting back in her "Ten" outfit and rejoining her Mother, but that's only half the story.  It's one of those "Last Job" scenarios and we all know how well those work out.  By the end of the book it looks like Melanie is in and it's already breaking my heart.  Things will not work out for her, I'm sure.

Speaking of heartbreaking, things aren't going to well for Davis Dusk.  People are talking behind his back and former friends don't want any part of him.  I guess killing your Dad will do that, but he just seems so sad.  Sad enough to do something desperate, perhaps?

Finally, Terry has a fist-to-face meeting with a Royal Flush insider.  It's a pretty cool action scene and sets up an insider for Terry to get some intel.  I don't think he's going to like what he finds out.

I mentioned above that this issue was heavy on the setup.  The pieces are slowly coming together for an all out Batman vs The Royal Flush Gang battle, but the wild card (get it?!) is Inque.  I'm sure she is just using Melanie as a means to an end so I hope Terry gets to her quickly.  As for Davis, I can only hope that Higgins has redemption plans for him, because he looked so sad this issue.

That last sentence is a huge compliment to Thony Silas.  I love his art and this issue he ramps up the emotions.  Davis' sadness, Melanie's anger and Terry's frustration are displayed so well and really help tell the story.

Bits and Pieces:

Batman Beyond 2.0 #34 may be mostly setup and I don't mind one bit.  Higgins and Siegel are showing what's at stake and who's involved before everything goes to hell.  I don't want this series to end, but I can't wait to see what happens when it does.  Plus, we may get to see how Dick lost his eye!  Awesome.

8.7/10