Batman: Eternal #30 Review

Written by: Ray Fawkes
Art by: Fernando Pasarin
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 29, 2014

Green Means Go...to  Hell

Last week, Baternal ended with a "mysterious" green, magical light ripping up through Arkham and into the Gotham night.  What could possibly have happened?  Okay, we all know it was the Spectre and we all know it was pretty awesome.  Ray Fawkes is back this week to continue his story and I am glad since he is my favorite writer on Batman: Eternal so far.  It's partly his writing and partly that his stories involve Jim Corrigan (and the Spectre) and Batwing.  We get all of them this week, but this issue is all about destruction.  Some of it good, some of it bad and some of it a week overdue.  Let's check it out, shall we?



The issue opens with the immediate repercussions of the magical green light.  Batman and Penny Two are dealing with a commercial airline gone dead while Deacon Blackfire taunts nobody and everyone all at once.  I'll be honest, I really don't like Blackfire one bit, mainly because he's been forced on readers as a major threat and I just haven't felt it.  Luckily, we may not have to deal with him much after this issue.  That is because we get to see source of the green magic and it's no surprise, it's the Spectre. He towers over Blackfire and pretty much crushes him and his followers in his fist.  I know that people have a problem with the Spectre because of just this type of thing, but I loved it.  Now, if he could just do a repeat performance on Joker's Daughter...

The rest of the issue deals with the collapse of Arkham Asylum.  It seems that Blackfire's magic was keeping it from collapsing, but now that he's gone it's game over, man.  There are a few major players still inside and it looks like at least one of them isn't making it out.  I will be so upset if it sticks because it's one of my favorite characters.  The issue ends with a little Batman/Joker's Daughter faceoff and I'll admit it, she is pretty funny here.  She's also crazy and wearing a whole bunch of explosives.  Arkham is already rubble and she wants to do the same to Batman.

Like just about every issue of Baternal, I'm a bit torn.  While I loved the Spectre part, the rest of the issue doesn't push the story forward much.  Yes, we get to see Arkham collapse, but if you read Arkham Manor a couple weeks ago, you already knew that was happening.  The cliffhanger was cool to see, but I'm not that excited to see what happens next.

I enjoyed Fernando Pasarin's art for the most part.  The highlight (and low light) was a certain character losing power and hope all at one time.  It was an awesome panel progression that has me very worried about a certain character.

Bits and Pieces:

Batman: Eternal #30 has some pretty major happenings in an issue that doesn't push this book forward much.  The Spectre is overpowered goodness and Batman is set up for an explosive issue next week, but all-in-all, this issue was barely above average.

6.3/10