Batman: Arkham Knight #10 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Robson Rocha
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: April 24, 2015

Tech Times

Arkham Knight has been such a great combination of superb storytelling and art that it's no surprise that it's risen up my pull list like a Bay City Rollers record.  They are still making records, right?  The only problem I have with the entire series so far is the lack of  Arkham Knight action.  This issue doesn't buck that trend, but is it good anyway?  Let's find out...




The issue opens with Lucius and Bruce heading off to Germany for some business.  I'd love to say that they mixed business with pleasure, but that just wasn't the case...especially for Lucius.  In fact, a couple of pages in, he was strapped to the hood of a speeding sports car with Batman in hot pursuit. It was an awesome scene that ended with Batman crashing through windshields, doing his best German Michael Keaton impersonation and Lucius almost having a brick wall (and a little girl) being the last thing that goes through his mind.  All in a night's work for the Dark Knight!

I'm not going to lie, this issue was pure setup.  After the exciting beginning, the story stalls a bit as Lucius and Batman acquire the tech the trip was designed to get.  Then it's back to Gotham for the two heroes.  The issue does end with a crazy (if not surprising) ending that sets up a gang war between two of Gotham's biggest villains.

This issue falls prey to being the beginning of a new arc.  The cliffhanger ending sets up what should be a crazy middle issue, but the rest was pretty forgettable.  I'm sure the tech that Batman and Lucius acquired will pay off in the future, but we don't get to see it here.  Also, I really want to see some Arkham Knight.  Any Arkham Knight.  Any at all.

We do get to see Robson Rocha's art and while it's good on it's own, it's different from what I've been used to in the past nine issues.  Viktor Bogdanovic and Ig Guara combined for a style that defined this book in my mind and this changes it up a bit too much.

Bits and Pieces:

This issue starts off with guns a blazin' but ends up being nothing but setup.  It's not bad, it just is one of those digital chapters that suffers because of it's position and short length.  I'm sure it won't be a problem in the collected issue, but I'm not reviewing the collected issue, am I?  Because of that, I can't give it top marks.

6.5/10