Do You Want to Know a Secret?
Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez, Brad Anderson and Sal Cipriano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 9, 2017
I have enjoyed the Intelligence story overall, but I did say last issue that things were starting to seem stretched out a bit. Maybe it is the twice a month shipping or trying to make it fit into a full trade, but things felt a bit more padded. I still have enjoyed it and have been looking forward to this finale for two weeks. So now that it's here, how was it...
The issue opens with Azrael talking to Ascalon "In The Mind". It doesn't last long as Luke Fox puts the Batman A.I. in full effect and Jean-Paul comes out the other side pissed and ready to kick ass!
Meanwhile, Ascalon and Clayface are getting better acquainted. Basil actually holds his own and that's something I always like seeing in this book. However, it's a good thing Batman and Zatanna show up and take care of the infected Batwings. While this is going on, we see Numoz being watched over by Kate and Cassandra...until he runs off.
That's when we get Azrael in his kickass new (old) suit and the fight is on between him and Ascalon. The two have some of the worst fighting trash talk ever, but it feels right here. Azrael tells Ascalon he is afraid of the truth and Ascalon is just ashamed of Azrael. It all comes to a head when Numoz gets slashed by Ascalon but is able to tell Azrael who is responsible for Ascalon. Believe me, it's very personal.
Azrael takes his anger to another level and while Luke wants to pump the Batman A.I. into Ascalon, it reveals that it's been in Gotham for longer than Batman was aware of and the city hates the Bat.
That's when something pretty cool, yet very telegraphed happened...Zatanna gives the Sphere to Ascalon. It sees the world for what it is and then...sees something very important to Batman. Sees it and tells him. I don't want to spoil it, but I thought it would feel bigger than it did. It's big...just didn't feel huge.
The issue ends with Batman talking to Jean-Paul about what is coming down the pike and then we get a little hint of at least two of the players that will be involved. No real surprises here, but I am looking forward to see it.
After my complaints last issue, it may seem odd to be upset that Tynion flies through things, but it's a big picture complaint. Why slow it down last issue only to speed your way to the finish line here. After the long Ascalon build up, it just ends way too fast...and where is the Gnosis Sphere now? Zatara is rolling over in his grave, Zatanna!
Alvaro Martinez's art is awesome once again. The action is brutal and I love his character models so much. I want him on more and more books!
Bits and Pieces:
This was a good, though rushed, ending to the Intelligence story arc. Almost everything is tied up and one big dangling thread is set back into motion. I loved Alvaro Martinez's art and am still on the Detective Comics trolley.
7.0/10
I give it an 8.0, because it had a good beat and I could dance to it!
ReplyDeleteI would probably go a bit higher also maybe a 7.75. I wanted more action sequences scenes. With so many characters and all those robots and the weird I can feel everybody and all computers just kind of dumped there. I think it could have used one more issue actually with some bombastic splash pages of fighting filling the book.
ReplyDeleteWhy did zatanna let ascalon leave with the sphere?
DeleteBecause that was the only reason that the sphere existed for. You will never hear of that sphere again.
ReplyDelete