Batman Beyond #21 Review

Fear Factor

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Will Conrad, David Baron, Travis Lanham 

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 27, 2018

There's a monster running around Neo Gotham and from what we saw at the end of the previous issue, this monster looks like Batman.  Let's hope that in a world that may or may not still exist outside of our main city since Brother Eye's attack that Batman doesn't become public enemy #1 as the city's populace starts crying monster in the night, while our hero just tries to do his best to take care of futuristic villains.  Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

While I want to love this series every time that an issue comes out, it seems that Dan Jurgens just can't find the right balance of padding an arc out and making an interesting story because while the idea that people are seeing Batman as some sort of monster is interesting, it just keeps happening in this issue and even interrupts the progression of the love triangle aspect of our story to continue this scared populace narrative, but our hero just can't seem to grasp the idea.  

If repeating situations aren't enough, there seems to be something wrong with the McGinnis brothers in this issue because while Terry can't figure out that people are scared of him, Matt can't seem to figure out that Batman and his brother are the same person............. I know, I'm exaggerating, but Matt is just annoying in this issue with telling Bruce and us over and over again that Terry's not the problem in his life right now........ it's Batman.

I love the art in this issue, but really, art has never really been a big problem with this series, the issues of nothing that come far too often are and this issue continues that trend by offering up little story and no real progression of story that I find myself caring about, even though the initial concept seemed so cool.  All in all, Batman Beyond continues to disappoint and that's a shame.

Bits and Pieces:

There's not a lot going on in this story and while I think the concept of the arc is fun, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.  I enjoyed the art in this issue, but we've got repeating scenarios and repeating conversations that really don't go anywhere except for a cliffhanger, which this series seems to excel at.......... and that's about it.

5.4/10