Batman #55 Review

You Give Love a Bad Name
Writer: Tom KingArtist: Tony DanielCover Price: $3.99Release Date: September 19, 2018
I am back reviewing Batman and yes, it's because Eric had enough.  We do shift through books every now and again to make sure things stay fresh, so I hope that's what happens here.  Now, it is an odd issue for me to jump into with all the spoilers about this issue and what it means to my favorite character, Nightwing.  I promise not to spoil it any more than what already has been released and with that, let's get on with the review...

The issue opens in the Gotham airport where we see KGBeast getting his passport stamped and sent on his way.  I say it's the KGBeast because of a few tells, but Tom King in no way sets up his villain here or really, any other time in this issue.  It is the usual fill in the blanks sort of thing and I am not saying he needs to hold the reader's hand every step of the way, but this loose storytelling is starting to wear thin for me, but more on that later.
We then head off to see Batman and Robin Nightwing in Tony Daniel awesome full page glory before kicking back to KGBeast checking into his hotel room.  Why go back like this?  I want more Bat and Dick and thankfully, we get it going forward.

If you have been down on the miserable Batman of late (remember, smiles kill Batman), seeing him and Dick fight off the mummy army of the Phantom Pharaoh may be just what the doctor ordered!  It's Batman '66 fun and I always love that, but someone needs to remind Tom King this isn't '66 and the sidekick here isn't Robin.  It certainly doesn't feel like Nightwing, though, as King writes Dick as if he is 14 years old and about to say "Holy" something at any point. 
I know that some will eat this up and it is fan service, it's just not what I need right now in this overall story.  We got this sort of thing last issue and that was enough so why continue the goofiness here?  Before you answer, I know it's all set up for the inevitable ending, but why not have the two discuss the recent trial?  What Dick did as Batman during the trial?  Or anything at all meaningful????  Instead of some real character moments, we have Tom King dip into his bag of tricks to tell puns and sing songs.  Again, fan service moments that may make you smile for a little, but have nothing to do with setting up a story.  While this is going on, we see KGBeast buy a rifle and sit in a hot dog restaurant (?) while crowd chatter allows King to poke fun at himself, but little more. 

Continuing on, we get more Dynamic Duo back and forth that made me wish Dick would put a sock in it at times and KGBeast setting up his shot.  Again, whenever KGBeast is on the page we get extraneous overheard dialogue as if Tom King is really afraid of uncomfortable silences.
The issue comes to a head at the end when Gordon lights up the Batsignal and Batman and Dick head off to see what's what.  I guess there were no lasting ramifications to Batman completely messing up the whole Freeze trial and while that's upsetting enough, the chance that it will never be discussed again really gets me angry.  That is still up in the air, though, but what isn't is the ending here that once again laughs at the idea that DC cares about hope, love, and legacy over pain, agony and shock and awe.
Reading through this, you must think I hated every bit of this issue.  That isn't the case.  I loved the art and a lot of the writing would be fine...if it came at a point in this series where I am starved for some story.  Tom King has set up interesting things in his run and they seem to be an opportunity for some really great character moments and development, but instead of that, he writes situations based on shock value, wow moments and fan service.  He had an opportunity to show some people their first look at KGBeast and instead of any sort of characterization, he seems to walk through the issue as a prop who is only here for the big moment at the end.  Why even have KGBeast?  I have never fired a gun, but make me the villain here and nothing changes except possibly an epic fail at the end.  I would even do my classic Dolph Lundgren impersonation to keep the feel going.
Also, in a run where we have gotten so little Bat Family interaction, why waste this issue with songs and puns?  I get it, King wants to make you love the Dick before tearing him down, but most people, Dan Didio aside, already love Dick Grayson.  Plus, didn't we spend last issue doing the same thing?  The whole issue is based solely on that big moment and without that, there just isn't much of a story.  Just another wow moment in a sea of wow moments.  Again, I did not hate this issue, I just felt like there was so much opportunity left on the table.
Bits and Pieces:
Tom King continues his run with an issue that is full of fan service moments that can be fun but don't lend themselves to telling any type of overall story.  I'm sure that I will be told that it's all part of the 100+ issue plan, but I need more meat and cheese to keep me going now.  It does end in a huge moment, but depending on where you lie on what you are looking for from DC since Rebirth started, you will either love or hate it.  My gut reaction is that I hate it, but I am willing to wait and see if it can lead to more interesting stories down the line.  Besides that, this issue had great art, some fun moments, but an equal amount of frustration and missed opportunities.
5.9/10