Batman #118 Review

 

Baby Steps

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Jorge Molina, Mikel Janin, Tomeu Morey, and Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: December 7, 2021

Joshua Williamson starts his Batman run when I think Batman needs to get better.  Sure, the sales are as high (or higher) as ever, but after Tom King and James Tynion's runs, it just doesn't feel like Batman has the sizzle right now.  King's run had a line in the sand feel that divided fans, while Tynion's run felt more like a showcase for his characters than Batman.  So, having Batman leave Gotham might be the focus the book needs.  Saying that, it's still all about the story that kicks off right here, right now. So, let's get into it...

James Tynion ended his run (it felt like a couple of times) by putting his toys back in the toy box, and while I was surprised that he didn't set up a little bit of the direction Williamson was taking the book, I figured Williamson would come out of the blocks with a bang. Unfortunately, that's not the case here. Instead, this feels mainly focused on a smooth transition between runs. Because of that, it didn't feel like a bold, new, or even much of its own thing...yet.

The issue starts with some Fear State recap and a badass Batman coming out of the shadows to stop some crooks.  If you have heard that Batman was leaving Gotham City, it's a neat slight swerve at first, and the art even hides the fact it's Bruce at first. 

The opening leads to a middle stanza that has a bit of a Silver Age feel and gives the reader more information about what has been going on with Batman and Gotham if you haven't been reading. Unfortunately, it's not as fun as it could have been and ends up feeling like a bit of filler to let Williamson get his feet wet.

We finally get to the exciting stuff by the end of the issue, and it's 100% why I am optimistic for the upcoming run.  We find out why Batman is leaving town, and it's personal, especially with the guest star who shows up in the cliffhanger.  Williamson sets up his villain (again with a bit of a twist) and gives us a supporting character who could end up being a gem.  After finishing the issue, I felt like I was in a weird version of those old Monster Truck ads, "I bought the whole issue, but I only need the last ten pages!"  Then I yelled, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday" for the hell of it!

Joshua Williamson takes the safe route and uses a lot of page space to transition out of Tynion's run.  I read like a Fear State Omega Omega issue until the end, and that's when I got excited.  I love Batman Inc, and seeing them here and used a bit differently has me intrigued.  The art was stunning throughout, and while I am a Mikel Janin fanboy, Jorge Molina held his own.

Bits and Pieces:

Readers looking to be wowed right out of the gate with Joshua Williamson's Batman run start may have to wait a bit.  This was a solid but safe issue that spends time transitioning out of James Tynion's run before getting interesting by the end.  The entire issue looks fantastic, and the cliffhanger alone makes it worth reading.

8.0/10