Batman: Off-World #1 Review

    

    

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artist: Doug Mahnke

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 21, 2023

Of all the books coming out this week, I was most interested in Batman Off-World #1 by Jason Aaron.  It’s Jason Aaron’s second fling at DC Comics after being exclusive at Marvel for over a decade and his first Batman story ever.  Often, writers end up in a rut, writing for one company for so long and if you have listened to our Marvel podcast, you will know that I got in a rut reviewing Jason Aaron’s recent runs on things like Punisher and especially the Avengers.  Hopefully, like Stella, Jason Aaron and myself get our grooves back here with Batman Offworld… let’s get into it

Batman Offworld #1 opens in the Slag Galaxy, and while that might get a chuckle from the Brits reading, it’s no laughing matter to Batman!  A bunch of aliens are boarding his bat-rocket with the intent of capturing him and it’s always cool to see Batman struggle now and again.  This first part of the issue feels like a  Predator comic with Batman as the Predator.  Jason Aaron does a good job with Batman’s inner monologue, as he avoids capture until…he doesn’t.  At first, it seems like the hero who prepares for everything was caught off-guard, but in a cool twist, it was all part of the plan.

The first thing most people will see when reading this issue is how good it looks.  Doug Mahnke’s art is great, but a huge shoutout to David Baron’s colors. I read things digitally and the art popped reading it on my tablet.

  

Check out our Batman Off-World #1 Video Review

I don’t want to spoil too much, but as the story progresses, you go from wondering how Batman will defeat the aliens and get back to Earth to laughing about how over-the-top crazy he is for just being there.  There is a purpose to it all and while this story isn’t in current continuity, Jason Aaron dips back into the past and gives readers a clever peak at something that might have been.  Out of nowhere, it’s a Batman Year One in Space story!  

If you’ve read a bunch of Jason Aaron stories, you know he loves doing this - going back and playing with a character’s past, oftentimes changing up stuff along the way. It’s just Aaron being Aaron, and while this sort of thing drives me nuts a lot of times, this start doesn’t ruin anything (yet - fingers crossed) because it makes a whole lot of sense.  

So, if you were wondering if this is worth checking out, I say 100% yes.  It looks fantastic, has some good character work, and a clever twist, plus it’s a lot of fun. 

Bits and Pieces:

Batman Off-World #1 is a cool, action-packed comic with some clever twists.  Jason Aaron just might have gotten his groove back and Doug Mahnke’s art is fantastic.  Recommended!

9.0/10