Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #5 Comic Review

• Written by: Andy Diggle

• Art by: Leandro Fernandez

• Colors by: Matt Hollingsworth

• Letters by: Simon Bowland

• Cover art by: Leandro Fernandez, Matt Hollingsworth

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: October 9, 2024

Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #5, by DC Comics on 10/9/24, brings to light the Victorian-era origins of Cyborg, Phantom Stranger, the Flash and more.

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Is Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #5 Good?

There are one or two platitudes that come to mind after reading Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #5. "All things in moderation" and "Too much of a good thing" come to mind. If you've always wondered what it would be like to assemble a Victorian-era Justice League, this series is well on its way to giving you what you're looking for, but writer Andy Diggle may be trying to do too much too fast, and it's become overwhelming.

When last we left the Elseworld in Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #4, Adam Strange and Diana made their way South to deliver a warning about the coming Doom. A con man named Alan Scott receives a powerful ring in the midst of a tragedy. Lois Lane arranges to take a trip out to a small Kansas town where Lex Luthor digs for a rare and precious item in the nearby mines.

In Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #5, you get a little bit of everything from every corner of the Gotham By Gaslight universe all at once.

Picking up from the end of the last issue, Lex Luthor shows Victor Stone a man trapped in a glass cage. The man's predicament is the result of an artifact that flared with strange energy during the Carrington Event in 1859. During the energy flare created by the Carrington Event, Lex Luthor was also zapped by the same energy but only lost his hair, and an alien ship in our solar system was knocked to Earth, crash landing in Kansas, which is why Lex is in Smallville looking for remnants of the crash. What is the name of the unfortunate lab assistant still locked in an immobile state? Jay Garrick.

Disgusted by Lex Luthor's lack of compassion for Garrick's condition, Victor Stone leaves, vowing to alert the authorities. Luthor uses Stone's departure to test out his remote detonator, which gives Luthor the opportunity to use Stone's remains for a robotics experiment.

Elsewhere, Bruce Wayne completes construction on his bat-themed zeppelin and embarks on an aerial trip to find the missing train that carried an old woman and a special ring in her possession. When Batman finds the train wreck, the ring is missing, and he finds two ninja assassins charred to a crisp.

Elsewhere again, John Constantine enjoys the fruits of his gambling labor aboard a ship sailing the Suez Canal in Egypt. He's approached by a Stranger who is familiar with Phantoms (get it?) who is hunting a powerful man, a man Constantine might know. The first meeting between Constantine and the Phantom Stranger ends with more questions than answers.

Elsewhere again, again, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen arrive in Smallville at precisely the same time that Alan Scott arrives via hot air balloon to offer locals a ride to touch the heavens... for a small fee. Lane and Scott know each other from Metropolis, so Lois is eager to shoo the locals away from Scott's flim-flam tricks.

Suddenly, a gunfight breaks out in the streets between Deputy Peter Ross and famed gunman Dead Shot. Before Deputy Ross loses his life to a gunman who never misses, the clumsy Sherriff Kent arrives on the scene to reinforce his reputation as the luckiest man alive.

What's great about Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #5? 

Andy Diggle puts the world-building engine into overdrive by devising Elseworld origin stories for several characters, paving the way for a Gotham By Gaslight Justice League. If you've ever wondered what a Victorian-era version of the Flash and Green Lantern would look like, Diggle does a great job putting the pieces in place.

What's not great about Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #5?

It's too much. Andy Diggle is trying very hard to build out an entire world of characters in every single issue, so when everyone gets attention, nobody gets the attention. It feels like you're reading two of three different stories stitched together, so you get the impression this should have been a graphic novel instead of a maxiseries chunked up into multiple issues.

To be fair, the story flows well enough, and you can anticipate where the threads will intersect, but the sheer volume of disparate threads creates an unfocused comic.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #5 introduces even more Victorian-era version of the characters you already know as the Gotham By Gaslight world draws closer to some impending doom. Andy Diggle comes up with creative ways to reinvent classic characters, but there's so much going on that you'll need to take notes before your head starts spinning.

7/10

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Action Comics #1070 Comic Review

• Written by: Mark Waid

• Art by: Clayton Henry

• Colors by: Matt Herms

• Letters by: Dave Sharpe

• Cover art by: Clayton Henry, Tomeu Morey

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: October 9, 2024

Action Comics #1070, by DC Comics on 10/9/24, sends Superman on a recon mission to the Phantom Zone when a trio of Kryptonians escape, but it's not what you think.

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Is Action Comics #1070 Good?

After a brief pause in the series for a three-parter by Gail Simone, writer Mark Waid steps into the title to deliver the start of a new arc that's full of charm, mystery, and clear stakes. Action Comics #1070 won't blow you away, but it's a rock-solid start.

Action Comics #1070 begins with a typical day in Metropolis. Superman swoops in to prevent Jimmy Olsen from injuring himself during a tricky photoshoot, and the two discuss Jimmy's request for a birthday present. Suddenly, something streaks through the sky, blowing holes through a number of downtown builds on a quiet Sunday (when most people aren't working in said buildings).

Mark Waid does what Mark Waid does best in terms of superhero comics - get things moving with strong character moments and fast-paced action. The rapport between Jimmy and Superman in their scene verges on brotherly, and the action hits like a freight train.

Superman catches up to the destructive streak and finds there Kryptonians stitched together in a painful amalgam. Supergirl arrives to lend a hand since the one being technically has triple the power of Superman. The fight stretches into hours, and Superman knows he doesn't have enough power, even with Supergirl's help, to stop the pain-struck newcomer.

Superman devises a risky plan. He flies off to recover the only known quantity of Gold Kryptonite on Earth, hoping the exposure would shut down the amalgam's ability to absorb solar radiation and stop its attack. After a quick flight while Kara holds down the fight, Superman returns with the dangerous element.

The issue concludes with that Olsen luck kicking in at the right time, a proper host to provide the best medical care, and Superman decides to take a long overdue recon trip.

Backup Story

Mariko Tamaki pens a backup story starring Supergirl. Kara visits friends, a United Outpost on Thanagar, and more. Somewhere along the way, Kara developed the ability to mind-wipe people, and she appears to be acting out a directive to reach a destination in space from some technological mind infection.

If the description above sounds confusing, that's because the backup is confusing. The mystery is somewhat intriguing, but the story execution is sub-par.

What's great about Action Comics #1070?

Mark Waid gets the Man of Steel back to basics with a solid beginning to a new adventure. You get charming character interactions, and intriguing mystery, and quintessential Superman action.

What's not great about Action Comics #1070?

The backup is easily the worst part of the comic. That aside, Waid provides a hand-waving explanation as to why other Super Family members can't get involved in the fight, but the explanation doesn't ring true.

How's the Art?

Clayton Henry gives readers a Metropolis and characters that are bright, hopeful, and full of energy. For everyone tired of the 'D' in DC standing for Depressing, this comic is just the antidote.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Action Comics #1070 starts a new adventure that prompts Superman to visit the Phantom Zone. Mark Waid's particular knack for quintessential superhero fare is on point, and Clayton Henry's bright, hopeful art is immaculate. But for a less-ideal backup, and one or two hand-waving plot hole covers, this issue is off to an excellent start.

8/10

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Absolute Batman #1 Comic Review

• Written by: Scott Snyder

• Art by: Nick Dragotta

• Colors by: Frank Martin

• Letters by: Clayton Cowles

• Cover art by: Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin (cover A)

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: October 9, 2024

Absolute Batman #1, by DC Comics on 10/9/24, begins a new era in DC history when the Absolute Universe, fueled by Darkseid energy, gives rise to a new yet familiar hero.

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Is Absolute Batman #1 Good?

Let's not mince words. Absolute Batman #1 is an engaging, gripping, sometimes thrilling, and thoroughly entertaining comic. Scott Snyder's reimagined take on the Batman legend will likely be a crowd-pleaser and make huge sales through the first few issues. But... Well, keep reading.

Absolute Batman #1 begins with Alfred Pennyworth returning to Gotham City after a multi-year absence at the behest of his employers. This Alfred is no stodgy British butler but a world-class black ops specialist sent to assess criminal organizations and eliminate targets with extreme prejudice. Alfred grudgingly accepts reassignment away from his current mission and sets up in Gotham to gather intel on the hyper-violent Party Animals Gang.

Writer Scott Snyder takes readers through the world-building of Absolute Gotham City through the eyes and narration of Alfred Pennyworth. Designed as a cross between the film versions of Alfred from the TV show Gotham and The Batman (2022) and an alpha male version of Ra's Al Ghul, this Alfred is not anyone you'd want to mess with. He's cunning, experienced, and deadly. In short, Absolute Alfred is a badass.

Elsewhere, we meet Bruce Wayne, a hulking brute of a man training at Croc's Gym. We learn through his brief dialog with his acquaintances, including the boxing gym's owner, Waylon Jones, that the city is under siege by criminal elements, and there's a Town Hall meeting tonight to address the city's woes. Waylon encourages Bruce to get out more with his friends like he used to or at least come to the Town Hall meeting to add his voice to the throngs of citizens looking for help. Bruce abruptly declines. We also learn through the dialog and a group picture on the wall that Bruce and Waylon's friends are named Ozzie, Selina, Harvey, and Edward.

So far, so good. Absolute Bruce certainly has the right presence and stoic personality that makes him read as Bruce Wayne. Plus, Snyder quickly rattles off a stream of namedrops to imply all the familiar characters exist, albeit not in the same form you remember.

Later, we meet the big bad of this first arc - Roman Sionis, aka Black Mask. Roman meets with the heads of the local mafia families, Falcone and Maroni, to discuss the Party Animals gang problem. It's clear Roman is sponsoring the Party Animal's actions, so Falcone and Maroni deliver an ultimatum for Roman to leave town. Their requests are heard and denied.

There's not much to say about this classic meeting of head-butting mob leaders. It's standard stuff, except for one twist. Roman's mask and the masks of his family, colleagues, and Party Animal gang members are shaped from an assortment of animal skulls, and the masks have some form of circuitry embedded within for some unknown purpose. It could be that Absolute Black Mask is a hybrid of Black Mask and Mad Hatter, so we'll see.

The issue then cuts to the Town Hall meeting. Mayor Jim Gordon addresses the attendees with a message of calm and patience. Unfortunately, playing by the rules isn't proving effective against the Party Animals gang. Outside, Alfred watches the scene from a nearby rooftop with orders not to engage if anything happens unless a new player rumored to be acting as a vigilante appears.

A small army of armed Party Animals storms the building's steps and barges into the meeting with gunfire. Alfred is ordered not to interfere. Suddenly, the new player arrives to put down the attack.

I won't go much into Absolute Batman's first appearance except to say it's the kind of brutal, hard-hitting, cool action we haven't seen from DC in quite a while. For anyone who's seen the redesign, Absolute Batman is more batlike and animalistic with his bat whip/cape/thingies, and he uses his tools with great effectiveness. Also, the chest symbol does come off as an axe, which he uses to chop off the hand of an armed gang member.

Now, for the big question - Does Absolute Batman kill? The answer is "maybe." Alfred notes how Batman uses knives and throwing blades to harm his opponents with surgical precision to avoid major arteries. However, the scene ends with Batman setting off an explosion that very likely killed several people, although a death toll isn't confirmed. Snyder goes out of his way to infer Batman doesn't kill, but the art says differently.

After the chaos subsides, Alfred descends his perch and confronts Batman. Alfred believes he's sized up Batman well enough to get the drop, but Batman outmaneuvers and disarms Alfred in a flash before leaving (flying? grappling? claw-climbing?) off. What follows is a montage of scenes narrated by Alfred where he cycles through his research to deduce Batman's real identity, location, personal life, and his path to becoming Batman.

We learn the status of Bruce's parents, how and where he trained, and the lengths he went to become the Absolute Cape Crusader.

The issue ends with a Bat "Roost," trading one gadget for another, and a peek at the familiar character Alfred was tracking before reassignment to Gotham City.

What's great about Absolute Batman #1? 

From start to finish, Scott Snyder captures the vibe of a hard-hitting, dramatically intense Batman comic. Despite the reworked aesthetics, the heart and voice of the characters feel authentic. Plus, the rework of Batman's costume looks much cooler in action, which should be a lesson to everyone to withhold judgment until you get the full context.

What's not great about Absolute Batman #1? 

At the risk of sounding like an old man yelling at clouds, Absolute Batman and the world he occupies are technically different, but not different enough to feel like anything more than Elseworlds lite.

Giving Alfred a black ops background isn't new. Bruce Wayne becoming Batman because he's motivated by the death of a loved one is nothing new. Creating fancy, bat-themed gadgets is nothing new. And a Gotham City infested with gangsters and colorful villains is nothing new.

Yes, sure, there are amalgams and tweaks, but they're all mild variations. Compared to Red Sun or Gotham By Gaslight, this doesn't come close to an Elseworlds story. Further, this world is supposed to be formed from Darkseid energy, but all the telltale signs of Darkseid's influence, such as reddish skies and omega symbols we saw in the DC All In Special #1, are nowhere to be found, so the cohesion between the All In initiative and the Absolute titles is already missing.

Again, this is a thoroughly enjoyable comic, but you'll be left wondering if it's different enough to be considered an Elseworlds universe. If not, why not give the main Batman title back to Scott Snyder? The world may never know.

How's the Art? 

Honestly, I had my doubts due to the overly bulky look of Batman on the covers and promotional materials, but the massive body with a tiny head is not as noticeable in Nick Dragotta's powerful, dynamic art. When Batman appears for the fight at the Town Hall meeting, Dragotta steals the show with a Batman who is a force to be reckoned with, and again, the weird cape stilt thingies look a lot better in context than the concept drawings would suggest

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Absolute Batman #1 is a banger of a first issue that introduces readers to a new-ish kind of Batman, Alfred and Gotham City. Scott Snyder's knack for hard-hitting action and drama is on full display, and Nick Dragotta's art sings during the big fight. That said, Absolute Batman is almost too similar to regular Batman, so you may wonder why creating an alternate version was necessary.

9/10

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