Skip to main content

Batman #50 review: A poetic analysis of the Bat-Cat pairing


It's difficult to discuss Batman #50 without spoiling it. Marking the halfway point of Tom King's Batman run, this extra-sized anniversary issue features the wedding of vigilante Bruce Wayne and cat burglar Selina Kyle, so the main question on everybody's mind prior to reading this comic is whether they'll actually go through with it. You won't find that out in this spoiler-free review, but you'll know if the book is worth your time and money. 

Batman proposed to Catwoman on a rooftop over a year ago in issue #24 (contained in Vol. 3: I Am Bane), but their romance goes back a lot further than that. Issue #50 embraces this long and somewhat self-contradictory history, with Bruce and Selina each recounting their own memory of their first meeting in the form of poetic prose. King has a way with words, and it really shines here.

These segments of the story are accompanied by beautiful full-page spreads from critically-acclaimed guest artists, including Frank Miller (Year One), Tim Sale (The Long Halloween) and Jim Lee (Hush). Most of the comic, however, is illustrated by Mikel Janin. His art is perfect for this story, with each facial expression he draws capturing so much emotional nuance and giving the story a level of realism that few other artists could provide.


This is more than just a story about Batman and Catwoman. It's an analysis of the factors that make Bruce the hero he is, and asks a big question: does an unhappy Bruce make a better Batman? As previously mentioned, this is only the halfway point of King's arc, so Batman #50 leaves this unanswered. In some ways, this issue is actually somewhat anti-climatic. It's very much a turning-point in King's ongoing saga, but largely serves as set-up for a bigger story, which is hinted at by the shocking final panel. 

Therefore, while executed incredibly well, the wedding of Batman and Catwoman isn't likely to be regarded as a classic story in years to come. Rather, it's a bridge between the two halves of an ongoing tale, and only time will tell if King and the artists he works with are able to stick the landing. 

Rating: 7/10

You can buy Batman #50 today from Comixology or your local comic store. Alternatively, you can wait until October to buy Batman Vol. 7: The Wedding, which collects issues #45-#50.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why One Piece's Whole Cake Island Arc was a real treat

Primary antagonist Big Mom One Piece 's Wano   Arc is in full swing for both the manga and the anime series, and fans of Japan's favourite comic franchise are loving all of the spectacular samurai action - but let's not forget what came before! Before Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates arrived in the Land of Wano, they were battling Emperor Big Mom on her home turf to free their chef Sanji from a forced marriage. So, looking back, just how good was the Whole Cake Island   Arc ? The main thing that jumps out about Whole Cake is that it continues to burst with the creativity and flavour that make One Piece so beloved. Whole Cake Island itself is the centrepiece of an archipelago known collectively as Totto Land, each corresponding to a delicious treat, such as cheese, pie, biscuits and candy. These islands are populated by Big Mom's forces and various super-powered commanders, making it a daunting task for Luffy's rescue team to make it in and out unscathed. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A thank-you to Steve Ditko

The late Steve Ditko was best known for creating Spider-Man with Stan Lee, and arguably shaped the entire world of superheroes when he did. While Clark Kent was the common man, Peter Parker was the common boy, making him a character that generations of new fans could connect with. Ditko's artwork was dynamic and fun, attracting more and more readers who previously wouldn't have given comics a second glance. His work lives on through new creators, and its influence can be felt in films based on his characters, such as the recent Spider-Man: Homecoming . Steve Ditko is also strongly associated with Charlton Comics - he created Captain Atom, the Question and Ted Kord, the second Blue Beetle. These heroes served as the inspiration for the characters of Alan Moore's  Watchmen , which showed the world that comics can be taken just as seriously as films and television. Ditko had no direct involvement with Watchmen , but it is another example of just how far his influence ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Looking back on the first Fullmetal Alchemist anime

This year, the first anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's legendary Fullmetal Alchemist manga turns 15 years old. The 2008 remake, Brotherhood , has eclipsed its predecessor in terms of popularity and critical acclaim, but is the 2003 edition still a good show? Each series will not be compared in this review - rather, we'll be evaluating 2003's  Fullmetal Alchemist solely as an adaptation of the source material. As many fans of the franchise are aware, the  Fullmetal Alchemist anime began only months after the manga started. This meant that the production studio, Bones, had little material to work with, so they decided not to follow Arakawa's books panel-to-panel from start to finish. Instead, the anime ended up being a loose adaptation of the first eight volumes, with an original ending. Compared to the manga, the plot is very slow. Many of the major story beats are still there, but there are greater gaps between them, and not everything feels as if it drives ...
Post a Comment
Read more