BATMAN #710

[ WHY SO GLUM CHUM? ] 

It’s annoying when you can’t find something, right? You cannot help but ponder where you could have lost ‘it’ – who could have taken ‘it’ – or why ‘it’ isn't where ‘it’ was supposed to be. Alternately though, you can just sit back and relax, and wait for ‘it’ to turn up while you read this issue of Batman – one Written by Tony Daniel; Drawn by Steve Scott; and Published by DC Comics in June 2011. 

THE STORY:

Harvey (Two-Face) Dent is back, and this time he is mighty pissed off. His current murderous rampage through Gotham is getting on everybody’s nerves – both criminal and policeman alike – as he just shoots whomever crosses his path, just to find his missing coin. Obviously, Commissioner Gordon is deterred from this sardonic situation, and so is wily Congressman Dean too. But before Dick (Batman) Grayson can go in search for ‘Harvey’, he has a certain issue to resolve first with Kitrina (Catgirl) Falcone. Batman informs Kitrina that he has enrolled her into a boarding school out of town – for her own safety – a statement that is backed-up by Selina (Catwoman) Kyle, whom aids Dick with this stance. However, this issue does not appear to be resolved once Batman and Catwoman leave – and the same can also be said for Harvey Dent too, sometime later. And why do I say that? Well, Harvey is lead down the garden path by crime-boss, Mario Falcone, just before ‘Gilda’ shoots Harvey in the head, BANG! To be continued...

THE REVIEW:

Now this is a bit more like it. With a little help from artist, Steve Scott, writer – Tony Daniel – has stepped up a notch in this ‘Pieces’ story arc. OK, I have to admit, that the ending did save it for me, as it has reintroduced a character from yesteryear – Gilda – thus giving this storyline a touch more gravitas.

Now for those of you who do not know who this ‘Gilda’ is, she was the one time wife of Harvey (Two Face) Dent. She was used rather judiciously back in the day, always aiding Batman & Robin – one way or another – to bring Harvey back from the brink of madness. In the forties and fifties, Gilda was a ‘wallflower’ figure – constantly with a demure stance and pining for her deranged husband. From the sixties to the eighties, Gilda had a much more pertinent role in the Bat-mythos – and used more of as a character in her own right. But then came along ‘The Long Halloween’, a twelve issue miniseries that changed Gilda’s life forever. Now not to give the ending away of this great epic Bat-adventure – but Gilda had a rather predominant role in this book, one which shaped her future forever. And now she is back – hmmm? Things should be a lot more interesting.

Anyway, back to this issue Batman. Personally speaking – I kind of liked it. Granted, it was not the best thing I have read recently, but it is far from being the worst. I especially liked Scott’s contribution to the book – as he has injected a new spirit that seems to adder very well with Daniels new story. My worst part of this particular issue however, was the whole Kitrina segment – and as soon as DC dumps her, the better it will be.  Nice new arc though, which seem to be paving the way for an exciting new future. 

THE RATING: A-