THE DARK KNIGHT #2

[ PRICE CRUNCH ] 

There once was a bad drug called venom. Which is actually a derivative of denim. But do not dismay, as the Dark Knight will play, just after he eats his smoked-ham. This masterpiece of kaka was brought to you by Writers: David Finch / Paul Jenkins; Artist: David Finch; and Publisher: DC Comics in November 2011.

So what’s the story morning glory?

In ‘A Rush of Blood’, we see the Dark Knight following the aftermath of last issues cliffhanger – a venom-possessed Two Face.

Thankfully, though, not much really come out of this confrontation – because after Bat’s receives a couple of smacks to the head, Two-Face suddenly falls down onto the floor, with blood dripping from his eyes. And from then on in, that is what is precisely presented to us – drips.

(1) On two separate occasions, Batman talks to Gordon and Alfred on this case. (2) Other heroes (namely Nightwing and Robin, the Birds of Prey, Batgirl, and Batwoman), all encounter venom-possessed villains. And (3) After a chat with Two-Face in hospital, Batman tracks down ‘the White Rabbit’, who leads him to Joker.

A venom induced Joker.

What is the most memorable sentence spoken in this issue?

Believe it or not – that’s quite difficult to say really. Because it could either be when Gordon saying to Batman ‘The only one in any shape to talk to us is Two-Face, but he has not said anything coherent since he conveniently started bleeding out of his eyeballs’. Or it could be when Alfred says to Batman ‘There is nothing better than assisting one’s employer track down a homicidal maniac. It keeps one feeling so young’. But it could also be the last page of the book, when a venom-induced Joker says to Batman ‘Wait till they get a load of me’.

Ha! Jack Nicholson, eat your heart out.

Was the story any good?

Now if a single word could describe this issue – that word would be ‘flimflam’. You see, in essence, the cliffhanger from the previous instalment did not really deliver in this one – and only acted as a segway for the pretext of ‘venom induced villains’. Fair enough, this did come across in the story in a very bold and blatant way – all aided with a plethora of glib one-liners and cameo appearances too. But apart from that, this story delivers more in style than it does in substance.

Was the art any good?

You cannot fault an artist who is able to draws a believable pumped up Ventriloquist (who I thought was dead?). Moreover, the artist in question – David Finch – is constantly good in whatever type of scene that he is trying to convey. Be it action – cinematic – suspenseful – or ‘talking heads’ – David just hits one home every time.

To juxtapose this stance though, I did find the colouring – by Alex Sinclair – very flat on occasion, and kind of inconsistent in places too.

What is the best thing about this issue?

As much as I liked the one-liners, I personally loved the cameo segment in this issue also – as it showed that this comic book is able to deliver a ‘group dynamic’, whilst giving the overall tone of this title a more personable feel.

What is the worst thing about this issue?

What disappointed me the most about this story, was the way that the initial confrontation between Batman and Two-Face, did not seem to go anywhere. There I was, expecting a big brawl, and what I got instead, was a two faced git taking a big fall.

 Huh, such it life!

In addition to this, I was not too keen on the pace and ‘flippy’ nature that the story progressed in either.

If you could sum up this issue in a phrase or saying, what would that phrase or saying be?

‘Style over content’?

If this issue were a movie, an object, or a piece of music, what would that be and why? 

Simple – this second issue of ‘The Dark Knight’ says one thing to me, and one thing only – I am Michael Jackson’s late seventies opus ‘Shake Your Body’. They both have bounce, they book look good, they both have funk, and on top of that, they both have a groovy booty. 

What do you think would have made this issue better than it was?

If truth be told, I would have liked to have seen a more linier or novelistic story-line, rather than a rambling and kind of ‘jumpy’ story-line that is strained on the page.

Final thoughts...

I have a number of musings at the moment. Firstly, what would happen if I typed in ‘sexy women with tight fitting rabbit costume’ in google. Next, what would David’s art look like, if he drew with his feet? And last but nor least, lets hope that next issue of ‘The Dark Knight’ is better than this one. 

Marks out of 10? 7.5