BATMAN #10

[ BAT BARGAINS ] 

Get ready for a great big shock. It looks like the Talons are ready to knock. Batman is prepared. Although no one knew he cared. About an Owl who will soon join his flock. Well, that is what these chaps told me. Writer: Scott Snyder; Artists: Greg Capullo and Rafael Albuquerque; plus Publisher: DC Comics in May 2012. It's going to be a hoot!

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Now this penultimate chapter of the 'Court of Owls' saga, entitled 'Assault on the Court', reminds me to never walk behind a workman who has a long plank of wood propped upon his shoulder. You'll never know when he's going to turn.

• Just picture the scene if you will; Batman has finally got the 'Owl Gang' in his sights, and is now primed and ready to nab them once and for all.
• But no - not really.
• You see, on the one hand, he does manage to apprehend one of its members, Ms Powers, by trapping her inside an elevator. Whilst, on the other hand, some of the remaining court members do their collective impression of Kurt Cobain.
• Ooops!
• Still, Batman does have a hunch that these 'events' are nothing more than a ruse instigated by someone he already knows. Moreover, that this 'dead man walking' has a secret up his sleeve that will surprise Bruce no end. One laced in blood.

Meanwhile, in the Jarvis Pennyworth back-up feature, the Court threatens the lives of both Martha Wayne plus her unborn child's. Not Bruce - another.

[PLEASE NOTE: SPOILERS BELOW AND BAD GRAMMAR]

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

Ha! This question is a no brainier for me to answer, isn't it? Even a deaf man would smirk when Lincoln Marsh said to Bruce...

'I'm your brother Bruce. I'm Thomas Wayne Jr. Your brother that never was. From the other side of the mirror'.

If I was Bruce, I'd ask for a refund on my mirror. 

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

For me, personally, I liked reading Bruce's inner dialogue within this story, because it gave the overall resolution some time to gestate and grow, thus giving it more scope as a narrative. Also, his scene with Lincoln Marsh and that whole 'Who? Who?' back and forth banter thing was a blast to read too.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

Now the best things in this book is also the most troubling thing in it as well - the brother revelation. OK, I know at times anything new needs some space to digest within the public psyche, plus some additional grounding to add meat to its collective bones. However, as of yet I am not too sure about this really.

It's not the worst revelation I have ever read. It's not the best either.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: Well! Come on! It has to be the revelation that Lincoln is Bruce's bastard brother. But then again I did like the introductory sequence between Batman and Ms Powers - that was spine-chillingly fun.

ART: As ever with Greg and Rafael, I liked the way that both artists really did conform to the noir-like tone to each story-stand. Though, whilst saying that, I should also give a shout out to their respective colonists as well, Fco Plascencia and Dave McCaig, because I am nigh on positive that they had a lot to do with this tone too.

Well done chaps, keep it up. Wait a minute? Is Fco a man or a woman's name? Answers on a postcard please

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

MS POWERS: She's on the mature side. She comes off kind of seductive. Plus she looks very good in a mink coat. Meryl Streep's a bit of a GILF, huh? Plus I hear that she loves being trapped in elevators. 

MARTHA WAYNE: From the way she looks in this book, Batman's Mummy looks like Romy Schneider from the Peter Sellers / Woody Allen film 'What's New Pussycat'. OK. I know she does look a bit like Lindsay Lohan also. But films did exist in the past don't you know!

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

Cain and Able Now Have Some Competition, But Can Bruce and Lincoln Compete?

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

If you've read the previous answer dear reader, then you most probably know how I am going to answer this question. This comic book reminds me of 'Austin Powers in Goldmember'.

Ha! Gotcha!

Except with less shagging and jokes of course. Groovy baby! 

FINAL thoughts...

OK, so do I love this story? Do I hate this story? Or do I want to wear it like a hat and then dance naked in the streets with it? Well, as I have already done the last one already, I may as well come clean and say that I also love this story and hate it at the same time.

Obviously the new for new take on the Batman mythos is something I am not that comfortable with at the moment. But that does not necessarily mean that I might not like it more when I read the conclusion next issue, huh?

Let's see, shall we?

MARKS out of 10? 9