BATMAN #28

[ BARGAIN BAT-BASEMENT ] 

In the not so distant future, Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV will both become belly-dancers. Dustin Nguyen will become a watch-maker. And DC Comics will sell lint to small animals. Yeah. I'm not incorrectly stroking your crystal ball, dear reader. I foresaw these events transpiring within the following future-bent narrative published in March, 2014.

To QUOTE Norman Vincent Peale: 'Understanding can overcome any situation, however mysterious or insurmountable it may appear to be'.

THE STORY:

My God, Batman! Isn't your new partner a breezy breath of fresh air on a hot summer's day? Not only because 'Blue-Bird' helped you penetrate my exclusive Gotham City night-club. But more than that, she also helped you track me down.

Me. Selina Kyle. The New Kingpin of Crime.

But why would you want to do that, eh, Bat-freak? Is it because of the way you left me previously? Dying to stay alive! Or is it because of that strange new virus drifting across town? One possibly connected to...

No. Wait a minute. I don't want to go any further. Or else I might 'spoil' the surprise! (Pun intended) 

THE GOOD:

OK. I've got to admit. When I first started to read 'Gotham Eternal', I was half-expecting it to be the final part of the 'Light's Out' saga.

But it wasn't that at all, was it, dear reader? Instead it was a pretty decent and thought provoking tale about Batman's intended future, garnished with a new partner and a new villain for him to contend with.

Admittedly. I don't usual enjoy following this type of a tale, because I find them rather fleeting in the continuity department. Yet, whilst saying that, I did enjoy it. I did enjoy it an awful lot.

For a start, I did like the look of Harper Row's new alter-ego, Blue Bird, plus it did make me chuckle when she uttered the 'secret  password', 'Bee's Knees', because this is a cockney expression meaning 'very good'. Also, I thought Selina Kyle playing Kingpin for a change was real eye opener, as it's added a very mysterious layer to this story I can't wait to see unravel.

Oh! And before I forget, that revelation at the end of this issue -- Ha! -- I knew she was going to return soon. I just knew it. Although it was a shame DC spoiled this surprise for me beforehand by presenting it on their website. 

THE BAD:

Now if you've checked out my review on Detective Comics #28, then I'm sure you know how I feel about this sort of preconceived future-slanted story-line. I don't like them very much. I never have. And I never will.

Having said that, though, this time round I don't have a direct problem with the tale in itself, apart from it being a bit too mysterious in tone, and not really saying very much for the sake of suspense.

THE MUSIC:

Now if you look at this adventure from Selina's point of view, don't you think it would be a pretty good partner for the Elvis Presley classic, 'Welcome to My World'? It does to me!

THE COMPARISON:

Maybe it's because I've been watching a lot of these lately, but I can't help but compare this comic to the old 1940's Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone, cause it's pretext is a simple one, whilst it's narrative is chock full of character.

THE CONCLUSION:

I'm sure some of you out there were none too pleased on seeing Harper Row as this new 'Blue Bird' superhero. Surmising that she as a character work's best when she's more down to Earth and more real.

As for me though, well, I suppose I can understand both the positive and the negative aspects of each viewpoint. From one perspective, turning her into a masked hero will give her a bigger playground to play in. And if this doesn't work out for her, I'm sure DC can remove this layer from her mythos.

Whilst, from another perspective, I don't understand why DC wants to create another teen superhero when they have so many of them already. It doesn't make any sense, does it? Unless they have other plans for Harper in the future; and this is nothing more than a stepping stone to something else.

Hmmm. Nuff said.