After “Bad Seeds”, Bruce Wayne looks forward to getting back to business.
It’s too bad someone has assassinated him before he got the chance….
WAIT…WHAT?!
BATMAN #15 by Matt Fraction, Jorge Jiménez, Tomeu Morey & Clayton Cowles (DC COMICS) begins one of the wilder stories in Batman history.
Let’s take a look at where this story is heading.
BATMAN #15 by Matt Fraction, Jorge Jiménez, Tomeu Morey & Clayton Cowles (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Coming off the heels of “Bad Seeds”, Fraction picks up right where Bats left off with the Minotaur. After announcing Wayne is leaving Gotham on a “entrepreneur expedition”, Batman discusses the move with his two closest friends. The talk is more formal with Wayne being coy of the motives. Once this passes, readers see the set-up for the larger picture with another guest along for the ride. Watching Plastic Man join the fray is a fun, yet uncomfortable in moments, addition to the larger plan in Batman’s eyes. Eel O’Brien’s pining over Verity Pennyworth is borderline uncomfortable on many levels. Once past this, the story moves at a much quicker pace.
The dialogue between Gordon and Batman provides some clashes in ethics as Gordon is exposed to more information. This shifts gears to the Joker’s current observations. The chilling tone with Zeller moves events to Batman’s ultimate trap. Readers watch as the scheme doesn’t come without some hiccups. This is forced on primarily Sr. Sueño. The brief skirmish ends with a standstill and feels like filler time before the shocking close. Once in these pages, the moment is built for the jaw-dropping close. A superb finish to a more complicated lead-in than expected.
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Jiménez returns after a brief break from the series. The opening sequence locks in on the “talk show” format until a massive switch in visuals appears. An iconic full shot of the DC Trinity takes over as Wayne discusses business. It allows events to shift to Batman’s deliberations for the plan he’s hatching. Panels looks stylish as Batman uses hi new tech on the scene. While rare, the fact Batman is smiling in these panels indicates his quiet enjoyment of getting back to business post “Bad Seeds”.
The close-up of Joker’s eyes while Gordon plants the bait tell a story onto themselves. Even in a containment unit, Joker is still the most dangerous force in Gotham. These visuals upend the creepy looks of Plastic Man fawning over Verity. This gets worse when he morphs into a child. While I get the attempt for humor, it missed the mark with me. A bold half panel of the Dynamic Duo steers the ship back on track as the plan begins to unfold. Sueño’s segment is filled with loud panels, teasing a larger fight forthcoming. It separates portions of the Bat plan until the closing pages commence. A showstopping full page ends events for now with many questions to follow. Buckle in for this ride.
FINAL GRADE: 9
The post “Bad Seeds” era begins with a bang as Bruce Wayne is taken out! Fraction pieces together a long play to draw out a wild concept. Jiménez and Morey craft amazing art through the ever-evolving plot. It’s a new day and even Darker Knight as Batman begins to take his city back!
Let me know your thoughts on Batman #15 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
