Gotham City’s darkest hour is upon them when Daylight happens.
Pamela Isley’s deal with the Parliament of Trees hinged on Gotham being turned into a green utopia. The biological attack spread throughout the streets, poising the air along the way. It was meant to take out GCPD Commissioner Vandal Savage in the process.
Savage has looked to eliminate Isley at any cost. With the streets ready to be poisoned and lives in the balance, Batman makes one final stand to stop this once and for all!
BATMAN: BAD SEEDS - SUNRISE #1 by Matt Fraction, G. Willow Wilson, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cliff Rathburn, Tomeu Morey & Clayton Cowles (DC COMICS) concludes the Bat-Universe event.
Let’s take a closer look at the finale.
BATMAN: BAD SEEDS - SUNSET #1 by Matt Fraction, G. Willow Wilson, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cliff Rathburn, Tomeu Morey & Clayton Cowles (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Fraction and Wilson walk readers through the inital daybreak hours to start events off. Batman’s uneasy partnership with The Freezes ushers in a brief Ice Age to stop Isley’s attack. The move catches all off guard, including Isley. Her words are shocked as she assesses the death of the green. This brings forth the Parliament to have a fitting but expected reaction to the deal being broken. Their words don’t mislead as Isley’s gamble is about to blow up badly.
Savage’s reaction is much in the same vein. Their dialogue is venomous as both know power is slipping out of grasp. This leads to a dark intervention from Batman. Becomign involved here leads to a frantic hunt and subsequent face-off of all parties. The writing shows the unhinged Savage refusing to accept the situation. It is matched by Isley’s aggression. Another major side plot is the citizens vs. TUCO. Readers watch as it leads to more friction added up for the closing acts.
Savage’s decree is presented ion a bold fashion. The citizens’ reaction is key as his fraud proclamations are now exposed lies. The writing shows the failures coming through while one fate is questionably sealed. This moves into a steady fallout. The writing also a new voice to take lead as Gotham recovers. It is a proper voice to speak on the soul of the city with its’ future ever unknown. A solid finish to a very wild sequence of events.
MORE BATMAN!
Camuncoli and the art team reflect the final hours with a staggered look to the panels. Each show key components to the overall picture. This builds into a strong two page spread of Batman’s desperate actions. Coloring makes the light blues pop as Isley’s realization of what happens takes notice. The full page of the Parliament indicates the trouble she now resides in. Their expressions cement the disappointment before turning panels over to Savage.
His unhinged looks begin on a notable half panel. The looks given show his rage fueling every step. His fight with Isley is every bit as vicious as one might think. This gets temporarily remedied when Batman crashes the fight. Readers watch as Ivy and Bats elude Savage for only a brief time. A strong full page shows his vengeance when he finds the pair. Pacing accelerates scenes with this fight and the citizens fighting back.
Once Savage emerges from the brawl, a solid full page shows him ready to assume more power. His broken body never falters on the overconfidence. His crowning moment is shattered by Batman via full page. Readers don’t have time to fully process this as another full page seals one character’s fate in a grotesque way. Its’ aftermath leaves a wild scenario in its wake. This allows for smaller panels to hone in on the refound survival instincts of the city’s residents. One more reflective full shot sends readers home with a better understanding on how resilient the city can be. A fitting parting image as the nightmare attack leaves plenty of scars in its’ wake.
FINAL GRADE: 8.8
Batman’s final stand against the green presents a steady and exciting finish to “Bad Seeds”. Fraction and Wilson showcase the corruption of power on a high level. Camuncoli and the art team bring the dynamic looks fitting for a city on the brink of destruction. A definitive close to an unpredictable story of power and control.
Let me know your thoughts on BATMAN: BAD SEEDS - SUNRISE #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
