By J. Michael Straczynski (writer), Jesus Saiz (artist)
The Story: JMS makes his much anticipated debut on this title with a poignant tale of death and the nature of heroism. On the eve the Joker is about to launch a major crime spree, Batman touches the lives of two very different individuals who share a strong desire to make a difference and the means to do it.
The Good: There is much to like about this issue, and while I will still mourn the loss of JMS on Thor, his presence on The Brave and the Bold is more than enough to make me want to follow the book for awhile. As with the majority of his work in comics, Straczynski turns in a fiercely character-driven story. You’ll find here that what you think should be the plot (yet another story about Joker concocting some scheme to get rid of Batman once and for all) actually takes back seat to the stories of Robby Reed and Travers Milton and their relationship with the H.E.R.O. dial. Longtime fans of JMS will be familiar with the themes he effortlessly weaves here, looking at how the power of the dial changes their lives. The fact that Straczynski can achieve this while making Batman a barely felt presence makes me feel that no matter what kind of story he tells in the pages of this comic, it’s going to be one worth noticing. I really enjoyed Saiz’s art here, and felt it was incredibly appropriate for this kind of story. Clean and subdued, it excels at capturing all the nuances of two people caught in extraordinary circumstances. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the eyes of Travers as he sulks in the alley, or the look of terror on Robby’s face after he uses the dial.
The Not So Good: Joker’s presence in this issue felt gratuitous and unnecessary, and I had trouble believing in Straczynski’s portrayal of the character. Here, Joker seems incredibly lucid, rational, and in full control of his mental faculties. While that make for a more engaging writing experience, I have to say it wasn’t as much fun to read. Also, Batman’s morality lesson on the last page felt like something pulled from the end of an after school TV special. What Batman says to Robby is important and necessary, but you’d think JMS could do it in a way that didn’t feel so contrived.
Conclusion: Straczynski’s run on The Brave and the Bold is poised to be a much more literate experience than the typical superhero fare, and I like that. At the same time, a book like this is capable of delivering a wide variety of stories, and based on his first effort here I think I’ll stick around for some more of them to see what JMS does next.
Grade: B
-Tony Rakittke
Filed under: DC Comics, Reviews Tagged: | Batman, Dial H for H.E.R.O., J. Michael Straczynski, Jesus Saiz, Joker, THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #27 review, The Brave and the Bold 27, Tony Rakittke
