by Greg Rucka (writer), Jock & Scott Kolins (art), David Baron (colors), and Todd Klein (letters)
The Story: Kate hunts down Cutter in an effort to save her cousin Bette.
What’s Good: Much like the rest of the “Cutter” arc, this issue is all about mood and atmosphere. Everything feels dark, gritty, and generally unpleasant. It’s an effective mixture of noir and horror that is both brooding and slick. Everything feels smooth and modern, yet definitely nasty. The book’s tone is definitely heavy and the atmosphere is thick. As an experience, this issue is a job well done.
A lot of this has to do with the artwork, which is generally well-done by Jock and Kolins, though a lot of this success is owed to David Baron’s colors. The dichotomy of blue and red is still flawlessly employed and only aids that sense of moody tension. Both sides feel menacing, but distinct. The layouts are also brilliant, echoing this color opposition. There are a couple of times that opposite pages are divided between Batman and Batwoman, with images of both down the centre. It’s really fun stuff and works well with what Baron is doing. It also gives Rucka’s narrative structure some real life, realizing it in a very literal way.
The last scene of the book also sets up Batwoman’s future quite nicely. The dialogue sort of encompasses much of what Rucka has been trying to get across regarding the character. Furthermore, this issue’s cliffhanger will have you salivating for what Rucka has ongoing.
What’s Not So Good: There just isn’t much meat on the bones on this narrative. The lack of credible villain or characterization combines with a conclusion that isn’t nearly climactic enough to make for an underwhelming conclusion to a surprisingly underwhelming arc. Other than the last three pages, there’s also a complete lack of any really significant dialogue. So much of Batwoman’s success thus far has been in Rucka’s little character moments. With those stripped away, the issue feels simply lacking. Everything just comes off a bit airy or perhaps a bit empty. It just doesn’t feel as important as it should.
Granted, the bland and utterly inconsequential villain doesn’t help. Cutter has been anything but remarkable. Rucka makes some strides with that this month, by introducing Cutter’s partner in crime and motivation for evil: a demented, bandaged girlfriend obsessed with plastic surgery. Yet, really, it just doesn’t feel as important as it should and instead reeks of being a missed opportunity. Why did Rucka decide to introduce his villain’s driving force and key motivation in the last issue of that villain’s storyarc? Why did Rucka deprive Cutter of his most unique characteristic and association until now? Either way, it was clearly a mistake as the issue’s final moments, and this arc in general, would’ve felt much more significant had this character been introduced earlier.
The finale was also completely underwhelming, as the action scenes were really nothing special and felt like another day at the office of superhero comics. Batman and Batwoman land a few punches on their respective antagonists and that’s that, arc’s over. Ending an arc with a standard brawl is bad, and ending it so briefly, without anything particularly distinctiion, is even worse, especially given how that same plan didn’t work last month. It’s horribly anti-climactic.
I also have to say that Kolins, when he takes over on art, draws a really weird looking Batman.
Conclusion: A surprising mediocre and insubstantial read. A lot of moodiness and nice art, but little else.
Grade: C
-Alex Evans
Filed under: DC Comics, Reviews Tagged: | Alex Evans, Batman, Batman, Batwoman, Bruce Wayne, Comic Book Reviews, comic reviews, Commissioner Gordon, Cutter, DC Comics, Detective Comics, Detective Comics #863, Detective Comics #863 review, Dick Grayson, Gotham City, Greg Rucka, Helena Bertinelli, Huntress, James Gordon, Jock, Kate Kane, Oolong Island, Renee Montoya, Scott Kolins, the Network, The Question, Weekly Comic Book Review
Merci beaucoup for the comment cathiss.
If you’ve read the solicitation for the Batman-centered Detective #866, there’s a lot of guesswork that can be done.
It says that #867 will see the “return of the Question and Batwoman!”
Are these leftover scripts from Rucka? Is it a totally different creative team? Is this a long-term plan? Will this team be on this project for the long haul?
And most interestingly….the solicitation says “the Question and Batwoman.” Does this mean that the Question will be the main feature of Detective 867 and onward and Batwoman the second feature? This shift WAS Rucka’s plan way back.
-Alex
I’ve been itching for more Kate & Renee since 52, then we get her in Detective and I’m happy, but seems more like a tease than anything else. Argh. I guess we’ll see what happens. Outlook not Bright, as it seems.
I’m also worried about Batwoman’s fate. I’m right now waiting with baited breath for the solicitation for Detective #867, which claims to be a return of Batwoman and the Question….but is it still under Rucka? And how permanent will it be?
I really hope Kate doesn’t get tossed to the wayside, though I can totally see it happening, particularly with the returns of Bruce Wayne and the Brightest Day guys.
That being said, I would sort of rather see that than the character be buried by Judd Winick. When you think about it, the possibility of Winick writing her is distressingly possible.
-Alex
Sad is the word for it, all right.
I had such high hopes for a Rucka/Williams Batwoman solo book. I thought with the obvious quality and popularity, it was an absolute no-brainer, for them and for DC. Sigh.
With those two (apparently) off the table, my main concern is now for the character herself. I think they built her up far too much, and far too WELL for that matter, to just let Kate Kane fade off into the sunset (and the occasional cameo) after this. I really, really hope a Batwoman solo book is still being considered by the powers-that-be, even if the guys *most* qualified to helm it can’t take the job. Just please please PLEASE don’t let this fantastic bit of new blood languish! Please!
Oh…the actual comic? …Oh, yeah. Alex actually covered 99% of what I’d have said anyway, so really, all I can do is add a big “me too” to the review. I will say that I especially agree that Cutter as a villain just didn’t do anything for me at all. I found him more stomach-turning than threatening. And frankly, I also found it hard to invest in ANY of the characters, or the storyline itself, thanks to the constant time-shifts. I get what Rucka was trying to do, but it just got to be too much for me. I’d much rather have had a single, focused story (with an occasional time-shift/split-page for flavor) than this. It just felt forced, and overdone, and just did not hold my interest. Such a shame.
It’s even worse when they drop the red/blue coloring in the last three pags. Then, Kolins’ work is an even bigger shift.
I wouldn’t hold your breath for Williams, though.
Two days ago, Williams said he wasn’t sure if the Batwoman ongoing was ever happening and just yesterday, Greg Rucka announced that he was leaving DC to pursue novel-writing and creator owned stuff.
The last five-issue arc he was set to do with Williams (an origin of Alice) is off the table right now, with Rucka just saying “never say never” and “I don’t know if I’ll ever get to do it.”
Sad, sad, sad…..
-Alex
Yeah, I wasn’t a fan of the transition between Jock and Kollins on art chores. It was somewhat jarring and disappointing that Jock couldn’t finish the issue, whatever the reasons. Can’t wait until Williams returns.