By Geoff Hoppe
July 16, 2007 - 23:33
In an interview with The Believer,
In Batman Confidential #7, a youthful Batman tracks a murderer who defies his expectations. Batman has crime in
Batman’s an ultra-rationalist and the (future) Joker’s a pill-popper with zero enthusiasm for life. These characterizations are brilliantly conceived and executed. Michael Green
gives Bruce Wayne a meticulous, scientific approach to crime. This Batman is still naïve enough to think he can develop a criminological calculus that might reduce lawbreaking to an equation. Of course, Bruce Wayne intends to insert himself as the variable that will render the equation nil.
Be still, my heart! Is that a tragic flaw I see in the hero’s character? One can only hope. A return to tragedy not predicated on cheap emotional stunts—especially in comics—is much needed these days.
Writing of this style (and caliber) deserves Ale Garza, Jim Lee, or someone who puts quality before style. Bruce Wayne’s ultra-rationalism demands that proportion and the fundamentals of draftsmanship come first. Penciler Denys Cowan clearly has a lot of potential, but he needs a story his rough, Leinil Yu-ish style meshes with.
Worth the money? Undoubtedly. It’s amazing. Buy it.