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Year One: Batman / Ra's Al Ghul # 2

By Koppy McFad
August 6, 2005 - 04:12

YEAR ONE: BATMAN / RA'S AL GHUL # 2 (of 2)

It is Dawn of the Dead in Gotham as the deceased Ra's Al Ghul leaves a posthumous gift for Batman: a condition where even the most severely-injured and the recently-deceased cannot die. For awhile it looks like another round of zombie-blasting, complete with Batman taking refuge in a shopping mall but in due course, it shifts to James Bond-territory with Batman flying around the world, looking for a way to reverse the curse. Grayson's story has some entertaining twists and turns but she has some difficulty in making transitions between scenes, particularly some of the flashbacks. One moment, Batman is running for his life in Gotham, then he is in the Bat-plane, then on a motorcycle in Japan, then on a snowmobile-- all with little explanation besides the first person narration of Ra's. The art stands out however. The scenes of the Walking Dead are frightening while the chase scenes are exciting and dynamic. But one gimmick that doesn't work is the use of multiple panels showing Batman executing a particular judo throw or kung fu kick-- step by step, almost like an instruction manual. These panels make Batman and his adversaries look slow, rather than skillful.

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51