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We’re at the halfway point of this mini, and the series is moving along at a decent clip. Bruce has become Batman and is now taking the fight back against the people behind the loss of not only his parents but also usurping his rightful legacy as an aid in their corruption. Where do we go from here?
Good People and False Face Society Members
One of my major concerns with this story I mentioned in my last review was whether or not this Bruce Wayne would be more dedicated to fighting the False Face Society…and if the story would sweep it under the rug by having them be responsible for most crime in Gotham. Turns out I wasn’t that far off as, with the help of Pariah’s knowledge, the False Face Society has constructed an elaborate scheme to pad their pockets while also recruiting new disenfranchised people to their cause. The twist of the knife comes from the fact that its the actions of the Society that lead to the disenfranchisement of these poor souls. It’s an interesting commentary on… corporate culture? capitalism? the system and how it keeps you down, man?
I do like how Gordon recognizes the corruption in the system, having grown past his instincts to arrest one of the Society’s members, potentially ruining his life in favor of giving him a second chance. It really shows how much the character has developed from blindly believing in the job to recognizing the deficiencies in the police force.
World’s Finest, Worlds Apart
The cover teases an appearance from the protagonist of the last series, and it’s actually one of the more interesting first meetings between the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight. They aren’t immediately at each other’s throats (which was a huge relief), but they aren’t on their way to becoming Superfriends either. They act like consummate professionals who are polite to each other while having a decent amount of respect for what the other does (well, at least Clark does). Superman actually gives Batman a speech about not killing criminals that I really liked and will probably quoted in the years to come on the internet without the context of the original story.
Rich People Are Totally Going to Save The World
Another thing worth mentioning is that Batman is actually inspired by Superman in this universe to find alternate means of stopping the Society. The way he does it… is by spending extravagantly as Bruce Wayne, even funding the Justice League (considering his reaction to doing so is almost the same as in Superman: Space Age, the series remains unable to shake off the feeling that it’s copying its older sibling’s homework). It’s an interesting choice to defund the criminals by spending the money they would use to make drugs instead, but for me, it reminds me of plenty of real-world examples where rich people make donations to get tax breaks. But hey, if it turns out that’s the creative team’s intent, I’m all for it.
Recommended If
You liked Superman: Space Age
Bruce Wayne spending money to save the world appeals to you
You want to see Superman and Batman interacting for the 1st time. Again.
Overall
While I did complain a fair bit about certain plot points and I do feel this title isn’t doing enough to distinguish itself from its predecessor, Batman: Dark Age remains one of the more bright and optimistic Batman stories I’ve read in recent memory. A lot of it is thanks to the art by the Allreds, which remains a standout, even if I struggle with the faces on occasion. Despite its flaws, #3 remains a decent read, and I remain hooked on what’s to come next…even though the ‘next generation’ is a no-show this month.
Score: 7.5/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.
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