Review: Batman Vol. 2- I am Suicide

Quick Summary

Pros: The story is cool, action-packed, and thrilling in a way that will keep readers in a constant state of suspense. The Batman/Catwoman romance is done very well.

Cons: The dialogue is awkward and weird at points. The artwork in the book’s second half looks odd at points.

Overall: The second installment in the Batman Rebirth series proves that the first was not a fluke, Tom King can write an awesome Batman story. This volume sees a high stakes siege on a powerful villain while also weaving in a meaningful love story as well. It is another example of Batman at his finest as The Dark Knight pulls off one amazing feat after another. This volume continues the series’ momentum in a way that readers of the first volume are sure to appreciate.

Story

Batman Vol. 2: I am Suicide contains two very different, yet excellent stories about the next chapter in Batman’s life. The first is pulse pounding and full of action and suspense. It is an occasionally dark yet deep example of Batman being a true master of strategy and how he uses that to overcome any problem before him. The second is a more subdued and intimate examination of Batman and Catwoman’s relationship and the inherent romance that goes along with it. Both are great looks at who Batman is, both are well written, and, above all, both are really fun to read.

(spoilers start here)

The story starts out right where Batman Vol. 1: I am Gotham (Review) left off. Batman needs to find the Psycho Pirate in order to fix Gotham Girl’s ongoing mental turmoil. In doing this Batman assembles a team and launches an assault on Bane’s compound in Santa Prisca. This assault feels like it is ripped right out of an Indiana Jones or James Bond type action movie, in a good way.

Yet the action and fighting in this assault on Santa Prisca is not even the best part of this story. The true gem is how well Batman is highlighted as a master tactician. From the beginning of the book, readers are left to ponder what exactly Batman has in mind for this seemingly rag-tag team he is assembling. Then, when Catwoman “turns” on him, readers are left even more confused as Batman has seemingly lost his supposedly well planned battle. All of this is simply buildup for the story’s finale where it is revealed that this was Batman’s plan all along. Each member of the assault team was meticulously chosen, everyone’s actions were detailed well in advance, and that the entire venture actually went according to plan. It is an ending that blew me away and one that is guaranteed to leave readers in awe of Batman’s capabilities.

After all of this, the tone shifts to a more calm and introspective story about the romance between Batman and Catwoman. With the previous few issues being an action packed thrill ride, this story arc comes as a fitting change of pace. It gets deep into how Batman and Catwoman feel for each other and why they have to act the way they do. I, personally, have never focused much on the Batman/Catwoman relationship so I was completely surprised by how much I found myself getting caught up in this story. These few issues present a wonderfully compelling case for why Selina and Bruce are prefect for each other and will be an absolute delight for anyone who likes them.

Though the writing throughout this book is very well done overall, there is one area where it is obviously lacking: dialogue. There are more than a few moments where the dialogue in this story is unnatural and cringe-worthy. Specifically, I am talking about Batman and Catwoman referring to each other as “Bat” and “Cat” and Batman constantly repeating his desire to break Bane’s “goddam back.” These words and phrases are repeated in numerous places and are clearly intended to build some sort of literary theme, with the pet names designed to reinforce the Batman/Catwoman relationship and Batman’s mantra designed to reinforce his desire to complete his mission. However, sacrificing the work’s dialogue to build these themes simply makes the book less enjoyable and hurts it overall.

(spoilers end here)

Art

Art throughout the first half of this volume is done by Mikel Janín. On the whole, his art looks very nice and perfectly matches the tone that this comic is going for. Both characters and backgrounds are remarkably detailed and look incredibly realistic. In particular, his aerial depictions of Bane’s compound look fantastic and really give readers a great perspective on what Batman is dealing with.

In the second half of the volume, Mitch Gerads takes over art for the “Rooftops” storyline. Though not as detailed when it comes to drawing unmasked people, this art fits much better with the tone that this half of the comic is trying to set. In addition, the backgrounds are all wonderfully detailed and look fantastic. The night’s sky, specifically, looks magnificent and really drives home the romantic feeling of the story.

Continuity

Batman Vol. 2: I am Suicide flows directly out of the events of Batman Vol. 1: I am Gotham (Review). In addition, the events of Batman: Night of the Monster Men (Review) happen in between but do not really affect the plot of this volume.

The story then continues in Batman Vol. 3: I am Bane (Review).

This volume also references and continues the stories from other comic books, all of which are detailed below:

• Batman’s dialogue, when talking to Catwoman for the first time, is a direct reference to Batman: The Killing Joke.
• When Batman and Catwoman reminisce about the first time they met, they remember two separate stories. This is a nod to the two separate “first appearances” of Catwoman.
  • The first ever appearance of Catwoman was in Issue #1 of Batman. In this issue she dressed as an old woman and attempted to steal diamonds on a boat. This issue is collected in either Batman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 1 or Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 1.
  • The first “modern” appearance of Catwoman, set after the universe altering event Crisis on Infinite Earths, happened in Batman: Year One. In this story, Batman is in disguise, on the streets, saving one of Catwoman’s friends. This story is collected in Batman: Year One.
• Amanda Waller’s appearance in this story is not a reference to any other series besides this one. Rather, it is a prelude to the Justice League vs. Suicide Squad (Review) event as the beginning of this event is directly influenced by her actions in this comic.