Review: Batman Vol. 8- Cold Days

October 24, 2020 ComicBookWire

Quick Summary

Pros: The opening story is a sober look at Batman as both a hero and a human being. The second story is a seriously fun team-up between Batman and Nightwing. The final story presents some engaging action. The artwork is gorgeous throughout the entire collection.

Cons: The volume’s final story passes by too quickly to garner the weight it attempts to have.

Overall: This is a solid Batman comic that allows the reader to understand Batman better. It contains a series of well-crafted stories that all feature equally impressive visuals. The entire volume stands on its own while also pushing forward the comic’s larger narrative. One of the stories is just average but that’s the collection’s only significant flaw. Readers who have been enjoying this series thus far or who prefer dark and deeply personal Batman stories should check out this book.

Story

Green Arrow Vol. 8: Cold Days, by Tom King, collects a mostly positive series of tales set in the wake of Batman’s recent Wedding (Review) (Reading Order). It starts with a somber and touching story that explores the very nature of Batman and attempts to break him out of a few stereotypes. Then, it reunites him with Nightwing for a lighthearted adventure that work well in showing off why these two are both great on their own but also why they work so well together. Finally, the volume details a brutal battle between Batman and KGBeast. The final story sees the quality dip a bit, as the action is engaging but the story doesn’t carry as much weight as it should. Overall though, the stories collected here are enjoyable to read and make for a mostly good book.

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The opening story in Cold Days works as a response to the “wedding” from the previous volume and as an extension of Tom King’s Batman in general. The short arc mixes a stirring monologue about Batman and his presence within the lives of the people around him with scenes of Batman’s brutal takedown of Mr. Freeze. This creates a compelling narrative where the reader is left wondering how the arc will conclude and, in a twist, is relieved when the villain is set free.

What’s great about this arc is the way it tackles Batman as a person. Batman is almost always treated as some sort of infallible harbinger of justice, above the legal system and the concerns of normal people. In the wake of Bruce’s broken engagement with Selina, this arc reminds readers that, underneath the cowl, Batman is still just a human and that he makes mistakes.

From here, the narrative shifts to two chapters focused on Batman and Nightwing’s friendship. Seeing these two spend some moderately lighthearted time together is great, especially since it contrasts so dramatically with almost all of their modern encounters. It also continues the post-wedding narrative by showing that Bruce is still in deep pain while suggesting there is a chance for him to heal.

The final arc in Cold Days has Nightwing shot in the head by the KGBeast. Here, the volume switches over to a more action-focused narrative, with Batman’s relentless hunt for the villain taking precedence. This works in providing some action in an otherwise subdued book. However, the hunt and fight with KGBeast starts so suddenly and passes by so quickly that it ends up feeling less important than it should, especially considering the fact that KGBeast nearly killed Dick Grayson.

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Art

Cold Days contains visuals from several different artists, all of whom do a fantastic job. The opening story features emotional and dramatic visuals from Lee Weeks. Weeks is able to capture the ferocity and darkness in a battle between Batman and Mr. Freeze and perfectly juxtapose it against the mundane nature of a meeting room, one of the book’s most striking visuals contrasts. Then, Matt Wagner steps in for a more bright and lighthearted chapter about an adventure with Batman and Nightwing, where the lighter nature of the artwork complements the lighter nature of the storytelling. Finally, Tony S. Daniel steps in for the collection’s brutal finisher. Here, the realistic approach to everything allows the intensity of the action to come through beautifully, which highlights this story’s most compelling feature. All in all, every one of this book’s stories features great artwork that adapts to the type of story it is telling.