Review: Batwoman Vol. 2- To Drown the World

September 4, 2019 ComicBookWire

Quick Summary

Pros: The main story is an action-packed continuation of the previous volume’s compelling narrative. The characters are all great and each get their time to shine. In some places, the chaotic timeline is fun. The artwork still feels distinct and looks good.

Cons: In other places, the chaotic timeline makes it harder to enjoy the story.

Overall: The second volume of Batwoman is highly positive, except in one regard. The book has thrills, action, and wonderful characters. It also works wonderfully as a continuation to what happened in the last volume. The only problem is that some readers may be pushed away by the narrative’s somewhat chaotic presentation of flashbacks. However, readers willing to accept this feature will find a lot to love throughout this book.

Story

The story in Batwoman Vol. 2: To Drown the World, by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, easily lives up to the promise of its predecessor. It continues a tense fight against a mysterious evil syndicate existing in Gotham City; a fight fraught with close calls and thrilling action. It also continues to develop the characters involved in this conflict, making them more compelling than ever before. The only point of contention is that the book approaches flashbacks in a way that can be confusing, especially in a few places. Overall though, this is a highly positive reading experience that Batwoman fans are sure to enjoy.

(spoilers start here)

At its core, To Drown the World works as a continuation to the plot threads introduced by its predecessor. It expands upon Medusa, the mysterious criminal syndicate currently creating problems in Gotham. Their motives become slightly more transparent and a few of their operatives are brought into the light. It also actively advances Batwoman’s relationship with the DEO. It becomes clearly that her association with them has benefits, especially from new technology, but also prevents her from being the free agent she desires to be. All of this takes place alongside some thrilling action from Batwoman.

This narrative is also packed full of a variety of great character moments. Maggie’s concern over the missing children is particularly touching when it is revealed she has a daughter of her own. Jacob Kane’s silence by his niece’s bedside makes his later outpouring of emotion more meaningful. Finally, Kate’s decision to open her past to Maggie is a great way to show how confident she feels in her current relationship, which is just wholesome to see in general. These moments make the characters of this series important and give readers even more reason to keep reading about them.

The most contentious feature of To Drown the World is the way in which the story is presented. Flashbacks from different points in time are constantly juxtaposed against what is happening in the present. Sometimes, these flashbacks take place days before the present, other times they take place weeks or hours before. Their presentation is so scattered that, in many places, it makes it rather difficult to compile a summary of what exactly is taking place.

However, in other places, the chaotic way in which aspects of the story are revealed make the entire adventure more thrilling. Readers have no idea how Batwoman entered her present situation or who she is fighting with and against. Then, as more information becomes available, the pieces start to click into place and the entire puzzle becomes clear. This process doesn’t always work perfectly but, when it does, it is very satisfying.

(spoilers end here)

Art

The artwork in To Drown the World looks nice but is a distinct step down from the artwork in Hydrology (Review). Amy Reeder Hadley and Trevor McCarthy are able to depict characters and scenes that look good and match the tone of the narrative, even if they don’t look quite as good as they did before. The collection also maintains the creative full-page spreads that formed an integral piece of the visual framework in the previous volume. However, there are some places where characters are positioned or contorted in strange ways, slightly diminishing the artwork’s appeal. In the end, the visuals in this comic are not as universally positive as its predecessor but they still manage to look pleasant and hold on to a distinct style.