All Star Batman #3

Quick Summary

Pros: The story starts to give a beautiful depiction of Bruce and Harvey’s relationship and how it effects them today. It also continues to deliver on action, suspense, and even a little humor.

Cons: The art still looks odd when depicting faces. The story has also still not given up answers to any of they questions they have posed thus far.

Overall: This has probably been the best issue so far and it setting itself up for even more greatness in the future. If you were uncertain about getting this series because you wanted to see how it played out then this issue should be the one to convince you.

Story

This issue, once again, improves on the formula established in the prior two issues and is probably the best issue yet. I say this because we not only get intense action, like before, but we also get a little background to Batman’s motivation for saving Harvey and a look into the tragedy that is their past relationship.

(spoilers start here)

This issue is great in both action and storytelling, probably the best one yet. The best part of the issue comes from looking at the tragic relationship between Bruce and Harvey. The way this issue stresses Batman’s need for this cure to be real makes one really feel for this character. Meanwhile, outside of flashbacks, everything Two Face does counteracts the stories Batman tells. It’s a great dichotomy that makes you constantly question who the real Harvey is and if he is really telling the truth about the formula.

Another great aspect of this issue and series so far has been the presence of humor and fanservice throughout. By this I am mostly referring to “cool” or “badass” moments throughout this series. These moments include Batman scaring off Killer Moth in Issue 1, the KGBeast destroying the Royal Flush Gang immediately upon their arrival, and “bat knuckles”. I am really loving these gags and think they are a nice counterpart to the typical brooding Batman that we have seen a little too much of.

Something I don’t think I have mentioned enough and is particularly satisfying in this issue is the return of many minor Batman characters. The KGBeast has been absent from DC comics for the past six years and Harold has been absent for thirteen. Now we can see both of these characters back in the fold once again. Hopefully this trend continues as I’m sure it has been very satisfying for many long-time Batman fans.

The backup story in this issue definitely took some positive steps in this issue. The twist that Diana Boone played more of a part in Zsasz’s murder of Rita Noles came as a shock to me but seems like an interesting turn of events. Hopefully this will end up being worthwhile because, if it is, this could make this backup much better.

(spoilers end here)

Art

The art shines here about as much as it did in previous issues as it is a little more picturesque than Issue 1 but less so than Issue 2. The highlights include the flashbacks to Bruce and Harvey as children and some of the fight scenes with the KGBeast. The downfall is still people’s faces, specifically Bruce’s, however most faces are obscured behind masks for the majority of this issue.

Declan Shalvey’s art in the backup story is probably my favorite out of this series so far. The art is light, crisp, and a little minimalistic. The lack of details works better with this and keeps one focused on the actual story and characters.

Continuity

Being so close to the first issue and not really making any additional connections, I have included the continuity list from All Star Batman Issue #1 (Review).

Since this is a new series meant to be cut off from the rest of the Batman Universe in Rebirth, there are not many connections to be made here. However, parts of this do involve Snyder going back to some characters and unfinished stories from his work on Batman. This means you may be a tiny bit confused if you have not read any of Scott Snyder’s Batman.

• Duke Thomas is a character first appearing in Scott Snyder’s run on Batman. However the only thing about his character that directly relates to this work happens in Batman: Rebirth #1, which is collected in either Batman Vol. 10: Epilogue or Batman Vol. 1: I am Gotham.
• The larger plot points from the rest of Duke’s short history can be found in:
  • Batman Vol. 4: Zero Year- Secret City
  • Batman Vol. 5: Zero Year- Dark City
  • We Are Robin Vol. 1: The Vigilante Business
  • We Are Robin Vol. 2: Joker
  • Batman Vol. 7: Endgame