Tynion IV continues to heighten the excitement in Batman #108. From reinvigorating classic characters to new faces, to Batman’s struggle against the grip of multiple threats, he conjures an immensely entertaining storyline. As Batman is pushed to uncover the chaotic agendas of The Unsanity Collective and question everything about Scarecrow’s tactics, it’s never been more refreshing to see the Dark Knight try to stay one step ahead.
As we’ve seen so far since Batman #106, Mayor Nakano’s goal to strike vigilante hate across Gotham City heightens. As part of his strategy to win the hearts of Gotham’s citizens, he honors Sean Mahoney, the Gotham City police hero who saved the lives of the only survivors of the Arkham Attack, back in Infinite Frontier #0.
Knowing that everything is a political move to Mayor Nakano, his recent display can only lead to dangerous paths, and Tynion IV wastes no time carefully connecting the dots. Simon Saint, CEO of Saint Industries, approaches Mahoney and presents a life-changing offer, one that we know leads to the inevitable events of Future State. Seeing Mahoney’s path to the alias Peacekeeper-01 adds layers of dramatic irony, as we can only imagine the real costs that Mahoney is about to pay to achieve physical, optimal strength.
Like in Batman #107, Tynion IV and Jimenez continue to introduce a new, dynamic cast, including the Unsanity Collective believer, Miracle Molly. Jimenez and Morey knock it out of the park with bright, colorful character designs. Miracle Molly and her crew all look like characters that jumped straight out of Jet Set Radio or Cyberpunk 2077 and blend so seamlessly in their futuristic outpost. Her fluorescent green locks, pink sneakers, and accents of yellow and black all throughout her clothing let her take center stage as this issue’s cover superstar.
But there’s more to Miracle Molly than just her looks. Beneath the vibrant exterior is a firm anti-capitalist, seeing the rich as opportunistic vultures. While there are hints of Miracle Molly having a hurtful past, she’s not entirely anti-social. In a short scene with a young girl named Squeak, Miracle Molly is subtly presented as a role model – maybe even a friend. It will be curious to see how Tynion IV explores Miracle Molly’s character development, particularly in how she helps thicken the plot.
DC Comics
While Miracle Molly adds further exposition about the overall goals and views of the Unsanity Collective, it still lacks any excitement or real threat to the overall story. The Unsanity Collective still feels like B-tier villains. And although Miracle Molly shares their motives behind the recent attacks on media corporations in Gotham, it’s a predictable reveal that progresses the story into familiar territory.
Morey’s colors are monumentally fantastic in Batman #108. Every page bursts with glowing, stimulating, and striking shades and colors. His colors particularly shine the most in the pages that explore The Unsanity Collective. Hums of neon pink and fluorescent blues are arresting especially as Miracle Molly flies over Gotham’s cityscape in a gorgeous double-page spread. Jimenez also complements this by using every panel with intentional style, adding a variety of facial closeups, angles, and silhouettes to add mood to the story.
Batman #108 introduces Miracle Molly to the mix, a dynamic, memorable character that although is part of a crew that’s nowhere near as intriguing as her persona, could develop the plot in exciting ways. Tynion IV continues to connect the threads all leading up to the inevitable events of Future State, as well as adding new storytelling elements in another strong issue.
Ghost-Maker: The backup story immediately follows the events of Batman #107’s backstory, as Ghost-Maker charmingly cuts through laser-eyed tigers. In this issue, the backup story also spends time exploring Kawaii Kid’s origins and a past showdown with Ghost-Maker, featuring Kawaii Kid’s grotesque, creepy ability set. It’s a fun backup, that further emphasizes Ghost-Maker’s natural abilities.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.