Batman has been put through the wringer more times than comic fans can count. With that being said, writer/artist Jock’s latest series Batman: One Dark Knight sees the caped crusader having to transport a metahuman with the ability to absorb energy called E.M.P. from Arkham Asylum to Blackgate Prison on foot after a GCPD (Gotham City Police Department) convoy mission goes horribly wrong. To make matters worse, almost every rival gang in Gotham is after E.M.P. with the intent to kill him and Batman, too, if they can take him down. With 3.8 miles left to get to Blackgate, a lot can go down before Batman reaches his destination.
Batman: One Dark Knight #2 is a fantastic issue that sees Batman having to use spontaneous decision-making skills and hand-to-hand combat. At the same time, Batman has to carry the 182-lb metahuman E.M.P. to Blackgate Prison, where they have a machine that can nullify his powers. If you’ve never seen the movie 16 Blocks starring Bruce Willis and Mos Def, then do yourself a solid and check it out, as the premise is similar in that Batman has to protect Arkham inmate E.M.P. from a bunch of rival gang members as Batman and E.M.P. make their way across a bunch of city blocks in Gotham. In comparison, Bruce Willis’s character had to defend Mos Def from crooked cops while also making their way down a bunch of city streets on foot.
What you’ll love most about Batman: One Dark Knight #2 is despite no electricity in all of Gotham City and the inability to contact Alfred, Batman still manages to kick ass and take names in this book. He’s dodging bullets and trains and punching bad guys in the face while keeping a watchful eye over E.M.P. Aside from that, the story has other twists and situations going on, like Commissioner Gordon butting heads with Rita Vasquez, the head of the prison bureau of Gotham city, that’ll keep you entertained.
Jock pulls double duty here, delivering not only a remarkable story but also terrific illustrations. If you’re familiar with Jock’s earlier work on books like The Batman Who Laughs, then I don’t have to tell you how great his artwork is on any of his books. However, one of the best things about his work here on One Dark Knight #2 is his ability to draw out so much emotion and energy through every character you interact with within the story. Whether it’s the squinching of Batman’s eyes right before he pounces on an unsuspecting victim or the unknown intentions of a Gotham official, Jock knows how to flesh out the artistic energy he wants readers to feel.
Batman: One Dark Knight #2 brings us to the halfway mark as this is only a three-book series. It’ll be fun to see how it all comes together and if Batman can get the power back on for the good citizens of Gotham. This issue has great pacing, plenty of action, and it’s one you won’t want to miss.
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