Haunted by his past as the Batman and desperate to stop whoever has taken up the mantle, Bruce Wayne finds himself on the run from Dick Grayson and the entire GTO. Will Bruce be able to stop the new Batman before he bathes Neo-Gotham in more than neon red light? Or will Grayson put an end to his former mentor’s plans by putting him behind bars? Thankfully, an unexpected ally from the past promises to tip the scales in Bruce’s favor.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Batman: Beyond the White Knight #2!
DC Comics
“The thought of a world without Batman was unacceptable. So, I decided to make a new one.”
Built on a foundation of thrilling family drama, Batman: Beyond the White Knight #2 is a must-read for any comic book fan. Sean Gordon Murphy’s exploration of the Bat-Family’s dynamics is absolute perfection. By allowing some time to pass from the events of Batman: Curse of the White Knight, Murphy breathes new life into these relationships. The creator’s work allows us to explore the mysteries surrounding the characters’ new relationships. Additionally, Murphy’s masterful handling of family as a theme does an excellent job of driving the narrative forward, making the story relevant, and establishing new mysteries. This superb character work is bolstered by Sean Gordon Murphy’s artwork, which perfectly conveys this story’s emotional beats and action.
Beginning a month before the first issue’s final panel, Batman: Beyond the White Knight #2 finds Terry McGinnis on the verge of beating his father’s murderer to death. It is only after the intervention of Dick Grayson and the GTO that Terry finally relents, his fists covered in blood. Within these opening pages, Murphy establishes family as a central theme for his story by shedding light on Terry’s relationship with his father, the late Warren McGinnis, and his new surrogate father, Derek Powers. Murphy handles the notion of family perfectly as he uses it to explore the relationships between each character in an entertaining and relevant manner.
Murphy’s take on these characters is familiar yet refreshing, as the creator reveals that things were tough in the McGinnis household. Warren and Mary often fought. Powers explains that Warren had difficulty showing love as he excelled in work and ambition, to the detriment of his personal life. Additionally, Warren never revealed anything about his work with Powers due to the dangerous nature of their project. The circumstances surrounding Warren’s death are eerily reminiscent of those in the animated series. However, Derek Powers’ intentionally vague description of the project and his need to acquire a Bat-suit have my mental gears turning. Has Powers assumed the role of Amanda Waller circle “Epilogue” in Justice League Unlimited? Only time will tell.
DC Comics
“Shakespearean betrayal? Deep-seated familial resentment? A father forced to teach his son a brutal lesson in truth and humility? …God, I’ve missed this, Bats.”
Sean Gordon Murphy’s exploration of family serves as an excellent narrative thread for Batman: Beyond the White Knight #2. One of the best moments in the issue comes from Bruce’s physical and mental beatdown of Dick Grayson with the help of Jack, aka the Joker. In this sequence, Bruce diminishes Grayson’s work with the GTO, saying, “…You took the wrong lessons from everything I tried to teach you. If you want to protect Gotham, you imprison the criminals, not the entire city.” It’s a cheer-out-loud moment that stands out above the rest as we have witnessed the tragic results of the GTO’s work in Gotham City. Yet, despite his time in prison, Bruce is still the master.
However, this family thread is not only relegated to the relationships among Gotham’s heroes but also Bruce’s relationship with the Joker. Sean Gordon Murphy provides yet another new and entertaining spin on this relationship despite its exploration in various media. At the end of the first issue, Jack’s surprise return could lead anyone to speculate about how he has possibly returned to the series. Additionally, Murphy pokes fun at many of these theories when Jack says, “I know exactly what you’re thinking – that I’m some sort of hallucination. Something your brain cooked up as a reflection of your guilt. Or maybe your psyche is challenging you… I’m not a hallucination.” The truth is something more intriguing.
Sean Gordon Murphy has essentially turned Jack into Bruce’s own “J.A.R.V.I.S.” During installments before Batman: Beyond the White Knight #2, Jack and the GTO implanted a microchip in Bruce’s brain while he was unconscious. This twist is interesting as Bruce will have to rely on an artificial intelligence based on his greatest enemy to save Gotham City. Additionally, the banter between these two characters is top-notch throughout this issue. This is undoubtedly the setup for one of the greatest punchlines this series will deliver. I am so excited to see how all of this will play out.
Additionally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the surprise addition to Bruce’s family during the issue’s final panel. Sean Gordon Murphy manages to blow my mind with a call back to what I initially believed to be a throwaway line from the series’ first issue. This reveal is handled perfectly by Murphy and left me clamoring for more.
DC Comics
“So, now, I’m in like schway city…”
Sean Gordon Murphy’s artwork remains a huge selling point for Batman: Beyond the White Knight #2. As I have said previously, one of the elements that I love about Murphy’s work is his ability to let the visuals convey the emotional story. I love how each character is haunted by shadows of their past. Bruce’s shadow is still that of Batman. However, Jack’s shadow is that of the Joker, and Barbara Gordon’s is that of Batgirl. The only exception to this rule is that of Dick Grayson. Dick’s shadow remains that of his GTO uniform. This visual appears to serve as a distinction between those on Bruce’s side and those who stand in his way.
Additionally, Murphy’s visuals are breathtaking. Gotham is hauntingly beautiful as it is painted in hues of red. I would love to see a poster of the above image of Murphy’s Batman Beyond patrolling the city. Moreover, every action sequence is eye-catching as every punch bleeds from panel to panel.
Built on a foundation of thrilling family drama, Batman: Beyond the White Knight #2 will leave you in schway city. Sean Gordon Murphy’s exploration of the Bat-Family’s dynamics is absolute perfection. Murphy’s masterful handling of family as a theme does an excellent job of driving the narrative forward, making the story relevant, and establishing new mysteries. This superb character work is bolstered by Sean Gordon Murphy’s breathtaking visuals. Murphy’s artwork perfectly conveys this story’s emotional beats in subtle ways. Additionally, every action sequence will leave you cheering for our hero.
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.