Batman Incorporated returns this week with a new story arc, and it’s focused on Professor Pyg. The homicidal Batman villain is after something, and he’ll stop at nothing–including chopping up the Riddler–to get it. The series has gracefully taken the Batman Inc. idea and given Batman’s old friend Ghost-Maker the keys. The problem is, he’s a bit of a sociopath, making his lessons a little tougher than anything Batman would dish.
Batman Incorporated #6 is largely a setup for Pyg, but also Ghost-Maker’s tactics in training the team. Along the way, we get some insight into the personal life of Raven Red, which will likely play a bigger part in the story later. This issue has a lot of speeches with lesser action and a more horror angle, thanks to Pyg as the main villain.
Brisson smartly uses Pyg to show us how Ghost-Maker splits up his team of Batman-centric heroes as a means to train them. In a bit of a surprise, the issue reveals Ghost-Maker could probably beat Pyg easily on his own but chose not to. That said, Ghost-Maker’s overconfidence might put his team in danger.
Pyg is somehow more powerful than ever snatching up major Batman villains left and right in this issue.
Credit: DC Comics
Joining series writer Ed Brisson is artist Michele Bandini, who keeps the character acting easy to follow and clear. That’s key since most of this book features characters talking. Talking about how they’ll approach getting more information and finding Professor Pyg. That allows Brisson to establish character work between El Gaucho and Ghost-Maker, and the ongoing distrust and angst Clownhunter exhibits with everyone.
It’s interesting how the story here gets you thinking about Ghost-Maker’s point of view. Typically a loner, he’s actually thinking about making his team better and effectively puts them ahead of beating the villain. You might call that character growth, although being a sociopath, it’s hard to gauge if Ghost-Maker is growing or not.
Unfortunately, this issue lacks a big action scene or spectacle. It’s mostly Batman Incorporated team members chatting away as they attempt to find Pyg. Throw in the fact that Professor Pyg kidnaps multiple Batman rogues off the page, effectively doing some impressive work that feels unearned, and you have an issue that’s mostly establishing rules and character temperatures. That isn’t to say the story arc itself won’t be entertaining, but for a first issue, it lacks a level of entertainment.
Batman Incorporated #6 is a decent start to a new story arc showcasing Professor Pyg and Ghost-Maker’s unorthodox teaching style. This first issue lacks action scenes, though, spending most of its time working on characters through conversation.
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