DC Comics’ new ongoing anthology series has been nothing short of dazzling. Stories span Wildstorm characters, Batman vs. Joker origins, and artist showcases. In the seventh issue, out this week, three new tales join the second part of a three-parter Batman mystery. It’s a solid edition in a series that rarely has misses.
Kicking things off is the second part of Guillem March’s intriguing false Batman story. The longest story in the issue focuses on a man who is clearly not Bruce Wayne, but he thinks he’s Batman. The blue jeans are a dead giveaway, but early on, we get to see Catwoman interact with him, and she’s clearly suspicious.
A lot happens in this first story, with plenty of action and nice captioning. March draws great fight scenes while also observing how the Batman cape helps Batman glide. In another instance, Catwoman explains why she used to wear heels. It’s cat-related. What really sells this story is the overconfidence of this Batman pretender and his clearly fragile mental state. He’s not some jerk trying to show up Batman, but a victim who needs help. It builds towards a cliffhanger. It’ll be fun to see how it finishes the next issue.
Bat smooch.
Credit: DC Comics
Next up, underused character Wild Dog gets the focus thanks to writer Kyle Starks and artist Fernando Pasarin. There’s a certain swagger Starks captures well, making him somewhat likable, even though he’s a killer. The sense of humor suits the story as it’s subtle but still there. It’s mostly a fight comic as Wild Dog goes against three heavily armed men. Who they work for is a strong enough draw to bring readers back for part two next issue. The art is astoundingly realistic, giving the tale a grounded feel.
“Aquaman: Communion” part 1 launches thanks to one of my favorite artists, Gabriel Hardman, who also writes the tale. This story sets up a threat, a few twists, and a solid high-stakes story. It opens with Aquaman taking out fishermen who are overfishing the waters, then leans into his ability to speak to fish. It has a cliffhanger you won’t see coming that caps things off nicely.
Closing things out is a black-and-white story by Matthew Rosenberg and Mateo Scalera. If you loved Scalera’s One Bad Day: Mr. Freeze story, you’ll dig his ability to capture the atmosphere here. Rosenberg gets to play around lyrically as Etrigan the Demon, who is a major factor in the story and brings his best rhymes. The story has a noir vibe, in part because it’s wordier than it is splashy with its visuals.
There isn’t a more consistently good comics anthology right now than Batman: The Brave and the Bold, with the seventh issue mixing things up with a nice assortment of characters.
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