The final issue of Batman/Dylan Dog concludes our duo detectives’ story with the chilling tale of stopping an undead serial killer. After his short trip to hell, Dylan Dog reconvenes with Batman to inform him that they have to go back to Gotham City and put both physical and metaphorical demons to rest, once and for all. In the Dark Knight’s hometown, Joker shows his face, and this time reveals the undead monster Killex lurking by his side. With a name like that, Commissioner Gordon has his work cut out for him, so he meets Dylan and tasks our heroes to track down Killex before he paints Gotham’s streets redder than usual.
After a heated descent into hell, this issue feels cold, a straight-to-the-point police case, with Batman having more to do and making up for his restrained appearance in the previous issue. His deadpan deliveries and constant resolve continue to be a genius counterpart to Dylan’s easygoing and free-spirited demeanor. On the other side, Joker feels mischaracterized, taken aback by Killex’s callousness and not playing too much of a role in the issue as one would have expected.
DC Comics
The Italian team of artists illustrates the slasher horror and gore in a modest manner, with skinned corpses splayed and displayed with pretty lines and colors. The fight scenes are fluid and easy to follow, believably showing Batman’s command over however many martial arts. The art dedicates enough panels for fights to be not just an afterthought, but also an important part of the story and flow.
The only shortcoming comes from the fact that as a finale, the stakes feel low; instead of carrying the previous issue’s momentum and ascending to a crescendo, the tension shrinks. Compared to the other two, this issue doesn’t have as many edge-of-your-seat moments, no frightening unknown to intrigue, nor a wounded Catwoman for readers to care about. In contrast, this issue feels as if either protagonist could deal with the problem alone. At no point are the readers afraid for any characters’ lives, supporting or otherwise.
Despite that misstep, the dynamic between our two main characters remains consistently fun to read. And this smaller more meditative finale gives a sense of somberness for both our protagonists and antagonists. Like the ending of a gothic Guillermo Del Toro movie, it leaves a bittersweet taste; maybe there’s no true happy ending for heroes or ghosts.
Batman/Dylan Dog #3 is a solemn conclusion to our duo detectives’ team-up. The gothic story is paired with entertaining dialogue and beyond beautiful art. Though the stakes could be higher, Batman’s interactions with Dylan Dog show that the two make for a great pairing and could provide for fun future issues if they ever decide to meet again. All in all, this three-issue crossover brings two different heroes not too far from their comfort zones, doubling down on their respective personas and personal philosophies, all painted in masterly strokes of shadows.
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!
