After Batman: Dark Patterns #8, Batman is in a terrible situation. On the ground directly in front of an old man and two teens, it’s not looking great for Batman to escape the situation. His detective work seems to have prevented him from seeing direct danger. Even with little chance to escape, much of this issue shows he’s incapable of letting a mystery lie as he unpacks truths from a position of very little leverage.
Batman: Dark Patterns #9 is an impressive issue when you consider Batman is tied up for most of it, yet you’ll be on the edge of your seat, wondering what may happen next. Writer Dan Watters and artist Hayden Sherman open the issue with very high stakes: A bucket filled with bleach. Sure, it sounds harmless, but not when you realize the criminals are going to use it to break Batman’s body down for burriel!
Exhausted and wounded, much of this issue is Batman buying time while figuring out what is really going on. That’s aided by clever writing from Watters, who sprinkles in clues that Batman hones in on. They never feel forced, as even you might not notice them until Batman does. While he and the reader find out what really happened and who the old man really is, there are surprises to unpack that’ll have you hanging on every word.
Note the symmetry of the panels.
Credit: DC Comics
The ongoing themes of this earlier Gotham that’s ravaged with crime without a cop on any corner continue with how this tale ends. There is no happy ending, and clearly Batman has a lot more work to do. By the end, you’ll feel bad for the criminals and Batman, who all wanted Gotham to be better, but were too late. It’s an issue that makes a strong case that Batman’s use of fear is necessary in such a lawless city.
Art by Sherman continues to be stunning, with interesting layouts that draw your eye and look brand new. One double-page layout has Batman’s face looking at the old man, with panels overlaying them as if we’re inside their heads. Sherman is always good at symmetry, which they implore here and there to draw your eye naturally down the page. Once outside the room, Batman is bound in, Sherman litters the streets with refuse, and lots of details with an epic near-full-page splash of the Batmobile to please readers.
Batman: Dark Patterns #9 is a tense, tightly-crafted thriller that proves high stakes don’t require nonstop action. Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman keep readers glued to the page with sharp detective work, layered character reveals, and inventive visual storytelling, delivering one of the series’ most gripping chapters yet.
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