When establishing the Massiveverse, Kyle Higgins has said that he wants to push the boundaries of a traditional comic book narrative. True to his word, titles like Radiant Black and Rogue Sun have featured links to an animated film, a companion podcast, and even an orchestral score. Immortal Legend Batman #3 taps into that same vein by inviting readers to take part in the story.
Immortal Legend Batman #3 takes place in the world of Elvir, where Batman has tracked another mysterious Shadow connected to Bruce Wayne. This Shadow aims to put Batman through a mental gauntlet, including a trio of puzzles that dig deep into Bruce Wayne’s memories. Anyone with an inkling of knowledge about the Batman mythos will immediately clock that Immortal Legend Batman #3 is putting its own spin on the Riddler, but Higgins and Mat Groom take things a step further.
For starters, there’s the interactive element. Throughout the issue, there’s a series of question marks scattered across different pages. Whenever readers see these question marks, it’s their clue to try to solve the riddles alongside Batman. If they feel stumped, they can flip to the end of the book and figure out how Batman pieced the case together. Full disclosure: I got stumped around the second riddle.
These riddles aren’t just set up as a way to test Batman’s brainpower, though. They also serve as the answer to a question: why is Batman so hellbent on hunting these shadows, and why have they started to take his form? The reveal won’t just make you look at this series differently; it also showcases that Higgins and Groom are taking their own approach to the idea of what makes Bruce Wayne Batman.
DC
Erica D’Urso once again gets a chance to illustrate a classic Batman foe, and her take on the Riddler hews pretty close to most incarnations. He’s got the classic suit that’s covered in question marks, and he’s carrying his signature question mark staff. Once Riddler transforms into his Shadow form, his suit flips from emerald green to jet black, while his staff transforms into a wicked-looking scythe. It’s only eclipsed by the moment when Batman whips out a glowing saber and fights him; yes, this is a Batman with a sword, and it’s freaking awesome. Readers will also get to witness more of Becca Carey’s phenomenal lettering work, which adds to the Toku vibes.
D’Urso is once again joined by Dan Mora, who illustrates another Robin and Nightwing story that sees them learning about the plight Batman’s going through. Mora’s artwork remains as eye-catching as ever, but there’s another artist who joins the fray: Daniel Bayliss. Bayliss previously worked with Higgins on the first Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers series for BOOM! He illustrates a series of flashbacks that delve into Bruce’s life before he became an Immortal Legend. These sequences carry plenty of emotional weight and stand out thanks to Igor Monti’s bright blue filter separating past and present.
Immortal Legend Batman #3 invites its reader to be part of the story, as Batman faces this universe’s take on the Riddler. The series might be at the halfway point, but there’s still time to explore different aspects of this Elseworlds – and more ways to let readers get in on the action.
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