With Immortal Legend Batman putting its own unique, Tokusatsu-inspired spin on the world of the Dark Knight, his friends, and his foes, it was only a matter of time before we got to the Joker. This was a fact I accepted with certainty, since Batman’s clashes with the Clown Prince of Crime formed the backbone of iconic stories. I was also hesitant because most modern stories tend to lean too heavily on the Joker, while Batman’s other foes are just as interesting or make him seem “edgier”. Thankfully, Immortal Legend Batman #5 finds a new way to reinterpret this rivalry.
Bruce Wayne’s journey to defeat the Shadows he’s expelled from his body has brought him full circle, as he returns to his home planet of Gotham City. Thankfully, he isn’t alone, as he’s joined by his trusted robot, Alfred, and fellow Immortal Legends, Nightwing and Robin. In Batman’s absence, his latest shadow – taking on the form of “The Man Who Laughs” – has transformed Gotham into his own perverse playground, pushing the Dark Knight to the limit.
As this is the penultimate issue of this miniseries, Erica D’urso goes all out when it comes to the fight scenes. A battle between a legion of killer robots gives her the chance to show off each of the Immortal Legends’ unique fighting skills; Batman takes down his foes with precise, surgical strikes, Robin is more content to scope out the situation, and Nightwing battles with near-superhuman grace. As for the Man Who Laughs, he’s a frightening figure, sporting a lanky body covered in strange symbols and a twisted smile. Igor Monti brings the Joker’s signature green and purple colors to the landscape of Gotham, showing how the Man Who Laughs’ influence has spread over the entire planet.
DC
The standout sequence features Batman battling a giant robot piloted by the Man Who Laughs, resulting in some very striking imagery. Any Toku project worth its salt will have one giant robot fight, and D’Urso more than delivers on that front. This also reveals the mineral known as “Henshinite”, which, for my money, is the most fitting name you could have picked for a project like this. James Cameron, take notes!
Beyond the artwork, Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom write a story about what it means to be Batman. For Bruce Wayne, to fight against the dark is to fight against the same things that took his parents’ lives because he doesn’t want anyone to suffer as he does. In contrast, the Man Who Laughs says that because of the endless pain he suffered, he deserves to do whatever he wants. Heroism and villainy are based on the choices you make, and Higgins and Groom are sure to highlight that. They also throw in a massive twist at the end that has me eagerly awaiting the final issue.
There’s one change to Immortal Legend Batman #5’s structure; while most issues have featured a backup story drawn by Dan Mora that fills in the lore of this universe, this time Mora draws the back half of the book, which finds Nightwing and Robin face-to-face against the Man Who Laughs. It features that signature Mora flare, and a sick new design for the Immortal Legend Batman. Not only does Immortal Legend Batman #5 set the stage for an incredible finale, but it also puts a truly fresh spin on the rivalry between Batman and the Joker.
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