Art by: Phil Hester
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 16, 2014
Phantastic
This week's issue of Batman Beyond has so much to live up too. Seriously, last week was the best issue of this series and one of the most shocking and satisfying reads I've had in a while. Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel are smart fellas and don't try to top last week, but calm things down just a bit. That's not saying it's filler or unnecessary because that's far from the truth. We get some pretty big revelations and a cliffhanger that sets up this final part of the story to be something special.
This story has been about trust and relationships so it's no surprise that it continues this week. Higgins and Siegel put the flashbacks on hold as we stay in the present the entire issue. Terry continues talking with Dick and Barbara about their past with Bruce, but Terry still seems conflicted. After last week's cliffhanger, they also talk about the elephant in the room...kind of. I already thought Bruce was an ass after last week, but his (alleged) indifference to Barbara's situation is just awful. Thankfully, the awkward situation is interrupted by Bruce himself letting Terry know where Vigilante is.
As Terry heads to help (?) Vigilante, we get another big scene, this time with Bruce and someone from his past. It's not as big as last week, but it's pretty darn good. It certainly sheds light on some of Bruce's recent behavior towards Terry, Vigilante and the Phantasm. Don't get me wrong, I'm still angry at him, but he's comes off a little better.
The issue ends with Terry dropping in on Vigilante. The Jokerz have worked him over and it looks like Terry will have to decide to save him or fight him. My bets are on fighting him, then saving him.
This week was another really strong issue. Higgins and Siegel start the stretch run by giving the reader some more twists and turns and ends in a cliffhanger that will lead to some crazy action. As always, I can't wait until next week.
Since we stay in the present, Phil Hester gets sole art duties this week. He's been on the sidelines for a majority of this arc, so it's nice to see get the full focus. He makes the most of it with a great issue.
Bits and Pieces:
Batman Beyond 2.0 #29 may not be as shocking as last week, but Higgins and Siegel still manage to throw some surprises at the reader. Phil Hester gets the full issue to show what he can do and the end result of it all is another strong issue of a great book. Recommended.
9.0/10
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Glad to see someone else enjoying the story as much as me.
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed there are new questions now, such as:
1) How did Grayson *really* lose an eye (he had both when the Joker was dead per: the flashback, so his original story is out)?
2) What is the connection between Terry and the character from the past? The character sounded quite emotional and also seems to have been following him from day one as Batman, if not before?
Those are two awesome questions! I really want to know about Dick's eye which I doubt we will see...yet. As for the second one, I was thinking of different things while reading it and after. I can't wait to find out.
DeleteI am just loving the story.
1. In Adam Beechen's "Hush Beyond" arc it was stated that Grayson lost his eye when the Joker shot him. Since this doesnt work because by the time Dick was shot, Joker was supposed to be dead; I assumed that it was a Joker imposter that shot him. That or we could view that arc as taking place in a separate continuity. I hope that helps.
Delete2. The connection between Terry and the character from the past is shown in Justice League Unlimited's Epilogue. That's the episode where we find out about a lot more of Terry's origins and how he was sort of destined to become Batman. So yeah she was following him from not just day one as Batman but since he was a kid.
Good job! I forgot the Justice League Unlimited, but that was so good.
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