Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Batman #46 Review



Meow


Written By: Tom King
Art By: Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Tomeu Morey, Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: May 2, 2018


If you've been following my reviews of Batman you'll know that I haven't been a fan of Tom King's run of the book and it seems that the previous issue was the one that really just put the final nail in the coffin for me in thinking that we'd ever get a decent story out of this writer.  Yeah, the idea of Booster Gold showing up sounds cool on paper, but what we got was a world that was just pretty much opposite world, where Booster changed the timeline so that he could give Bruce Wayne the wedding gift of showing him how important being Batman is............ but it doesn't make any sense because this alternate timeline Bruce Wayne isn't getting married and has never been Batman and that was just the start of the problems from last issue.  Hopefully, that all changes here as we continue this arc, where maybe Tom King will throw some more 'splaining in and make this whole thing make sense in the end.  Let's check it out.


Well, immediately I realize that not only is this an opposite world that we're seeing here, but with this issue we also throw in references to Tom King's greatest hits on the book, where we see that Catwoman is locked up for being a serial killer, all she says is "Meow", throw in some rooftops talk for good measure and because we needed reminding of it, tell us what happened in Everyone Love Ivy.


Really though, I was disappointed right out of the gate because we ended on a pretty big cliffhanger the last issue and when this story opens it's a year later, where apparently Booster has just lost his whole terrible "Bro" persona and has traded up to just being crazy.  On top of that, he's devised a plan that he believes will fix everything and maybe it's just because the character is coming off as crazy that the plan doesn't make a lick of sense for what's going on in the story and of course it only leads to more bad shit down the line.


Overall, I love the art in this book and in my opinion it's the only reason to still be picking this title up, but the dialog is dreadful at times and the story continues to be nonsense, where Tom King proves over and over again that he'd rather have cool moments and call outs to his own work and other Batman properties than actually knowing the characters that he's writing about.  This issue isn't great, but at least I can say that it's better than the previous issue, even if this doesn't do much to make the overall story make any more sense.

Bits and Pieces:

Batman continues to be disappointing this issue because instead of trying to make this ridiculous story make sense in what Booster Gold is actually doing, it instead just references the issues that came before it so that it can just move into a big "wow" moment that doesn't mean anything in the end because we're dealing with an alternate timeline.  Thankfully, the art continues to be great because, besides that, there isn't much reason to still pick up this book.

3.5/10

23 comments:

  1. I think that this might be the worst fucking issue of this run. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

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    1. I don't like this issue, but I still think that the last issue was worse.

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  2. I wish King would go do something else. This issue is just awful...

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    1. I have to give you guys props again for calling it like you see it (lot of fans agree)! Keep up the good work!

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  3. This is an insult to Batman mythology. I just can't believe that no one cares what Tom King writes in Batman. I mean editors etc. This is just horrible.

    At least we got some honest reviewers like you. Thanks for it.

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    1. Thanks...now Eric will think he is so damn great! I can understand that some people like this more than us, but some of the scores are just crazy!

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  4. I think you guys are to harsh with this run at this point. I get other reviewers are over positive and hype it way up to much. But your complete 180 approach is getting old. That's just my 2 cents. From my point of veiw I know it makes it hard for me to listen. I'll beat someone to it. If I don't like something I shouldn't listen I know lol. Just giving some feedback. Thanks for what you guys do though!

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    1. I don't know, this arc has seen a lot of the reviews slip to real low scores. Hell, I'm not even the lowest on Comic Book Roundup.

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    2. I understand. Would you rather us not review it? Because I am all for that! The weird thing is, if we gave it 10/10s, I don't think anyone would complain about it "getting old". But, I think that since Rules of Engagement started, this is one of the worst books being put out by DC and I can argue that point as well as anyone who says it's great. In the end, though, nobody will change their minds.

      I am going to take your advice and while we will still have the written reviews (and second opinion reviews which are more positive), the Batman part of the podcast will just be Patreon Exclusive until further notice.

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    3. and 180 approach makes it seem like a plan. I have given Tom King a 10/10 in this run (issue #5), but I gave it to Eric because I was not liking it. He then started hating it, but we are kind of stuck now since it's between me and him. Between us, we have 3490 reviews (Yes, I just checked) so really, 46 issues of Batman really doesn't mean much except that we both love Batman and are sick a main book where he is a side character at best for a year! Seriously, tell me the most poignant thing that Batman has said about his upcoming wedding. This is THE biggest event in Batman history according to a lot of people giving it high marks and I don't even know how he feels about it.

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    4. Haha well this was more than I expecting. I mean has the run had a lot of holes? Sure it has. Isn't going down as the greatest batman run ever? Not even top 5. But I do think you guys have a jaded point of veiw of it at this point. Like a die hard eagles fan reviewing a cowboys game. That's all I'm saying. As far taking it of the podcast I would hate to be the reason for that. I'll just not listen to that part.

      You're a better fighter than me so I won't get into that arena with you. But I gotta say it was fun to get yelled at by you. Have a good night.

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    5. Lol...we were thinking of doing it before, I just think it's time. It would make a more positive podcast. I do hate the cowboys so my h as a lifelong, die-hard eagles fan, but my favorite broadcaster is Tony Romo, so that's something!

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  5. Man the last few story archs have just been shit stories. The wedding can not come any faster!

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    1. it will be here soon enough...if it happens!

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    2. which it wont... because comics

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    3. or they will get married but it will be on earth 57 because... comics

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  6. Dammit, I miss the old New 52 Batman. Whatever happened to that guy?

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    1. I hear you...i just want something else at this point

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  7. Late start on my pull this week and I'm sorta of glad, because this shit is ridiculous. Kings voice for Selina is the absolute worst, his Bruce is unbelievable even an alternate Timeline. And if I ever read another issue where he makes my boy "Jason the awesome fucking Todd" a joke I'll personally refuse to ever pick another title he writes.
    Jim & Eric..New fuck U 5 is a "Meow/10".

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  8. Wow. Well.

    I'm leaning more towards Jim rather then the second opinion review on this particular issue.

    This Booster arc is completely unnecessary and a waste of issues that would be much better spent on things that Tom King is GOOD at writing: We could spend an issue where Bruce picks his wedding party. An ol' catch up with the bat-fam at Big Belly Burger where the Robins argue who is the usher and who is the groomsmen, etc. That's what TK tends to do really well: quiet, slice of moments in the Superhero world.

    But this? It's unnecessary since it's an elseworlds story anyway. That's great (I guess) that Bruce turned out the way he did in THIS timeline, but how about we get more of Bruce in the ACTUAL timeline we are in? I'm not a fan of gratuitous violence in mainstream books and seeing fingers sliced off and multiple gunshots at close range I didn't care for. Art was just ok.

    3/10 from me - calling it like I see it as neither a TK lover or hater.

    Pauly P.

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