Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Pencils & Inks: Dan Mora
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Aditya Bidikar
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: April 27th, 2021
In the last issue the "Party Crashers" crashed a fundraising gala for Mayor Nakano that Bruce Wayne was attending. After some Batman action, Bruce is invited to a party in his apartment building where we get to meet his neighbors. After the party, somebody knocks on Sarah Worth's apartment door, and we find out that she has gone missing. Now, we're picking up on the search for Sarah Worth...
Of course, Batman is way ahead of the police. He's on it before Nakano even knows. Soon after Nakano finds out though, Sarah's father calls him. Mr. Worth is a new character but an "old money" billionaire whose family "built half of Gotham". So of course Nakano has to jump all over this with everything he's got.
Meanwhile, Batman has pieced the scenario together. There was no ransom so they weren't really professional, and there was no getaway car or anything so they had to walk away. Where could they have gone other than the sewer? And that is where he finds her body, tied up to a wall. As he says, "hidden but not hidden".
The GCPD had discovered blood on the manhole cover that was used and show up while Batman is still with Sarah's body. But this isn't your normal Batman and cop meeting, because they immediately open fire. Batman runs away, pissed that they are destroying a murder scene. One of the bullets gets him in the arm and another ricochet's and hits one of the cops. After escaping, Batman would be blamed for that, as well as be a suspect in the murder of Sarah.
At Sarah's funeral, we see just how big Mr. Worth is. And in his eulogy to his daughter, he screams and demands justice. During the funeral, Sarah's partner Sam Tern runs off crying. Days later Batman finds him all drugged out, and he pulls out a gun and threatens to shoot him. Of course, Batman disarms him and takes him to the police. Or, because he's not really getting along with the cops right now, leaves him handcuffed outside of the station. There's a weird scene after this with one of Nakano's employees where he seems drugged up too, so I'm assuming there's some kind of drug thing about to be involved in this story. And Huntress shows up briefly, too.
At the end of the issue, as Bruce is walking home, we find out that the part of the sewer where Sarah's body was found is being filled in with concrete. Why? That's a murder scene! Why wouldn't they investigate it? What's going on? Then, as he starts to walk up the steps to his apartment building he sees a strange figure across the street...
Bits and Pieces
This is an excellent issue that focuses on detective work, which I always enjoy. What really makes it work, though, is the feel of the atmosphere. The story, the narration, and the imagery of the art (which is AWESOME) all work so well together. Not only do we see a tragedy, but Batman also gets a preview of what life will be like when the Magistrate arrives. There are some strange things that take you out of it for a second, but overall I loved it. And I also thought the Huntress backup was pretty darn good too. I'm looking forward to seeing where they both go.
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