Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Batman: The Knight #5 Review

 


Bye Bye Love

Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: May 17, 2022

I have enjoyed what Chip Zdarsky has been doing on this book, especially since it might be setting up things for his upcoming Batman run.  Of course, Zdarsky still needs to bring his A-game each issue since he is retreading ground here, but so far, so good.  Let's see if that continues this month...

Batman the Knight #5 opens with Bruce in a Russian jail after he and Anton asked too many wrong questions.  They were looking for the next master on Ducard's list but trying to find ex-KGB agent Avery Oblonsky got them in hot water and a cold Russian jail cell.  It's about the most straightforward part of the issue: playing roles with and without masks.

The issue has criss-cross applesauce going on throughout, but the fun is seeing Bruce struggle with things that most Batman fans probably consider second nature to their favorite hero.  For example, before Matches Malone, Bruce attempted an embarrassing Don Juan seduction that was total cringe, hilariously.

Since this issue plays off as a contest, Bruce is behind the eight ball the whole time because this sort of thing is what Anton seems to excel at doing.  But, of course, it's no surprise that Bruce doesn't like losing, so in the end, there is a bit of "is he or isn't he" that is up for individual interpretation.  I took it more as Bruce finally used his lessons to finish the job.  I say it because the issue was about becoming somebody different to get the job done.




Batman: The Knight #5 was an alright issue, but I expected something more in-depth after last month's one-shot.  Still, it looked good, and Zdarsky played with a couple of things that readers will likely smile about when reading.

Bits and Pieces:

Batman: The Knight #5 was a decent issue that continued showing Bruce's training towards becoming Batman.  If you have enjoyed the book so far, there is no reason you won't like this issue.  I am still enjoying it enough, but I think I need something a bit more in-depth to recommend it.

6.5/10

2 comments:

  1. While the way the story is told is interesting I don't buy a lot of stuff about it. I don't buy the fact Bruce doesn't know how to play the playboy, he was always good at flirting, I don't buy the fact that he would throw a book filled with Russian intelligence and I really don't buy that scene even if the context made sense. At the half of the book I was expecting something more. It's still enjoyable as a whole but Zdarsky's "finer" details of reinventing the character isn't working for me.

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    1. I agree. I'd like to think that Alfred is following Bruce around and caught the book! LOL. The book is ok, it just doesn't feel all that necessary right now.

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