BATMAN #639 REVIEW

[Juan de Joya]

Reviewer: Juan de Joya, dejoya5@yahoo.com
Story Title: “Family Reunion: Part One – The Word on the Street”

Writer: Judd Winick
Penciller: Doug Mahnke
Inker: Tom Nguyen
Letterer: Ken Lopez
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Associate Editor: Michael Wright
Editor: Bob Schreck

Cast:
Batman.................Bruce Wayne
Black Mask............Roman Sionis
Red Hood (II).........You’d have to read it believe it
Onyx....................None yet discerned
Zatanna................Zatanna Zatara
Jason Blood...........Himself
Green Arrow..........Oliver Queen

So, which story arc is this again?

Amazing. I’m pretty much sure I was still reading the last arc, “Under the Hood,” when I was going through this issue the first time. Granted, I didn’t exactly pay attention to the solicitations, but even then I would have been able to tell what was going on was something completely different. Heck, I didn’t even figure out that we were already telling a different story until I actually sat down to write this review.

Can a writer be good enough to fool me into believing that we’re reading one whole interconnected story, even though they are individual story arcs? Oh yes, and I happen to find that kind of work brilliant. Unfortunately, Batman #639 isn’t one of those gems.

Batman scours the globe and his little black book for allies who can explain to him the processes of resurrection in the DC Universe, all the while making his sentiments on a certain mindwipe (hint: HIS) known. Meanwhile, the former assassin and current agent of the Bat Onyx attempts to do some crime-fighting of her own, and inadvertently ends up on the trail of the new and enigmatic Red Hood.

Frankly speaking, the story holds up quite well. Readers or at least people who have been following Bat-related news in the recent weeks would probably care to guess why Batman would even bother to find out about resurrection all of a sudden. However, that piece of information doesn’t quite jive with what we’re given, and so far there has been no indication of Batman even suspecting anything of the sort. The climactic revelation Winick wrote as the opening of “Under the Hood” had Batman reacting to it in shock, and yet here he is, five, four weeks earlier, apparently already deducing something he should be in the dark of. Wow – I know he’s the World’s Greatest Detective™ but I didn’t know he’s that good. Tell your friends – Batman can see into the future!

-Ahem-

Pardon the sarcasm.

Continuity-wise, it just seems disjointed. It would have been nice if there were actually pages or panels devoted to a logical deduction leading to the reveal, because that would at least seem, well, logical for a detective. Instead, it feels like I've skipped a scene or two, as the reader is immediately dropped into the whole “resurrection” plotline that just does not make sense at the time this story is set. In fact, I’ve no doubt that these guest stars serve the ulterior motive of trying to sell us Batman’s knowledge of his mindwipe and how that comes into effect in the OMAC Project and the upcoming Infinite Crisis. That would have been a treat in any other case, but not so much here: because of this particular story thread’s premature inclusion, it sticks out like a sore thumb. Still, those parts are well conveyed: the characterizations are on-the-spot and the interplay between Batman and the guest stars is pretty tense, which is practically how Batman would be feeling about the mindwipe issue.

The story sans the Caped Crusader is not exactly better off, as the characters aren’t as fleshed out as those in Batman’s story thread but do have the benefit of an understandable plot point. The Black Mask-Red Hood subplot that has been going on for five issues is still being milked for what it’s worth, even though it has become a bit irritating. I mean, seriously, they have been mocking each other on cell phones for that long – it would be nice if they actually did something. Onyx’s interrogation and subsequent trailing of criminals is pretty fun to watch, even if it doesn’t exactly bring anything new to the table.

The art on the other hand is top-notch. Doug Mahnke seems to be able to match Winick’s scripts almost perfectly, even when it calls for a lot of things. His rendition of the Black Mask is pretty unnerving while his Batman comes off as the brooding and moody loner that he has been made to be for a long time. He also seems to be able to convey a lot of emotions in the characters involved, whether it is the aloof, casual look on Onyx as she painfully interrogates her prisoner or the intimidating and towering look that the Red Hood has.

Batman #639 may serve as an opening chapter for a new arc, but it sure doesn’t feel that way. It does shift its focus substantially to some new territory but ends up having too many connections to the previous arc, which wasn’t exactly concluded in any particular way save thematically. The story, having given us a shocking revelation with its last issue, immediately swerves into another direction that doesn’t seem to match up with what was given in the past, a direction that hurts this issue and the arc as a whole. Furthermore, the major subplots aren’t even being furthered, and are becoming taxing for the reader rather than entertaining. This first part of “Family Reunion” stumbles in its first few steps, something that will hopefully be redeemed by the next chapters in the story. Until then, like the Black Mask says, “this is getting annoying.”

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Buy this issue online now from X-WORLD and save!

[Ken Boehm]

I was wondering the same thing about the opening of Batman #635 and how it has yet to be addressed yet. It felt kinda weird, as if Winick forgot it completely. And there was no follow up to the apparent death of the Joker from last issue.

This is where I will be getting off the book now.

[benbacca37]

This may be spoilers so I'll take the necessary precautions. SPOILER! I doubt the Joker is dead. There's no way DC would let him die. I'm sure he's beat to hell but not dead.

[Anand Khatri]

Originally Posted by benbacca37

This may be spoilers so I'll take the necessary precautions. SPOILER! I doubt the Joker is dead. There's no way DC would let him die. I'm sure he's beat to hell but not dead.

Exactly. I mean he's definite money for DC. Why mess with that? If they did, they would be distroying a chance of future quality story and sales. Ii mean what are they...Marvel?

This is issue was extremely disappointing. It didn't seem to progress the story much further along and it basically re-capped previous events to establish 'what is what'. Hopefully next issue will be better.

btw...Great Review!

[Rory]

I just gave this up because I have no money but SPOILER! the bit with Ollie saying "I'm sorry" as Bats flew away was sad but enjoyable

[James Groves]

Great review, Juan.

I feel the same, overall. Decent enough, but that's about it. I like the way Bats dealt with the characters who mistreated him, and in turn their responses to him, but the fact there was nothing about the Joker in this issue was really weird. I'd expect some reference to it, but we got mostly recap and more of the same stuff we've seen before in previous issues.

Lacks "umph" for me at the moment. Relied on a reveal and deliverence of a fanboy moment to inject grunt into the plotline previously, and whilst the storyline's decent enough, the plots are lacking imo.

[Vyns]

Sooooo, how did Red Hood get away after revealing himself to Bats??

[Anand Khatri]

Originally Posted by Vyns

Sooooo, how did Red Hood get away after revealing himself to Bats??

SPOILER! Um...He didn't reveal himself to Batman. Well he did but now their doing flashbacks. They didn't show what happened yet.The cover is misleading.

[Juan de Joya]

Indeed. SPOILER! Joker was the only one who was able to see Red Hood's face at the end of Batman #638, and they haven't gotten to the point where Red Hood and Batman finally confront each other. It's really just...meh.