Batman: Kings of Fear #1
Publisher: DC
Story: Scott Peterson
Pencils: Kelley Jones
Inks: Kelley Jones
Colors: Michelle Madsen
Letters: Rob Leigh
Cover: Kelley Jones and Michelle Madsen (Variant Cover: Bill Sienkeiwicz)
Although DC Comics has made some bold moves this year, publishing a variety of offbeat new titles as part of its New Age of Heroes line, its most popular character and cash cow, Batman, is also not being forgotten. This week, DC rolled out yet another Batman mini-series, Batman: Kings of Fear #1. As indicated by the title, the Scarecrow plays a major roll in the story, which is a nice change of pace from all of the recent Joker-focused stories.
That said, this issue does start out with another take on the age-old dance between Batman and Joker. Joker is suitably maniacal and unpredictable, but there’s nothing new in these scenes. Joker provokes Batman into action, and Batman saves the day, barely. Peterson then makes an odd choice by showing the interaction between the two characters in the Batmobile, as Batman delivers Joker to Arkham Asylum. The scenes in the car appear to exist only to make some very heavy-handed allusions that indicate Joker might be aware of Batman’s alter-ego. Again, there’s nothing much new in these opening scenes.
At Arkham, Batman is, once again, compelled to consider whether his crime-fighting actions actually help the people of Gotham, or whether he is indirectly responsible for the rampant crime committed by costumed villains. While there is some fertile ground here to explore, this theme has been used frequently over the past few years, and Batman’s conversation with one of the doctors at Arkham does not add anything new to the discussion, other than serving to introduce a new character.
The last few pages of the story turn things around and set-up the main plot for at least the next issue, if not the remainder of the mini-series. Things do pick up at this point, but after the slow build of the first three-fourths of the issue, it ends too abruptly and offers few clues regarding where the story is going.
Luckily, despite the rather run-of-the-mill main story so far, the issue still succeeds on account of Kelley Jones’ art. Jones’ figures are expressive, particularly Joker and Batman in the opening few scenes. Batman appears as a larger-than-life, menacing figure that really would strike fear into the hearts of criminals. Jones makes excellent use of light and shadow to create some very memorable scenes, particularly in Arkham Asylum when Batman is forced to “go to work” after a prison break. The use of shadow, color, and frenetic action scenes combine to make a visual treat that is genuinely inspired, but not a mere copying, of Jones’ earlier 1990’s Batman style.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with Batman: Kings of Fear, but this first issue is a bit tame considering the intriguing subject matter and main villain. Jones’ art is a highlight, and enough to entice readers to come back for the rest of the six-issue mini-series.
Martin Thomas
martin@comicattack.net
