Batman #697
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Tony Daniel
Art: Tony Daniel & Sandu Florea
Cover: Tony Daniel
Pages: 32
Price: US $2.99
Release Date: March 17, 2010
ATTENTION! If you haven’t been hanging out in Gotham City in the past year or so, this review will contain a few minor spoilers. If you’re cool with that or you are already hip to what’s going on, then by all means…read on, Comic Attackers!
Tony Daniel’s first post-Batman: Battle for the Cowl story arc has been a long and awesome one. It comes to its conclusion in this week’s issue. It doesn’t disappoint.
Dick Grayson is in his new duds and is squaring off against the Black Mask. We know that Black Mask is running the crime in Gotham City. We know that Fright is pushing Black Mask’s buttons. We didn’t know who was under the Black Mask. Now we do. Wow, did that come out of left field!? Oh, sweet irony!
It’s all about finding out, in this issue. We find out Black Mask’s identity. Reaper finds out what’s going on with himself. We find out that Catwoman has a surprise for us. We find out that Dick can take care of business. What we DON’T find out is what’s up with the Riddler? He bonked his head in the beginning of the arc and hasn’t been seen since. We will find out soon though, I think. Tony Daniel’s run isn’t over (thankfully), so there’s more to come! This solo title is also rushing towards issue #700, so I’m expecting full throttle excitement!
Tony Daniel is the man, in my opinion. He writes a good, dark story (which is a good change of pace from Grant Morrison’s Batman and Robin) that can last more than just a couple of issues, and his art is simply gorgeous! If you’re not reading Batman, you should be. This book may not be about Bruce Wayne anymore, but it is still about dark, exciting detective stuff.
Batman is the best Batman book on the shelf right now. If you’re not reading it, you should definitely pick it up. Start with next month’s issue as it begins a new story arc, or go and dig up the beginnings of this current one. You will not be disappointed. Batman #697 is for sure a good pick up just to find out who the Black Mask is and what kind of surprise Catwoman has.
Aron White
aron@comicattack.net
I have liked this arc off and on but I think it’s me just having to get used to how Dick does things instead of how Bruce WOULD have done it.
He does things weirder over in Batman and Robin. One issue, just out of the blue, he starts calling Alfred, Alfie, about every other sentence. THAT was annoying…
next thing you know he’ll be slappin’ Damien on the ass and sayin’ “good job!” lol
Soooo, who’s under the mask? 😉
That one guy is under the mask, Billy!
And Speech, I think that would probably be more awkward than Rictor and Shatterstar…maybe…
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