Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #2
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Frazer Irving
Cover: Andy Kubert
WARNING: Spoilers Ahead!
Bruce Wayne is trapped in another time period. This time the Dark Pilgrim has been transported from last issue‘s cave man era to the late 17th century. Set in the very early years of Gotham City, Wayne, a.k.a. Brother Mordecai due to a case of amnesia (That’s right. Amnesia.), is ever the detective, pinning a murder of a man on his wife who claims the devil and the dragon killed her husband. When local law takes over the case, they cast the woman out as a witch, torturing her, but Brother Mordecai steps in. Mordecai later finds out that a woman close to him who had taken him in, is a true witch who summons the giant “dragon” for Mordecai to battle.
Meanwhile, the Bruce Wayne Search Party (Superman, Green Lantern, Booster Gold, and Rip Hunter) pays a visit to a strange universal time keeper, following a trail of Omega energy to Wayne’s location in time.
I think this issue exemplifies the fan’s fear for what this series was going to become: Silly and uninteresting misadventures of Bruce Wayne in places he doesn’t belong. The first issue of this series showed a lot of potential to tell stories about Bruce Wayne in weird situations, far from his usual element, but this issue turned out to be simply boring and practically useless. In addition to just being weird, we really didn’t learn much in this chapter. There was a small part of the story that tied in neatly to Morrison’s other book, Batman and Robin, but the only place we were moved was further in time, and judging by how meaningless this chapter felt, I’m not sure if I’m too excited about next issue’s swashbuckling Bruce Wayne.
Although the story was pretty bland, Frazer Irving’s art is beautiful. Again, we have another artist whose style reflects the time period Bruce is dropped in. Everything from the up-close character expressions to the wonderful abstract backgrounds to the unorthodox lighting and coloring, the art is this issue’s saving grace. It was more of a page turner than the narrative.
I have faith in Grant Morrison as a great writer, but I was hugely underwhelmed by this issue. I think most people are expecting The Return of Bruce Wayne to be a disappointment, and if the next issue is anything like this, than I fear that most people will be right.
Andrew Hurst
andrewhurst@comicattack.net
…. Is this supposed to be serious? It sounds absurd.
I think you’re profoundly missing things. head over to rikdad.blogspot.com and prepare to see what you’re missing with this series – (I’m not the blogger there, fyi).
might not be your cup of tea – and yes, it is very absurd, but its comics – I don’t mind – but it is very far from uninteresting. if you didn’t like final crisis, you won’t like this, I’ll leave it at that.
umm, I think you’re missing things. head over to rikdad.blogspot.com and prepare to see just how much *(I’m not the blogger there, fyi). this series is far from uninteresting. but yes, it is absurd. but sometimes thats a little fun to read.
I understand that there were many parts of this issue that tie into Batman and Robin, but for someone who’s not reading any other Grant Morrison penned Batman titles, this issue will leave you confused, bored and likely not to pick up the next issue.
I thought this issue was fantastic, but I can understand how it isn’t for everyone.
And Jesse, that blog is amazing.
This issue was pretty retarded. What was that? A pube monster?
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Hmmm, sounds kind of wacky. Not my thing, but I’m not buying it either.
I’m all about this issue. Its completely weird, but its very “comic book” and I had a lot of fun with it. But, like Final Crisis, its a very love-it-or-hate-it book to be sure.