Batman the Dark Knight the New 52 Review

Although our hero's name is emphasized twice in the title he actually doesn't appear once in these pages. In fact, Batman: The Dark Knight #24 feels more similar a Villains Calendar month release, merely that'due south not necessarily a bad thing considering how convoluted the Clayface backstory has go over the decades with there existence a m total of 9 unlike villains taking on the allonym since the character's cosmos in 1940 (Yes, Batman has been fighting Clayface longer than nigh villains in the rogues gallery). If there's 1 rogue who needs his origin retold, it's Clayface and you get that tale told in full (including lamentable babyhood) here.

At the stop of outcome #23, Batman used some new force-field gadgetry (ugh!) to capture Clayface and send him back to Arkham Asylum, merely, surprisingly, that wasn't the end of the story. This chapter dives deep into the past of Clayface before application him with the quickest turn-effectually fourth dimension from the revolving door that is Arkham Asylum. Actually, I don't think anyone else has escaped this rapidly so far in the New 52! But I'chiliad getting ahead of myself…

Sticking with his usual formula, writer Gregg Hurwitz takes a time out from the primary storyline to explore the distressing childhood of our villain . While I had initially dreaded this moment, it was honestly not as annoying as I expected information technology to be. Was it necessary? Non really, we probably could've but cut to a 20-something Basil Karlo going to failed audition after failed audition accompanied by the narration "all my life, I've never been noticed." or something like that, but these flashbacks to the lonely childhood of the all-besides-ordinary human being played just fine. Yes, we are trying a flake hard it seems to make Clayface sympathetic, but nosotros NEED a sympathetic villain. Arnold Wesker is gone, Jervis Tetch is a psychopath, and fifty-fifty Victor Fries is an absolute creep in the New 52. What I nevertheless take consequence with is the matter of Clayface's origin involving magic, something that cropped up in Snyder'south Batman #19 & #20. I oftentimes find myself giving a pass to sci-fi technology birthing a Batman villain, only aliens and magic rub me the incorrect mode. I honestly don't think I'll always see a Clayface origin as well done equally the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Feat of Clay."

Well-nigh of what we learn nigh Clayface'south by has been hinted at in dialogue in previous issues both here and in Batman #19, but Hurwitz does slip in a single surprise in which he ties Basil closer to Oswald Cobblepot. We even go an amusing nod to a recurring gag from Hurwitz'south own Penguin: Pain & Prejudice for good measure, which might confuse those who didn't read that mini-serial.

Spoiler

Using Penguin who just so happened to have this magic clay and who just so happened to exist willing to give information technology to Basil for free was clumsily convenient storytelling. Maybe if nosotros hadn't spent so many pages showing a mopey Basil walking through the halls of his high school nosotros could've had time for something a bit more circuitous?

One of the more interesting aspects I constitute in this upshot was the bond that Clayface forged with his Arkham neighbor, a longtime fan who asked Clayface to recite erstwhile film quotes over again and again. It was these interactions that spurred on the discussion near Clayface'southward beginnings in the offset place.

Spoiler

Well, that and the Scarecrow who had been given permission to walk effectually with a "fear mirror"? I don't actually recall that being referenced before merely honestly, I treat these reviews sort of like Dumbledore treats his Pensieve. Possibly I'll scroll through some previous articles and detect mention of said mirror. Either manner, I found the mirror scene to be an odd one.

The concept of acquainting Basil with an former fan was something I saw equally having a number of possibilities, just unfortunately the "biggest fan" wasn't utilized beyond a plot device to tell the origin story.

I'll make a few more than points only leave them in spoiler tags:

Spoiler

• I believe Hurwitz made a mistake by mentioning Clayface'due south ability to touch individuals and mimic their very DNA. This is a new stage in Clayface's evolution that happened VERY recently in Scott Snyder'due south series but Hurwitz made information technology look like a power Clayface has had for quite some time.
• I was surprised to acquire that Clayface still eats.
• I hated the escape made past  Clayface in the terminate. He pretends to asphyxiate? That's information technology? Much similar the explanation of how Clayface came upon the magical clay in the outset place in that location'south no inventiveness to this scene. And with the heartless way in which the orderlies are portrayed in this serial and many other bat-titles I would one-half expect the folks at Arkham to just let him choke.
• What is there to be excited about at present? Clayface has no plan. As of right now he has no obvious strategy and appears to exist setting out to perform the aforementioned shinanigans we saw in the previous 2 issues and that's nothing to be hyped for. However, if it keeps with the usual Hurwitz formula I would expect something really over the top like the penguin robots, Scarecrow blimp, or city-wide mass-suicide caused by Mad Hatter.

The cover past Alex Maleev is 1 of the best in some time and I sincerely promise it's used as the book jacket for the inevitable graphic novel. Within you'll find a slightly dissimilar mode, simply withal more from Maleev who has a knack for jagged lines and heavy shadows. The colors past Dave McCaig along with Maleev's expressive faces actually give the panels a peachy sense of the isolation the young Basil Karlo must be feeling. Frequently you'll see Basil in darkness while the earth effectually him is in color but overall the book stays quite muted. It's a very dark, dingy looking book merely that'south definitely an advisable pick for such a muddy villain. The artwork shines the about in flashback scenes while Clayface himself appears rather boring. He'southward only a sloppy mud man with non a whole lot of detail, but the shots of Basil while he's first going through the initial transformation or the pages of teenage angst are all very well washed.

Recommended If…

• You've enjoyed the previous Clayface issues by this creative team
• You desire to know Clayface's origin (it's a new-reader friendly issue)
• You like Alex Maleev'south artwork
• Y'all're okay with magic and childhood drama (separately, this ain't Harry Potter)

Overall

Non equally bad as I had expected! (How awesome would it be if they put that on the hardcover's dust jacket?)

SCORE : 6.5/10

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Source: https://batman-news.com/2013/10/24/new-52-batman-dark-knight-24-review/

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