Title: Batman Beyond: Rebirth #1
Story: Dan Jurgens
Art: Ryan Sook
Publisher: DC Comics (USA)
Editor: Jim Chadwick
Pages: 32 colour pages
Price: $2.99
Date (Print & Digital): 28 September 2016
Age group: Teen
For those who came in late, Batman Beyond was an animated TV Series which was on air in 1999. The timeline is such that, the people of Gotham city haven’t seen Batman for a good 20 years and chaos prevails everywhere. Amidst this, an untamed youth (Terry McGinnis) is chased by wannabe criminals. He is saved by the ageing Bruce Wayne and later on, Terry finds out that Bruce Wayne is Batman. After much drama, Terry suits up in the newly designed armoured suit and becomes the new Batman.
For the uninitiated, DC Comics Rebirth mega event was started in June 2016 and the entire timeline and story arcs are reset to that of the New 52 series. This particular story starts from where it ended in the Batman Beyond #16. It is penned by Dan Jurgens and he makes it sure that even someone who is reading this story arc for the first time isn’t left behind. There is even a recap of the entire events in a flashback sequence.
Here’s the synopsis of the comic:
Six months have passed since the events of Batman Beyond #16. While areas of destruction remain in the outside world, Gotham City has made great strides toward reclaiming its bright future. But new threats arise and old adversaries may be coming back. And the question still remains: whatever happened to Bruce Wayne?
One Line: Jockerz ransack the Neo Gotham and New Batman is fighting them.
Story: Joker is dead. Batman is gone for more than 20 years. A new man is the saviour of the city which was once known as Gotham city, now rechristened as Neo Gotham. This city has a lady police commissioner (Barbara Gordon) and some wannabe criminal gang whose members are painting their faces and call themselves as Jokerz. They have gained control of one part of the city which is now called as Jokerz town they run a parallel government there.
Spoilers Ahead: The story begins with a action set piece where a school bus is kidnapped by the Jokerz and Batman saves the kids from them in a visually breathtaking sequence. The police commissioner arrives to the scene and wonders why the Jokerz gang is suddenly after money now, against their regular Modus operandi. Terry’s back story is narrated and at the end of the chapter 1, we see Dana, Terry’s ex, being kidnapped by the Jokerz. The first part ends when Batman (Terry) rushes to the Jokerz town, he is confronted by a monster and a real plot twist on the last page.
Analysis: First and foremost, the team behind this series deserves a round of applause for the great work they’ve done. Jurgens, we all would’ve read his take on the Batman Beyond run where he, single handedly, elevated the series from good to great. Here, in this new series, he starts slowly. However, the mixing of the present and past in the opening pages are done in a neat way. Moreover, the dialogues of the futuristic city are a joy to read. Though a tad slow, knowing Jurgens, we can be assured that we are definitely in for a royal treat.
Sook’s penciling takes the entire story to a new, higher ground. Almost in line with the TV series style, Sook’s has done wonders to the series. In 2D, he is almost creating a magic of 3D effect. For example, there is a scene where one of the Jokerz cocks his gun and such is the artwork that you can almost hear the sound. The entire thing is highlighted by the double spread at the beginning of the story where we can absorb everything as an aesthetic treat to the eyes: Be it the new Bat-Suit, the languidness of the character, the background of the futuristic Gotham city.
It will be a crime if we do not mention the fantastic colouring by Jeremy Lawson. He has painted the neo Gotham city with the orange, pink, purple and yellow colours, without ever looking unnatural. The muted style of colouring in the flashback sequences are a joy to the readers.
Final Point: Steady beginning for a great ride.
Verdict: Recommended. (4/6)
(These are purely personal views of Comics Historian & Writer, King Viswa and AnimationXpress.com does not necessarily subscribe to these views)
