August 1998
In a story that seems like a better fit for the world’s richest duck than for the dark knight detective, Batman travels to Scotland and is quickly embroiled in a vicious, centuries old clan feud where superstition acts as a smoke screen for revenge plot involving the plague virus. The story is honestly kind of a humdrum affair, with an uncomplicated and rather obvious mystery at its center. The villain is not up to the usual standard of Batman rogues and the verdant, rolling landscape feels out of place in a Batman story that doesn’t use that clash to say anything interesting. The best part about the issue, though, is unquestionably the art, an early Batman offering from current fan favorite Frank Quitely. No, it’s no Batman and Robin, but Quitely’s distinct rendering style and gift for action storytelling are already in place, as displayed in a couple of excellently choreographed fight scenes. This book also expertly displays Quitely’s gift for faces. Often times, artists have trouble differentiating one character from another, particularly with background characters, but Quitely always has a way of making each face stand out by employing slightly caricatured, but distinctly human features and imperfections in almost mind numbing detail that also never distracts or overwhelms. He’s almost like the Preston Sturges of the comics page in that regard. Particularly nice is Quitely’s depiction of the story’s romantic interest who, in a near impossibility on the comics page, is beautiful without being crazy comic book hot.
No comments:
Post a Comment