Read of the Week – 7/6/11
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FLASHPOINT
BATMAN
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FLASHPOINT has officially kicked it into high gear.
Of course Flash and Cyborg have some big things going on over in Geoff John’s FLASHPOINT #3, but it’s Batman’s story in KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE that has officially blown my mind. Azzarello and Risso must be enjoying how the reaction to the divergent Batman tale. Gotham’s Dark Knight is still surrounded by the familiar faces, in strangely familiar but oddly different roles. Jim Gordan is still Batman’s partner in the fight against the cowardly criminals in Gotham, and Oracle is still helping their never ending battle against their darkness. Of course this is Flashpoint, so nothing is what you remember. Even if the name’s the same, you can be certain they are not who you think they are.
It’s Eduardo Risso’s dark and fluid images that draw you into Gotham. Every shadow is full of hidden danger, seducing the reader to peer deeper in, until, like a black hole, you can’t escape it’s pull, until its too late, and all you can see in front of you is the crushing, certain death. And of course, even in this Gotham, death has a well known smiling visage.
You might take a moment to wonder why Gotham ended up like this in this world. Is this all shaped by Thawne in his battle against Barry Allen? Or did it all occur naturally as the result of one changed fact? Don’t try to get too caught up in that sort of minutia, just enjoy the dark scary ride.
Grade A+
Also check out my piece on all of this week’s FLASHPOINT titles at Comicbooked.com!
