Batman #65 is published by DC Comics, written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Guillem March, colors by Tomeu Morey, and letters by Steve Wands. The issue marks the next piece in the crossover between the Batman/Flash crossover that also ties into Tom King’s ongoing event Heroes in Crisis.
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The issues follow as Batman and Flash track down Gotham Girl to Central City after her attack on the Flash museum in the previous issue. The panels also explore a new take on Gotham Girl’s origin that King’s run had not as deeply explored. Gotham Girl’s psychological trauma and disturbed mental state fit well within the current Heroes In Crisis storyline.
Gotham Girl, Claire Clover, is a very unique character. She has an immensely strong power set but it comes with some serious side-effects. The more she uses her abilities and the more strength she puts into said abilities, the amount of her life energy she applies to them. This means the greater the sacrifice, the more powerful she becomes. As she grows stronger, she becomes closer to killing herself.
The treads into Claire’s PTSD by exploring her origin again it also brings to light that she has passive suicidal ideations, meaning while she is not actively trying to kill herself she would like to be dead. Claire is well aware that her using her powers will kill her and despite Batman and the Flash’s warning she continues to do so not only to hurt them but in a lot of way, herself.
Batman as a character often struggles with how his actions as the Dark Knight have both positively and negatively effected those around him. In various storylines he has had to face his failures head one, previously with Jason Todd and similarly with Claire Clover. Claire’s disdain for the Bat stems in a lot of ways from her history not only with him saving her parents but with her presence in the first arc of King’s Batman: Rebirth. A lot of dots are being connected in this storyline and it is interesting to see not only moments from the first arc being referenced but also once again the other crossover event, The Button.
Williamson packs an emotional punch during this arc and this issue is no different. Gotham Girl is one of my favorite parts of the Rebirth story so it is amazing to see her again in such a prominent way. As someone who has struggled with passive suicidal ideations and chronic pain, this issue is especially emotional. Claire’s character speaks to me in a unique way. March’s art brings out a lot of the feeling during the especially poignant moments of the comic with a special nod going to Morey’s shading techniques. I look forward to the conclusion of this arc and seeing the next piece of it play out in Flash #65
Batman #65 is available in comic stores now.
Batman #65
TL;DR
March’s art brings out a lot of the feeling during the especially poignant moments of the comic with a special nod going to Morey’s shading techniques. I look forward to the conclusion of this arc and seeing the next piece of it play out in Flash #65.
