REVIEW: ‘Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point,’ Issue #3

Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #3 is published by DC Comics, concept and story consultation by Donald Mustard, written by Christos Gage, art by Reilly Brown, inks by Nelson Faro DeCastro, colors by John Kalisz, and letters by Andworld. With Catwoman successfully escaping the loop, Batman’s determination to follow her grows with every battle. So much so that those observing him are starting to worry about what effect his single-mindedness could have on their project.

As I approached this issue, I had no idea what to expect from this story. I couldn’t believe that writer Gage would tell another issue through the time looping Batman’s point of view. While it held a certain novelty last issue, another would’ve come off as simply repetitive. But where would the story go, and how would they deliver it without Batman’s internal monologue? It turns out they would go to someplace I never would’ve expected.

Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #3 delivers its narrative through a series of interoffice memos written by one of the individuals who are monitoring Batman. Through these memos, we learn about what Batman has been up to, his singular focus on his goal, and the growing concern it elicits from the unnamed observer. It seems Batman’s behavior is beginning to run dangerously outside of the expected parameters of this event, and the observer is getting desperate to find a solution before the situation gets completely out of hand.

The solution that is eventually come to is to pit Batman against another of the test’s “special assets.” As you have probably ascertained, if you have noticed the cover art for this issue, that asset is none other than legendary G.I.Joe ninja Snake Eyes. As two of the biggest martial artists, not just in comics but pop culture fiction in general, this is one of those dream fights fans hypothesize about. While I won’t spoil the results, I will say that the story makes the most of this opportunity, as it goes all out to deliver some high-flying action.

While the unique delivery that Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #3 takes is a surprise in its manner of delivery, it doesn’t really do much for the story, which makes no forward momentum till a final couple of pages remain. Rather, all this issue manages to accomplish is give the reader an abstract feeling of what is going on behind the curtain, as well as deliver a dream crossover battle.

While the story largely stalls this issue, the art does a great job of reveling in both the zany Fortnite aesthetic as well as delivering some truly unique combat panels of the issue’s marquee characters. Brown’s art takes full advantage of the story’s time loop premise to move the fight to as many different locales, and situations as the book’s page count can accommodate.  Combine this with Kalisz’s colors which lean into the bright mismatched Fortnite color scheme, and the energy of the story’s showpiece battle delivers tons of fun panels, even if there are no actual stakes attached to the fight.

Adding the final touch to this book’s look is Andworld’s letters. The lettering style, as well as the special dialogue box design, works perfectly to covey the nature of the dialogue throughout the story.

So while Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #3 delivers numerous fun action panels, there is little else to be gained from this tale. But, if that throwdown is all you go into the book expecting, you can certainly enjoy that.

Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point #3 is available now wherever comics are sold.