REVIEW: ‘Batman’ Issue 8

Batman Issue 8 is published by DC Comics. Written by Matt Fraction, art by Ryan Sook, colors by Tomeu Morey, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

Three elderly men have three distinct conversations in Gotham.

This chapter takes the conversational aspect of the previous issue and transitions into something larger. Where the chat with Joker was intimate, this one is sprawling and has the full scale of Gotham in mind. All sides are represented. Vandal Savage is talking to Poison Ivy while Alan Scott approaches Batman. And then a normal man offers a more neutral perspective. The pacing is slow because there isn’t much action, but Batman issue 8 is rich with story.

Savage has been in the background of Gotham for a while, and it feels like Fraction is finally moving him to the forefront of Batman’s mind. That’s what Alan Scott is for: someone who has battled Savage for longer than anyone else. It’s a charming depiction, just coffee between heroes. And then there is an older gentleman walking through the streets with a young teenager, one of the people who actually sees the effects of Savage on the police and the city’s atmosphere.

The stories are told simultaneously, creating a nice flow through the plot. The tone is quiet and contemplative, building towards something bigger. And one of those moments is delivered at the end of Batman Issue 8, and is a startling event that stacks more pieces against Batman.

The dialogue and characters within this issue are phenomenal, especially when focusing on Alan and Bruce. They approach each other as equals, and the respect Batman has for the original Green Lantern is profound. He comes to him not just for information on Savage, but also for guidance. There are very few heroes who have more experience than Batman, so it’s an intriguing dynamic to have someone consider Bruce younger and in need of advice.

Batman Issue 8 centers itself on older men, giving them respect and power. Alan is a gentleman, but he’s a fierce fighter. Vandal Savage is literally immortal, originating in the Stone Age. He’s an expert planner, sowing seeds that will grow later. And then there’s another. An unnamed Black man, evidently intelligent, who talks to a teenager on their commute home.

Fraction laces history through him despite us never having met before, giving his dialogue more grit and substance. All of these men have a wealth of experience and stories to tell, but they are very different in personality.

The art is stunning, with a masterful control of panel layouts and storytelling. There are many occasions in Batman Issue 8 where the scene transitions between the locations within the same page. Other times, full pages are dedicated to moments between individual figures. The comic opens near the eye level of all three older men, highlighting their age and the emotions they hold. The locations have so much detail such as when Batman and Alan have coffee in a typical American diner.

Sook seeks to be comical within this conversation, with the absurdity of the two heroes surrounded by Americana. Savage is in the botanical office of Ivy. Both are smartly dressed and placed in positions of power. And the unnamed old man moves from the train through the streets. They’re quiet, unusually quiet. And the only signs of danger are the police that prowl the roads.

The colors are fantastic, especially when hinting that one of the major figures in Batman Issue 8 is from out of town. The vibrancy in Gotham typically comes from flashing lights, billboards, or the green of Ivy’s plants. But Alan brings his own brightness, and not just from the green light or his ring. Everything about him is intense and vibrant. Just his hair alone is dazzlingly blonde, and his outfit is also rich. The lettering is very clear and easy to read.

Batman Issue 8 looks to the elders. The experience and wisdom of this issue’s supporting characters eclipses even Batman’s. The guest star, being the first Green Lantern, feels fresh, exciting, and very unexpected. It’s light meets dark for coffee. And the rest of Gotham is moving around them. The issue may not have fighting within the pages, but a war is still being waged, with each word intelligent, thoughtful, and contemplative.

Batman Issue 8 is available where comics are sold.