Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset Issue 1 is published by DC Comics. Written by Matt Fraction and G. Willow Wilson, layouts by Giuseppe Camuncoli, finishes by Cliff Rathburn, colors by Tomeu Morey, and letters by Clayton Cowles.
Poison Ivy encases the entirety of Gotham City in plants, not letting anyone in or out.
This is the beginning of an event that stretches across any title that features Gotham or a Batman character. But primarily, Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset Issue 1 feels like two particular books fused together. It feels like a collision of Matt Fraction’s Batman and G. Willow Wilson’s Poison Ivy as their stories merge into one major plot that envelops the whole city. There is an interesting pacing and structure to the comic, because Ivy’s hand is displayed very early in the book. There is a darkness to Ivy’s actions, a surprising ruthlessness that hasn’t been seen in a long time.
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There are so many factors to this story and so many players, and these pieces are introduced through a fluid timeline. Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset Issue 1 bounces back and forth in time, fully capturing the scale and the sudden speed at which the plants take over the city,
The whole city is involved in the attack on Batman as a war wages on between Vandal Savage and Poison Ivy. The atmosphere is tense and ominous, with an increased sense of danger from the very start. Every part of Gotham is involved, from the tops of the skyscrapers to the sewers. This is a fight for survival.
The characters in Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset Issue 1 are fantastic. Perhaps the greatest figure within the opening chapter is Ivy, who suddenly holds all the power. Most of the storytelling and Gotham’s construction has Fraction’s fingerprints, but Wilson brings the glorious character development.
Ivy is terrifying in this comic, re-establishing herself as a dangerous, capable villain with a distinct attitude towards humans. There are reasons for that, Wilson has explored those within her Poison Ivy run. There are the humans around her, such as Janet, who are now horrified by what they’re seeing.
The dark side of Ivy resurfacing is horrifying, especially given the lack of remorse and consideration for the innocents in Gotham. She is on a war footing, too, with Savage trying to get at her and a deal with the Parliament of Trees. Ivy has a very finely poised plan that’s based on trust and agreements.
It takes a while for Batman to appear in Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset Issue 1, with the rest of the Bat Family appearing first. This event drags in everyone within the city, from the Robins and Batgirls to Nightwing outside the city. When Batman does appear, he is already moving and planning. And at the end of Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset Issue 1, there is a fantastic conversation between Batman and someone who is typically a villain. But with the whole city under immense threat, it may take everyone to do what they can to save lives.
The art is gorgeous, with the experience of Camuncoli and Rathburn stepping in for such an enormous story. Camuncoli is fantastic at depicting madness, fury, and distress. This can be seen very early in the faces of Vandal Savage, Ivy and even Janet, who is watching Ivy through new eyes. It instantly evokes a sense of danger and fear because the piece’s major villains are already ruthless. There’s a level of desperation seeping in around the place, with Ivy starting to be put under siege by Savage.
The city is a key factor in this comic, with the entire landmass of Gotham becoming Ivy’s new garden. The extreme wide shot is used multiple times, and the first instance is to show it fully invaded with flora. The next time has headshots of several characters, helping to place them within the city. The book then moves to the streets and the homes, showing the plants starting to take control.
There are many parts of Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset Issue 1 that contain elements of horror. And one of the most disturbing details is when the characters have traces of tears running down their cheeks.
The colors are sensational. The shades of Gotham are usually an abundance of blue, gray and black, with the golden glow of the lights poking out of the buildings. But this is about to change as Ivy’s green spreads across every block, building and bridge within the city. Th,e lettering is very similar to how it appears in the Batman series, and it is beautifully crisp and easy to read.
Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset Issue 1 opens a wonderfully self-contained event. While many crossovers spread over a country or continent, Bad Seeds forces a pressurized environment within Gotham. It’s a reminder of the dangers of nature, specifically Poison Ivy. Her plans are nasty and deadly, and happening over such a large battlefield that it’s impossible for the heroes to even process what’s happening. It takes long stories and blisters them in this one intense event.
The combined, glorious talents make for a superstar team that turns multiple comics into a melting pot of personality, exciting action and gorgeous art. And the use of Sunset as a title highlights the notion that this is going to be a long, arduous night.
Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.
