REVIEW: ‘Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central’ Issue 2

Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central Issue 2 is published by DC Comics. written by Christopher Cantwell, art and colors by Jacob Phillips and letters by Becca Carey.

All hell is breaking loose on the Gotham Underground, including cops, plants, anarchists, serial killers, and bats.

Taking place immediately after the first chapter, this second half of the Gotham Central tie-in exclusively takes place in the tunnels of Gotham. Gordon, Espinoza, Harvey Bullock and more are stuck on a subway train with Arnarky and Victor Zsasz. The train is a death trap inside and out, creating incredible intensity. The pace moves rapidly, and so does the train.

Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central Issue 2 comes with enormous consequences. A bullet fired is going to go somewhere. Something happening to the driver shakes up the entire train behind him. And where there is action before, the choices made by those above decide if everyone lives or dies. The way that figures can jump on and off the train despite the immense danger of the act adds excitement and peril.

There are just so many angles and characters within Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central Issue 2, and it creates a frantic and bustling book. The train is impossibly cramped, and the villains make it hard for Gordon and the other officers to maintain control.

Gordon is by far the most experienced and most desperate to keep order in the carriages. He’s spent the most time with villains and can talk to them without fear. Espinoza and the other uniformed officers are brave and principled, but speaking to Zsasz terrifies them, and rightly so. Bullock is grouchy and trigger-happy, worn down in his retirement. And whilst Arnarky isn’t anywhere close to the depravity of Zsasz, he’s very angry and unpredictable.

It should be said that whilst having a member of the Bat Family swoop in helps, it’s not a cheat code. And actually, it’s the presence of a vigilante that heightens the danger for everyone on the train, and there is a really emotional and breathtaking moment finishing the comic. Cantwell brilliantly depicts the breakdown of communications of the police department. 

Those on the ground are really trying to save lives, whilst those at the top, influenced by Vandal Savage, are completely swamped and rendered useless by the corruption. So the only help the uniformed officers have is themselves.

The art is fantastic, beautifully highlighting the lack of space. The location of Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central Issue 2 is so precarious. We see where every bullet goes, often into someone who isn’t the intended target. Some poles can be used to cause harm. And then there are the plants that can either come through the window or topple the train off the tracks. The injuries are brutal and bloody, difficult to control within tight confines.

While the two villains can be easily identified, their clothes remind us that they are only human. The only exception to the civilian, understated clothing idea is the hero, adding a sudden influx of energy. The physicality and movement are phenomenal because everything takes place in close quarters.

The colors are pivotal in controlling the atmosphere within the train. Phillips crafts an orange and sickly green glow inside the cars of the subway, which makes the pages uncomfortable and unsettling. Some shades stand out, however. The red blood is a striking contrast to the blues of the cop uniforms, which suggest a group trying to regain control. The lettering is very clear and easy to read.

Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central Issue 2 is an engrossing set piece. The setting makes the comic feel self-contained, yet it also captures Gotham as a whole. It’s a small space with a large cast, and that leads to eruptions of violence. And despite everything faltering, there’s a resilience. It’s about staying alone and keeping the anarchy and villainy from boiling over. It’s a breathtaking story from start to finish, especially in its final page.

Batman: Bad Seeds – Gotham Central Issue 2 is available where comics are sold.