The Dark Knight Descends

The Iconic Batman: Art of the New 52 #10 

I found this unusual perspective of Batman in "Batman and Batgirl #21".  Batgirl has been chasing down some heroin pushing thugs down by the Gotham docks when Batman suddenly makes his appearance.  She had just been wondering where Batman has been, as she wants to talk to him about the loss of his son, Damien.

This particular issue deals with the third stage of the Kubler-Ross model of grieving which is known as "Bargaining".  I'm not going into the depths of this particular topic at this point (that will be for a later post).  Instead, I'd like to comment on this striking frame as contributed by guest penciller, Cliff Richards.

You can almost hear Batman's cape snap open as he launches himself into the fray.  This dynamic entrance is made all the more surreal by having Batman's disembodied head wreathed in the darkness of his gothic veneer.

There is no encumberment of arms and legs to distract the viewer, just the bizarre promontory of Batman's head reaching out from some blackened netherworld.  Batgirl's narrative box exclaims, "Speak of the devil".  This just adds to the spectral quality of this depiction as Batman seems like some holy terror reaching out to pull those into some hellish place where he only dares to tread.

Batman's athleticism is often characterized by the inclusion of overwrought musculature.  Something I am often critical of.  I'd rather see a more human Batman rather than someone whose physique is comperable to Superman's.  Batman is a part of this world not something that is alien or unreal.

That is why I find this rendering of Batman so fascinating.  The other-worldly musculature is gone as is the human aspect.  All we get is tendril like extensions from Batman's cape which makes him neither bat or human.  Instead we get a minimalist vengeful wraith that characterizes Batman's innermost quality.

A rare feat.

Peter J. Tomasi has been exploring  the depths of Batman's pain over losing his Robin in these issues of "Batman and Robin" each with a guest partner.  In this issue Tomasi has found an ideal collaborator in Richards as Richards seems to understand that the depth of Batman's anguish resides in his mind.  So it is fitting we see this mind detailed in his cowled visage as his heart breaking struggle continues.

I'm not sure if Tomasi had any input into Richards work, specifically this frame.  But it seems like a partnership worth pursuing in the future.