Batman #46

Who are you Mr. Bloom?

Well, that's revealing.

How many iterations of Batman have you known Mr. Bloom? 

In Batman #44 Bloom was ret-conned into the series by Scott Snyder in a move that I initially dismissive of.  (Batman #44.)

Now, I am not so sure.  The above statement tells us at least Bloom is aware of others that have donned the cape and cowl in Bruce Wayne's absence.  Something even Commisioner Gordon only mused at when Dick Grayson took over for a spell.  (Gordon thought he seemed smaller and "happier.")

True, this is a post"Flashpoint," "New 52" and "Convergence" story line so Snyder can do anything he wants with the Bloom background.  But, despite all the changes to DC, there is always some commonality that preserves the major moments in DC mythology and particularly Batman mythos.

Who are you Mr. Bloom?  

In my review of Batman #43 I was sure Bloom was some sort of weird organic reincarnation of The Joker.  Maybe he is still and Scott Snyder has the most bizarre and twisted conclusion to this arc we have ever experienced.  

If not, who is this being that has such intimate knowledge of Batman?  Alfred?  One of the Robins? A long lost girlfriend seemingly dead and mysteriously resurrected?  I know it strains credulity but this is the comics so if we are going to go there let's go there all the way.

(Hmm, Bloom is kind of thin maybe it is Elastic man.  Nah, even I'm not that crazy.)

Want some evidence Bloom is someone we know?

Duke from the "We Are Robin" comic has infiltrated the Penguins new Iceberg Lounge and despite Daryl's warnings to steer clear of all things Bloom, he has stumbled across something anyway.

"But it doesn't make sense."  "None."  "Bloom can't be...."

Of course Duke's revelation is interrupted by the Penguin himself.  We don't want to learn too much do we Mr. Snyder!

Speaking of Snyder here is what he said about Bloom in a recent interview with Newsarama,  "Bloom, literally and figuratively, is the thing that kind of comes up in those cracks that happen between all of those things that are supposed to be sewn together by the city." 

You mean like a weed Scott?  (For the whole interview go here.)  This statement doesn't exactly point to someone we already know in the Batman mythos but it could just be Snyder keeping his cards close to the vest.  (Joker card?)

So, readers of Batman #46 may have noticed I skipped a little ahead here.  Let's catch where Batman #45 left off.

Bloom had captured a Bat Blimp and set it against the movers and shakers of Gotham.  He picks off the fundraisers one by one and  taunts Geri and Commissioner Sawyer.  The Gordon Batman comes out of hiding and nearly manages to capture Bloom in clever fashion.  Equally, Bloom counters Batman's moves and makes his escape.

All a bit campy and a little too predictable.  But it does move us along to what the real Batman is doing which is...


Shower Time!

Yep, the currently oblivious Bruce is enjoying a nice morning shower.  It is "the morning after" and instead of looking deeply into his own mind, Bruce wants to know what is going on with Jules.

This post pillow talk does have some significance in that in provide an ever so subtle crack into the mind of Batman and his history.

To wit.

While Bruce is by and large totally unaware of his former alter ego as Batman, he does know that Jules' father had a sordid past and he is not beyond putting the pieces together.  Despite her father being the man that sold the gun to the man who murdered his parents he blithely wants to carry on and marry Jules.

Woof!  Things that are said in the shower!  Bruce is so far removed from the most pivotal moment in his life he nonchalantly pops the question and fits in a little naughty time.  (BTW, a hint was dropped by Jules that something is going on with her, probably something physical.  Cue future heartbreak.)


Oh Gotham, why?

Fortunately we have the hubris of an arrogant city to distract us.

Despite being easily menaced by Bloom earlier in our story Gotham continues on its path of self delusion.  Geri shows Gordon her army of Bat robots that she is utterly convinced will protect Gotham.  This from a city that once considered Batman a pariah.  Now they are telling themselves they have the better solution and are using the symbol of the Bat as their shield.

 Sheer hubris dear readers.  Sheer hubris.

Snyder has positioned Bruce Wayne as a small picture man that can't see what role he plays in Gotham.  Alternately, Gotham has been positioned by Snyder as a city that is seduced by the big picture that can't see the small picture.  

The devil is in the details Gothamites.


Wake Up Call

 

The only man on the planet with a grip of what is going on is Gordon.  In true Batman fashion he wants to go it alone.  He correctly assumes an army of Bat battle-bots would only lead to a large scale disaster.

 The man that should truly be on the ball is Bruce Wayne and he is still playing catch up.  His wake up call comes in the form of a child's drawing.   The urgency of the situation is starting to dawn on him (Bat-sense tingling?) and he realizes he can no longer find that seed Bloom left behind.  

Here we have another tie in to the children of Gotham.  Snyder seems to be focusing on Wayne's forgotten childhood and future of Gotham's kids.   If they have a future that is.

 
Gotham used to be a thriving community with the emphasis on "community."  Where once was charity and a populace that took care of its own, now stands arrogance that has created a divide where a path (Blossom Row) once brought people together.  Through that crack evil blooms.  (See what I did there?)

Bloom has proved to be formidable foe.  As our story closes "Bat-Gordo" is in the grip of his machine "Rookie."  One can assume the rest of the Bat Battle Bots will soon be in service to Bloom.

Better hurry up and snap out of it Wayne!


Okay.  Who is up for a little spoiler?

You're going to have to scroll way down.






Lower.







A little lower.  








Last spoiler warning!






Want to see what Bruce Wayne looks like when he finally realizes he's Batman?


Here it is..

The horror.

Yanick Paquette will be sitting in as illustrator for Batman#49 as Greg Capullo will be taking a break.  (Capullo will illustrate Batman#50.)  

I love Paquette's take on "German Expressionism" especially in the style of F. W. Murnau.  Wayne seems to be reacting as if he is in the thrall of some demonic presence.

I certainly hope so! 


See you back here for Batman #47.   Bat Battle Bots anyone?







 

The Joker as Monster

Spoilers for Batman #39

It's been a while since I've written here so I thought I might return with a little commentary from Batman #39.  Specifically the efforts put forth by Greg Capullo and Scott Snyder.

Capullo's latest visual take on The Joker is in a word, "monstrous."  Don't get me wrong I like it and this new iteration of the returned The Joker is ably abetted by Scot Snyder's writing.

This Joker is not just an evil genius, he is a clear cut psychopath with a homicidal bent. 

This is different you're saying?

I guess it is because of the way Capullo is drawing him.  There is a bit more musculature to the Clown Prince of Crime and gone is the overly narrow skull with the extra long shock of green hair.

This Joker looks ready for the movies.

(Word is, Jared Leto who will portray The Joker in the "Suicide Six" movie out in 2016 is also packing on the muscle.)

Here is the typical artistic take on The Joker.  A lot more wild green hair.  The omnipresent purple suit.  The overwrought maniacal look on his face.  But most of all, the narrowness of the head especially as it leads towards the jawline.

Capullo's widening of the skull adds a certain aspect to The Joker that I think my subconscious translated into this...

Capullo's Joker has that "put together" look much like Frankenstein's monster.   In fact, it wasn't long ago that The Joker in the comics was reattaching his own face.

The parallels to the Capullo/Snyder Joker and the Frankenstein monster go further in that. 

The Monster was a creation of Victor Frankenstein and it has often been noted in the pages of comics and on the silver screen, The Joker claims to be a creation of Batman.

"You made me."

In Shelly's book, Victor and the Monster grappled to the ends of the earth.  In the comics, Batman and The Joker are fated to do battle in perpetuity.

A Monstrous Act.

I haven't this shocked by a panel since the big reveal in the Batman "Flashpoint" series.  Which, not surprisingly, also dealt with The Joker.

In Batman issue 39, The Joker gains access to the Batcave.  He is confronted by the heroic Alfred and for his trouble he is left without his right hand.

Monstrous indeed!

Alfred is pretty much an untouchable character.  He has taken his lumps time and again but nothing like this.  Will "Comic book rules" be invoked and the loss of limb be "ret-conned?"  The Convergence series is coming to DC comics.  Will the rewriting of time and space in the DC universe fix Alfred's lost hand?

I for one want to see Batman's reaction to this.  Will he react in kind, an "eye for an eye?"

Hopefully, we'll get a chance to see this.  Convergence looks like a major re-write and if it is, The Joker may become reacquainted with whatever limb Batman feels to lop off beforehand.

(No pun intended.)

Batman: Still in Denial over Damien?

I thought it would be interesting to see how the rest of the Bat family of writers are handling the aftermath of Damien's death.  If we take a quick look at James Tynion's effort we'll see he's following Peters Tomasi's line of thinking that Batman is still in denial.

Tynion got a short feature and the end of Scot Snyder's Batman #19.  At first I thought it just another tacked on story to justify the added dollar for the issue (that and the fold out cover) but I thrilled to see it explored the world of Batman and Superman in real time.  I'm eagerly anticipating the return of the Batman/Superman comic for early this summer and here we get a sneak peek into that dynamic.  The added bonus here is that Superman and Batman are not only allies but friends.

It seems Superman has been trying to contact the Caped Crusader and accusing Batman of ignoring his calls.  From there we get to see the world's greatest superheroes together in the panel we see above.  Call me a geek but I thought it was pretty exciting.  Yes, we've seen them together in the Justice League but this seems a lot more organic to their relationship.

Tynion and artist Alex Maleev depict the two in the natural state.  Superman regally floating above the city, stock still but impressively powerful.  Batman, haunched over in the shadows using binoculars, ever the detective.  (Also not surprised to find Superman floating nearby.)

Superman shows his concern for Batman by asking about Damien.  Batman, emotions still raw from Damien's demise cuts him off with typical impatience.  Well, not so typical in this case.  Even an intervention from Superman isn't enough to break down the wall.

Batman, still in denial.

Our next set of frames comes from the greater part of Batman #19.  Snyder and artist Capullo continue to explore Batman's denial.  We find Batman in the depths of the Bat Cave.  He had just been ruminating over a recent case with Robin and a close scrape with death.  As was his want, Damien teases Batman about his fallibility.  Now Batman stands over a pool of water deep in thought.  Alfred tries to shake Batman out of his gloom by voicing concern over recent events and how Batman reacted to the "death" of Jason Todd.  As Batman did in Tynion's story he cuts of Alfred with a curt, "enough".  Alfred can only look on with a mixture of shock and dismay.

Batman, still in denial.

Soon Tomasi will move on from the "denial" storyline and explore the next step of the five stages of grief and that is "anger".  I'll continue to seek out clues that his fellow writers are following his lead.  (Then again, it'll hard to tell Batman's regular anger from the anger over Damien's death but I'm game.)

(p.s., Did anyone else get the impression that Batman was standing over a water filled Lazarus pit?)