Batman #14 Review

Of course, I knew going in that Tom King’s Batman would be very different from Scott Snyder’s incarnation. And it’s not like the climax (Get it?) in this issue has never happened before – It has, back in the beginning of the New 52. And it occurred in a graphic novel years ago, and that resulted in Damien Wayne.

What really concerns me is that I’m already starting to get used to all this, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing!

BATMAN #14
Writer: Tom King
Art: Mitch Gerads
Published by: DC Comics
Cover price: $2.99

Previously in BATMAN: “I AM SUICIDE” epilogue! Back in Gotham City, Batman and Catwoman confront their past and make a decision about their future that may change their city forever. How do you solve a problem like Selina Kyle? Is she a hero? Is she a villain? Can Batman and Catwoman ever really work things out? The award-winning team of Tom King and Mitch Gerads of Babylon (SHERIFF OF BABYLON) bring you “Rooftops,” a story in which Batman must decide once and for all what to do about Catwoman.  RATED T.”

FOCUSING ON THE ‘MAN’ IN ‘BATMAN’

Maybe I’m just too old fashioned, or too much of a prude. When we come to the “What Catwoman wants to do” part, and they get it on up on that rooftop, I was partly numb to it but also partly outraged.

This issue follows up from the Bane storyline, and Batman and Catwoman decide to spend a night together, doing what each one wants before she goes to prison in the morning.

They start out doing what Batman wants, of course, so they take down a number of villains, even including the Condiment King, best known for his brief appearance in Batman: The Animated Series. I enjoyed that.

Then we get to what Catwoman is interested in. It seems like she wants Batman to steal something with her, but there’s more to that sequence than we’re led to believe.

Then we come to what she REALLY wants to do, and she describes it as, “Maybe just this once (we can) do what we’d LIKE to do.” Of course, that’s sex. And they proceed to get it on.

I think what Mr. Taylor is aiming at is showing the “human” or “man” part of Batman. He has troubles with suicide in his life, he struggles with loyalty, he has sex. He’s a guy, after all.

I’m okay with that, to a point. I mean, Marvel’s characters are “relatable” in that they face everyday concerns like a bad hair day or catching a cold. In DC, their heroes are more iconic. If they do get a cold, they move on without it being a concern or in the way.

Having sex is part of life, of course. My problem is that Batman has always been obsessed with justice so much that sex is not as driving a force as it might be with the rest of us. That is ALSO being “human,” in my opinion.

I’m still conflicted about this in that I never doubted that he could have sex. It’s just that it was the “big finish” for the issue, and it was no surprise since Catwoman was throwing hints about this forever. And on the variant cover, Batman and Catwoman are lip-locked in a high-power embrace. Cool and all, but is sex really that important for the Dark Knight? Or are they saying this is HUGE moment in their relationship? We’ll have to wait and see.

Don’t get me wrong! I thought the writing, particularly the dialogue and the narration, was great. There were several phrases that were repeated, and the second time around, they meant something else, like the “diamond” exchange. (Sorry, couldn’t resist that pun!)

It’s just that sex as a plot device has been used forever, and I like to turn to Batman for something else. Does that make me a prude?

GREAT ART

I really enjoyed the art in this issue, such as the double-page spread of them kissing on the rooftop. Nicely done!

It’s interesting that the choices of color are very dark this time, with lots of dark blues, blacks, and dark greens. Does that represent the subject matter? Hmmm…

BOTTOM LINE: Batman and Catwoman, Up in a Tree…

After the big fuss that came when Batman and Catwoman had sex at the beginning of the New 52, this time the reaction has been truly quiet by comparison. Maybe we ARE getting used to it, even with Batman.

Maybe I’m just not taking this seriously enough, since that’s critical to the story. However, we’ve been there, done that. Also, now Catwoman goes off to jail (where she’ll reside only temporarily), and Batman will likely not see her for a long time. What a relationship!

While I’m enjoying this series, to me it doesn’t compete with All-Star Batman. I’m happy the sales continue to be high. As a long-time Bat-fan, I’m always thrilled when the Dark Knight is successful.

But my final thoughts have been, “Okay, we had sex. That’s over. We can move on to other things now, right?” (I’m sure some folks will be unhappy with me for saying that – “typical male thinking!”)

All right, maybe I AM a Prude after all! Hey, that could be the name of an upcoming storyline in Batman, right?

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