Batman No. 13 Death of the Family

[madmarva]

Wow, Batman No. 13, the first part of the Death of the Family storyline which brings back the Joker, is strong stuff. While it's just the first part of a multipart story, it's the best Batman comic I've read in quite a while. Maybe since Batman Year One back in 1986.

From his work on Detective Comics prior to DC's relaunch/reboot, I was enthused that Scott Snyder was taking on the writing chores of the main Batman title. Court of Owls was good, but not really my cup of tea. Didn't care for the overriding super-natural content or the fact it the story took a full year to tell, but if Snyder continues to deliver like he did with this issue, he can have all the time he wants.

The comic was excellent, nailing portrayals of Gordon, Batman and Bullock while checking in with Dick, Barbara Damian and Tim. There is an excellent exchange between Joker and the Gotham Police in the police department that would be absolutely chilling on film or even in an animated adaption. The story does a nice job of setting the table of who the Joker is and how he is changing. It won't be unfamiliar territory for longtime fans, but it's done cleverly and effectively so it didn't feel like a retread to me. For a novice Batman reader or one only familiar with the movies, it will likely suck them in.


The final page left me thinking, "no don't, please don't," particularly considering the title of the event, Death of the Family. I don't really want what that last page of the main story implies to happen, but if it does, it will be interesting to see just where the Batman Family goes and what ramifications the incident incites.

Really good comic.

[The Toyroom]

I agree...very good read. Snyder's run on "Batman" has been one of the few bright spots during the whole "New 52" ("Aquaman" and "Wonder Woman being the others). Batman was one of the lucky few characters to basically enter the "New 52" with his slate intact, so this story is a natural progression of previous Joker stories instead of reinventing the wheel.

[madmarva]

The story just felt like Batman should feel to me. Truly weird and scary stuff from the villain, nice stuff with Gordon and bullock, good stuff in the Batcave with Alfred and all the Robins, a death trap, a bait and switch clue and a cliffhanger. Inventive layouts by the artist and the writer creates some excellent tension. I'm looking forward to the next issue to see if this goes where the last page and arc title suggests. The only thing is that I know the tie ins by the other writers most likely won't work as well - not for a lack of skill necessarily - but because it's not truly their story and won't come at it with the same level of passion as Snyder.

[The Toyroom]

I don't plan on venturing off the main title to try any of the cross-overs. I don't suspect they'll be at the same level. The Joker entering the world of The Teen Titans doesn't interest me.

[madmarva]

The only tie-in that really interests me is Batgirl. Might be some good stuff there.

[boynightwing]

I really loved Batman 13. I like it when I can't predict the outcome of the story and I like how it unsettled me. As for tie-in's I only care about Batgirl and the Red Hood as those two were the most affected by the Joker in their lives.

I was bothered by Batgirl 13 as it had that same cover as Batman 13 but the comic itself has very little to do with the Joker. It instead finished off a storyline that wasn't very good. Hopefully Batgirl 14 will be better.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Okay, you guys have me intrigued. Spoil me.

Chris

[madmarva]

++++++++++++++++++++++++SPOILER+++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++






Well, the name of the story arc is Death of the Family, obviously alluding to the Death in the Family where Joker beat Jason Todd to death with a crow bar. Batman 13 ends with Alfred opening the door of Wayne Manor. The last panel has him facing the Joker who has a hammer cocked and ready to go bang, bang on his head.

How would you kill Batman's family, well, I'll argue killing Alfred would do it. He has always been the bridge between Batman and his wards/sons. He's the placator, facilitator, the soother and sympathizer. Batman and the wards will listen to him when they won't listen to each other. Without him, the logical progression would be for Bruce's arrogance, reticence, emotional insecurity and immaturity to tear his relationships apart rather than hold "The Family" together.

So, would DC kill off Alfred again? I don't know. I wouldn't, because in many ways Alfred has been the writer's best friend with the series at least since the 1970s and really even before. But it would be a death that would have impact and change the series greatly. It might set up a ton of new stories. It would certainly shake up the status quo, even for just a time.

However, the cliffhanger was just part of the excellence of the issue.

The book harkens back to many of the great Batman stories, including Batman 1, 251, the Englehart/Rogers Joker story from Detective, the Red Hood origin story from the early 1950s also in Detective, as well as others. It delves into his relationship with Harley Quinn (both in the lead and back-up). The characters are all in character, which is something not always seen in the New 52.

Joker's attack on the Gotham Police Department works incredibly well. Kind of chilling and very cinematic. Capullo's Batman is a little cartoony, but still appropriate and Page 12 has a wonderful design. Full page of Bruce in the Bat costume but without his cowl. At just below chest level the spread splits into three triangular panels than flow from the bat emblem on his chest showing what Tim, Barbra and Dick are doing, while Bruce fills them in on what's up with the Joker. I love the page.Capullo also uses a number of more subtle devices effectively in his art to help tell and advance the story.

The double spread on pages 5 and 6 are an excellent splash page as well as an effective house ad for the storyline. The page also tells us that the Joker know a whole lot more about Batman than Batman knows about the Joker, secret identity and all.

Joker masterminds a mass killing of cops who are protecting the mayor in a clever way right under Batman's nose.

Again, like with all long-running series, we've seen much of this before but Synder — in a very Byrne-like way — uses the best of the past to craft and tell an entertaining, effective and even emotional story.

We know Batman's going to survive all this, but what will be the cost.

I very well crafted first part to what DC is calling an "epic event," and if the rest of the issues are this good or even approach being this good, "epic event" won't be hyperbole.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Thanks for the breakdown. It actually sounds interesting.

Chris