Synopsis: Spores, vines, and lumbering floronic monsters have invaded the Dark Knight’s city. Now, as chaos runs rampant in the streets Batman has sworn to protect, Batman finds that Vandal Savage and his TUCO squads may prove even more deadly than the prehistoric flora that has taken the city for its own. Can Batman save Gotham from this lethal convergence of human evil and verdant violence before it’s too late? Find out in this can’t-miss issue that continues directly where Batman #13 leaves off! Also featuring a back-up story showcasing the winning villain design from the BUILDING BAD sweepstakes!
The Story
Picking up where Batman #13 left off, this issue sees Poison Ivy’s spores strangling Gotham and wrecking the city’s infrastructure. To make matters worse, the spores date back to prehistoric times, rendering conventional methods of destroying them useless.
Commissioner Vandal Savage believes he has the answer: a new herbicide that he plans to drop over the city from a zeppelin. The problem is that Savage’s herbicide won’t just destroy Ivy’s spores; it will also kill 100,000 people. Unwilling to accept that loss of innocent life, Batman must stop Savage from releasing it while finding another way to kill the spores. To that end, he seeks help from another villain.
The issue also introduces a new villain called Rhetoric, who gets a backup story in which to announce himself.
Artwork
Jeff Spokes does a great job with the visuals throughout the book. I loved the cinematic quality of the panels showing Batman boarding the zeppelin and preventing the herbicide from being released. The close quarters combat between Batman and Savage’s men feels brutal. I also enjoyed the panels near the end, when Batman is captured and nearly enveloped by Ivy’s spores.
The art in the backup story is just as strong. We get our first look at Rhetoric, whose outfit is a hodgepodge of clothing and items taken from the staff and inmates of Arkham Asylum. I look forward to seeing more of him when he next appears in Detective Comics.
Overall
It’s always a little difficult picking up a story that has continued from another book as part of a crossover. Luckily, I didn’t need to read Batman #13 to understand what was going on. Even without the full details of what had happened before, I was invested enough to enjoy the story.
- Covers9.5
- Story8.6
- Artwork9.8
- Lettering9.4
- Colours9.8
If I’m not mistaken Rhetoric was created by a fan who won a competition. Similar to the Abzorbaloff in Doctor Who. Good review Ian.