Review – Batman: Dark Age #5 – The Forever War

Batman: Dark Ages #5 – Mark Russell, writer; Mike Allred, artist; Laura Allred, colorist

Beam – 10/10

Beam: Mark Russell’s work can vary, sometimes being a little too sarcastic and caustic for my taste – but when he’s on form, he’s on form like few writers in the industry, and Mike Allred seems to bring out the absolute best in him. This is by far the best issue of this series, and it opens with a brilliant section where Bruce Wayne remembers the time his mother ended up in Arkham Asylum as a child – back when it wasn’t a place to hold lunatics, but a place of healing for someone who had given too much of himself to the world. Of course, Arkham has been razed to the ground in the presence of Ra’s Al Ghul as part of his plan to destroy Bruce Wayne’s empire. Dr. Chase Meridian was seemingly killed in the fire, leaving Bruce distraught and bent on revenge. He pushes Dick and Alfred away, seeking help from the Justice League – only to find that they’re focused on a far more serious ticking clock for the entire Earth.

Ra’s made a big impression in the second issue, but in his return he’s far more deadly and cruel than we’ve ever seen him. His attack on everything close to Bruce Wayne is so fierce that Bruce seeks help from unexpected sources – his villains, with Catwoman, Penguin and Riddler each having their own reasons for joining them. Of course, another, more famous villain lurks in the shadows, promising to bring this series to a thrilling conclusion in the finale. But amidst all of that, there are still so many great little moments in this series, including an interesting introduction to teenager Barbara Gordon, who pays tribute to one of the greatest social uprisings of the era in which it is set. In some ways this Batman is familiar, but in others he’s almost a completely different character – one who grew up in a different environment and went through a different trial by fire. This will be a masterpiece alongside its sister book.

Reviews of all DC issues can be found under “DC This Week”.

GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.

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