Immortal Legend Batman #6 – Kyle Higgins, Mat Groom, Writers; Erica D’Urso, Dan Mora, Artists; Igor Monti, Tamra Bonvillain, Colorists
Ray – 9/10
Ray: This has been one of the most interesting alternate universes to come out of DC Comics in a long time – not a dark Black Label series, but a thrilling Elseworlds crafted by fusing the Batman mythos with the lore and aesthetics of deep-space Japanese adventure. You’ve got Batman as a space ranger, wielding strange cosmic energy – but he’s also one of many, as his allies have their own battlesuits. But now, this world’s version of the Joker has emerged – a spindly horror of a cosmic menace. Batman is without his powers, battling to survive, and forced into an uneasy alliance with his old friend turned enemy Tommy Elliott – who may only be helping him to get his own shot at the power. But as many characters have found out the hard way, this power doesn’t come without its drawbacks, and Tommy’s attempt to get his hands on it leaves a horrible remnant on him.
There’s a very interesting element to how the powers work in this issue that I haven’t seen anywhere else – they’re essentially powered by Bruce’s pain to a degree, and that’s why he can handle the process and Tommy can’t. But this same pain has played a role in creating the threat that’s unraveling the universe as we speak. The final battle this issue has some amazing visuals, and one character who’s been notably absent from the series makes her big debut in the big showdown. But there’s a segment in which Bruce confronts the last of his “shadows” that’s almost as powerful, and calls back to some of the best Batman stories of all time. Even after six oversized issues, it feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface of this series, and that’s both the series’ biggest weakness and its biggest strength. There’s so much to explore in this universe that I hate that it’s ending so quickly.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
