Review: Batman Beyond 2.0 #8

We’ve finally reached the end of this eight-part arc by Kyle Higgins and Thony Silas. The final showdown between Batman and Rewire has come. The anticipation leading up to this last issue was making me a little nuts, but I persevered. I found ways throughout the last four months to keep my mind on other things so that I didn’t drive myself crazy. So far this series has been the shining light in the digital DC universe, as far as I’m concerned. Anyway, now that I’m done singing its praises I’ll get to the actual content that you’ve been waiting for. There isn’t much that goes on in this issue other than the final battle. I know that is usually where these types of superhero stories usually go, but I have to say that I was a little unimpressed with it. I feel like the dialogue between these two characters was much stronger in the earlier issues. I just didn’t feel the drama this time. I enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong, but I just didn’t have that feeling at the end that I was used to. The way that Rewire is defeated in the final moment of the fight is pretty cool, but it just seems too quick. I usually don’t like to spoil anything for anyone, but there is a team-up between Batman and Dick Grayson, and it feels a little forced. I do want to reiterate, however, that Rewire’s defeat is quite cleverly orchestrated, but I just wasn’t wowed this time.

Batman Beyond 2.0 #8The writing is fine. I never have anything negative to say about Kyle Higgins, but if this issue had ended on the intensity level of the last issue, I probably would have had to take a day off before I sat down and wrote this review. One really impressive part though, was the last conversation between Terry and Dick. I was glad to see that Kyle revisited that dialogue. I have to say that it was the best part.

Thony Silas made the fight scene look really sharp. Of course, I didn’t have any doubt that he would. There is a lot of really cool electricity stuff. Electricity always looks really good on the page, especially against a backdrop like Neo Gotham.

Overall it is a good ending for the story, but it just seems a little uneventful. I want to make sure that I clarify something though; it tied the arc together well. Everything that should have happened, happens. It might not happen in as much of an exciting way as I was hoping, but I’m not going to pretend that it doesn’t deliver satisfying results. My expectations may have just been too high this time around. I really was expecting a lot this week.

Score: 3/5

Writer: Kyle Higgins Artist: Thony Silas Publisher: DC Comics Price: $.99 Release Date: 11/16/13