By Cat Wyatt

It’s only natural that after reading the title for issue number 38 that one would assume that this was another origin story for Batman. So imagine my surprise when I realized the focus was actually on Bruce Wayne, as opposed to Batman. I imagine people will have varying opinions on how this issue was handled, but I’ll confess I appreciated the twist towards the end, even if I didn’t necessarily enjoy the whole journey there.

The first page is a bit different; they’re doing the not uncommon trick of comparing/contrasting two different people by laying a series of images side by side. On the left side we have Bruce happily coming home to Selina. On the right, Matthew (and his butler) coming home to find the boy’s parents dead. We could spend all day talking about the connections they’re drawing here; Bruce’s happier days to this boys worst day; the common theme of the death of parents (in a brutal fashion), the butler (and therefore presumably family wealth), etc. Without moving on we can’t really read into this much further, but it was still fun to mull it over.

Being that this series is interesting and worth reading, the authors found a way to connect the two series of events (otherwise there isn’t much of a purpose). Bruce Wayne, being the kind philanthropist he is, reaches out to the newly orphaned William to express his condolences and see if he can help at all (though granted there’s very little one can do in this sort of situation). Cue a long discussion between the two about loss and recovery. This conversation is dropped and picked up several times over what I would assume is a week or two, picking up different tones based on the information being discovered about the murder of his parents.

The next page is both graphic, and shockingly full of information, despite the fact that the only things we see are arms and a letter. There’s only one villain (that I know of) that cuts himself after a killing, and that’s Zsasz. Many law enforcement officers, Batman included (if you’re willing to look at Batman in that light) would be willing to consider Zsasz cutting himself and the timing of it a confession.

We’re led to assume that Zsasz is connected to all of this based on that, though the connection becomes foggier once it’s revealed that Zsasz is currently imprisoned in Arkham Asylum. While many of its inmates would be more than ok with using a hire hand or helper, I just don’t see Zsasz doing that. I also don’t buy the idea of him just taking credit for the murder (for one thing, how did he hear about it so quickly?). And then there’s the question of the connection/motive (not that he really requires a very strong one…). Something’s off here, the question is what.

Some super sleuthing leads Batman to the likely cause of Zsasz’s cutting; but rather than answering all of our questions, it simply raises more. Who could have done what we’re witnessing? Why would they have set it up to look like Zsasz murdered William’s parents, only then to mimic the work of Two Face? While the attempts made to mimic both villains was probably enough to fool any police that investigated the crimes, to say they weren’t able to stand up against Batman is being pretty kind. Even without consciously seeing the flaws in the puzzle, he knows something is wrong. Which means he won’t back off until he figures it out.

Which being the world’s greatest detective, he naturally does. Even if it takes him a few times around the block to put all of the pieces together. There were a few false trails, some false assumptions and accusations, but he figured it out. I’ll admit I was a bit surprised by what was actually going on. I’m so used to the plot revolving around Batman, I didn’t ever consider this plot being about Bruce Wayne, or more accurately a person obsessed with him. So frequently the one identity gets obscured by the other, so it was refreshing to see the change here (plus I was pleased that Zsasz wasn’t the actual villain here – he feels overused to me).

On the whole this is a pretty intense issue, which isn’t really saying all that much, considering its Batman. There’s the more graphic nature that comes with Zsasz (the crimes he commits, the act of cutting himself, etc), but also seeing the raw human emotions that come with the loss of family, and the exploration of who we really are versus who we want to be (and what value that holds).

I’m pretty happy with the artwork in this issue, though I think my favorite piece would probably have to be the cover. Its macabre theme really hints to what’s inside, and it fits the ending perfectly while not giving anything away. The artist did a fantastic job of making all the graphic scenes disturbing, and not by overdoing it on the blood (though there was a decent amount of that). Zsasz’s arms were a horrible sight, for sure, but beyond that I find myself impressed by the effort put into them. They have years’ worth of scars built up, one over the other, until it creates a whole new texture. It’s surprisingly intricate.

Score: 4/5

Batman #38
DC Comics