That Hurts Me Just Lookin' At It





I was not the biggest fan of last issue and it's Gothtopia tie-in. I actually ended the review asking for my Batwing back. Listen, I'm not too conceited to think that Palmiotti and Gray listened (or am I??), but my wish came true. Not only has Luke left his Flying Fox persona far behind, but Eduardo Pansica is back for art duties. They did this all for me, I just know it.

Luke may have escaped Gothtopia, but unfortunately, his problems have followed him. His Sister, Tam, is still missing, him and his Father are not seeing eye-to-eye and a brute from his past wants him to suffer. Gotham City isn't faring too well, either. A new threat has been dealing a crazy drug and the GCPD can't get a single lead. Nobody knows what to do...except Batwing. He's taking it to the streets like a Doobie Brother and he is pissed and out for blood. Just when you thought it was getting a little better, the Fox Family is hit with more devastating news. This shit just got more real-erer.





Palmiotti and Gray are back on their game and I couldn't be happier. This issue has the story, action and humor that made me fall in love with the book in the first place. Even with all those elements, my favorite part of the issue is the interaction Luke has with his Mother and Father. It is so natural and believable and a bit heartbreaking.





Though I'm still not sold on Menace as a villain, what he's doing is pretty harsh. I actually find Rat Catcher more interesting and hope we continue seeing more of him. I like his look and he just creeps me out the way a great villain should. We've seen the brawn of Menace, but I believe the mysterious Rat Catcher is so much more than he and Palmiotti and Gray are letting on.





Eduardo Pansica's art is stellar. It may be that last issue without him was a bit disappointing, but this is my favorite work he's done. The action sequences are so good (and include a Jean Claude split for good measure), but so are the quieter scenes. If you do the math, that means the whole book looks great.





The only things I can find bad about this issue are that they make a reference to Detective Comics #29 and the end of Gothtopia that is a month away and the dialogue of some of the Gotham thugs. It seems a bit forced, Yo. Believe me though, these didn't lessen my enjoyment one bit, Yo.





Bits and Pieces:





Palmiotti and Gray have shaken off the shackles of Gothtopia and are back to what they do best. Batwing #28 is so good and with Eduaro Pansica back on board looks great as well. Highly Recommended.





9.0/10

Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin GrayArt by: Eduardo PansicaCover Price: $2.99Release Date: February 5, 2014