Batman, known by the world as the “World’s Greatest Detective” is now immersed in a new and compelling mystery which sees him tackling many issues, such as the impact of his own legacy. As each issue is created, only more questions are laid out for us to be left in wonder. In my mind, this is a nice poke at Batman’s roots as a mystery-solving crime fighter, all the while maintaining his modern mannerisms that he as gained as the character has grown over the last fifty plus years.

King guides the reader into the mind of the Dark Knight in Batman #2. Faced with questions of legacy, new heros, and an underlying mystery, Batman is left with some very real human questions that many of us from time to time have to face. What are we leaving behind, who will take our place, and how can we continue to do good, when we’re gone. Like in Batman #1, Tom King does a good job at spinning this complex web of ideas to stew in our minds all the while you have a larger and darker mystery just beginning to unfold for you.

The dialogue in this issue between Batman and Alfred continues to show some very human underpinnings, and you even see an unexpected joke come out of the normally reserved Alfred. Again, a very real and human reaction to a specific situation, that sometimes we see writers forget is important to help us better immerse ourselves into the story. As in the first issue, King doesn’t effectively use Duke Thomas. His contribution thus far is minimal, and at this point he feels like a prop or background decoration, even though the character had the potential to be so much more. I hope that Tom King won’t keep us waiting too much longer to see this character used to his potential.

David Finch returns to do some wonderful penciling, while Jordie Bellaire continues to provide colors that jump out into the reader’s eyes. As in the last issue, David and Jordie continue to work well together. The art continues to have a dark tone but is very clean refraining from getting gritty. The coloring is well done without overpowering the story itself. David Finch treats each character, and each prop with purpose. He provides them with a real home within each panel. No space is wasted, and no space is overdrawn. All in all the panels continue to be a testament to the power of the story of Batman.

The Verdict

Batman is continuing to find his purpose within the REBIRTH relaunch. Tom King’s take on the characters continues to be well done for both old and new Batman fans. Though Duke Thomas is unused, we are left hoping that at some point he will break out. David Finch and Jordie Bellaire take their work from Batman #1 and continue to provide wonderful art that compliments King’s writing style in Batman #2. All three of them do not overtake each other.

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