The Black Bat #2 Review


Crime runs rampant as one attorney attempts to right the wrongs of his past.  But is this story really one that’s worth following?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

The redemptive quest of The Black Bat continues! As the cloaked hero launches his campaign against his criminal former clients, he must save the police from a mysterious captor. What darkness from Tony’s past threatens his newfound war on crime?

Since the inception of comic books there’s been several atmospheres that allowed for theatrical elements in outlandish yarns.  We see men and women parade in odd garb as they walk a fine line between justice and wickedness in an effort to do more than the average person can.  As with any good piece of fiction, this latest issue of The Bat offers up conundrums as our hero tries to deal with his decisions.

From the first page on Brian Buccellato pens a script that makes sure we don’t forget who this protagonist inevitably is.  As he faces down the bad elements and tries to work his way up the underworld’s intricate food chain, Tony Quinn, stumbles quite a bit especially when faced with an act that could lead to blood on his hands.  The author however finds a way to build up core elements while illuminating a narrative path that allows many of these modifications to feel like innate and accepted truths for this particular vigilante.

Ronan Cliquet handles the art and I have to say after two issues I am immensely impressed with the wide range of skill that’s clearly on display.  He uses his pencil work to breath life into this yarn without sacrificing the kinetic motion and essential nature of the saga.  There were a couple instances where lack of detail left a few far to plain panels but these instances were few and far between.  Overall the visual component of this jaunt is in capable hands even if there were some bumps along the way.

The Bat #2 is another engaging outing that continues to build the myth and legend surrounding this fighter.  Recommended.

3.5/5

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