Batman Kings Of Fear #2
Hey The Bat-Pod readers, Ryan here, long time fan of superheroes and their stories, new to the actual comics game. As fitting of the season I read Batman Kings of Fear 1 and 2. I’ll give my take on Batman Kings of Fear #2 in this review.
For a quick recap of Kings of Fear #1 you can listen to The Bat Pod Rebirth where they discuss it among other things Batman.
As a fan of Batman I got my feet wet with the animated series of the early 90s. The show was dark in color and tone. This books feels like it came right out of that era. I remember being scared by the episode where Scarecrow was introduced, little kid after all. The thing about Scarecrow is he gets in your head, and Batman is not immune to his tricks.
For a quick recap of Kings of Fear #1 you can listen to The Bat Pod Rebirth where they discuss it among other things Batman.
As a fan of Batman I got my feet wet with the animated series of the early 90s. The show was dark in color and tone. This books feels like it came right out of that era. I remember being scared by the episode where Scarecrow was introduced, little kid after all. The thing about Scarecrow is he gets in your head, and Batman is not immune to his tricks.
The book opens with just that. Under the effects of Scarecrow's gas batman struggles to hold his grip on reality. Scarecrow kicks things off with some “Free Association”, “What is the very first thing that pops into your head?” he asks Batman. Batman’s thoughts flash through critical moments from his life; the death of his parents, the faces of his villains, Bane breaking him, and more all the while proclaiming “No!”. It really shows the scars the Batman bears and given it is his failures that fill his mind. He battles his villains throwing punches wildly at the hallucinations
He eventually overcomes the fear gas when Commissioner Gordon shows up and talks him out of it. In first issue the joker almost killed a man, Gordon lets Bats know that he is going to be okay, but Batman doesn’t care. He is focused on the matter at hand, finding the scarecrow and the hostage. After learning the hostaged name, Kenneth, Batman leaves Gordon standing alone and rides off. Here we get a great visual of a close up of Gordons face and the batmobile leaving in his glasses reflection. The commissioner doesn’t seem to believe Batman’s claim that he is fine.
Batman calls Alfred to get the address of Kenneth. Alfred questions why Batman can't do it himself, in response he says “I want to concentrate on Driving”. He is clearly still battling the effects of the gas and deflecting. Alfred points that out and Batman ends the call.
We get a good three pages of pure batman action, no dialogue. He swoops down from the rooftop to stop a mugging using batarangs. He just ties the dudes up and gets back to investigating. It is so routine for him that it doesn’t even slow him down.
We get a good three pages of pure batman action, no dialogue. He swoops down from the rooftop to stop a mugging using batarangs. He just ties the dudes up and gets back to investigating. It is so routine for him that it doesn’t even slow him down.
Batman reaches the apartment and is shot at by a surprised landlord and the dude narrowly misses. The guy admits it was an accident, bad part of town with a giant, imposing figure showing up through a window and all. I really liked the way that their conversation went down. We are reminded that while Batman can beat anyone to the knees that is not his main goal. He wants to inspire fear in the criminals, that is the whole point of his gear and persona
Finding the scene to be a dead end, Batman heads off to the previous known resident of Kenneth. Batman thinks something is up, but we cannot know for sure if it is his detective mind or the lingering fear gas effects. Both the Commissioner and Alfred questioned Batman’s condition earlier in the evening, implying that they aren’t sure he has fully recovered. Batman shows up at the address to find a gang planning an attack and it is a new initiates first time. Batman makes quick work of the low lifes. There was a panel that I really liked where when they tried to shoot Batman he dodges and there is a skull shadow on the wall with panic on their faces in the next frame. Batman lets the new guy leave, striking a classic cape pulled in front of himself pose, telling him to go home to grandma.
Before He can recover from the fight , the building seems contort and Batman finds himself no longer down in the alley. “...The Roof? How did I…” Another dose of fear gas. Visions of all the people that matter to Bruce pointing guns right at him poised to fire fill his mind. He races through his emotions. I really liked how you can see the emotions and struggle that batman is going through from the panel showing just his eyes; surprise, confusion, anger, sadness, determination! The artist did a stellar job. Batman opens his eyes and in front of him is Scarecrow
Batman seems powerless to resist barely able to mutter two words. Scarecrow takes the opportunity to play doctor with Batman's mind. The final page is a single panel of Scarecrow pushing Batman of the mental roof and falling deeper into his mind and the effects of the fear gas.
Being a more sideline fan I am used to seeing Batman be strong and tough. He is the man that has been knocked down but always gets back up and uses his pain to drive him. Scarecrow is a great villain for pulling Batman back down to earth and this comic did a great job for me of remembering how traumatic Bruce’s life has been. It shows that there are chinks in his armor and humanises him. While reading the issues it struck me that it is plural “Kings” of fear. With Scarecrows involvement it was obvious that he would be one of the kings. His main shtick is “Fear Gas” after all, and he uses it quite effectively here. The talk that Batman has with the Landlord drove home that Batman is a King of fear himself, he hides in the dark, wears an imposing suit. He too uses Fear as a powerful tool in his fight against crime.
Review by Ryan Ames
