by Tony Rhea, Reporter

Life is not one long story with a finite end, but a collection of tales that continues on growing with more characters added all the time. Why can’t comic books also be a collection of tales. They can! This week, Batman: The Brave and the Bold #2 brings us one such collection, and the possibility for many possibilities.

Official Description: 
Tick, tick, tick goes the clock as Gotham City prepares for another shocking murder at the hands of The Joker! The brutal and terrifying tale of The Joker and Batman’s first meeting continues as Tom King and Mitch Gerads once again deliver a shocking, bloody blockbuster tale!

Stormwatch race to find an ancient sword that has long been buried in the darkest depths of the ocean. A sword of unspeakable horrors, capable of wiping out entire civilizations. But they may already be too late: a group of exiled Xebels have found the blade and are hell-bent on bringing humanity to its knees. For one member of Stormwatch, this may be the end.

All-star creator Joëlle Jones (Catwoman, Wonder Girl) gives readers a Batman Black & White tale exploring Batman’s scars, both literal and psychological, revisiting the Dark Knight’s toughest fights and deepest wounds.

In part two of “Order of the Black Lamp” from writer Christopher Cantwell (Briar, Iron Man) and artist Javier Rodriguez (Defenders, Daredevil), Superman uses a mysterious decoder ring to uncover a location with a shocking tie to his past!

Creative Teams:

Batman: The Winning Card (Part 2)

Writer: Tom King

Art and Colors: Mitch Gerads

Letters: Clayton Cowles

Stormwatch: Down with the Kings (Part 2)

Writer: Ed Brisson

Art and Colors: Jeff Spokes

Letters: Saida Temofonte

Superman: Order of the Black Lamp (Part 2)

Writer: Christopher Cantwell

Art and Colors: Javíer Rodriguez

Letters: Simon Bowland

All Things Considered

Story and Art: Joëlle Jones

Letters: Steve Wands

Tom King starts this issue with a deliciously sadistic and brutal look at the Joker in Year One, with some very neat “silent movie” panels giving us the Joker’s point of view. Batman, displaying hubris and confidence, formulates a plan, but will it work out as he believes?

Stormwatch seeks the origin point of a virus, and believes they have found it. As one member struggles with a personal problem, the team faces enemies and the source of their current problem.

Superman helps his good friend Clark Kent (insert childish chuckle) by following the guidance of a decoder ring high up into the mountains, reminding him a of a favorite childhood story. The mountain hides surprises and challenges, but Superman is more than capable of the task. Right?

Batman reflects on his scars, both physical and mental. 

Writing in these stories is pretty strong. Particular callouts for Tom King and Christopher Cantwell. King gives us a Joker that is equal parts tenacious and evil, dedicated to his work (and whatever chaos it may breed). Cantwell delivers us a wonderfully playful narrative written from the perspective of Superman explaining his investigative report to his buddy Clark. Playful and adventurous, Cantwell delivers a Superman story that is not only fun to read, but delightfully nostalgic.

While art is great throughout, both Javier Rodriguez and Joëlle Jones stand apart in this issue. Jones story is told mostly through the art, with limited dialogue. What dialogue is there is great, and serves the art well, but the weathered-and-tired Bruce Wayne reflecting on his greatest hits (no pun intended) is beautifully drawn, and really highlights the nature of emotional and physical scarring, capped off with some wonderful dialogue from Alfred that really drives it home. Rodriguez gives us a really classic comic, reminding me very much of the original Superman cartoons that I watched on VHS as a kid. The adventure and scope of those cartoons is lovingly recreated with a touch of his own artistic flair, and couldn’t compliment the story better if it tried.

If this is the style that we can continue expecting from Batman: The Brave and the Bold, we’re in for quite a treat. The stories within have done a great job at investing the reader in sticking around for the next chapter, while presenting an opportunity for some wonderful one-offs that can serve to deepen our connection to these characters and their struggles.

ComicsOnline gives Batman: The Brave and the Bold #2 – 4 out of 5 emotional scars.

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