by Tony Rhea, Reporter
Secrets don’t always stay secret, and weapons fall into the wrong hands. How does someone like Batman deal with these issues in Batman #150 this week? The only way he knows how!
Official Description: A milestone issue featuring art by the legendary DENYS COWAN (The Question) and series regular JORGE JIMENEZ! When a two-bit crook uncovers Batman’s true identity, he becomes the most dangerous man in Gotham City! Can Batman stop him before it’s too late? Does he even want to? Plus, an Absolute Power backup story by Chip Zdarsky and Mike Hawthorne teaming Batman and Catwoman on the heist of their lives against Amanda Waller!
The first story in this issue, “Be Better”, is written by Chip Zdarsky, with art by Denys Cowan & Jorge Jiménez, inks by John Stanisci, colors by Tomeu Morey, and letters by Clayton Cowles. “Brick by Brick” is written by Chip Zdarsky, with pencils by Mike Hawthorne, ink by Adriano Di Benedetto, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr., and letters by Clayton Cowles.
In “Be Better”, we follow thug-for-hire Teddy, who got a hold of some sensitive information regarding Batman‘s identity during the events of Gotham War, and he’s looking to sell to the highest bidder. Information is power, and Teddy’s plans don’t go quite as he expected, as this power means different things to different people. In “Brick by Brick”, Batman reflects on what it means to have weapons taken in the light of Amanda Waller‘s moves in the Absolute Power event.
I first looked at “Be Better” as a fairly standard brick-and-mortar Batman story. I questioned the importance of this story because on initial reading, it seemed like just another perspective piece on Batman. While it is one such story, it is an important one, especially in the light of the Absolute Power event. “Be Better” serves as an excellent reminder of the various aspects of Batman‘s personality, and how different people in Gotham view him. Where as Waller and characters like her see a threat, others see a hero with a strict code, and still others see salvation. This story’s emphasis on the human aspect and motivations is where it shines, and Zdarsky deftly handles this while highlighting a simple fact that will most definitely come into play during DC Comics big event: there is more than one way to solve a problem. Chip Zdarsky excels in this story because of the care he gives Teddy and the complicated relationships in his family against the backdrop of a thug trying to make a quick buck, and humanizes Batman in a way we aren’t likely to see again until after the finale of Absolute Power. The art in the issue, like the story, is mostly gritty in a way that mostly benefits. I also enjoyed that the individual perspectives were done by different artists, which was a nice way to emphasize the point.
“Brick by Brick” provides a more introspective look at the events thus far in Absolute Power, giving us a peek behind the cowl at how Batman is processing this event. Zdarsky revisits the events following Joe Chill’s murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, relating the feeling of taking weapons from their makers to what Bruce is experiencing now with Failsafe. Once again, Zdarsky deftly approaches old and familiar territory to spin it and make it relevant in a way I didn’t see coming. It also does a good job of establishing next steps in this event, while emphasizing the fact that you will really have to be reading all the titles being released under the Absolute Power umbrella to have a full-scope view of the event. In many ways, I enjoyed the art of Mike Hawthorne more than the art of the previous story, but I would argue that the art of “Be Better” serves in a way that greater emphasizes the story and adds depth.
Batman #150 is an important read not just for Absolute Power, but also as a reminder that some of what makes Batman comics great to read is the emphasis on world-building and character development.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Batman #150 – 5 out of 5 deftly placed alley cats.
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