Last time we saw Batman, he had been captured by Dr. Hugo Strange and placed in a dungeon-like cage, left to face the three hideous Monster Men that the mad scientist has created. And so, 71 pages into this story, we reach a point the original Golden Age version achieved in five."Batman and the Monster Men, Part 4"
By: Matt Wagner
Colours: Dave Stewart
Letters: Rob Leigh
Synopsis: Fearless and determined, Batman bravely confronts the three monsters he is faced with, while Hugo Strange evaluates his performance in admiration. While the Batman fights his way past enemies more powerful and fierce than anything his has ever faced, Strange is amazed by his prowess and abilities. During the fight, the monsters tear off his utility belt and accidentally set off the gas pellets contained therein. The Monsters will succumb slowly due to their large size, but Batman is in serious trouble unless he can get to the respirator in the belt.
Meawhile, Norman Madison has driven himself into a drunken depression, worrying about the safety of his daughter, who was threatened by the gangsters he owes money to last issue. She announces she's going out with some girlfriends, because Bruce is once again busy for the night, and Norman reiterates his mistrust of Wayne. He is becoming anxious and paranoid.
Back in Strange's lair, Batman improvises a method of escape. He uses a pair handcuffs to attach a length of chain to the sewer grate in the floor, and wraps the chain around the neck of one of the monsters. As it charges him, it rips the grating from the floor, enabling Batman to escape through the sewer system. Strange is frankly astounded by this and expresses a desire to use the Batman's DNA in his next experiment. (Which brings up an interesting nature vs. nurture debate, as Batman's physical prowess and skills were mostly learned during a long sabbatical from Gotham City studying in the East, so would the DNA of Batman contain any trace of his determination or skill? One of the primary tenents of the Batman legend is that it is the death of Bruce's parents that shaped him into the man he is -- seemingly a definite statement for nurture over nature)
Anyways, as Batman escapes he reflects on the fact that these Monster Men are phenomenally different from anything he has encountered and indeed anything he ever thought he would encounter. Strange, meanwhile, has accquired Batman's belt, gadgets and cape in the aftermath of the fight, and becomes enthralled with accquiring the secrets of this individual. There's an amusing moment when he puts on Batman's cape and begins running around the room.
The next day, Bruce is awakened by Julie, who's become worried about him. She discovers the massive injuries and wounds he is recovering from due to last night's fight, and he claims they are from a polo injury. She says he should see a doctor and he flips out on her. He apologizes and explains that since he's been largely alone since he was a child, he doesn't know how to be worried over. Julie accepts his apology and leaves, while Bruce wonders about his future with Julie now that the "war" has taken such a bizarre turn.
Strange, meanwhile, is trying to create a serum using Batman's DNA, when he is interrupted by Sal Maroni's thugs. They abuse his assistant, Sanjay, and destroy Strange's latest test subjects. When Strange protests, reminding them he's paid his debts, they tell him that while they can't prove he stole his last payment from them, they suspect it. They inform him that Maroni is out of town for the time being, and that they have their eyes on him. Strange announces to Sanjay that it is perhaps time they cancelled their business association with Maroni, unaware they are being bugged by the Batman.
My Thoughts: This was a fantastic issue and a great improvement over last month's paint-by-numbers installment. There were so many great touches, dramatic moments, and just overall good comics work here. In this part we really begin to see Wagner's themes coming out and turning this fairly enjoyable Golden Age retelling and "Year One" follow-up into something more substantial and memorable.
The Art: Great stuff in this issue. From Batman's fight with the Monster Men, to Strange running around in a cape, to Julie and Bruce's morning conversation, and a great series of panels of Batman emerging from the sewers, the art here is moody and evocative and really just fantastic Batman artwork. Batman should always look this good. Better than last issue. The only real nitpick I have is that the exact size of the Monster Men in relation to normal people appears to change from panel to panel.
The Story: Wagner's writing really shines in this issue, just exceptionally so. I love his Hugo Strange, and the way it perfectly reconciles and connects the Golden, Bronze, and Modern Age depictions of Strange from writers as diverse as Bill Finger, Steve Engelhart, and Doug Moench. A great touch in this issue is that Wagner makes the three Monster Men unique individuals, numbered from the earliest created to the latest, with #1 being the stupidest and least human looking and #3 the most refined and intelligent so far, reflecting Strange becoming more skillful with his genetic manipulations on each attempt. Other great things in this issue include Wanger's very, very "Year One" accurate characterization of Batman/Bruce Wayne, Julie's growing concern over Bruce, Bruce beginning to become less optimistic about the possibility of the war ending with the emergence of a kind of problem/opponent he never dreamt of before, and Norman Madison's descent into increased paranoia. Great, great, issue.
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