Books like Batman #5 are why I love superhero comics. Matt Fraction, Jorge Jimenez, and Tomeu Morey create an entire issue that is centered around Bruce Wayne, not Batman, being chased by ninjas while on a kind of, sort of date with Dr. Annika Zeller, an Arkham employee who has invented something called the Crown of Storms to regulate electrical signals. So, of course, she’s on the run from rival ninja gangs, including Ojo aka Lady Death Man. There’s flirting, tension, cool gadgets, and a killer final page when an action from one of Wayne’s allies
Although, Jimenez has a much different art style from David Aja, Batman #5 reminded me a lot of another Fraction comic, Hawkeye #3 aka the freeway car chase issue where Clint Barton and Kate Bishop try out all the trick arrows. (It was adapted pretty well in the 2021 Disney Plus series too.) Batman #4 set up all kinds of labyrinthine plotting while this issue is all about a man getting a woman to safety and also dealing with his feelings about her. Of course, Dr. Zeller is a gorgeous woman, but Bruce is more attracted to lack of fear in solving mental health crises and speaking truth to power in a way that’s earned the ire of two and definitely more criminal syndicates. Even though the costume and cowl are miles away, some of his real personality comes out in this issue as he listens to her talk about innovative ways to make Gotham a better place, which is something he can assist through Bruce Wayne’s money and not just Batman’s fists. Finally, it’s so wholesome how protective Bruce is of Annika like when he immediately throws her into the safety of the dumpster when Ojo confronts him in an alley.
However, most of this issue is Jorge Jimenez and Morey turning in one of the coolest car chases (in comics) period. Seriously, there’s a double page spread that plays with time in an utterly insane way when Bruce catches a lock of Annika’s hair that was cut off by a biker gang member between her uttering “Oh God”. In this series of panels, you know what it’s like to have the reflexes of Gotham’s boy billionaire, who is also the Dark Knight. Specificity in sound effects from letterer Clayton Cowles and Jimenez are key in this and other segments of the chase sequences, and you hear the sword and the enemy’s body hit the side of the car before cutting to a small panel in silhouette that’s pure dark slapstick. In his colors, Tomeu Morey finds a happy medium between complex digital work and old school flat colors. When in doubt, pink and black look fantastic, and this scheme shows up in the issue’s movie poster-worthy title page along with the hand to hand fight between Bruce and Ojo.
Batman #5 also uses the high adrenaline action to fuel a kind of identity crisis for Bruce Wayne. He has to do Batman things to get through the issue, but has no access to his costume or gadgets beyond a sick suit of light body armor that’s also moisture wicking. Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenez effectively use tics in Bruce’s vocabulary and shifts in body language to show when he’s blending or crossing over different parts of his dual identity. Of course, Ojo calls him out on this behavior, and this leads to Jimenez drawing his best, mean mugging action pose. Bruce Wayne is definitely more comfortable drifting cars and shifting gears than being a man in a business suit.
I love romantic comedies. I love action movies. So, I loved loved Batman #5. This comic is a showcase for Jorge Jimenez’s virtuosic art, Tomeu Morey’s ability to set the mood through colors, and also Fraction’s skill at quickly creating romantic chemistry and letting his artist cook. But, in a very cranked-to-eleven way, it demonstrates the best way to really know what someone is like is in a stressful situation, and I think Bruce passed with flying colors. (Until the final page.)
Story: Matt Fraction Art: Jorge Jimenez
Colors: Tomeu Morey Letters: Clayton Cowles
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Comix Experience – Zeus Comics – Kindle
