Comics Review: Batman Annual #4

[bedsitter23]

Batman (2016-) Annual #4 by Tom King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have talked about Annuals at length, but here we go. I should mention that I started with Tom King when he first joined Batman. I sometimes take the changing of a writer as a jumping off point for a title, but after Scott Snyder's strong run, I figured King was worth checking out. Needless to say, King has been excellent.

Why do they make Annuals? I assume to make money, but you have to tell a story that fits in with the current storyline, but not essential to it.

King really comes up with a great idea. It may not be totally original, but feels totally fresh. Essentially, he tells a bunch of little stories that give a few of Batman's day to day life.

Many of the stories are clever and well told. They are only developed as far as they need to be. It did build some character in what is kind of a throwaway.

Indeed, anyone could do this, but King has some neat ideas that show why he is as about as good as any current mainstream comic scribe.

I was impressed, and did not expect it to be done as well, but I am sure to remember this for awhile. Jorge Fornes and Mike Norton's art is fantastic. It really draws a style that evokes Big Traditional Comic Style and Modern "I Don't Really Read Comics" Indie style. Clear and colorful. Dave Stewart's colors are bright and effective and evocative like he has done in the Mignolaverse. Clayton Cowles has clean letters but also memorable like a classic tale,

This was a really fun and interesting issue. It's a mix of the fantastical, gritty toughness and modern day realism. I am glad I picked it up.




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