Ricky Church reviews Batman #22…
“THE BUTTON” part three! The cataclysmic events of DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH #1 continue here! The Dark Knight and The Fastest Man Alive, the two greatest detectives on any world, unite to explore the mystery behind a certain blood-stained smiley button embedded in the Batcave wall. What starts as a simple investigation turns deadly when the secrets of the button prove irresistible to an unwelcome third party—and it’s not who anyone suspects! It’s a mystery woven through time, and the ticking clock starts here!
SEE ALSO: Check out a preview of Batman #22 here
Tom King and Joshua Williamson continue Batman and Flash’s investigation into the mysterious Watchmen button by taking a surprising trip to the world of Flashpoint. This not only gives us a chance to see once again see the altered world, but also a very emotional (and bad-ass) reunion between the regular Batman and Flashpoint Batman, the latter of whom is really Thomas Wayne.
Batman #22 milks the reunion between the Waynes for all its worth. Williamson, who wrote this issue’s script, plays up the emotional factor with the father and son duo while enhancing the mystery surrounding Flashpoint, the New 52, the button and whoever is behind all this. It’s very interesting to see that the Flashpoint world apparently never truly went away as Dr. Manhattan (if we can assume it was him) kept it for some strange purpose.
As cool as it was to see the two different Batman team up and fight Amazonian and Atlantean soldiers, the real payoff was the emotion between them. Their time together is very brief, but Williamson utilizes every moment to get as much emotion out as possible. From the moment Batman tells Thomas that he’s a grandfather to pleading with him to come with them, showing the desperate need or a child, the issue ranked with a lot of heavy emotions.
The real standout, though, was Thomas’ own plea and sacrifice to Bruce, urging him to stop being Batman from the touching reveal of what he whispered to Bruce in the cave so many years ago. Williamson still makes the latter moment appropriately Batman, mixing its touching feeling with a dash of bad-assness as Thomas declared “we rise” at the oncoming doom.
Jason Fabok’s artwork is great in this issue and he shows how well he can adapt his style. Batman #21 was influenced very much by Watchmen with its nine-panel grid whereas #22 is influenced by Flashpoint. Fabok really keeps the look of the Flashpoint Batman and Batcave in line with Andy Kubert’s work and captures the emotion on Bruce and Thomas’ faces very well. His two-page spread of them dominating the Amazons and Atlanteans is a highlight of the book as well. Brad Anderson’s colours help make this issue gorgeous with his intermix use of shadows and brightness.
‘The Button’ has been going non-stop and Batman #22 really delivered on the emotional aspect of the story, capturing the potential for two very different Batmen to meet. Williamson also proved he’s got a great handle on Batman, showing that if he ever left The Flash a trip to Gotham City is within his realm. With next week’s The Flash #22 delivering the final issue of this mystery, it should be a very exciting and tense finale.
Rating: 9/10
Ricky Church
Originally published May 4, 2017. Updated November 20, 2019.
