By Glen Ludlow
“Touch me again and you will die.”
Finally. It’s over. Villains Month draws to a close and like the lame duck that it is Bane #1 comes stumbling over the hill to usher in the end of this completely pointless promotion. I’m not even sure what DC were trying to achieve here, other than sneaking in first issues of villains that then pick up in the various spin-off books that they pull out of the air when running one of their main events. It’s a pretty crappy tactic to use and has the reverse effect of making me want to read less, not more.
Anyway, I babble. The book basically tells Bane’s rise to power in Santa Prisca, how he uses followers as kindling for the fire that is coming (yep, heard this somewhere before) and how he comes to Gotham to challenge the demon that terrorises the streets’ criminals – yes, Batman. Then with a plan to break out all of the inmates of Blackgate to use his makeshift army to seize the city, you get the general idea.
I wasn’t impressed at all by this book. It was a dull read, offering little in the way of exploring Bane’s background, they just used this issue as a prequel book for Arkham War. So if you’re being drawn to this book expecting an exploration of the New 52′s Bane, don’t bother, you’re not going to find it here. You’re going to find a one-dimensional villain who echoes lines you would expect to have been left on the cutting room floor from Nolan’s editing room in The Dark Knight Rises. I’ve read it twice now and both times have a bitter feeling left in my mouth. It’s not so much from the writing of Peter Tomasi, it’s just DC’s up yours to their fans in delivering such flat, gimmicky books.
The artwork by Graham Nolan’s not bad. It reminds me of Jerry Conway’s for some reason. It’s not what you would call modern art, but it’s well-rooted in the superhero books of the nineties, not a bad thing in my eyes. Yes, the artwork isn’t bad, the colouring is a bit flat, but I don’t mind that, sometimes you can really over-colour a book.
So that’s Villains Month over with. I’m glad. I don’t want it to come round again as I didn’t appreciate it’s visit the first time.
For more comic views follow Glen on Twitter at @glenghiskhan and check out his blog for more reviews at www.glenludlow.blogspot.co.uk
Click HERE to view BATMAN VOL. 2 comics
Posted on October 22nd, 2013
Category: PANELS OF INTEREST, REVIEWS
Tags: Bane, Batman, comics, dc, forever evil, Glen Ludlow, villains month