Batman

• Title: Batman and Two-Face #24
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
• Artist: Patrick Gleason

After months of giving us issues with rotating members of the Bat Family the latest issue of Batman and Robin begins a new arc featuring an updated New 52 origin of Two-Face. Although the basics stay the same, a criminal exposes Harvey Dent to acid, the specifics are unnecessarily updated (something the New 52 excels at) as the person responsible for Two-Face’s creation is now Erin McKillen.

The issue begins with McKillen’s return to Gotham to attend a meeting with the other Gotham crime families who have decided to team-up against the freaks who have been encroaching on their turf. The scenes of McKillen and Dent are shown in flashbacks, although the reasoning behind such brutal actions on her part, especially for the first issue of an extended arc meant to specifically with Dent’s transformation into Two-Face, aren’t well explained.

All that said, even the changes can’t ruin one of Batman‘s most interesting villains. As the beginning of a true origin for the character it’s flawed, but fans may still enjoy the issue.

[DC, $2.99]

• Title: Batman: Black and White #2 (of 6)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writers: Michael Uslan, Jeff Lemire, Rafael Grampá, Dan Didio, John Arcudi, Rafael Albuquerque
• Artists: Dave Bullock, Alex Nino, Rafael Grampá, J.G. Jones, Rafael Albuquerque

The final story in the latest issue of Batman: Black and White is worth the price of the comic on its own. Designed in the style of an old Fleischer cartoon, writer Michael Uslan and artist Dave Bullock produce the amazing “Silent Night… Unholy Night!” with marvelous artwork I would gladly frame and old-school spirit and adventure that seems long lost in the current version of the DCU.

Other highlights include Jeff Lemire and Alex Nino’s snowy tale of the Dark Knight battle the cold and memories of his father to rescue Commissioner Gordon and Rafael Grampá’s misdirection tale of how Batman lays a trap to catch a troublesome group of bank robbers.

Although I appreciated J.G. Jones’s art in Dan DiDio’s Man-Bat story, the hamfisted themes and Batman’s questionable morality at the end left me cold. In much the same way, I liked the art and idea behind writer/artist Rafael Albuquerque Limbo storyline more than the final execution. Worth a look.

[DC, $4.99]