Batman: Widening Gyre #1 Review

Batman: Widening Gyre #1

I think we’ve reached the point now with Kevin Smith and Batman that it’s a “don’t like, don’t buy” mentality. After reading Batman: Widening Gyre #1 however, I gotta admit…I might be buying (again).

I think it’s first worth noting that despite the different opinions on Kevin Smith’s storytelling he is above all, original. Take for example all of the Batman Reborn titles right now; Dick Grayson taking over Batman is a somewhat UNoriginal idea. Good writers like Grant Morrison and Paul Dini are able to do creative things with it and make the stories more than worth reading, but the reveal itself of Grayson being the new Batman has a) already been done to a degree and b) what everyone was expecting. For all the flavors Kevin Smith adds to the Batman plate he’s at least serving up a Bruce Wayne original story that includes a twist to old characters and the addition of some new ones. This alone should be enough to give Smith’s story a try, especially during a period in the DC Universe where Bruce Wayne is absent.

As for the first issue, I enjoyed it. Upon buying it I knew to expect the unexpected and with that attitude I was able to sit back and enjoy some great moments. So far I’ve not been a big fan of Smith’s handling of classic Batman characters (like the Joker) and this issue didn’t help all that much. The Joker was still the same somewhat overlooked and teenager-feeling villain who just threw in some lines, Two-Face had 2-panels too many, and Poison Ivy was more sexual than I’ve ever seen her. I didn’t particularly hate Ivy’s characterization though and he seems to be taking the most heat for it, I mean Smith basically just wrote her as we all imagine she would really be with all the sexual hints given to her in the past. It was to the extreme (what with the humping and self pleasuring) but she’s always been an ultra sexual character and with Smith writing I don’t know how people didn’t see this coming. It was how quickly she exited the story that bothered me. One second she’s running Arkham, the next she’s not even a passing thought (course, this could have been Batman having to deal with that demon).

I did however really enjoy Smith’s inclusion and handling of Etrigan, taking the story in an almost “horror” direction. Entrigan has been handled in such a variety of different ways I was glad to see him be used as horror figure, literally eating someone, and as a nod to the pure power he posses he nearly kills Batman; which brings me to my greatest dislike…Batman seems to give up. And pretty early on in the fight. Granted he’s fighting a demon but I was a little disappointed to see Bruce so caught off guard by Etrigan that he prepares himself for death with moments after the first blow. Being saved at the last second was inevitable given how quickly things turned against Batman but to see a freaky looking new character (or perhaps old in a new costume) was a nice finishing touch. I’m very curious to see who this new guy is and even more anxious to see more of his freaky look.

The story was above average and the art varied between awesome and not so appealing. Walter Flanagan has a certain style which seems to switch between simple and busy without much notice. I did enjoy the plant-life panels though and for the most part I really like Flanagan’s Batman, which at times looked a lot like Kelley Jone’s Batman (which I love). Hats off to Art Lyon on colors. Etrigan especially had some scenes that were absolutely stunning and the colors stuck out a lot throughout the entire issue, more so than I usually notice.

If you’re turned off to this book because of Batman: Cacophony I say give Smith another shot; however, keep in mind that as Smith is inclined to do, there will be some over-the-top moments and crazy-as-hell twists. As I said before, Smith is original and after reading and looking over this first issue a couple of times I’ve come to enjoy it.