Batman: Widening Gyre #3 Review

In Batman: Widening Gyre #3 Kevin Smith seems to steer the tone in a complete opposite direction. For a title that has been building a short but thick reputation for horror, gore, and dark is now…not. If not for the first 3 pages you might not even know it was the same book; that being said, I kinda liked it. It just left me missing the book I liked so much the last two issues.

As for Stirk, I knew he wasn’t going to last; I mean if Batman has so far been able to escape Killer Croc and Etrigan I doubt Stirk even had a fair chance but I hope he wasn’t the last representation of the horror genre that separated this book from the other Bat-books out right now; because as far as this issue goes after his exit the story takes an unexpected turn for the better. I did enjoy Robin’s inclusion though. Kevin Smith is playing a fun game with continuity timeline here and I appreciate his lack of “dumbing it down” for us. I’m assuming this Robin was Tim given his costume and the story seeming to have been recent but it’s fun seeing all the different Robins in different times of their career. We get another splash page flash back and I’m noting a pattern here; every one is some kind of “coming of age” for Dick Grayson. With every flashback he is farther along in his crime fighting career. Not quite sure what clue that is for future developments but I’m on to you Kevin Smith.

As I said, this issue not only takes a turn away from the dark and horror tone in the last 2 issues, but it takes an entirely 180. St. Cloud has become a major love interest for Bruce and has somehow accomplished something almost no Bat-romance can, at least half of Bruce’s attention. I couldn’t help but be turned off a little. For one, I’m not used to seeing Bruce at the Bahamas kicking it back with his lady swimming in the coral reef and giving piggy back rides. It’s nice to see him acting like a normal guy and be happy for once but what makes Bruce Bruce is that he ISNT that normal guy. He’s the most focused and driven mental patient there ever was and my mind just has trouble accepting that he’s hanging on the beach during the day rather than following a lead of some sort or working on some equipment upgrades. Seriously, if you gave him a little hair twist and glasses this would have been a Clark Kent romance. That being said, I’m left intrigued. Like him or not I believe Kevin Smith is building something here and the Jimmy Cricket in my head is saying, “Wait for it…wait for it.” For now, I just have to accept the fact that Bruce Wayne is happy, no matter how weird that feels.

We finally get to meet our new mysterious villain and I gotta admit, I felt a little underwhelmed. This guy looks creepy, he saves Batman (who can say that), and is apparently very good yet comes off as a embarrassed teenager awestruck by Batman, even being apologetic. I expected a much quieter creepy guy who made me wanting to know more and Batman unsatisfied, instead Batman all but gives him the go-ahead and he isn’t mentioned again. Which is another example of him acting out of character. I hope this new guy starts to develop a little more and he turns out to be the bad ass I was hoping for.

Walter Flanagan again makes great use of wide shots and large panels but this was probably my least favorite work of his on this series so far. Batman could be summed up at times as just a black head in the background, there were some noticeable weird moments (Aquaman’s arm in one scene for example), and the paneling and surrounding seem to be getting less and less creative. Still though, I couldn’t help but enjoy it. I appreciate St. Cloud looking gorgeous without the typical comic book girl “features” and despite his work being simple it doesn’t come off as quickly done or mailed in.  And any lack of horror, disappointing character development, or awkward art was made up for in Kevin Smith’s humor. I’m still not sure the direction everything is taking but when I buy a comic book I expect to be entertained and Smith delievers. Bruce’s conversation with Aquaman especially was a high point. His obliviousness to the situation makes for some great awkwardness and as always gives Smith the opportunity to pull out a sex joke here and there. I love Batman and the hardcore universe I expect to carry over into this stories but I’m human, and when Aquaman asks, “Robin calls you Deedee?” I can’t help but laugh.

This wasn’t my favorite issue, I was expecting something much different and am hoping the tone from the first two returns but Smith is still making me enjoy this book and impressing readers more than I thought.