Since relaunching as Batman Beyond 2.0 Kyle Higgins has been quietly turning this series into one of the best titles that DC Comics is currently publishing. The time skip has done wonders for this series as it has moved Terry and his supporting cast into the next stage of their lives. At the same we recently got the return of some old faces as the Batman team from The New Batman Adventures attacked Terry during one of his investigations as Batman Beyond. What does the return of the classic Batman team mean for Terry’s future? Let’s find out with Batman Beyond 2.0 #5.
Creative Team
Writer: Kyle Higgins
Artist: Thony Silas
Colorist: Andrew Elder
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: The GCPD have fully surrounded the oil rig that Batman entered earlier. Commissioner Barbara Gordon asks for an update on Batman’s location but the GCPD cops aren’t able to provide an update because they lost Batman’s signal when he entered the oil rig. Commissioner Gordon tells the GCPD to stay in position while she and Eric investigate the creds Mayor Dusk put into a blind account that may be for Doctor Bennett and Arkham.
On the oil rig “Batman” chokes and punches Batman Beyond while mocking his skills. Batman Beyond tells “Batman” that he and his crew have overplayed his hand and throws a Batarang at an orb, which blows up. Batman Beyond makes a break for it saying he already knows who Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Robin really are. Batman Beyond is able to locate the other orbs and destroys them. With the orbs broken the illusion fades to show that who Batman Beyond is really fighting: Spellbinder, Shriek, Inque, and a mysterious four person. The mystery person launches an electric attack which Batman Beyond dodges by entering one of the rooms in the oil rig.
Inside Doctor Bennet’s condo Eric is looking through the doctor’s records. While he looks through the records Eric mentions that he got a call from Mayor Hoffman earlier. Commissioner Gordon tells him to stay focused. As she does Doctor Bennett comes out of a secret room she discovers pleading not to be hurt.
Outside the oil rig, the GCPD are finally able to confirm that Inque, Shriek, and Spellbinder are inside the oil rig along with a fourth unknown person. As the GCPD get the strike team into position Dick Grayson is making his way to the oil rig to help out Batman Beyond.
Inside the oil rig, the four villains search for Batman Beyond. Unfortunately for the four villains, Batman Beyond is able to take them down one by one until only the unknown person is left. After causing a huge explosion inside the oil rig while taking out Inque Batman Beyond is attacked from behind by the unknown person who reveals his name to be Rewire. Rewire uses his electric powers to knock Batman Beyond down. Before striking the finishing blow the GCPD strike team arrives on the scene. Rewire fires a powerful electric attack at the strike team. Batman Beyond takes the full brunt of the attack in order to save the strike team. With Batman Beyond knocked out Rewire prepares to kill him just as Dick Grayson arrives. End of issue.
Commentary
The Good: Kyle Higgins moves the story forward with one of the best issues in this series. The pacing of Batman Beyond 2.0 #5 smoothly progressed the plot forward with some interesting twist and character moments from the entire cast.
What makes this Batman Beyond 2.0 #5 such an effective issue is that we get to see how Terry has come into his own as Batman. He goes through this entire issue on his own without anyone watching over him or talking in his ear. Being placed in this situation Terry was able to display all the qualities we expect from someone that is wearing the Batman costume. It was quite refreshing to see Terry take such a methodical approach while taking out Inque, Shriek, and Spellbinder. This added a greater sense of tension since Batman quickly became the hunter in this situation.
Higgins also does a great job giving Rewire a full character arc within this issue as we got to see how he works when his original plan to take down Batman failed. Rewires electric powers make him an even deadlier villain to Batman since Terry’s suit was easily overloaded with only a few hits.
Commissioner Barbara Gordon’s sub-plot worked in nicely with Terry’s current adventure. While we are given viable reasons for Barbara to retire from her post, Higgins still portrays her as a strong individual. We continuously see how Barbara has retained her skills from her time as Batgirl and it’ll be interesting to see what happens to Barbara at the end of this story arc.
While I am not a big fan of Thony Silas style I’ll admit that his artwork is at home with the Batman Beyond series. He does a good job highlighting the fact that this is a future DC Universe and makes it feel like I’m watching an episode of the animated series. Andrew Elder also helps to make the artwork pop with the neon coloring for the various villains Batman fights.
The Bad: Nothing.
Overall: Batman Beyond 2.0 #5 is one of the best issues since the launch of the Beyond line of comics. Getting to see Terry briefly fight the previous Batman team, even if it was just an illusion created by Rewire’s crew, was a great moment that will have people fanboy and fangirl out. Also, through the introduction of Rewire to the Batman Beyond Rogues Gallery Kyle Higgins is able to show us how far Terry McGinnis has come as the Batman of the future. If you’re a fan of the old DC Animated Universe than you should be picking up Batman Beyond 2.0. Higgins has done a great job capturing what made the Batman Beyond animated series special and progressing the characters to the next stage of their lives.