"Payback"
Writer: Scott Peterson
Artists: Tim Leavins(p), Terry Beatty(i), Lee Louridge(c)
Publisher: DC
Tim Leavins and Terry Beatty provide a dead-on visual of the animated style in The New Adventures of Batman & Superman. Mr. Leavins choreographs startling fight scenes as well as poignant moments, yet the artwork is out of place in a story that would have worked better as the beginning of a new era in the so-called original universe.
DC of course cannot simply admit to mistakes. They use them as a launching point for "new and exciting eras" which usually turn out to be as misguided as any other "new and exciting era." Why they cannot simply declare the Crisis null and void is anybody's guess since they're not exactly being in the first place realistic with these "new and exciting eras."
The plot of Batman: Gotham Adventures reflects the real world schemes of big business thieves like Enron and their cronies in the Bush administration to bankrupt working-class America and make the lazy, filthy rich even filthier and wealthier. While the ending of the story--patronizing though it is--somewhat makes up for the middle, the book lacks the smart tone of an Adventureverse comic book.
In "World's Finest" Lex Luthor intends to use robots he created with Waynetech for military applications, but Bruce Wayne vetoes his idea. He has the right to do so according to the contracts drawn up between them. This scene contrasts every moment in which the doltish Bruce Wayne of the post-Crisis universe plays his lowly part, and it is not the only example of the animated Bruce Wayne's business acumen. Bruce gives one low-level criminal a security position at Waynecorp. In another episode he abolishes the enforced retirement policy. He is often seen at his company and not one employee seems remotely surprised. His business sense carries over to Justice League. The Watchtower in fact is a line item in Waynetech research and development. Bruce Wayne is as savvy about business as Batman is about criminology, and he's not afraid to show that intelligence in the newer series on which Batman: Gotham Adventures is based.
The Bruce Wayne seen in this issue is a dullard. He forgets on purpose his employees names and is seen as a lay-about rarely at the office. Mr. Peterson should have known better, but what's worse is that Batman was unaware of the skimming at Waynecorp. Even were I to accept the Bruce Wayne performance as a bridge between the first and second animated series, I cannot and no Batman fan should accept that Batman would not know everything that occurs within his own company.
What did you think of this book?
Have your say at the Line of Fire Forum!