Batman: Gotham Nights #4-5: Clowns to the Left of Me…

Russell’s writing in these two issues is far better than the preceeding two issues yet still suffers a bit from the one-and-done storytelling. The first issue does a very nice job of putting the “morality” of wealth under the microscope and exploring the contradictions between Bruce and Batman a bit in the short-story. Where the issue falls flat is right about the moment that The Joker shows up. Russell essentially uses The Joker as a prop rather than any real catalyst in the story. Reduced to a one-dimensional character, his mere presence actually serves as a detractor from any quality substance the issue is trying to deliver and that’s a shame because the potentional was so high.

In issue #5 we get an extremely generic GCPD corruption story in which an elaborate plot is executed to expose a rotten cop. Russell seems to gesture towards a desire to have a wider discussion on nature but in the short span available, this element of the discourse falls flat. Again, as with the Joker story before, Harley Quinn shows up but feels more like a prop than anything realized. There is almost a sense of editorial mandate to use these characters because both stories would have worked fine without them. Again, nothing terrible here to report but nothing of much substance, either.

As with issues #2-3, the art team of Benjamin, Friend, and Sinclair continue to do a commendable job. Nothing particularly remarkable to note but the art carries the story well and looks similar to Jim Lee’s Batman style while clearly not being the same quality as Lee.