A Recovering Batman springs his plan to make Poison Ivy relinquish her control of everyone in the world. Selina plays along, as they try to help Ivy.
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BATMAN # 43
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mikel Janin and Hugo Petrus
Colorist: June Chung
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Mikel Janin
Variant Cover: Oliver Coipel & Dave Stewart
Editors: James S. Rich Assoc Editor: Brittany Holzherr
Publisher: DC Comics
What You Need to Know:
The conclusion of last issue has Batman goading a Poison Ivy controlled Superman to hitting Batman so hard that he nearly died. Ivy says that since she controls the entire world she was able to use a combination of Science and Magic to piece Bruce back together.
This is a different Poison Ivy in the “Rebirth Universe” by the way. She is more of a fragile victim than an eco-terrorist bent on taking control of the planet for the Green. Batman uses this to appeal to her as a victim. She was forced to take sides in the war of Jokes and Riddles.
Catwoman is keeping Ivy company as Batman is convalescing in a hospital with Superman as a guard, under the watchful eye of Dr. Harley Quinn ( a Traumatic Brain Injury specialist). Hmmm almost like he planned this.
What You’ll Find Out:
While Bruce is engaging Ivy through Superman, Catwoman splits the conversation in her lair. Batman continues to distract Ivy until Catwoman get’s her chance and strikes to knock Pamela out.
What Just Happened?
Knowing that Ivy controlled the entire human population, the estimated that they have exactly 15 seconds to wake her until “Planes start falling out of the sky”. This distraction makes his Guards (the Superman Family) groggy and gives Bruce the chance to grab Harley and exit the Hospital through the window. In a feat that reminds us why Batman is so amazing, he flips out the window and into the waiting Batmobile with Harley in his arms.
Wow, nice Moves Batman!
He asks Harley to talk in the Batmobile, saying Superman will hear her, and to ask to meet with Ivy. She allows them an audience.
Harley amazed that Batman has a machine that puts his pants on in the car, says that she has come to see how her friend is doing.
Harley, versed in psychiatric medicine begins to condole her friend, who believes that there is no coming back from the Four men that she murdered in the Park. Harley and Batman ask her to release the world. Batman takes this time to explain that Ivy did not kill those men the Riddler did. He shot them, and he knows because he has the forensic evidence to prove it.
Ivy distraught decides to go with her friend Harley to the Sanctuary with Superman for some help, but Batman says she is not a Villain. A different take than we have seen in the past.
That night Bruce and Selina reflect on the events, and how they tried to help Ivy. They say how it was literally The two of them against the world, and they wouldn’t want it any other way. All this as we lead into the Wedding. See you next time!
Rating: 8 / 10
Final Thought:
This is Batman as a compassionate hero that I thought I would never see. In the past, the only times I have seen this side are when it involved Jason Todd or in the Animated Series with Harvey Dent. Clearly, Catwoman is a great influence on Batman. He even says that before Selina he would not have understood. I am not sure of the repercussions of Ivy’s mind control, or really what can or will happen based on the Terrible injury that Superman inflicted on Batman to get him to the hospital, but all in all if you look at this from space you see a nice wrap up of a short arc that was enjoyable, and furthered the bonds of our two characters Batman and Catwoman. As we head to their wedding, I wonder will this be the affair that goes terribly wrong, or does it go eerily right? We will see next month!
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