Writer Scott Snyder
Artist Greg Capullo
Inks Jonathan Glapion
Color FCO Plascencia
Letterer Tom Napolitano
Last Issue
We find Batman waking up in a strange world. Where the Joker is he therapist and Alfred a concerned adoptive father. Bruce stapped to a bed in Arkham Asylum. According to his always smiling doctor, they’ve been together for nearly 20 years trying to help Bruce out of psychosis. After a lot of coercing, Bruce isn’t having it. Demanding his suit be brought to him immediately. Running through the guards of the asylum swiftly until finally. Alfred admits this was all a ruse.
The world has ended in the time Batman has been gone. Bruce left behind a failsafe that would clone another Bruce so that Gotham and the world would never be without a Batman. In the ruined sands he finds a lantern, making sounds. Only to discover that it was truly the Joker’s head in a glass bottle. The perfect sidekick for Bruce in the apocalypse. This is our Bruce, and as he traverses the baron wastes of old Gotham he finds Anti life zombies, being controlled by enslaved green power rings making constructs of giant infants.
This Issue
We return to our nemeses turned allies in the desert, Joker waking Bruce up at the crack of dawn. Begging Batman to make him his new Robin. As soon as the argument escalates, they are ambushed by a surprise speed force storm. The storm rampages about and a bolt of lightning strikes the duo’s horse. Aging it to dust before their very eyes. In the maelstrom, we see the faces of Barry, Jay, and Wally. All of which simultaneously calling for Batman’s help.
Unable to truly do anything for his old comrades. Bruce begins to make the trek through the wastelands of Earth. Bringing him to the Plains of Solitude. There, Bruce finds a most unexpected old friend.
Thoughts
This issue two is having me at the edge of my seat people. The world-building of Snyder is impeccable, to say the least. Capullo’s art elevates the story to a level where it feels like I’m watching an animated show. The level of captivating I find this series grows greatly with this new installment. Between all of the insane desolation and to the dystopian nature in the way the remaining people live. This series is gearing up for some seriously cerebral undertaking. I suspect major reveal in the next issue. None will disappoint.