Written by Christopher Priest
Illustrated by Carlo Pagulayan
and Roberto Viacara
Published by DC Comics
This is part three of the crazy storyline where Batman fights Deathstroke!
There’s one hell of a variant cover by Francisco Mattina. I’d recommend that cover and I hope to god DC decides to make a poster of it because it’s that beautiful.
The book opens with Robin and Jericho talking about their respective “fathers.”
Then, the adrenaline of the issue kicks in with Slade driving a flying supersonic type of car and Batman trying to stop him.
You see, Slade is trying to take down the Human Dynamo.
And Batman isn’t having it! He is also determined to figure out if Slade is indeed Damian Wayne’s real father!
Priest keeps the excitement high and the drama even higher! He gives the characters some real stakes that the reader can latch onto and care about.
The rest of the issue is just as thrilling as Slade Wilson and Bruce Wayne have a real cat and mouse game going.
The tension Priest creates here is palpable. We have seen these two characters at each other’s throats before but never done this well.
The story flips back and forth in time in usual Priest style. Batman and Deathstroke go at it a bit. It leads to a really dark moment and a hell of a cliffhanger. The last panel of the book is a full page shot and it says so much and has so emotion.
The art is very well handled for this title as well. This storyline seems like it will have lasting scars for both Batman and Deathstroke. I can’t wait to read the next chapter of this twisty, and compelling story.
RATING: A
