From the journals of Alfred Pennyworth, Batman and his life are boiled to the daily events that happen surrounding him. Minor spoilers for Batman Annual #4 follow.
With Tom King’s run on Batman Annual #4 soon to be coming to an end, you’d think that every issue would be focused on “City of Bane.” That isn’t the case with this annual issue though as it is very much not connected to any larger story. Basically, the issue chronicles a month in the life of Batman and because it’s not connected to any larger story, it’s all the better for it. This is fantastic story that celebrates Batman as he is and as he’s been since he was created, oddities and all.
What makes this issue stand out aren’t the stories that are being told, it’s the way that they are being told. The journal-like way in which the issue is conveyed is what makes the issue work. Every story focuses on something vastly different from the previous story, keeping you off-balance and unsure of what to expect. Because of that, the issue will constantly surprise you as to where it heads. Whether it be larger than life fantasy or a small, intimate drama, it’s all in this issue, working excellently in tandem.
But really though, this issue feels like a complete celebration of Batman as an entity. Every era of the character is represented in this issue in some form and is treated with respect. Batman is a character that has been many things over many years and its nearly impossible to nail down what is truly “Batman.” This issue comes really damn close though. The reverence for the character is felt in every panel of this issue from the dialogue and thought bubbles alone, however, the art brings everything to life in a beautiful way that makes the issue what it is.
Jorge Fornes handles the majority of this issue and every page is phenomenal. His style is a great mix of David Mazzucchelli, especially regarding the way he draws Batman, and Francesco Francavilla. He relies heavily on inks which creates a wonderful mood for the issue and gives colorist Dave Stewart a lot of room to work with, where he does an excellent job. Fornes even channels Steve Ditko at one point in this issue and it’s wonderful.
In the back third of the issue, artist Mike Norton takes over from Fornes and his pages are much more fast-paced than Fornes’ pages are. He handles more panels and in each panel, he manages to tell every story well. You understand the callbacks and the idea of story even in just one panel due to Norton’s framing and character actions.
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