Batman: The Widening Gyre

[Drz]

So no talks about the latest issue? I guess Batman and Robin #10 reveals we're too much hype giving compared to this.

So another fine issue and yeah the penciler is really getting better! We get to see some Robin and Baphomet action while Bruce is enjoyning a vacation.. There's one really tasteless line from Catwoman but it didn't ruin the issue for me.

Anyhow issue reveals Baphomet's origin, but the guy really needs to stop revealing who he is. He did it to Robin instantly too!

So yeah Baphomet's origin + him kicking ass. I just hope Bruce would be kind enough to give him a better mask.

 

[WompuM]

This issue was somewhat slow for me. I feel like I might have missed an issue. Last thing I remember is Bruce kissing Catwoman and then he's instantly on vacation with Silver? Odd. Also, they didn't mention which costume killed Baphomet. I imagine that fact will become important later. Perhaps it was a member of the hero community and that will be the twist?

 

[WompuM]

I'm pretty certain he already has this series finished, all 12 issues. And I'm fairly sure he's got plenty of time to finish Babylon. Plus, he just finished a film, and is even working on Green Hornet over at, umm... Top Cow? I wouldn't worry about him being late.

 

[Drz]

Variant for #6

 

[WompuM]

Damn, her face is whack. What is with her eyes?

 

[IBRAH08]

Damn, her face is whack. What is with her eyes?

she looks like a bloody flounder!

 

[WompuM]

Oooooooh. Obviously someone is holding an invisible magnifying glass up to her face.

 

[Drz]

San Diego Comic-Con info & Widening Gyre #6 teaser :
- When asked about Volume 2, Smith divulged that they would move forward into the beginning of 2011 when the next sequence of 6 issues would begin. He joked, "See how they have to handle me? I can't do a monthly book...and you guys are like, 'Why can't this guy handle a monthly book like everyone else?' and I can't because I have to go off and shoot movies."
- Smith divulged that The Joker will figure into Volume 2 of Widening Gyre. When asked about the 'voice' of the Joker, Smith spoke, "When I think of the Joker--I hear the voice of Mark Hamill" to the delight of the fans. He joked, "Everyone thinks that you should write this Heath-Ledger-Emo-Kid-Who-Slashes-Throats kind of villain but my favorite era of the Joker exists in the Bruce Timm/ Paul Dini version of the character. I don't have to think of all this f--d up sh-- to write about and have trouble sleeping at night. I get to just write a zany Batman/ Joker story."
- Smith talks about Volume 2, saying, "We're going to get to see Batman going apesh--. The first six issues are almost like a romance book. Now, he's going over the edge and you're going to see a lot of blood--totally." He turned to Marts and asked, "Can we give Batman stubble?"
- Batman might have a MANLY HANDSOME BEARD IN VOLUME 2, OH YEAH!
- Smith spoke about Batman being off his game in the next Volume of Widening Gyre; remarking, "Someone gets inside of Batman--and now, he's off his game and he's struggling to get his bad guy. The more Batman becomes Bruce Wayne in his mind, the more dangerous he's going to become."

 

[Mystirious]

- Batman might have a MANLY HANDSOME BEARD IN VOLUME 2, OH YEAH!

Outrageous

 

[WompuM]

Hush just came.

 

[K.B.]

When is issue 6 supposed to come out? i just read a BIG spoiler in an article about his panel and Im a bit miffed that they would reveal such a thing before the issue even hits stands

 

[Drz]

Next week.

 

[WompuM]

Damn Kevin Smith, you've done it again. Wonderful, wonderful issue. Answers two pretty big Batman questions; why not kill the Joker, and why only have children as partners.

 

[The Batman]

And I'm glad Kevin Smith reinforced my opinion that Silver St. Cloud is a better Batman love interest than Catwoman

 

[Mystirious]

Damn Kevin Smith, you've done it again. Wonderful, wonderful issue. Answers two pretty big Batman questions; why not kill the Joker, and why only have children as partners.

It was an issue

 

[WompuM]

That ending. God DAMN! That ending!!! I just couldn't believe it. I really hope there's not a gap between part 1 and 2.

Also, how in the HELL is Baphomet: Babylon going to work!?! So excited.

 

[Drz]

The ending was one of the best endings i've read in a comic in a very long time. Everything was so beatiful, and that ending... Damn my jaw dropped.

 

[WompuM]

God, mine too Drz. To think that [blackout]he was wearing that mask underneath his Baphomet mask the entire time![/blackout]

Also, I can't believe [blackout]Bruce didn't run AT LEAST some sort of background check on him. I know he followed him a bit that day, but damn, it took him forever to even tell Superman his true identity.[/blackout]

Also, the Year One flashback was hilarious.
Joker reading Atlas Shrugged was both thought-inducing and odd.
Batman in white; haven't seen that before.

 

[Drz]

You know now that i think about this comic book again and the ending. I just realized what that Joker grin in Asylum was all about. Joker KNEW!!!!!

 

[WompuM]

See, I thought that, but how the **** could he have known? Joker's smart but he's not omnipotent. But, you're probably right. I'm sure he knew.

I like how on the 2nd or third last page, you see him pulling down the mask. Right before the Ka-Klack.

 

[Mystirious]

Also, the Year One flashback was hilarious.

 

[WompuM]

I can't say I agree with this review.
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/29/worst-of-the-worst-batman-the-widening-gyre-6/

 

[Mystirious]

See, I thought that, but how the **** could he have known? Joker's smart but he's not omnipotent. But, you're probably right. I'm sure he knew.

I like how on the 2nd or third last page, you see him pulling down the mask. Right before the Ka-Klack.

I hope there is not a long wait until volume two

 

[Drz]

I can't say I agree with this review.
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/29/worst-of-the-worst-batman-the-widening-gyre-6/

It's pretty childish to bash the artist for being a friend. Quitely & Morrison are friends, and hey there are people who hate Quitely's wrinkly style, but you don't go and bash Morrison for getting his friend(s) to draw his comics like he has for years, so why do the same for Morrison? It's like Miller who always has Lynn Varley pretty much doing the coloring.

It's also sad to bash Smith for having knowledge on comics in general... Writers do this all the time. Morrison is the biggest Batman-history-geek in the business probably and look what he's doing. Yet this guy is complaining about a couple of references and trying to bash Smith?

It's also ridicilous to complain about Smith's take on Batman not trusting Cloud because well.. Batman never trusts people, he never does really. This whole 6-issue arc was about trust more or less. It's like people complaining about All-Star Batman & Robin for being a different and rougher origin for Robin compared to Dixon's Robin Year One for pete's sake.

 

[WompuM]

See, what pisses me off is how he sees Year One as this holy, untouchable story. You know, pissing yourself from an explosion is the kind of example a rookie batman would make. I found it as a funny, human moment; one of my favorites in the book.

I guess people just see Batman as much more of an untouchable God than I do. I can't believe all of the negative press this issue got. It is probably one of my top ten all time issues. Great story. Great character moments. Fantastic reveal.