Batman: The Widening Gyre

[Super_Ludacris]

Dissapointing mini-series.

 

[WompuM]

Nearly right.

 

[Super_Ludacris]

In what way? lol Ive got the first 3 issues but it just feels a little all over the place, Im sure smitty has a point but man its not really doing it for me right now.

 

[WompuM]

Because it has great characters being written at their best and most iconic. Shows Batman having more emotions than just his narrow assault on crime. It introduces fun new characters while also putting the spotlight and some that haven't been seen in a while. And it has Aquaman on a Narwhal.

 

[WompuM]

Spoilers Ahead:
This series has been consistent. Very consistent. Honestly, I was thiiiiiiiis close to not reading it at all. Widening Gyre is Kevin Smith's second Batman series. The first, Cacophony, had a terribly slow start. So slow in fact that the only reason I finished it was I found the last two issues for a quarter each at my LCBS. God I miss you, Comic Book Relief Again. Anyhoo, turns out that Cacophony has become one of my all time favorite Batman stories. I liked it so much, that when Gyre was announced, I couldn't be more excited.

As always, rather than focusing on heavy action, Smith takes the dialogue and story route. There have been multiple themes expertly woven throughout this entire series, expanding through the past and present of Gotham, which, in my opinion, are the two golden ages of Batman. Smith has set this story in an interesting, yet impossible to place time in the DCU continuity. The story seems to be set directly prior to Infinite Crisis, seeing as how Bludhaven is pre-crater and Arthur is pre-squid, and yet Tim is wearing his OYL costume. I'm just going to chalk this up to Flanagan making an oversight, and perhaps just felt like drawing Tim's brief red and black costume.

This issue starts off with one of Smith's ongoing themes. reintroducing old foes in a modern, gritty manner. Now, this might seem like a page out of Geoff John's book, but what Johns does in a six-issue Rebirth, Smith does in a few pages. First, Captain Nazi and Atomic Skull, then that fellow who eats hearts (his name escapes me and I don't feel like Wikipedeaing it, and now it's Crazy Quilt. With each of these villains, Smith uses flashbacks of when villains were goofy, rather than lethal, and Dick donned the red & green. This is a period in the Batman's career that Smith is putting a focus on. His focus is on the extremely early and the extremely contemporary (if that adverb/adjective combo even works) periods of the Batman, the first golden age. This makes sense. To the general public, is there a period in Batman's career more familiar than his "infancy"? The only exposure the general public has with Batman is TV and movies, and a majority of these take place in Batman's early years. It's doubtful anyone outside of comic book fans know that anyone but Dick Grayson has ever been Robin, much less four other people besides Dick.

Smith's focus on the wacky early years is in the same vein as Morrison's "everything is in continuity," but rather than attribute the craziness to hallucinogenic drugs and physiological experiments, Smith basically calls all of Batman's silly foes flamboyant men out for media attention. It is not too difficult to read between the lines and see themes of homosexuality present in the issue. Who would have thought the director of Chasing Amy would write a book about gayness in the superhero community? Crazy, I know.


Back away, not today, Disco Lady.

In one scene in particular, you can cut the homosexual tension with a knife. Batman and his new ally, Baphomet, are relaxing on a roof after capturing Crazy Quilt when Baphomet crosses an unspoken line and removes his mask. To Batman, this breaks some sort of bro-code and he ditches. Batman's feelings of unease and awkwardness read a tad more than strange. I know Batman's not gay. And I know his relationship with Baphomet is not romantic. It's as if Smith is setting up some sort of third option outside the hetero/homo preference that applies only to superheroes. It makes it especially odd that prior to the awkward moment, Bruce spends the better part of two pages comparing Baphomet to the four most important men in his life; Dick, Jason, Tim, and Clark. The cherry on the sundae was Tim catching them in the act, and giving a look like a scorned lover. The most surprising bit is how in stride Silver takes Bruce's retelling, and doesn't find it odd at all.



A few thoughts on Baphomet. I love this guy for several reasons. Maybe it's just because I just moved to a new city and am in desperate need of bros, but this goat-guy just does it for me. For thing, he's a complete wankster. I can literally hear Smith's voice when reading this guy's dialogue. As far as superheroes go, you have to imagine that a for every D-list hero out there, there are a hundred who amount to nothing. This guy is getting the opportunity of a lifetime working with the Goddamned Batman, and he knows it. He is acting like a fanboy trying to keep it together, which is something we can all relate to.

The majority of this issue deals with Bruce's choices in both allies and women. There is of course the flashback to Nightwing's frost encounter with Batman and the Outsiders. Dick seems to take Bruce's, I don't know, "infidelity," a lot better than Tim does. And of course, the lady in Bruce's life shows up, Selina Kyle-- The Catwoman. Now, my understanding of Bruce and Selina's relationship was that it was don't ask don't tell. Obviously Bruce has his romps with the occasional bimbo and Talia and whomever else. And of course Selina has baby Helena. Well, maybe she doesn't. That kid seemed to have disappeared from the DCU proper so there's no reason she would be in this. But Catwoman even brings this up when confronting Bruce about Silver, and leads to a moment very reminiscent of Loeb and Lee's Hush. You know the panel. Full moon. Tight embrace. Classic. In fact, a fellow Batman-fan and buddy's ex-girlfriend had it as her desktop when she was trying to win him back. ***** had issues.



Please, do yourself a favor. Read this series. Do it. Do it.

Courtesy of the Womp Nation.

 

[Drz]

Yep i decided to check this out. I just wish the artist did the faces better. Story has been great. Characterization is top notch and it's fun to read about Bruce who doesn't have the Ultimate prep-time like Morrison's run has had.

 

[WompuM]

Yeah, Flanagan's art has been pretty simplistic. It certainly gets the point across, but lacks in details. And the way he draws the cowl kind of bugs me, but then again, he drew Arthur on a Narwhal, so he's aight to me.

 

[Saved]

Yep i decided to check this out. I just wish the artist did the faces better. Story has been great. Characterization is top notch and it's fun to read about Bruce who doesn't have the Ultimate prep-time like Morrison's run has had.

To be fair, Prep-time Batman has been around since Post Knightfall. Apparently, getting your back broken is the motivation one requries to become ultimately obsessed with preparation.

 

[Drz]

To be fair, Prep-time Batman has been around since Post Knightfall. Apparently, getting your back broken is the motivation one requries to become ultimately obsessed with preparation.

Yeah but i really mean the most ultimate prep time such as R.I.P where Batman was almost prepared for everything except he hadn't had time to make his alternative personality stable enough.

Here he does a mistake to a minor telepathic thug for example and i like the inner monologue. It's also abit "hmm would Batman do that" when Batman isn't thinking in perfect english but using "slang" like saying Tim is "gonna pull a Nightwing soon" for example.

 

[Saved]

Interesting. I'm definently waiting for the trade, at this point. Looks like this may be the Kevin Smith Batman I was really hoping for. Even though I didn't hate Cocophany, I was disappointed.

 

[WompuM]

Well he is still human, not a robot. I think too often writers give Bruce HAL-9000's personality. The dude hangs out with teenagers and twenty-somethings most of the time. He's bound to pick up some lingo. Plus, he's always had a dry sense of humor. I think Smith is doing a great job of capturing Bruce's voice.

 

[Saved]

Haha, good point, man. Plus, Bruce Wayne is suppossed to be this playboy, livin' up the rich and famous life. I don't know how you could do that and not use slang terms in your vernacular.

 

[WompuM]

You know what I didn't care for, and forgot to put in my review, was the mention of twitter. I think that is going to date the crap out of an otherwise timeless story. Same thing with Joker talking about American Idol in "Dark Detective".

 

[Drz]

Don't forget wikipedia reference in R.I.P

 

[WompuM]

I must've missed that. lol. Wikipedia is as timeless as Batman.

 

[Cuyan]

Just picked up the first issue myself. Not great, but also not terrible. I have deftly avoided any large spoiler ridden chunks of text in here as I plan to continue to with this book.

Personally, I think Smith would benefit greatly from some sort of wrangler. While he is a great writer, he does tend to get a bit dialogue heavy. In my opinion, he often sabotages his action points with sparse bits of tacked on conversation.

I have faith that this arc will pay off, but the road to the finish may be a bit choppy.

 

[ultimatefan]

I´m currently reading The Widening Gyre - I´m surprised not to find a thread on it, BTW - and I´m enoying it. I like the notion, "what if a regular girl Bruce likes is actually okay with his mission, and will make the best out of their relationship under the circumstances?" Smith has a really good grasp of Batman and his world, he manages to write Batman´s inner monologue in a captivating way still being true to the character, it comes to show his skill that´I´m enoying a long Batman story where he´s not fighting his A-list enemies or has a major case to investigate, and is happier than usual. I´m curious about Baphomet as well, is he a great new ally or an enemy in disguise, or something in-betwee?

 

[WompuM]

Yeah, Baphomet's role seems to be, in a way, what if that fellow from TDK, the fake Batman, had showed up later in Bruce's career, after the JLA had formed and every Tom, Dick, or Harry in cape could be a superhero, not just Bruce Wayne. Young, eager, and skilled for sure, but until they show his motivations for dressing up like a demonic goat, possibly still a threat.

 

[Drz]

Gotham Babylon (Baphomet's own mini) confirmed.

Widening Gyre expands to 12 issues with another new hero

 

[WompuM]

Hell ****ing yes!

 

[Drz]

Batman Widening Gyre #5 preview!

 

[Saved]

What is Gotham Babylon?!

 

[WompuM]

Apparently a Baphomet series. I am glad this guy is sticking around. Any hero who brings a cooler full of beer to the fight is alright by me.

Why in the holy balls does Mr. Freeze have a flamethrower? The guy has been defeated by chicken soup before. Shouldn't napalm be a no-no for him?

 

[Saved]

I remember Freeze can't survive in room temperature without his suit so, yeah...

 

[WompuM]

Like Superman with a Kryptonite gun, or Batman with a bullet gun.