Keyser Soze
AW YEEEAH!
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2002
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Legends of the Dark Knight #15: Prey, Part 5
What a shame. After me talking about how the previous instlament set the stage for a killer finale, what we ended up getting couldn't help but feel a little disappointing.
The biggest problem with the issue is likely the decision to take out the strongest aspect of the story - Hugo Strange - in the early stages, and have the weakest aspect of the story - Night-Scourge - emerge as the climactic Big Bad for the bulk of this concluding issue. But until his premature departure, Hugo Strange again makes for a marvelously vile villain, both in his treatment of the Mayor's daughter (he says she "has some bruising" - just a beating, or rape? The way he's prowling on the bed on top of her before the cutaway alludes to the latter) and in his personal, knowing jibes towards Batman. Of course, as I said in my last review, everyone knew in truth he was no match for Batman aside from Batman himself, and Batman's realisation of this meant that Hugo Strange no longer held any power over him, hence him being promptly cut down to size.
I liked the starting sequence too, with Batman on the road to renewed self discovery. It was hampered by the captions being hard-to-read in places (long have I hated that gimmicky "illegible handwriting caption" trend) but the general message was a strong one. Also note the contrast in how Batman assumes the mantle in a primal, almost animalistic fashion - the bats surrounding him, in a scene reminiscent of Batman Begins - whereas Hugo Strange is framed as just a guy in a silly suit. The difference is highlighted in Batman being framed in numerous "flattering" shots - low angle looking up, or with him bathed in shadows - while Hugo Strange is put in various distinctly UNflattering shots - kneeling on the bed to make his outfit look like kinky bedroom wear, running down the stairs handcuffed, or lying flat on his face having tripped over, cape draped over his head, his underpants-over-tights arse exposed to the wind. All emphasizing how much of a poseur Hugo Strange is, and replacing Batman is about more than putting on a costume and beating people up. An idea reinforced by Batman's later dominance of Night-Scourge.
In the end, everything is wrapped up neatly in a bow, all the loose ends I never thought they'd be able to address in a single issue addressed in one form or another. Prey wasn't an all-time classic, but it was a very enjoyable read, and Hugo Strange made for a great villain. I'm definitely keen to give the follow-up - Terror - a go.
What a shame. After me talking about how the previous instlament set the stage for a killer finale, what we ended up getting couldn't help but feel a little disappointing.
The biggest problem with the issue is likely the decision to take out the strongest aspect of the story - Hugo Strange - in the early stages, and have the weakest aspect of the story - Night-Scourge - emerge as the climactic Big Bad for the bulk of this concluding issue. But until his premature departure, Hugo Strange again makes for a marvelously vile villain, both in his treatment of the Mayor's daughter (he says she "has some bruising" - just a beating, or rape? The way he's prowling on the bed on top of her before the cutaway alludes to the latter) and in his personal, knowing jibes towards Batman. Of course, as I said in my last review, everyone knew in truth he was no match for Batman aside from Batman himself, and Batman's realisation of this meant that Hugo Strange no longer held any power over him, hence him being promptly cut down to size.
I liked the starting sequence too, with Batman on the road to renewed self discovery. It was hampered by the captions being hard-to-read in places (long have I hated that gimmicky "illegible handwriting caption" trend) but the general message was a strong one. Also note the contrast in how Batman assumes the mantle in a primal, almost animalistic fashion - the bats surrounding him, in a scene reminiscent of Batman Begins - whereas Hugo Strange is framed as just a guy in a silly suit. The difference is highlighted in Batman being framed in numerous "flattering" shots - low angle looking up, or with him bathed in shadows - while Hugo Strange is put in various distinctly UNflattering shots - kneeling on the bed to make his outfit look like kinky bedroom wear, running down the stairs handcuffed, or lying flat on his face having tripped over, cape draped over his head, his underpants-over-tights arse exposed to the wind. All emphasizing how much of a poseur Hugo Strange is, and replacing Batman is about more than putting on a costume and beating people up. An idea reinforced by Batman's later dominance of Night-Scourge.
In the end, everything is wrapped up neatly in a bow, all the loose ends I never thought they'd be able to address in a single issue addressed in one form or another. Prey wasn't an all-time classic, but it was a very enjoyable read, and Hugo Strange made for a great villain. I'm definitely keen to give the follow-up - Terror - a go.
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