REVIEW: Thank you, Batman! in ‘Batman #51′
Batman #51 is the last issue of the Scott Snyder-Greg Capullo Bat-collaboration. Instead of going out with a whimper, Snyder and Capullo give Batman the proper send-off, the calm of the yet another storm to come. There are no superhero fights. Instead, Snyder presents a story of giving the Dark Knight the most deserving appreciation […]
Batman #51 is the last issue of the Scott Snyder-Greg Capullo Bat-collaboration. Instead of going out with a whimper, Snyder and Capullo give Batman the proper send-off, the calm of the yet another storm to come.
There are no superhero fights. Instead, Snyder presents a story of giving the Dark Knight the most deserving appreciation he could get, the Gotham City itself. We know the Caped Crusader rarely does reciprocate such kind of gratitude, but there are very few Bat-literature that dwells on how Gotham City really likes to give something in return to its greatest protector. And, this issue also serves to tie-in many loose-ends that left tangled from other Bat story arcs. For that, Snyder would be sorely missed.
As for Greg, his art is simply fantastic. His illustrations of the city itself are some of the most detailed ever. His drawings themselves give life to Gotham even it experienced a massive electrical disruption. His artwork on the citizens themselves are oozing with hope, optimism, and, highly appreciative to the efforts the Dark Knight did and does to the city. He really makes Batman and Gotham City as a singular entity, fulfilling Snyder’s last letter to the Caped Crusader. And, Capullo’s new design of the Bat-mobile is NOT to be missed!
Aside from the less action-packed story, I personally still can’t get over the purple color underneath Batman’s cape. I can understand the provenance of the purple/violet color of Batman’s gloves for these are traced to the character’s original drawings in the late 1930s, but the purple cape?
Regardless, Batman #51 is virtually a perfect valedictory piece of superhero comics of the Snyder-Capullo collaborative effort. Lyrical, poignant, and almost poetic in both the writing and art departments, both Scott and Greg deliver, PERIOD. Yes, there will be Batman #52, but Greg provides only the cover art, and Tynion IV, Snyder’s protege, writes it. I rather stick with this eulogizing Bat-chapter instead.
Thank you, Greg and Scott!
