Comic Book Review: Batman: The Red Death #1

“Welcome to the Dark Universe. Home to stories that should never be…”

The Age of Metal Begins

Batman: The Red Death #1 tells the story of one of 7 Justice League counterparts from the pages of Dark Nights: Metal #2. Clad in red and black mesh, The Red Death’s origin reveals one of the most intriguing aspects of this story.

Batman: Red Death #1

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Dark Nights: Metal story is shaping up to be an incredible blockbuster of a comic. Its most striking image graced the pages of the 2nd issue. The Justice League is literally torn apart, and a new Batman/Heavy Metal-themed team arrives to plague the Earth. To tell the tale of Red Death we have the amazing creative team behind The Flash: Rebirth, Joshua Williamson and Carmine Di Giandomenico.

Red Room, Red Room

The backstory for this new speedster is fairly straightforward. A Bruce of another universe faces a great loss. Realizing his own limitations, Batman wants to remove the Speedforce from Barry Allen to give to himself. It’s not new, Bruce has had powers multiple times throughout DC history. However, the idea that he’d forcibly remove a power from a friend is frightening. It’s realized wonderfully by the words of Williamson and the pencils of Di Giandomenico.

Batman: Red Death #1

At first, the dialogue is quite bland. Without an entire series to explore his characters’ motivations, Williamson has his Bruce and Barry quickly delving into the main story. The subsequent showdown and theatrics are fun, but it doesn’t feel earned. The subtlety and nuance is missed.

The Fastest Men Alive

Barry and Bruce may not have had much time together, but the time was well spent thanks to Giandomenico’s art. His work was perfect for The Flash: Rebirth’s speedy storytelling, and it’s just as perfect here. The erratic nature of Bruce is perfectly matched by the articulate yet spastic line-work. Ivan Plascencia adds magnificent coloring, helping to create the vibrant world in which Bruce plays a dangerous game.

Batman: Red Death #1

Williamson and Di Giandomenico are another Rebirth dream-team. Their work on The Flash has made it an unmissable title. The success of DC’s most recent reboot is still felt throughout the comic world. These Flash veterans are one of many such creative teams keeping the DC Universe fresh and modern.

The Verdict

The work of Scott Snyder is taking its toll on DC’s mightiest heroes. The effects of Dark Nights: Metal is spreading throughout and causing all kinds of mayhem. However, that mayhem is keeping everyone interested. The Red Death is one such player in the dangerous game. His creation at the hands of Bruce Wayne and Barry Allen is both a tragedy and triumph. While one character got exactly what they wanted, the other is cursed because of it. Poetically written by the hands of Joshua Williamson, though the dialogue is often wooden and indelicate.

The fluidity and flourish of Carmine Di Giandomenico’s art elevates Williamson’s words to new heights. Together, the two can create a lively world from the darkest of pieces. The Dark Universe concocted by the mad science of Snyder gets defined further by the current keepers of The Flash. Together, they craft an engaging story that sends both Barry and Bat through hell…and back again.

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