Batman #14 Review

BATMAN #14

by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Jock

Batman #14. Does this chapter of Death of the Family live up to the last? Find out!

I had to reread Batman #14 to make sure I didn't miss anything. Half of the main story is an excellently unnerving conversation between Batman and the Joker. The first part of the book was unusually slow. We got more creepiness from the Joker, and a boring conversation between Bats and Nightwing. It was strange to see a Scott Snyder book be such a mixed bag. The main event of the book is the first meeting of Batman and the Joker. Here, Snyder makes a compelling argument, comparing Batman and Joker's relationship to that of a king and a jester's. One small continuity problem: Detective Comics #14 takes place after this, though Alfred's disappearance isn't given a second thought, though it seems like Alfred has been missing for quite some time. 

Greg Capullo's art is as awesome as ever. The opening escape sequence is amazingly detailed, and I loved the shot of Batman in the vat, blowing his way out. If the rumors of Capullo leaving this book after the next arc is true, I'm going to be a sad panda.

The backup was... meh. It wasn't as useless as the one in Detective Comics #14 as this one seems like it will have some long lasting  consequences. However, it wasn't that engaging. The Joker confronts the Penguin and... that's that. Thankfully, we have Jock's art to give us a real reason to read the backup (and fear the Joker).

Batman #14 is a mixed bag of a half and half story, amazing arc, and another underwhelming backup. 

STORY: 3/5

ART: 5/5

BACKUP: 3/5

VERDICT: 3.5/5