Batman #20 Review

BATMAN #20

by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo

I think Bruce Wayne likes Star Wars a bit too much...

Batman #20 marks the end of a fun little 2-issue mini-arc for the series that stars Clayface. The entire arc has a much more light-hearted tone than the first two stories in the series, and I've rather enjoyed that. However, this issue has a LOT of problems. First off, the story jumps around everywhere. I mean, I had no idea the last confrontation with Clayface took place after  the opening of #19 until halfway through it. Also, Clayface came off as a very poor and uninteresting villain. I mean, the flower guy from the #19 flashback seemed more interesting! Despite all this, I will admit, it had a "D'aww!" worthy ending, with one of the better "Damian mourning" scenes so far.

Greg Capullo's art looks great here, especially with Danny Miki's finishes. There are some annoying continuity issues here and there (Didn't Gordon get shot AND run over in the last issue?), but it looks as awesome as ever.

The backup story serves as a fun diversion AND a wasted opportunity. Alex Maleev's art looks great, but didn't suit the B:TAS tone. I also felt Superman was useless throughout the entire backup arc, and it had a rather boring conversation at the end.

Batman #20 is an issue you can easily skip, but if you buy it, you'll get two mediocre stories that you won't remember in about 1 hour. Wait, already forgot.

STORY: 2.5/5

+ A nice little ending

+ It's... Fun? I guess? Sort of?

- Clayface sucks as a villain

- Nothing stands out. At all.

ART: 4.5/5

+ It's freaking Greg Capullo!

+ The colors look awesome

- Some minor continuity errors

BACKUP: 2/5

+ Alex Maleev's art looks great, though out of place

- Superman has become Aquaman

- Maleev's art is out of place

- A boring ending

VERDICT: 3/5