A dead body has been found in the Rookery. Being one of Gotham City’s oldest neighborhoods, it has many skeletons it doesn’t want known. That is something Batman is willing to brave in his search for answers. What he finds along the way will challenge his very foundation. Is he prepared for what he discovers?
BATMAN: DARK PATTERNS #8 by Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman, Tríona Farrell and Frank Cvetkovic continues “Case 03: PAREIDOLIA”.
There’s no time to waste in checking out the best Batman series at the shops. Here we go!
BATMAN: DARK PATTERNS #8 by Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman, Tríona Farrell and Frank Cvetkovic (DC Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Watters throws Batman his greatest challenge yet with this chapter. For the first time, readers see him exhausted and running on fumes. This is a very different look for the Dark Knight. It’s perfect to compliment his growing pains in this early year. Even his allies are taking notice. As if this wasn’t chaotic enough, a tabloid writer tips off Batman to a disturbing fact of the new Gotham City coroner.
There is no rest to search that new plot out. The writing refocuses Batman back to the stakeout routine. Readers watch as a grave lesson is learned in his inexperience. A sniper has taken aim with Batman’s pre-occupations. This results in a very tense confrontation. The dialogue between this Rookery resident and Batman is laced with clues. It opens a few new doors to this locked case. Watters leaves readers with a startling curve in the close. It can’t be stressed enough of how GOOD this series is!
To say Sherman and Farrell are on a whole other level is an understatement. The opening pages set-up is fantastic. Using “The Den” newspaper lead as a half page panel recurring is great to set the mood. Readers can easily see how Batman is addressing the case. They also see him falling to succeed. This transfers over to his allies conversation. The small details like an unshaven face gritting teeth sends a loud message. It steps up events into a more striking pace.
The return to the Rookery has a small twist to it. Two young children lead Batman into a shocking discovery. Sherman’s panel set-ups add more to each scene. Even a half page grave discovery feels like more stunning than it should. The sniper’s shot is given a superb two page splash. It moves events into a more intense conversation. Readers watch as the shooter delves into Gotham’s past. The use of black & white coloring has an almost Hitchcock aura to the full page image. It assists building the surprise ending. Another full page image graces readers before bowing out. Talk about throwing an exclamation point on this chapter!
OVERALL GRADE: 9.5
“The Best Batman book at the LCS” strikes again with another fantastic chapter. Watters’ writing dives into the ever emerging skills of the Dark Knight. Sherman and Farrell construct incredible visuals to keep readers on the edge of their seats. This is high level storytelling that can’t be beat.
Let me know in the comments below your thoughts on Batman: Dark Patterns #8. Thanks for reading!