Now this is what I’m talking about!

Return of Bruce Wayne #2 had really bad artwork in it. Which is weird considering I love Frazer Irving but that was not his best showing. So I was worried from that day forward since Irving is taking over for this new arc. Thankfully I was not disappointed.

I can’t really sum up why I like his artwork all that much. If anything it’s mostly due to how unique it is. I don’t see a whole lot of people (if any) coming close to his art style. It might be the first time that I condone computer artwork; cause I have a strong feeling he uses mainly the computer to do this. (ala Olivetti) But it doesn’t bother me here because the results are usually amazing. There are so many fantastic one page spreads in this; from the opening page to a giddy final page. His faces are always weird though I must admit. It doesn’t hurt my score but Irving’s take on people’s faces are always a bit odd. Like the panel where Dick is getting shot at the beginning….that’s a weird expression.

The story itself is very weird, but it’s Morrison so it’s not surprising. The ‘origin’ of the Dr. Hurt doesn’t really make any sense. But with Batman #701-702 explaining those pages in full detail I’m sure it’ll all make sense. Then you have the interactions with Dick/Gordon and Damien/Joker; and that’s where this book really shines. Morrison from issues one has made the character interactions so damn interesting. Most of the issue is Gordon and Dick talking in the bat-cave and I love how they interacted. Also, since it’s now apparent that EVERYONE knows this Batman isn’t the real one; we can have the characters acting more natural. Which is different to how Morrison wrote these two from the first arc. Then we have the brilliant return of the Joker, and oh how I laughed. Not because of how ‘serious’ he is to go straight (just this once) but to how he will not make Damien be scared of him. The cops just letting Damien continue his torture is panel of the week for me. Overall just an amazing, well-written issue and might be the best written issue of this series in a long time.

This was a great issue all around. Irving delivered on the art and Morrison wrote one of his best issues of the year. Batman has hit it’s stride once again and with the Return of Bruce Wayne still going strong….It’ll be very interesting to see how all of this plays out.