Batman: City of Madness (2023-) #2

by Christian Ward

The Court of Owls summons Batman, demanding he venture deep beneath the city to fight what has been unleashed from its a wave of madness infecting Gotham’s villains, driven by the monstrous creature they’re calling “the Batman Below.” But the Court has not-entirely-noble reasons for wanting this chaos stopped…Is Batman their weapon, or their bait?

Genres: Comics, Batman, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels, Fantasy

45 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2023

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a sec to catch up from last issue, but definitely a great story.

Just the right amount of weird to make it intriguing, but familiar faces ensuring this is very much a Batman story.

Artwork is insane, and really supports the story well.

Another great issue, keen for the conclusion!

[Dimitris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great issue with beautiful art that is perfectly fitting with this weird lovecraftian batman story. This issue gives us a glimpse of the nightmarish upside down Gotham while tells us a bit more about the cthulhuesque Batman of that world. Ward really knows what he is doing and uses the most suitable Batman's villains for a typical Lovecraft story. It's too bad that this miniseries will conclude in the next issue because I want much more (just like I wanted to see a bigger battle between Nightwing and Clayface-Soggoth)

[Ziyad Baksh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

It feels canon adjacent. Ward should get a shot at the main run.

I like the Gotham below concept and there is a cool new wrinkle to the Ventriloquist.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

A no ser que se guarde todo para el número final, este City of Madness supone un buen "vendehumos". Buscando un nuevo encontronazo Lovecraftniano con Batman, justamente parece que el propio Christian Ward no quiere atender al hecho de que existe ya un precedente con cierto Elseworld de Mike Mignola que, a pesar de tirar sobre todo por el "pulperismo" en su trasladación de Los Mitos a Gotham City. Lograba llegar a un buen término de esas narraciones de enfrentarse a lo Desconocido con el mismo Bruce viéndose afectado por completo por estas fuerzas primigenias... City of Madness cuenta con un poderoso apartado artístico que ofrece esos ramalazos de pesadillismo onírico pero que no se solapa con la apuesta argumental de Ward que sigue enfocado en lo "estético" de esta deriva del terror más que ofrecer una trama propositiva de estas temáticas. Hay que aclarar que Ward viene de participar en Aquaman Andromeda junto a Ram V. También un acercamiento de otro héroe de DC a un abismo de horror cósmico que, a pesar de también dejarlo todo para el final. Sí que tenía un enfoque más allá de lo visual para no ser solo un "gancho comercial".

Al final, la historia de City of Madness parece más conectada con una revisión siniestra de algo más parecido a Alicia en el País de las Maravillas. O incluso encontrando un frustrante parecido en Stranger Things. El hecho de tener a un Batman con tentáculos por boca no creo que sea suficiente como para que este cómic pueda valerse del tirón del imaginario del solitario de Providence.

[Marc Lucke · Rating 4 out of 5]

My interest in Batman has waned a lot over the years, but this is a good book. If you care at all about the character, this is a solid story which builds on ARKHAM ASYLUM and CITY OF OWLS in pretty cool ways.

I adore Ward's art, and I appreciate that he does yeoman's work in terms of writing: good enough to get the job done, but a little rote. That's a minor criticism though, as I can see he's an artist who's still growing and improving. BATMAN: CITY OF MADNESS is one of the better Batman stories I've read in a while, with some interesting links to the canon. Ward made an unusual choice in having Batman explicitly assert himself as the dominant persona to the point of wanting to kill Wayne entirely, and I'm genuinely curious to see how it plays out (though we know the outcome).

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second issue continues to be as good as the first. I enjoyed the perspective of showing Alfred be more question and regretful of the choices Bruce made and how Gotham's pain in general sort of creates a symbiotic relationship when it comes to pain.

Poor Jevoney, man.

My boy Nightwing being awesome through and through. The exploration of Dick's guardians and the darker side of allowing him to be Robin was *chef's kiss* Giving a chance to explore Bruce AND Alfred enabling and channeling Dick's rage to help him be Robin ties really well with the theme of Duality. That panel with Ventriloquist getting the dummy and Dick getting the Robin suit was a punch.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those where while I'm not a huge court of owls person, I like the lore. I'm enjoying the vibes, if you will. The art just pairs so well with the story. The way that the colors pop or don't as they need to.
How the mood is shown in the speech bubbles, and the buildings, and so many things. The overlay of color ontop of the drawings that adds and also somehow obscures the character and tone. I look forward to the next issue, and for the stunning artwork.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving this mini series now. It's weird, but not so weird that it doesn't feel like Batman anymore. It's just the perfect level of weird and bizarre and out of ordinary.

Also the art is absolutely incredible, I want it injected into my veins. The panel where The Ventriloquist is talking and the speech bubble ropes around out from Arnold's mouth and through Scarface's mouth is sick, I love it.

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

As above, so below.

If the owls want balance, I wonder what the rebellious faction thought would happen by opening the door. Oh... right. They didn't think the creature existed. But...if there is a soul below for every soul above, why doesn't Cthulhu Batman have a below Robin? Doesn't that kid exist down there, too?

I know. These aren't the questions to ask. Enjoying the story.

[James B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is fascinating, Gotham below has a version of everyone from Gotham above, including a lovecraftian, evil Batman. The artwork is so amazing that this would get 5 stars for the art alone.

[Jamie Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best title at the moment.

[Garth · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 - Year of The Bat (366 Days of Batman)

Day 49

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Joker in this art style is going to ✨slay✨