Review: Mother Panic Batman Special #1

DC Comics
Review: Mother Panic Batman Special #1
By Philip Schweier
February 7, 2018 - 08:31

DC Comics
Writer(s): Jody Houser
Artist(s): Ty Templeton
Colourist(s): Keiren Smith
Letterer(s): John Workman
Cover Artist(s): Frank Quitely

Violet Page is a product of Gather House, an orphanage where children were experimented on. With the help of new cybernetic abilities, she burned the place to the ground and escaped. Inspired by Batman, she’s joined him in his fight against crime in Gotham City. But now she learns that Gather House is open again, and discovers it’s being operated by Batman himself.

Together, they are able to free the children from an unearthly pall that has settled across the Multiverse. With the help of Cave Carson’s cybernetic eye, they intend to join Superman in a major battle against dark forces. But Violet’s demented mother may know more than she is capable of conveying. Is she insane, or endowed with a unique sight that discerns more than she is able to intelligibly express?

Mother Panic Batman is part 2 of the Milk Wars, which promises crossovers with the Doom Patrol, JLA, Shade the Changing Girl, Wonder Woman and Swamp Thing. Mixing the Young Animal imprint with the mainstream DCU may attract new readers, but with so many major events occurring throughout the DCU, I can’t help but view the story as yet another symptom of event fatigue.

However, the artwork by Ty Templeton is stellar, and it’s a shame we don’t see more of his work in mainstream comics. He’s vastly under-appreciated in this age of overblown dynamism, and it’s such a welcome change to see a master draftsman practicing his craft. Keiren Smith’s coloring only helps.

Rating: 8/10, mostly for the art

Rating: 8/10