Shapshot: Batman Cacophony
The story of Batman is continued in this three part series that ran in 2009 (and was later printed into one complete graphic novel). The short story line was created by Kevin Smith (writer) and Walter Flanagan (penciller), and quite literally was born out of what if scenarios; and DC comics of course.
The story takes Bruce Wayne on a familiar story, in an already settled Batman universe, where the Joker has escaped from Arkham once more. Batman needs to recapture the Joker, and stop this new masked villain (well new to me) who broke the Joker out; as well as seems to be backing up the Joker. However, Joker has no problem with the back-up while he makes a drug-lord pay for turning his “Joker Venom” from the feared killing poison it was, into a synthesized play-time drug codename: chuckles.
The artwork through-out the story is stunning, as you watch it evolve. You quite literally get to watch as Walt improves from part 1 to part 3. Likewise with the story. Kevin gets better with the fluency and well choosing more natural dialogue for characters in this new world he has created. It is a great start for Act 1. I wonder how it will evolve in The Widening Gyre? I advise anyone who is a fan of Batman, Joker, or Kevin Smith to check out Batman Cacophony.
