Batman #40

Writer: Tom King

Artist: Joelle Jones

Colourist: Jordie Bellaire

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

I'm not entirely sure how to approach this issue, but my main takeaway from this story is that it shouldn't have been spread out over two issues and, hence, is filler. With the news that Batman and Catwoman's wedding will take place in the upcoming #50, it just feels like Tom King is padding this journey to #50 with these really unnecessary stories. We have a Poison Ivy story coming up after this as well as a Booster Gold story; how does this pave the way to their marriage if not to pad a page count?

But I digress. This issue wasn't necessarily bad, just stretched out. The single best part about it is Joelle Jones' excellent, excellent art. Her linework comes together nicely and her characters are very expressive. The opening Wonder Woman scenes look simply stunning, mostly since I haven't seen anyone draw Wonder Woman like that. I'm not a fan of her Batman, however. Jordie Bellaire is one of the best colourists working in comics today, which I'm sure is a statement you've heard before. The issue's first double page spread is simply perfect, and this is due to Bellaire's colouring.

King isn't impressing me from a plotting and dialogue standpoint. The plotting issue relates to the stretching-out issue I've already talked about. The dialogue is a big concern for me. It's overly flowery for no good reason, and it coincides with whatever emotional moment King is trying to build. I really want to feel sorry for the Gentle Man character but him referring to Wonder Woman as "the Wonder" is absolute, one hundred percent nonsense and instantly disconnects me from the character. King has been doing this since about #9 after mostly referring to Batman as "the Bat".

King needlessly continues his incessant tropes that disconnect me from the characters I'm reading about. I don't think he's going to stop anytime soon which is why I've decided a lot time ago that this run isn't for me. I don't ever want to see a reference to the Gentle Man and his plight ever again.