Batman: City of Madness #1 Review

Writer & Artist – Christian Ward 

Letters – Hassan Osmane-Elhaou  

Publisher- DC Comics – Black Label 

Batman: City of Madness #1 by Christian Ward hits comic shops today and is a title I have really been looking forward too given the inventive visuals Ward has brought to his previous works and the teasers he has shared over the years that led up to this series finally being published at DC and while I will say that the visuals lived up to the hype, the story on the other hand is a bit of a muddled mess that easily loses a reader through its heavy dialogue and uncoherent plot devices at times. 

Ward delivers a very original story in these first issues and there are a lot of exciting plot twists and surprises for readers to enjoy, but I felt almost lost at times as the dialogue felt a little too ambitious and takes a bit longer than necessary to get to certain points. Once you get past the heavy dialogue at certain points though, the excitement ramps up and Ward makes up or it with very exciting reveals and plot twists that keep the reader engaged throughout the issue and leaves you pondering what's to come in the issues ahead and hopefully now that the groundwork has been laid in this first issue, the following issues wont drag on as much and they will be able to deliver the full excitement Ward shows he is able to accomplish at certain times in this first issue. 

The art of this issue is what makes this book really stand apart and makes it worth the cover price alone as Ward delivers a very original and edgy cosmic horror feeling that gives off some Arkham Asylum vibes, but Ward makes it his own with his dynamic style and contrasting colors that deliver a true nightmarish tone throughout this issue that you can't take your eyes off of. I can honestly say that this is one of the most beautiful Batman books I have ever read and as the series progresses, I can only imagine it's going to get bigger and darker and leave readers talking about its stylization for years to come. 

Overall, Batman: City of Madness delivers some exciting plot devices and twists, but its heavily dialogue can leave readers feeling lost at times and wanting to skip ahead, but Ward makes up or it with dynamic reveals and art that will leave you looking at every detail of ever panel and flipping through this issue over and over again. 

You can pick up Batman: City of Madness #1 today at your local comic bookstores or buy it digitally through your preferred digital retailer. 

-Wes Greer