Batman: Gotham Nights #4
Written by Mark Russell
Art by Ryan Benjamin, Richard Friend and Alex Sinclair
Lettering by Troy Peteri
Published by DC
‘Rama Rating: 7 out of 10
Given his politically outspoken work on everything from The Flintstones to Snagglepussando Swamp Thing, it’s perhaps no surprise to see writer Mark Russell tackle DC’s premier billionaire vigilante in Batman: Gotham Knights #4. And what’s perhaps most surprising about this digital offering is that Russell works hard to tailor his didactic style to the action-packed tropes of a traditional superheroic adventure. While the structure can be a little shaky at times, there’s still lots to like about this Batman story.
Similar to his work on Swamp Thing, Russell approaches this story by examining the power that comes from the mega-wealthy – but instead of looking at their effects on the ground level like Swamp Thing, Russell flips the script by seeing what life looks like for billionaire Bruce Wayne. To that end, Russell makes for a compelling point that both the Batman and megalomaniacal CEOs might share – a habit of using the ends to justify the means.
Of course, given that he’s only got 16 pages to work with, unfortunately Russell isn’t able to follow that thread to its logical conclusion – namely, how can even Batman’s heroics justify the moral cost that inherently comes with being a billionaire? (Yes, Bruce Wayne gives to charity. – but can you really argue he is the engine actually driving the lucrative Wayne Enterprises? If you thought the Bane could challenge Batman’s reason for being, wait till you read Karl Marx.)
But I digress – in lieu of deeper social commentary, Russell goes for the next best thing, which is Bruce Wayne using his ultra-exclusive connections to bring some justice to the corrupt 1%. It’s here that Russell fulfills some of the unspoken obligations of the superhero genre, even if some of the finer details are a little wonky.
On the one hand, he brings in some surprisingly effective bursts of action, like Batman stomping on Bruce Wayne’s country club buddies or dive-bombing a yacht; but on the other hand, even as Bruce going undercover as an informant is a great twist, the introduction of the Joker as a would-be attorney stretches the story beyond suspension of disbelief. You’d think a billionaire would know enough than to get into bed with a psychotic mass murderer with an itchy trigger finger, you know?
But I think what also helps make this story work is Ryan Benjamin’s artwork. I’ve mentioned previously that he evokes just enough of Jim Lee’s iconic house style – especially when partnered with seminal Bat-colorist Alex Sinclair – that the book feels inherently action-driven, even when those beats actually are fairly scattered. While Benjamin does stumble a bit with some of his layouts – in particular, a beat where the Batmobile rolls up is very easy to miss – the way he portrays Batman in action looks really powerful. While he and inker Richard Friend occasionally feel a little rough around the edges in some of the finer details, the style fits enough in that traditional superhero wheelhouse that you won’t be disappointed.
And to be honest, that might be how I’d describe Batman: Gotham Nights #4 as a whole – while Russell has his own distinct voice as a writer, he actually bridges the gap to what a traditional superhero comic looks like that it will likely feel like a win-win for two reading demographics that might otherwise find themselves at odds. While one might wish he could dig a little bit deeper at the inequities of wealth and power that even Batman might unwittingly represent, this done-in-one story feels more thoughtful than you might expect.