We’re back! The Runaway’s adventures continue, and the FOMO Fear Gas is still spreading! What secrets connect the two? Will our heroes, past and present, be able to stop their respective crises? Let’s find out!
The Runaway
I think I’ve said it in just about every review so far, but The Runaway is such an incredible character. Evan Narcisse has absolutely knocked it out of the park here. This whole plot in Gotham’s past has me hooked. I mean, seeing Vandal Savage team up with another vigilante in the 1800s? Sign me up! There’s a catch, though. The Court of Owls has stolen Savage’s meteor shard, and he’s given The Runaway four days to find it before he burns Gotham to the ground. What follows is a thrilling race against time, with the Runaway using his “other face” and numerous sources around Gotham to gather information on the Court. There’s no confirmation yet on who our mysterious masked man is, but I have a few theories (not gonna discuss them here, though! Spoilers.).
In this search for information, it’s revealed that an unnamed Wayne ancestor is around, and is actively shunning the Court. It’s neat to see the old influences of the Waynes, but I do find it a little weird that EVERY member of the Wayne family appears to be a moral paragon. Not complaining, and I’m definitely saying it’s not possible that this specific guy IS, but it feels alittle more like brand protection than thought-out character writing.
Regardless of that little nitpick, the 1800s story is absolutely fantastic. Like, for real, if this was all the book was, I’d still be having a blast. Narcisse is a master of crafting this mystery narrative. The dynamic between Runaway and Savage is a really fun one, and I can’t wait to see more of it.
The art is still incredible, as well. Abel and John, the dream team, draw an incredible 1800s Gotham. The designs for all of the major characters, including Portia and her lover (who we catch back up with!! You love to see it.), all look incredible. The action is explosive and cool, the atmosphere gets spooky and tense when it needs to, the entire book is a visual feast. Absolutely stunning.
The Knights
Our modern day heroes are on the case too, however, and it’s shaping up to be the biggest one of their careers! The team is spread thin, with Red Hood in Santa Prisca, Batman, Batgirl, and Nightwing scrambling to put out fires in Gotham, and Robin trying to figure out a mysterious package. Things are picking up, and it looks like they might even be connected to our Runaway friend’s troubles. Not much else to say here, other than I’m truly excited to see what comes next.
Recommended if…
- You’ve been keeping up this long
- A genuinely intriguing, century-spanning mystery excites you
- Free game codes with every issue!
Overall
Gotham Knights as a property has consistently astounded me with its quality of writing. I genuinely think this is one of the most interesting Batman comics I’ve read in a while. Give it a shot!
Score: 8/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.
