Batman Beyond: Neo Gothic #4 is written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing. Artwork is by Max Dunbar, colours by Rain Beredo and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. The main cover art (left) is by Dunbar and Sebastian Cheng. The book is published by DC Comics.
Batman Beyond: Neo Gothic #4 is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
In the darkness beyond, a looming threat waits. Behold: the Court of Owls! But who do they seek and why? After escaping the wrath of Killer Croc, Batman comes face-to-beak with the most terrifying Court to ever exist. But in order to get the answers he seeks, he must be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Can Batman act against his mission to protect? All this, and the truth behind the magic is revealed.
Review
Get ready. Things are about to get trippy. The fourth chapter of “The Long, Strange Trip” is a weird one packed with incredible imagery and a number of notable callbacks. As Terry faces both his past and the ginormous fungal Batman it’s incredible to see just how far Batman Beyond has come from its animated origins.
We pick up almost immediately after the end of issue #3, with Terry facing off against the grotesque fungal Batman deep underneath the streets of Neo Gotham. At this point the story has become too involved for us to pick up on what’s happening above ground. By the time writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing get us back to the surface there may be nothing left of the city. But that’s a story for another day.
Fungal Batman has plans for Terry. Plans which include haunting him with visions of his family and friends that are loaded with intrigue and subtext. Neo Gothic has always been about Terry accepting his place as Batman without Bruce backing him up. Part of that acceptance is reconciling with his past and this issue is a fun way to have him take some giant steps towards doing so. Artist Max Dunbar, with incredible colours by Rain Beredo, takes us through a callback to the Batman Beyond animated series as well as several of its characters.
There was a moment as I was reading this issue that made me realise just how lucky we are as comic book readers. Having characters like Dana show up for a cameo shouldn’t be taken for granted because this just wouldn’t happen anywhere near as easily in live action or even possibly in animation. But for each character who shows up there’s a real intent and context that makes the book more than a worthwhile read.
Verdict
Batman Beyond: Neo Gothic is really blazing a new trail for Terry McGinnis. Month-to-month the series is really embracing its unique place within the world of DC and it’s a joy to see Kelly and Lanzing championing the fan-favourite character.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
