Batman ’89 Echoes #4 is written by Sam Hamm and published by DC. Artwork and main cover art (left) are by Joe Quinones, colours by Leonardo Ito and letters by Carlos M. Mangual.
Batman ’89 Echoes #4 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Things are heating up around Gotham as Drake struggles to cover the whole city while Dr. Crane and Dr. Quinzel’s methods begin to endanger it even more! Can Batman find his way back, or will he be lost to his fear for good?!
Review
We return to Bruce Wayne’s undercover mission in Arkham Asylum today with the fourth issue of Batman ’89 Echoes. With only two issues left the Sam Hamm-penned series is gearing up for its endgame. After a lengthy gap between its second and third issues, can the series get back on track for a blockbuster finale?
It feels like a lot of this series has been spent watching Bruce undercover in Arkham. Whilst Hamm has spent a lot of time establishing Bruce as a detective this series. It’s felt a little stuck in the mud. We’ve seen plenty of Bruce attending therapy and mixing with other inmates. There’s been ample opportunity to glimpse Hamm-inspired versions of other characters. We’ve also been able to scratch the surface of Bruce’s psyche through his meetings with Dr. Crane. But there’s been little action either inside or outside the asylum to keep us engaged.
Hamm has succeeded in putting a new spin on Harley Quinn which has kept Batman 89 Echoes afloat. The 80s influence on writing the character has been a highlight and does appear to be leading towards something bigger. There are two key scenes for the character this month, one featuring a Batman Returns character and another which may hint at where the character will go in the final two issues. But seeing Dr. Quinzel reaching this point of suiting up and how she has been manipulated by the men around her to this point takes a tragic page out of Selina Kyle’s Batman Returns characterisation.
Scarecrow finally emerges, fully suited and ready to take on Gotham which is our biggest step in the story so far. It’s great to see this version of Crane taking on a suit which feels inspired by BTAS as much as it is the comics. The anticipation of waiting to see him embrace his villainous destiny is triggered by the reveal that Bruce isn’t the real prisoner which Arkham thought it was housing. With the FBI hot on Bruce’s tail it was time for Crane to expedite his plans and that means Joe Quinones has the chance to pull some cool imagery out of the bag as we head in to this month’s cliffhanger.
Batman 89 has done a great job across both series in setting up a supporting cast around Bruce. Alfred’s role in Echoes has been particularly interesting to read as it’s so different to where we’ve seen him before. Drake Winston has been more of a key figure in Echoes and, as this month’s cover alludes, he’s getting a costume upgrade. Drake has played the confidant role with Bruce, linking between his life inside Arkham and the world outside. The brief appearance of his new suit seems to herald in a potential Dynamic Duo team up which this book needs to make sure it’s final chapters land with the audience.
Conspicuously absent this issue is Barbara Gordon. We’ve saw her on the cover of issue #2 suited up at Batgirl. Something which didn’t happen in the book itself. But which the story has been potentially leaning towards. Could her absence from this issue signal a potential heroic return with Harley and Scarecrow on the loose?
Verdict
Batman 89 Echoes sets free both of its villains in an issue which sets up a potentially deadly final battle on the streets of Gotham. Joe Quinones artwork continues to breathe new life in to the world of Hamm’s story.
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