Batman: Dark Patterns #3 is written by Dan Watters and published by DC. Artwork is by Hayden Sherman, colours by Triona Farrell and letters by Frank Cvetkovic. Main cover art (left) is also by Sherman.
Batman: Dark Patterns #3 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
Batman is in the dark now, amidst the accumulated devastation and suffering at the root of Wound Man’s grotesque reign of terror. Can the Dark Knight bring it all to an end before the twisted killer claims another life? Don’t miss the end of “We Are Wounded”!
Review
Batman: Dark Patterns is back in comic book stores today with the final issue in its first arc, “We Are The Wounded”. Dan Watters completes not only the first of four stories. But also cements the format of telling these short, sharp (pardon the pun given the subject matter) stories as something incredible worthy of this dark, suspenseful Batman maxi-series.
The third issue picks up where we left off last month with the Wound Man attacking a Gotham City lawyer involved in covering up the incident which caused his affliction. There’s a lot of ground to cover this issue. But Watters is able to tackle it all at pace, building in several key reveals alongside a satisfying conclusion. In fact it doesn’t feel much like a conclusion at all. Whilst the Wound Man’s story might be coming to an end, Watters’ structure just makes it feel like Batman is simply moving from one case to another.
Dark Patterns has really come together to create something special. There’s a perfect storm of circumstance working in its favour. First of all, setting the series early in Batman’s career has allowed for a more low-tech approach. There’s no Robins or colourful supervillains camping it up or trying to flex what is a gritty and visceral approach to the Dark Knight. Layered on top of that is Hayden Sherman’s elegant and simple design work. I’ve said this before but Dark Patterns feels like a comic book rescued from a 1990’s time capsule. It proves this simpler approach, without the weight of decades of continuity, can still yield dynamic results.
“We Are The Wounded” has been a surprise with each issue. Once the initial shock of seeing a Batman book incorporating body horror had subsided, it was the graphic nature of the killers actions which felt both refreshing and shocking. But Watters isn’t a writer to sit back and simply tie up loose ends. This third chapter overlays some tragic circumstances to the Wound Man’s backstory which turn the story on its head. Adding this new context to Wound Man’s story means more detective work for Batman which also happens to be an approach which Watters seems to find both natural and engaging. His Batman exhibits all of the character’s core quality in abundance and they’re all on display this issue.
As Batman explores the home of the Wound Man’s true identity (no spoilers from me) there are opportunities to dig deeper in Dark Patterns world. Pulling from aspects of Batman’s past like the Sionis family and ACE Chemicals levels up the authenticity of the book. But also act as puzzle pieces which feel so unapologetically Batman that there’s just no Earth in the multiverse where they would add up to an engrossing story.
Of course all of that is capped off with Sherman’s incredible artwork. More of this issue takes place in daylight as Batman visits the suburban neighbourhood which was once home to Wound Man. Once there here’s confronted by a group of angry locals which leads us in to an action set piece which is somewhat of a rarity amongst Watters’ more measured storytelling. But again the opportunities which arise play to the strength of the artist in was which make Dark Patterns feel like no other book in stores right now.
Not quite a full noir story. Not an action-adventure. Batman: Dark Patterns is somehow toeing this incredible line between something which feels familiar and welcome. Yet also entirely unique and groundbreaking. Coming out of the “We Are Wounded” arc I just can’t quite believe how much breaking the concept in to four, three-issue arcs, has torn open the world and allowed Watters to re-write the rule book on Batman storytelling.
Verdict
A dynamic and shocking conclusion to the first arc of Batman: Dark Patterns. The latest issue cements the mission statement of Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman’s twelve-issue, four-story experiment with a gritty and visceral Dark Knight in the early days of his career.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
