Batman’s search for the holiday murders had finally come to an end.
Now face to face with the cult behind all of the countless deaths within Gotham City, Batman will face his greatest challenge yet. What secrets will Batman discover? What is this cult’s mission? Why are they carrying out these acts of violence that shake Batman to his core? And what will it take to stop them?
What I enjoyed this issue is that even though Batman often succeeds in solving the cases that he is tasked with, he is still a man that understands that even he has his limits. There are some things that are beyond comprehension, and there are some things that no one can prepare themselves for, and I feel that Tomasi really highlighted that in this issue. I really enjoyed this two-part murder mystery story, where Batman faces off against pagan Norse cults and beings. While Batman had faced off against cults, demonic beings, and godly beings, it’s not often that Batman faces off against the level of villainy that stems from the darkest parts of Norse mythology. But what makes this book worthwhile is Batman recognizing his humanity and vulnerability throughout the entirety of this case.
In regards to the art department, Godlewski’s art delivers in providing art that matches the tone and atmosphere that Tomasi was aiming for in regards to this story. Godlewski succeeds in providing layouts and scenes that showcase introspective moments that rival the bombastic action within this issue. Coupled with Baron’s beautiful winter coloring and Leigh’s lettering, the art team sticks the landing in crafting a holiday detective story that is enjoyable from beginning to end.
Newsdesk