Comic Review: Batman Beyond: Neo Year #2 (DC Comics)

After surviving Sword and Neo- Gotham’s attack, Batman is going to have to recruit some allies that could aid him in his quest to save Gotham from its own machinations.

Lacking both resources and guidance from his now-deceased mentor, Batman is left with no choice but to align himself with some of the worst that Gotham has to offer in order to save the city from itself. Who is Gestalt? What does Gestalt have that Batman needs in order to save Gotham? With limited resources, how will Batman survive?

Kelly and Lanzing are crafting a Batman Beyond Story that is unlike most others that came before it. After establishing what Terry’s life has been like after the passing of Bruce Wayne and the loss of his resources, readers are given a chance to see how Terry adapts as a Batman that has no financial support, nor coaching. A Batman that has to fight crime in Neo-Gotham with nothing but his wits, and his fists. There is a sense of irony given that Terry has always been coached by Bruce to be the Batman that he is, yet with Bruce out of the picture, he is as similar and as different as Batman as Bruce once was, making this an interesting series to read. Kelly places Terry in a position where he has to make drastic decisions that could either prove beneficial or detrimental for him. It’s not something he would have done had Bruce been around, let alone the financial backing to support his activities, which is why this book is a delight.

Max Dunbar’s art is dynamic, and fitting for the world of Batman Beyond, and much like the first issue, he does a fine job delivering all the cyberpunk goodness that comes with Batman Beyond. Sebastian Cheng contributes colorwork that accompanies Dunbar’s linework, giving the world of Neo-Gotham life and energy, no matter the scene, everything is visually stimulating to scan through and digest when reading. Aditya Bidikar provides the lettering for this issue and it serves its purpose, cementing the overall aesthetic, tone, and voice that makes the book what it is, delivering a seamless read. This series is charting new territory that hasn’t been done before in regards to the character and his world, adding new characters and new layers to Batman Beyond as a character. It’s worth adding to your pull list for new comic book day.