“No More Teachers” – Part Four
Writer: Ed Brisson
Artist: John Timms
Color Artist: Rex Lokus
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Review by James Attias
Batman Incorporated #4 is a team building book, you read it and you see a team grow… perhaps not the one you expected, though.
I Missed Black Mist?
In this issue our team is divided. The heroes are arguing, fighting amongst themselves, and betrayals are happening left and right. If only there was a figurehead who could unite this team. Someone they all trust and respect, someone like… Batman. NOPE. Instead, we have Ghost-Maker. The person everyone blames for everything. See last issue for even more exposition.
In this chapter, we get a great deal of back story relating to Black Mist, a villain who’s been plaguing this team from the start… apparently. I have to say, I don’t remember seeing her until this issue. We also get more, very welcome, time with Phantom One, Ghost-Maker’s old sidekick.
Will Our heroes be able to prevail against a growing team of Anti-Batmen Incorporated? Batman Unincorporated? I need a better name, or worse puns. For now we’ll just call them the Legion of Unincorporated Anti-Batmen… it’s catchy.
The art this issue was good, consistent with how it’s been since the start. The writing also took a turn for the better, not that it wasn’t good before, but this issue it just felt like Ed Brisson is well in the swing of it, and he’s finally found the voices of all the characters. There’s nothing worse when reading a character from a country you are from and they start speaking like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. I can tell you that for true I can, me old mate.
Blame Game
The most prominent themes in this issue were that Ghost-Maker’s fighting a losing battle, and everyone blames him for his past, his present… you won’t guess where this is going… AND want to prevent him from committing any future sins. Only time will tell if this team will unite to fight the evil/turned versions of themselves or if they will all lose this losing battle.
Conclusion
Batman Incorporated #4 was an issue for the villains, which is a welcome change in a team book. A lot of time time’s only spent on the hero-team up, making this chapter a solid read.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
