Batman Damned #1 Review

Writer: Brian Azzarello // Artists: Lee Bermejo // DC COMICS In many hero versus villain tales, the use of light versus dark is showcased as a linear perspective that tries to prove that these sides cannot coexist: one side is always attempting to mute the other. This tactic can be found in various parables, some of which belong to different belief systems. Which raises the question: “At what point does each side become muddy enough where reality seems monotonous”? In reality one cannot attempt uniformity without exploring nuances when one attempts to mute one side. With that, Batman Damned #1 introduces the various ways that one can “unmask the darkness” and how gray scale affects the “God” complex that’s featured throughout the panels. Unmasking Layered Demons At the beginning of Batman Damned #1, readers are given various concepts that are often pitted against each other, posted against a heart monitor. This seemingly simplistic concept serves as an outline for the rest of the book, as the introduction of a “thin line” that propels readers into a chaotic scene. (insert image) The rise and fall of a heart monitor transforms to blood rushing and Batman passed out on a stretcher. Bodies begin to hover around him and of course, the question behind unmasking him arises. What I appreciated about this scene is how Azzarello compares duality and revelations. Batman, a perceived hero for most, is also a symbol of fear in Gotham. Unmasking this mysterious person will not only let lo…