It's not that often we see new work from Matt Wagner, and I'm honestly surprised DC isn't staging more of a marketing push for this series. Mind you, after having read the first issue, I'm not exactly overwhelmed. Wagner delivers a solid Batman story, but nothing terribly new or perceptive about the title character... yet. Wagner lays the foundation in this first issue, which doesn't leave much more room for anything but a typical Batman story. Fans of the title character and of Wagner won't be disappointed, but they won't be blown away either. However, the art is a real treat, and Wagner does offer a portrayal of a classic Batman villain that reveals the character's anger and insecurities.
More than a decade ago in Gotham, reports of a strange Bat-Man grow in frequency, and criminals all ovr Gotham have come to fear the sight of the weird caped figure. The criminal element even seems to have gotten in on the act, with the recent appearance and demise of a thief called the Red Hood. Tycoon and philanthropist Norman Madison is sick of the insanity that's plaguing his beloved city. He also wants to protect his daughter, who's been dating Bruce Wayne. Meanwhile, a scientist with lofty goals and questionable ethics plans to attend a charity event so he can solicit more funding, and a mobster with a bat on the brain heads to the same soiree.
I think Wagner's most important contribution to this story in terms of art is his depiction of Huge Strange. In a couple of past stories I've seen him in, he's come off as more of an aged, hunched over mad scientist type, but he's depicted as being much more physical yet lacking in stature. Wagner's vision of the Batman is as strong as ever, and it seems to draw inspiration from Frank Miller's classic take on the character. And the newspaper pic of the Red Hood looks so sharp I wish we had the chance to see more of it.
Hugo Strange's diminutive nature and the way people mock him and underestimate him make his extreme bitterness understandable. Wagner tempers Strange's cartoony villainy with that unfortunate side, transforming the character into something a little more real. Mind you, the character remains as corrupt and vile as ever, and that's OK too. The title of the series does refer to "monster men," so a monstrous soul is definitely called for here.
The Batman's swift dispatching of criminals, his intimidation tactics, another posh Gotham charity event and yet another dazzling beauty on Bruce Wayne's arm... Wagner certainly has dressed up his story with the typical fare for a Batman tale. And that's just the problem. This comes off as little more than a typical Batman tale, and with Wagner's name attached, I was hoping for something a little more atypical. Still, this is only the first issue, in which major players are introduced, so I remain hopeful for future issues. 7/10
