Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Art: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ivan Plascencia, and Pat Brosseau
Publisher: DC Comics
Price:$4.99
Release Date: April 19th, 2022
Bruce Wayne’s trek and transformation into BATMAN resumes this week in BATMAN: THE KNIGHT #4 by Chip Zdarsky as Bruce finds himself upon a mountaintop bordering North Korea, where he pursues the legendary Master Kirigi to teach him the ancient art of ninjutsu. This could be the most challenging task to master yet as Bruce deems to survive without the help of many he can trust. Let’s dive in and take a look!
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the Batman: The Knight #4 Review.
THE DISPATCH
Let me start by saying I loved the explanation as to how Bruce found Master Kirigi. It just makes more sense with the foundation of this story. Zdarsky makes it seem like a throwaway line but it generates all the difference in the world and frankly is logical. How does some punk rich kid find his way to a secret, mountaintop, ninjutsu clan bordering China and North Korea? Ducard is the reason why which paints a much stronger picture of Bruce’s training. And, Bruce never would have found this place without bumping into Ducard first.
Furthermore, Zdarsky does a fantastic job explaining the Kirigi/ League of Assassins connection that again just makes sense while simultaneously keeping “a piece of Bruce’s soul”. Additionally, I like the angle Zdarsky appears to be taking with some extra characters he’s sliding in that help fortify the story and show the amount of homework Chip has put into this narrative. Readers will notice the introduction of someone named Anton, who I think “may” be the Night-Thief or also known as the Night-Slayer. Furthermore, with the cliffhanger revealing some interesting tidbits about this plot thread of Bruce’s past, I can’t help but continue to be locked into BATMAN: THE KNIGHT as this series continues to unfold.
ART
Carmine Di Giandomenico and Ivan Plascencia continue their take on Bruce’s early years with a sense of sketched realism. The characters have these sharper edges and facial structures balanced wonderfully with this raw sense of coarse reality. The only real knock I could give the art this time around would be the color choices which came across as dull and almost foggy in nature. The tones were lighter and thus caused many of the pages to look less crisp and refined. However, I understand the color choices with most of the tale taking place in the mountains. Yet, I’ve seen colder, darker scenes and settings in other comics come across as stronger, sharper, and more refined with different techniques.
FINAL THOUGHTS
BATMAN: THE KNIGHT #4 continues to summarize the early years between Bruce’s parents’ death and his first year as BATMAN in a masterful way. This depiction of the character is logical and does a fantastic job of weaving together so many of these early stories and narrative nuggets heard throughout the years into one creative gem. BATMAN: THE KNIGHT #4 takes the era involving Bruce’s “combat training” and molds it perfectly into the tapestry of what makes the BATMAN so unstoppable. We’ve witnessed his growth in areas of thievery and detective work, however, now readers discover a quick snapshot of a portion of the physical training that’s made Bruce so formidable.
Moreover, Zdarsky continues to push the drive and unmeasurable determination that it would take to create anything close to what readers deem as BATMAN. BATMAN: THE KNIGHT continues to be informative, unique, creative, and the best darn BATMAN tale on the market right now, which should excite fans for Zdarsky’s opportunity on the main BATMAN series this June. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless!