Revisited Batman: Face The Face last night- Sort of a messy, uneven arc that seems like its main objective was to reset the status quo after Infinite Crisis and act as a placeholder before Grant Morrison took over the series. But there are some strong moments and solid art scattered in there. - ThreadSky

benkeiser.bsky.social • 15 days ago

Revisited Batman: Face The Face last night-

Sort of a messy, uneven arc that seems like its main objective was to reset the status quo after Infinite Crisis and act as a placeholder before Grant Morrison took over the series.

But there are some strong moments and solid art scattered in there.

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benkeiser.bsky.social•15 days ago

In retrospect, this book feels like a Part 1 of a story that never got a sequel.

(Spoiler Warning ⚠️)

If the creative team had more issues to flesh out Warren White’s reveal, Jason Bard’s return, and Harvey Dent’s reunion tour, I think it could have worked.

benkeiser.bsky.social•15 days ago

Also, respect where respect is due: Robinson is obviously a great writer and Starman and Golden Age are stone-cold classics.

And I’d still be interested in seeing him do more Batman stuff, this one just didn’t do it for me.

benkeiser.bsky.social•15 days ago

I’m sure there’s stuff that goes on editorially that can make these in-between (FTF is right after Under The Red Hood and right before Batman & Son) stories tricky to pull off. But on its own terms, I think Face the Face suffers from a disjointed structure and lack of resolution.

RIP Orca 🪦

benkeiser.bsky.social•15 days ago

But I really liked the scenes with Bruce and Tim, and there’s a cool, noir-ish vibe added to the whole thing from the sleek, shadow-drenched artwork.

The first issue’s confrontation with Poison Ivy is well done too.

Ultimately, a mixed bag for me…

benkeiser.bsky.social•15 days ago

It’s the classic comic trope of "this new bad guy took out all of these other known villains so he must be tough!”
Used sparingly it can work, but here it just comes off as a cheap way to raise the stakes of a shaky murder mystery.
Fortunately all of deceased rogues got better after a few years.

benkeiser.bsky.social•15 days ago

The series starts off with an interesting premise, but I found the ending anticlimactic, and some of the character’s motivations feel pretty flimsy (especially the stuff with Two-Face).
And what a wild body count! So many recognizable villains bite the dust in one page scenes or even off-panel.

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