Batman #550

If ever DC Comics gets their act right, the shot lived series Chase needs to be collected into one big trade.  Batman #550 was her first appearance and really is issue #0 of the series.  You can understand what is happening with issue #1, but reading this before the series makes everything make more sense.
 
The introduction to chase was handled nicely.  There are two creative art teams: (1) the main feature team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty to weave in between (2) J. H. Williams III [J3] and inker Mick Gray.  Some readers hate when visual continuity changes in a comic.  I personally love it when its done well.  In this case it was.  The moody shadowy art of Jones maintains the narrative, while the fluid creativity of J3 flows from his penciling to give a symbolic birth to Cameron Chase.  The tone and visual effects of the layouts would be a taste of what is to come from the Chase on going series.  Both artist teams are balanced nicely by Doug Moench's script.

I have a lot of respect of Doug Moench, he penned Batman for many years, but one thing in this comic bothered me that I had to take a half-star away.... and that is when Batman is testing Clay Things powers by diving into him.... a good anyone would not jump into something that may absorb, dissolve or consume you, testing it out or not.  Toss a bloody Batarang or one of your many Robins and/or Batgirls into the mud... why risk yourself?  Bruce is the BOSS, so act like it.
 
If you look at the cover there is mention a collection cards inside: a set of four perforated D.E.O. file card sheet featuring Cameron Chase, Batman, Claything and Catwoman.  I loved they did this, it added to the feel of being a detective, the spirit of DC Comics that made me more loyal to them over Marvel over the years.  The Batman card made me really appreciate what is happening with the Batman mythos right now. In the file card it suggests that Batman was really Batmen and it is really nice seeing that they are now right.  There are Batmen now.  This is why I enjoy Batman stories, all good writers don't write Bruce Wayne stories, they write Batman stories.  Batman is more then a man, he is an icon, a symbol for a city.

Enough of The Batman, more about Chase. This comic really should hook you to want to read the Chase series, she is a cute Blond, has it out for the Metahumans and has shown that she is not your normal barbie doll with a gun.  All I can tell you is that Batman could not beat Claything, but someone else did.  Was it Chase or was it not, we don't know in this issue.  It is a great tease of things to come. 
 
My quest to review the Chase series is one step closer after this, thanks for reading and I hope to see you next time.  If you can still find a copy of DC Comics Presents: Chase, pick it up.  My review for that can be found ( here) on Comicvine as well,
 
Cheers
- Silkcuts