Batman Beyond #2

Last time on Batman Beyond, I gave a review of Issue #1, how it manages to get readers reacquainted with the world of Terry McGinnis, and its now canonized merger into the main DCU, but I also griped at how short the issue became. A month later passes, and needless to say, Adam Beechen, may have just made a exemplary job at how to elevate the momentum of Batman Beyond with Issue #2. With more ups and downs than the current political state of the United States, it's my review of Batman Beyond #2! Join me on this review, won't you?
 

The Good

This issue has manage to stay fresh off the heels of the conclusion of Issue #1, by starting off with a collective shock wonderfully displayed by Ryan Benjamin. Adam Beechen capitalizes on this shock to establish the series of events that surprise and shock at the same time, akin to the episodes to which this mini-series pays homage to, but this time, it feels that the stakes were definitely raised. It also has its surprises, starting with who becomes the next victim of Hush's hit list, the return of an unexpected old-timer, and the renovation of Catwoman.

Her design reminds me a wee bit of Black Manta, but with a cat-shaped helmet, and despite this eccentricity, it becomes easy to gaze upon. Her interaction with Batman is also comical, yet unique in its own nature, while it also follows precedent with the standard Batman/Catwoman banter. Despite my initial complaint that the story script seems too familiar to Return of the Joker, it has managed to achieve its own individuality, although unorthodox, with Hush killing off Bruce Wayne and Terry McGinnis's former villains. Add the growing tension between Bruce and Terry, which Beechen manages to slip in without shoehorning it into the story, and this issue definitely picks up the slack from Issue #1. In a nutshell, Ryan Benjamin manages to give some impressive displays in this issue that manages to capture the feel of Neo Gotham, with the added help of John Stanisci at inks.
 

The Bad

As I said before, the plot still manages to remind people of Return of the Joker, even more so with Bruce reliving his final confrontation with Hush, to which it sadly has a huge similarity to what led Batman and Joker's final showdown. For the sake of fairness, he manages to add his own curves to this encounter. Another problem that is present, is how oddly drawn Bruce and Terry were in their interaction in the Batcave, particularly after Bruce ends his telling of his encounter with Hush. Terry doesn't exactly look like Terry, especially in the panel where he walks around Bruce, and Bruce's mouth looks malformed at best. This particular page was cringe-worthy at the most, and an oddity at the least. Additionally, the encounter between Bruce and Hush, it tries to emulate the sequence in Batman: Hush, but it becomes really dark to look upon, it doesn't display any uniqueness that it was meant to show. 
 

The Verdict

Well, it's safe to say this issue has made a giant leap from its previous issue on terms of storytelling, art depictions, and overall length ot the story. There are some kinks here and there, but nothing that it manages to derail the story completely. And for a $3 comic, it'll definitely give you your money's worth. Give this issue a shot, and with alacrity, as if there's any indication, it will sell out like it did with Issue #1. 4.5/5 GREAT BUY