Batgirl is flipping out with the news of her farther (Jim Gordon) going straight to Blackgate!
Previous Batman: Eternal reviews - #1, #2, and #3. Yesterday's review: Wolverine Origins - Seven The Hard Way. Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, John Layman, Ray Fawkes, Tim Seeley, Dustin Nguyen, and Derek Fridolfs join Batman and Batgirl on a mission to clear Jim Gordon's good name.
The Good
In this issue, Batgirl finds out the bad news about her father! Accused of manslaughter, Jim Gordon is looking at time served in Blackgate prison with no bail. Feeling angry and thinking that Batman is not doing enough for her father; Batgirl sets out to prove her father's innocence any way possible! However, Batman doesn't think that this mission she's on is good for her right now; as things get personal. Plus, the G.C.P.D.'s new commissioner is under the thumb of Carmine Falcone and has the department ignoring other crimes and following the "real crime" which is Batman!
If you've enjoyed the story of Batman: Eternal so far, this issue will prove that you are spending your money on a good series. For those that haven't had enough evidence to follow this series; this issue will hook you! One of those hooks is Dustin Nguyen's artwork, but a key factor that contributes to the art is the story that transpires!
The writers did a real good job with this 4th issue story! They focused on the Jim Gordon side of the story a bit, solely because Batgirl was in this issue, but it turned out really, really well. It showed how Jim Gordon is starting to think that he may actually be the culprit of the deaths of 160 people. However, fans like you and me (and Batman and the rest of the Bat family) know that Jim could never do such a thing! So it's really great to see how the writers are playing with Jim's sanity as to thinking that he may be the killer. However this series goes, we know by default things will seriously be different!
I love how Batgirl is being portrayed in this issue. She's being really stubborn, but driven by the love of getting her father's name cleared. I like how she's basically saying "screw you Batman", because she sees Batman isn't doing everything in his power to knock bad guys half to death and get answers. It's really great to see how these two go back and forth between one another about "morals" and "emotions." It ties in greatly with what Carmine Falcone has in store for the city of Gotham. Of getting it back to a time where there were no costume freaks in sight; and how the regular crime lords run the city (like Falcone). It's great to see how his story is transpiring over Gotham and how he is a step ahead of Batman for once in his life. The writers did everything right with this 4th story and I'm excited to see what's next!
I absolutely love Dustin Nguyen's artwork! Jason Fabok did a great job with the first three issues of the series; and I'm glad to see Nguyen working on this Batman series. Because there's no good Batman series without Dustin Nguyen's unique hand [style] illustrating it! The reason why his artwork always works for a batman series, in this case Batman: Eternal, is that it is ominous. You always get this feeling that Gotham, at any time, can leap out and kill you and that's how it feels with his artwork (with the help of the story). So really glad to see him on this series.
The Bad
No complaints.
The Verdict
I recommend you check out this series; and especially this issue! 5 out of 5
Batman: Eternal reviews
- Prelude (Bat #28)
- Eternal #1
- Eternal #2
- Eternal #3
- Eternal #4 (this review)
- Eternal #5 (next week!)
