[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers.]
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artists: Phil Hester, Ande Parks
Reviewed By: Derek McNeil
Summary
“FAMILY BUSINESS” part one! Following the events of “Rise of the Demon,” Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne return to Neo-Gotham. Terry dons a brand-new Batsuit, but before he can even get his bearings, the return of a familiar foe may spoil his homecoming before it even begins.
Positives
Terry and Bruce have returned to Wayne Manor, following their confrontation/reunion with Bruce’s son Damian. As they settle back in, we see a number of decisions about their future being made.
First off, Terry announces that he and his brother Matt have moved into the Manor. This decision makes sense. Bruce cannot remain physically independent – being wheelchair ridden for the time being. Also, it is convenient for Terry’s career as Batman for him to live adjacent to the Batcave.
Which leads us to another of Terry’s decisions. He reaffirms his dedication to being Batman. Although Barbara Gordon suggests that Terry should move on from being Batman, Terry has decided that he wants to stick with being Batman.
But he doesn’t want to let that decision stand in the way of his happiness. So, he also decides to rekindle his relationship with Dana Tan – as long as she can accept that his being Batman.
Also, Matt seems very interested in the history of Damian and the other Robins, asking Bruce about them, and admiring their costumes and equipment. It appears that Matt has some notions of serving as Robin to Terry’s Batman.
There are also some nice nods to Batman history visible in the Batcave that lent a nice nostalgic feel to the issue. Matt is seen looking at the Earth-2 Robin and the Kingdom Come Red Robin costumes. Plus, we also catch a partial glimpse of the 1966 Batmobile.
Negatives
Terry gets a ‘new’ costume in this issue or more correctly, he gets his old one back. Although it is understandable that he and Bruce might want to return to an earlier, safer iteration of the costume, it seems a bit of a step backwards. I supposed it is a bit new in that Bruce mentions that there are a few new twists to the costume, but it seems to me that Terry’s next suit should have kept at least some of the newer design elements of the 2.0 version.
Verdict
Batman Beyond does a great job of incorporating elements of the original Batman Beyond cartoon with elements from the current-day DCU into exciting adventures of Batman. Oddly enough, the one DC book set in the future in some ways seems the most in tune with DC’s history.
