Gotham Underground

(DC, 2007–2008)
™ and © 2007 DC Comics, Inc.

In Gotham Underground #1, Batman goes undercover as Matches Malone, a guise he first assumed in Batman #242 (Jun 72) in a story revolving around Ra’s al Ghul. This time, Matches works for The Penguin in order to uncover information regarding an underground railroad for criminals. The Suicide Squad has been kidnapping super-villains of late, so Captain Boomerang, Bronze Tiger, and company are involved, as well. Yes, this is a Countdown tie-in, but it reads pretty well on its own.

The most striking thing about the issue is the art of J. Calafiore, who keeps things interesting with a variety of well-placed panel sizes and layouts. The talking-head scenes are as lively as the action sequences, and the characters, especially Deadshot, Bane, Riddler, and Penguin, look fantastic. Batman never appears in costume (despite the cover implying otherwise), but this is one case where it doesn matter, thanks in part to solid performances by Robin and Nightwing.

Black Lightning fans take note: Black Lightning,villain Tobias Whale makes a disgusting (yet amusing) two-page appearance.

— Brett Weiss

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