The character has always carried an aura of sex appeal. Smith's interpretation of Poison Ivy is just flat out disturbing. And the shoddy characterization extends to several other characters. This overly neurotic treatment might suit some heroes, but certainly not Batman. He lacks confidence, he seems despondent at his inability to relate to his more well-adjusted allies, and he doesn't cut a very imposing figure. Smith's Batman is a mixture of everything the character shouldn't be at this stage in his life. Sadly, this issue probably would have been better off if Dick Grayson were wearing the costume. With the new Dynamic Duo so prevalent in half a dozen different ongoing series, it's nice to take a step back and allow Bruce to share the spotlight again. Frankly, that's one of the more attractive aspects of having Smith pen another Bat book. Bruce Wayne remains to don the cape and cowl. Poison Ivy and Etrigan the Demon factor in heavily, as does goofy Super-Nazi Baron Blitzkrieg. In this first issue, Smith's focus is on a similar mix of the iconic and the strange. Smith's first story featured Joker alongside Onomatopoeia and Maxie Zeus as the primary villains. And yet, just as I felt what might have been an unwarranted sense of optimism in the first series, I can't help but think Batman: The Widening Gyre may yet have potential. For the most part, the same crippling problems remain. Sadly, not much has changed in Smith and Flanagan's approach to this not-quite-a-sequel.
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