Writer Scott Snyder made Batman the flagship title of DC’s New 52, but his four years on that book were just a warm-up, giving him the experience and profile that make him fit to launch a new All-Star Batman series. This comic is fucking awesome. There was always an element of bombastic spectacle to balance the strong horror elements in Batman, but All-Star Batman sees Snyder doubling down on explosive, dynamic action, brought to the page with incredible energy by penciler John Romita Jr., inker Danny Miki, and colorist Dean White. (Batman’s horror elements are still present, but they’re driving the back-up story, which has stunning art by Declan Shalvey and colorist Jordie Bellaire.)
All-Star Batman’s strong Grindhouse influence has given it a thrilling sense of forward momentum, and the creative team has taken Batman out of Gotham to give the series a very different feel from the rest of the Batman line, which has been especially strong in DC’s Rebirth. That change in environment is highlighted at the start of this preview of next week’s All-Star Batman #4, which opens with a black-and-white shot of farmland that bursts into vivid color as the story starts.
From there, the action jumps to Batman and his newest sidekick, Duke Thomas, pinned down by Two-Face’s goons, setting the stage for another ingenious escape that shows off more special features of Batman’s costume: projectiles in the chest and knuckles, and pectoral speakers that allow Batman to use echolocation if he’s ever blind. This creative team is having so much fun playing with Batman’s need for gadgets and weapons because he doesn’t have superpowers, and this preview shows just how badass a regular human being can be with the right equipment.