Batman #34

Writer: Tom KingArtist: Joelle Jones

Before Reading:

After the big reveals from issue #33 which found The Wayne family learning about Batman's proposal to Catwoman, and that Bruce and Selina are in Khadym apparently seeking out Talia Al Ghul; readers are left wondering why? Is it something to do with Batman wanting Talia's blessing for Selina to be a mother to Damian? (I highly doubt that) Or is there something deeper going on here that we will hopefully learn about with this issue?

During Reading:

We pick up exactly where we left off last issue with Bat and Cat entering the walled city (supposedly seeking to meet with Talia) and being confronted with goons from the League of Assassins. During the massive fight scene Batman and Catwoman begin what I will refer to as "couples banter" while they brawl it out with the assassins. It reminds you of how couples often speak to one another. It is very playful, and yet has some subtle seriousness to it. The only difference here is that both are fantastic fighters and do this sort of thing on a daily basis.

Talia enters the fray talking about swords (as she always does) and we finally learn why Bruce and Selina are there. I will tell you that it is not to "get her blessing" for Damian's new Stepmother. There are some more really great dialogue scenes (this time with only Dick and Damian) and even a brief, somewhat comical moment when another character shows up. Bye the end of this one we are in a showdown: "The Cat vs. the Daughter of the Demon" and you better believe there will be swords involved.

After Reading:

This was an action packed book. I really enjoyed the fight scenes as drawn by Joelle Jones. Jones has a grasp on differentiating the art when it calls for it. The fights are loud, bombastic and fun, and the character moments and conversations are quiet and powerful. I am happy that Jones will be on for this whole arc. King does an excellent job of capturing the dynamic between Batman and Catwoman. While they are fighting they have some pretty interesting and at times comical conversations. This is the most talking during a fight scene that I have seen in a book in a while. Yet, somehow Tom King makes it all work.

The reveal of why the two of them have come to Talia is an intriguing one and is a nice treat for longtime readers of this series. Batman continues being the most consistent title from the DC Rebirth initiative and King in his 34 issues is using many different aspects of the Batman universe to create quite a special run.

8.5/10

Nothing to turn a man on like being covered in evil assassin blood!