Batman: Gotham Shall Be Judged Review (David Hine, Guillem March)

I don’t think I’ve ever read an Azrael book before - but then I never come across them either! And this is why: Azrael sucks. This version of the character (the previous one being the laughably ‘90s Jean-Paul Valley from Knightfall) is Grant Morrison’s Michael Lane, a tortured ex-cop who gets all crazy religious for some reason, dresses up like a medieval Crusader and, like too many real-life Christians, behaves like a judgmental twat. Azrael is going to vaguely “judge” Gotham - which apparently means blowing it up? Buuh, I wonder if Batman will stop him? Snooze. 

Writer David Hine hits more than he misses but Gotham Shall Be Judged is definitely a miss. I just read this yesterday and I can barely remember what happened in the first half. Azrael and Batman tangle to no effect, then Azrael goes to Afghanistan for no reason to recruit some kid who’s a living bomb? Also, Ra’s Al-Ghul’s tangled up in this crap somehow. Rubbish. 

For the second half, DC does its speciality and forces an annoying crossover across several titles. Because not all of it is collected in this already oversized book, there are missing chapters making for an irritatingly uneven read. A character called “Crusader” suddenly appears but we don’t know his backstory, motivations, personality, etc. Catwoman suddenly has a sister introduced who was never previously established and some contrived emotion is attempted between the two that couldn’t be less convincing. 

The second half of the book is simply a mess whose story falls back on the superhero template of “good guys stopping bad guys from arbitrarily blowing up the city for evil reasons” - it’s as boring as it sounds. 

This is set during Grant Morrison’s Batman run when Dick Grayson was still standing in as the Dark Knight - Bruce Wayne is back but he’s busy jetting around the world setting up Batman Incorporated so Dick’s still the Batman of Gotham. And I’m a big fan of Dick Grayson as Batman - I actually think he’s a better Batman than Bruce! He’s definitely funnier. Azrael’s on the roof, waving his fiery swords around and yelling some nonsense to the heavens - cut to Dick below, looking up and muttering “Oh, great”. It made me smile. 

There’s a humanity to Dick Grayson’s Batman that you don’t get with Bruce’s because he’s too distant and cold. Dick’s more empathetic and likeable. I also liked Guillem March’s art too which is quite nice and eye-catching. 

I don’t think David Hine is a bad writer but he didn’t come up with any memorable or engaging stories for Azrael. Then again, Azrael’s not a great character either. He’s too coco-bananas and not in a fun way - he’s too intense, flagellating himself bloody, and his depressing life is a downer. Supernatural/magical characters rarely work in Batman anyway. 

This book shall be judged - and I judge it not worthy!