Cover Watch #1: "Batman" #10

Mikel Janín cover for Batman #10 is quite remarkable in how it evokes notions of 18th and 19th century Gothic novels. The way the Fortress of Santa Prisca withstands the waves of a stormy sea, brilliantly captured in grey tones, will immediately remind readers of book covers such as Bram Stoker's Dracula or Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto. The grim looking Batman towers over everything here, further emphasizing the Gothic spirit of Janín's cover.

The only element here feeling a bit out-of-place is the cover's orange background, which unfortunately contrasts with the darker colour tones of the cover and disrupts its coherence.

All in all an excellent cover, which by the way comes with a comic that is an absolute blast as well.

Review: "Batman: Rebirth" #1

Batman: Rebirth #1 has a lot going for it in the beginning. Writers Scott Snyder and Tom King put Calendar Man in the spotlight of a Batman story again, and his story as well as artistic conception by artist Mikel Janin make you wonder why we haven't seen more of such a compelling villain in the past. 

Duke Thomas' fresh take on Robin shows great promise and potential too, as King and Snyder take up the strong narrative and character established in "The New 52". Batman himself is grittier and grimmer compared to the previous instalment, also due in large parts to Janin's art and June Chung's coloring, which is outstanding throughout the whole comic (especially the double-page batcave panel is an absolute eye-catcher).

However, after all Batman: Rebirth #1 does not manage to fully deliver on its huge initial promise, mainly because it's just over in the wink of an eye (half of the comic is promo material. Come on, DC!). Why the story ends so abruptly, and what exactly all this has to do with a rebirth is anyone's guess, and hopefully subsequent issues will shed a bit of light on it all. Until then, we're left with a somewhat half-baked experience.

7/10

Further Links: 

Final Thoughts on the "DC Universe Rebirth"

Batman #52

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6