Batman Detective Comics #836 – Absolute Terror Part 2 – Review

Writer: John Rozum
Artist: Tom Mandrake
Colours by: Nathan Eyring
Letterer: Phil Balsman
Associate Editor: Jeanne Schaefer
Editor: Mike Marts

IF YOU HAVEN’T READ MY REVIEW FOR PART 1 THEN PLEASE DO SO TO AVOID SPOILERS. Batman Detective Comics #835 – Absolute Terror Part 1

Intro:

In the last issue, we saw Jonathan Crane a.k.a The Scarecrow, escape from Arkham and outsmart everyone by changing his usual habits for a new strategy…random violence. In this issue, we get to see what the next moves are for both Batman and Scarecow.

Plot:

Gotham City has been struck with fear. Businesses are closed, the streets are bare and the economy is slowly collapsing because of it all. More murder victims were found disguised as Scarecrows throughout the city, with many more straw stuffed Scarecrows also being found, leaving the city in fear, and leaving Batman to wonder what Crane’s next move is going to be.

Whilst Crane has managed to avoid leaving any clues amongst all the chaotic happenings of the story, we all know that Batman will eventually figure something out, and of course, he does, because he’s the worlds greatest detective.

Hot on his trails, Batman and Robin must split up to investigate their hunches, but soon they’ll realise that splitting up is never a good choice, as Robin runs into some trouble.

Of course the story ends with Batman saving the day but this story still holds it’s place as a very different type of story to the usual Scarecrow driven comics. In the end, Crane has realised that he truly doesn’t need his fear gas to strike fear into the hearts of Gotham but one thing he must do is overcome his own.

Art:

In this second half of the story, Tom Mandrake gives us some very chilling images that are enough to make anyone afraid at the thought of them becoming real. From hanging scarecrows with sharp scythes, to the horrifying torture that Crane carries out on his victims.

Overall:

This book is a great horror story, though it could be adapted these days into something a little more expanded in order to fully give us the terrifying villain that Scarecrow is. However, if you are a fan of Scarecrow then this is certainly a story arc you need to read, because it changes the usual tropes for something that pushes even Batman’s limits.