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Batman: Beyond the White Knight #4
- Writer:
- Sean Murphy
- Artist:
- Sean Murphy
- Letterer:
- AndWorld Design
- Cover Artist:
- Sean Murphy, Dave Stewart
- Publisher:
- DC
- Price:
- $4.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-06-28
- Colorist:
- Dave Stewart
Sean Murphy has established himself as a double threat, writing and illustrating an exciting new Elseworlds section of the Batman mythology. The Murphyverse, as many fans have called it, continues to break new boundaries and prove that canon is in the eye of the beholder. In Batman: Beyond the White Knight #4 by Murphy, colorist Dave Stewart, and letterer AndWorld Designs, Terry McGinnis' origin story as the Batman of the Future takes another eventful turn.
The new issue finally reveals what Derek Powers' nefarious plans have been all along. Powers rationalizes his beliefs to Terry, saying this is the only way to protect the city; however, it appears as if the young McGinnis knows more than he's letting on. Elsewhere, Bruce Wayne and the Jack Napier hologram continue their search for Joker's daughter, Jackie, stopping by his old hideouts to find some toys for extra assistance. Fans of Robin also receive a treat as Dick Grayson and a suited-up Duke Thomas have a brief skirmish that should heat up the debate of who truly was the best sidekick of them all.
The previous issues raced by at a million miles per hour, but Batman: Beyond the White Knight #4 takes the foot off the gas for a moment of reprieve. Murphy uses this time to answer some major questions about the characters and to set up the next phase of the story. This is a bridging issue through and through, which isn't always the most exciting from a reader's perspective, but it's essential to the overall flow of the story. However, Murphy throws fans for a loop with Terry's arc, proving that we can't always believe everything we see.
While the narrative might not move mountains, Murphy's art does. The Murphyverse is alive and well here, with the artist adding even more dimensions and breadth to this expansive world. His Gotham City takes inspiration from all the others that came before it, but it remains original and distinct. Paging through this book, it's easy to get lost in the detail and grandeur of the scenery as the art leaps off the page and grabs the reader's eye.
Stewart's colors play a big role in emphasizing the artwork. He maintains the style of the White Knight series and adds a subtle cyberpunk aesthetic to the proceedings. That isn't to say it's all neon, but it is reminiscent of the original Batman Beyond show's color scheme. AndWorld Design's lettering is largely reserved for captions and dialogue since the book isn't bursting with too much action or sound effects. That said, it stays clean and crisp, allowing for an enjoyable reading experience.
Batman: Beyond the White Knight #4 isn't the most exciting issue of this miniseries, but it does a lot of the heavy lifting so that the rest of the story can shine. So far, Murphy has done an excellent job of reinventing the traditional canon while still respecting the core of these characters. Terry's story is only beginning here, and many more twists are on the way.