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Batman Fortress #2
- Writer:
- Gary Whitta
- Artist:
- Darick Robertson
- Letterer:
- Simon Bowland
- Cover Artist:
- Darick Robertson, Diego Rodriguez
- Publisher:
- DC
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-06-28
- Colorist:
- Diego Rodriguez
Canon or non-canon, it seems the heroes of the DC Universe just can't get a break. For Batman, things have taken an abrupt turn for the worse in the last few days, as a great electromagnetic force has caused blackouts all around the world, set the prisoners of Arkham Asylum free, and heralded the arrival of a powerful alien menace. It seems Superman would be the best man for the job, but unfortunately, he's nowhere to be found. The Dark Knight is Earth's last chance in Batman: Fortress #2, written by Gary Whitta, drawn by Darick Robertson, colored by Diego Rodriguez, and lettered by Simon Bowland.
Exploring a possible world where Superman has disappeared, Batman: Fortress #2 continues with Batman taking the reins and leading the League against the alien invasion in Superman's absence. However, the World's Greatest Detective soon learns that intelligence and military strategy might not be enough, and lives close to him might be at greater risk than he initially thought.
Dark, gritty, and grimy storylines, full of death, destruction, and despair are par for the course for Batman and much of the DC Universe. Much like the first issue, Batman: Fortress #2 stands out as particularly gloomy, having free rein as a non-canon storyline to do things most issues would not. It's clear that nobody is safe in this world, not even the protagonists. Batman leads the Justice League and the combined military forces of countries around the world into battle over the Indian Ocean, only to suffer casualties -- most notably Cyborg, who is bisected by a laser. His "death" is drawn out, yet somehow underplayed despite the fact that it seems to be a potential catalyst for Batman to seize even more power as desperation mounts. Heroes are killed, homes are destroyed, and the aliens are revealed to have strong personal beef against Superman, but their appearance still comes across as deadpan and anticlimactic.
Batman: Fortress #2 continues an unfortunate writing and pacing pattern established in the previous issue. The dialogue is clunky and awkward, with little natural flow. While the serious scenes and monologues are well-written, humor comes across as forced and unnatural. The lettering placements are similarly skewed, as Bowland seems to struggle to find room for everything in Robertson's narrow, crowded panels. But there is enough content to make the narrative interesting. Batman's psyche, his discomfort as a leader, and his desire for revenge make for some strong passages in this issue.
Robertson's art in Batman: Fortress #2 is excellent. He adopots an aesthetic rarely seen in contemporary comics. The style has thick lines with a lot of excess details–hairlines, forehead wrinkles, all designed to make the world feel worn out, gritty and surreal in its darkness and ugliness. The art adds weight to the story.
Rodriguez follows Robertson's dark aesthetic by adhering to a similarly grimy palette. Despite a diverse set of bright hues and dark, muted tones, Rodriguez retrains a single texture to present the pages in a slightly slick, painterly style with soft, gradient spotlights, giving the characters a surreal, shiny appearance. Everything about the art suggests weight, decay, and a sense of unease. There are some genuinely beautiful artistic moments throughout -- most notably the battle over the Indian Ocean. The scene contrasts military aircraft carriers, Justice League airships, carnage, and stark darkness against a bright and romantic sunset.
Although it lacks tension and narrative cohesiveness, Batman: Fortress #2 does introduce higher stakes for Batman by placing him in the last position he would ever want -- taking Superman's place as the idealistic leader. Dark and foreboding, Batman: Fortress #2 tests Batman's will, patience, and leadership in a world without Superman.