Flashpoint: Batman – Knight of Vengeance #1
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artists: Eduardo Risso (pencils, inks), Patricia Mulvihill (colorist)

The team of Azzarello & Risso (100 Bullets) come together to tell the tale of this much older, jaded and cynical Batman. It’s quickly apparent that Wayne’s influence on Gotham City extends beyond that of a corporate giant. Two characters in somehwat familiar but career-advanced roles play a key part in the life of Wayne/Batman. On the trail of a kidnapper, Batman makes a gruesome discovery in the sewers of Gotham City and has a close encounter with an inhuman, subterranean monster.

I’ve long been a fan of this creative duo (in fact, this comic brings together the entire creative team behind 100 Bullets including colorist Trish Mulvihill, letterer Clem Robins, and cover artist Dave Johnson) so had high expectations for the comic. I wasn’t let down. Fantastic tone throughout, great pacing, and Risso’s masterful use of shadows and angles from the opening page above the Gotham City skyline to the gory outcome of the battle below ground make this a comic worth reading. Recommended.