In Deep With The Batman Who Laughs: Batman/Superman #3 Reviewed
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
Superman has infected himself with the Batman Who Laughs’ Joker Toxin in order to get the names of the other Infected out of the Batman Who Laughs. Clark stages a breakout from underneath the Hall of Justice with our Batman backing him up. It doesn’t work, and the Batman Who Laughs sees through the ruse. However, Batman does pick up one clue after curing Superman of the toxin. There is an Infected in Gotham City, and it’s one of the Batman’s closest confidants.
Batman/Superman #3 puts Superman on the edge of madness while confronting the Batman Who Laughs himself. It’s a risky play and could easily lead to Superman going off the rails and causing unfathomable destruction. However, it’s also Bruce and Clark’s only play at the moment.
There are clues that the Batman Who Laughs doesn’t buy it from the start, and they are relatively subtle. The Batman Who Laughs isn’t your average supervillain, so it’s odd that he starts using the cliches and idioms of that particular trade. That’s a clever clue for the reader on the part of Joshua Williamson.
The encounter with the Infected in Gotham is a damn good sequence too. It cuts through to Batman’s heart, and it shows how blind he’s been to the Batman Who Laughs’ schemes.
David Marquez once again makes this comic downright gorgeous with his clean style that nonetheless gives ample expressiveness, detailing, and texture to the visuals of Batman/Superman. Alejandro Sanchez gives it a brilliant color palette that gives each page just the right personality and atmosphere.
Batman/Superman #3 is another exciting read that finds the World’s Finest heroes risking everything to discern the plan of the Batman Who Laughs. Even if it doesn’t go the way they planned, each setback provides new opportunities. This comic gets a recommendation. Check it out.
Batman/Superman #3 comes to us from writer Joshua Williamson, artist David Marquez, color artist Alejandro Sanchez, letterer John J. Hill, cover artist David Marquez with Alejandro Sanchez, and variant cover artist Paolo Pantalena with Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Final Score: 8/10
