Batman Eternal #30

By Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, Kyle Higgins, Tim Seeley, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Blond

“All right. Don’t say hello. Say boom.”

Destruction – that’s what we see a lot of in this week’s issue of Batman Eternal #30. Deacon Blackfire is making his attempt at finally coming back, but will he be able to? Can anyone stop him? How’s Alfred doing at the asylum?

This week Ray Fawkes takes over scripting duty for the story by both Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV. A lot of this issue has Batman talking with Penny-Two as he traverses the destruction happening around Gotham. Keeping up with all the chaos isn’t something one man can do however, and some of the destruction is on such a grand scale I don’t think anyone could have prevented it. Fawkes keeps a serious tone throughout the issue, and even gives some dark elements to sections of the text – the part with Batwing during the devastation, won’t give away anything, but wow!

On the artwork side of this issue is penciller Fernando Pasarin along with inker Matt Ryan and colorist Blond. A really cool scene right at the beginning shows them all off pretty nicely. It’s for the most part kept in the light as Blackfire is expelling out his power and trapping Corrigan and Batwing in pink rings of magic. The electrical aspect of Batwing’s suit causes spark to fly from his body as the deacon hovers above his host as a spirit emerging from the physical body. Countless followers (well, I mean, you could count them) are tossed around as they look on at the all-powerful being. But what’s that red emerging from Corrigan? Could it be…

This week brought us the inevitable destruction of one of Gotham’s most infamous buildings, but what does Batman find within its rubble? Hint: Boom.