Batman – Knightwatch #4 Review

Batman Knightwatch is DC Comics’ effort to actually publish a comic book for kids. I know. What a shocking idea. Often when DC Comics ventures into targeting younger readers the results are rather cringe. However, Joseph Torres has been placed on Batman Knightwatch. Torres is best known for his work on Teen Titans Go. This gives me some hope that DC Comics is actually trying to put forward a quality all-ages title. Given that the superhero comic book market continues to shrink it is smart to try and stoke the interest in younger readers. Let’s hit Batman Knightwatch #4 and see what we have!

Words: J. Torres

Art: Marcelo DiChiara

Colors: Carrie Strachan

Batgirl, Black Canary, and Batman team up to take down the clownish villain known as Killer Moth. The main hook of this story is how Killer Moth is an idiot and he is on a quest to try and win some respect from both the superheroes and his fellow villains.

After tangling with Batgirl, Killer Moth uses his web gun to web her up and then he leaves her there. Batman comes along and frees Batgirl. The two heroes then follow Killer Moth to an underground fighting circuit. Killer Moth has entered a match with Killer Croc to try and gain some respect from his fellow villains.

In a surprise, it turns out that the referee from the match is Black Canary who was working undercover in the underground fighting circuit. Black Canary’s identity gets exposed right before the match between Killer Croc and Killer Moth. Batman and Batgirl arrive on the scene at the same moment. Black Canary early dispatches of Killer Croc with her sonic scream. Our heroes stand triumphant.

The story itself is basic. The conflict with Killer Croc is resolved in just one panel with phenomenal ease. The dialogue is solid. Torres definitely sprinkles plenty of humor throughout the story. This is a funny tale designed to get the kids to giggle. Torres writes a good Batman who is properly terse and slightly rude. This is a nice contrast to Batgirl’s naturally bubbly personality and Black Canary’s more mom-like personality.

The art looks much like what you would expect from a kiddie comic. It is not bad, but it certainly is nothing great. The backgrounds of the panels are either blank or generic non-descript settings. Having said that, DiChiara does a great job with the facial expressions which helps boost Torres’ humor.

All-in-all, this is a solid all-ages story. There is nothing to prevent you from giving this to a kid. I am not sure how interested in this story your typical 8-10 year old would be in this story. It is without any real conflict or stakes. I think kids between 11-12 will probably have even less interest in this story.

Story Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10

Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10

Overall Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10

Words: J. Torres

Art: Marcelo DiChiara

Colors: Carrie Strachan

This is a short story focusing on Spoiler teaming up with Damian Wayne, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Batman to take down the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow has a new fear toxin and is forcing our heroes to enter a typical carnival funhouse to face their fears. Damian, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Spoiler all succumb to their greatest fears.

Batman? Not so much. He enters the funhouse knowing he is going to face his biggest fear and is entering with the specific goal of conquering his biggest fear. Therefore, Batman is not afraid. Batman beats up Scarecrow and his thugs. What was Batman’s biggest fear? Losing his family again.

This story presents a properly bad-ass Batman. While all of the members of the Batman family fall victim to the Scarecrow’s toxins, it is Batman who remains impervious to such attacks. This approach properly places Batman at the top of the hierarchy of the Batfamily. The reader is left with no doubt that Batman is simply tougher, stronger, and better than the rest of the Batfamily. Which is exactly how it should be.

Torres delivers plenty of action in this story. There is never a dull moment. Torres also places our heroes in genuine peril so the reader gets more invested in this story than they did in the first story of this issue. Yes, Batman resolves the conflict with the Scarecrow with incredible ease. But, that is fitting for the age demographic that Torres is aiming for with this story.

All of the characters get nice dialogue. The reader gets a good flavor of the unique personalities of each character and how their greatest fears impact them. Of course, Batman gets all of the best dialogue and character work. Torres delivers a Batman that is more a force of nature than an actual human. It is cool to see Batman tank his way through the fear toxin and then defeat the Scarecrow.

Kids love Batman because he is cool. Torres knows this and makes sure to always give us a cool Batman. I would have loved a story like this when I was aged 6-10.

Again, the artwork is more of the same. The art is exactly what you would expect to get in your typical kiddie comic. Again, the strength of DiChiara’s artwork is his excellent facial expressions.

Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10

Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10

Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10

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Overall: I love that DC Comics is making more of an effort in the realm of all-ages titles. I also appreciate that Batman Knightwatch #4 is free from a lot of the cringe moments that some of DC Comics’ other titles that are aimed at younger readers. Also, this issue really is all-ages. There is nothing in this issue that you would be concerned about your child reading. Batman Knightwatch #4 was a bit uneven but was still a solid all-ages issue. This is certainly a title worth buying for any reader between the ages of 6-10.