[[“value”:”Batman: Dark Patterns #2 cover, via DC Comics.
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: The first issue of this new mystery series introduces a disturbing sequence of serial killings targeting the suffering of Gotham – as well as one of the most disturbing visuals in a DC Comic in some time in the form of the Wound Man, a twisted assassin embedded with hundreds of nails and other sharp objects, making it so a simple punch from Batman could prove fatal. With word of the killings spreading in Gotham, Batman desperately tries to find the next victim – and finds him in the form of a petty criminal whose life fell apart after a prison stint that sent him from the top of society to the bottom. The Wound Man targets him, and Batman intercepts it in a segment that shows just how deep Batman’s planning goes and how far he’ll go to make sure no one dies on his watch – even if that someone is one of the most twisted killers he’s ever met. And now that the Wound Man is unconscious, he needs to find a safe place to keep him.
That would be with Dr. Sereika, the mysterious pathologist working with the GCPD who seems all too comfortable with working with the deranged. This guy is interesting, because it seems almost too easy for him to turn out to be evil, but there’s definitely something not right with the guy. The first issue introduced us to the dark concepts behind it, but there’s a much deeper conspiracy as well, starting with the reveal that Ace Chemicals might have a hand in it – the Wound Man seems incapable of feeling pain, pointing to experiments of some kind, and one of the deadliest families in Gotham is revealed to have their hand in the pie. This is the kind of series that builds slow and lets disturbing concepts evolve over time, but where it really excels is in some of the best jump scares in comics. It’s a great example of writer and artist working perfect in concert to scare the hell out of us.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
“]] The Wound Man is unleashed, and it’s a race against time to find his next target… Read More