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Batwing (2011)
Batwing, Vol. 4: Welcome to the Family
Once a member of Batman, Incorporated and deputized by the Dark Knight himself, BATWING, the Batman of Africa, has quit. A new, different hero has emerged in his place...but will his actions do more harm than good? And what is his connection to Bruce Wayne and Gotham City?
Writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray blaze a fresh new start for the armored hero in BATWING VOL. 4.
Writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray blaze a fresh new start for the armored hero in BATWING VOL. 4.
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2014
112 people want to read
About the author
Jimmy Palmiotti
1,673 books175 followersJames "Jimmy" Palmiotti is an American writer and inker of comic books, who also does writing for games, television and film.
Photo by Luigi Novi.
Photo by Luigi Novi.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 18, 2017
David Zavimbe gets booted out the door and Lucas Fox steps in to become Nightwing. What follows is a story we've all seen before with some hokey villains thrown into the mix. Lucas Fox is basically Bruce Wayne if his parents were still alive. There's a lot of drama between Lucas and his dad because he's not living up to his father's expectations. It's not interesting. As Batwing, Lucas fights these dudes in ant suits and then a lion version of a centaur. It was really dumb. Then there's a half-baked Zero Year story where Lucas and his friend are learning to fight but his friend is continuously picked on so he takes some drugs and goes all Carrie on his schoolmates. Finally Lucas ties up his ongoing plot by taking out the guy behind the ant people and lion centaur guy.
This is about what I've come to expect from Palmiotti and Gray, boring warmed over plots.
This is about what I've come to expect from Palmiotti and Gray, boring warmed over plots.
July 8, 2018
I was going to give this one star but a few things in the last couple issues kept my interest.
So the Batwing title has, up until now, been all about the Batman of the Congo (and sometimes other countries in Africa). The character, David Zavimbe, was great, and his allies and enemies were compelling and fitting. The biggest conflicting aspect of David Zavimbe that sets him apart from anyone else accepted into the broader Bat Family is that he was forced to be a soldier as a boy, and killed lots and lots of people (which we don't see too graphically but it's alluded to). The impact on his psyche, and that of his friends who were similarly orphaned, tortured, forced into cruel situations for survival, etc., are very real and powerful, serious issues. The fallout, and his fight against the corruption within his police ranks and the complexities of power shifts throughout Africa were key to making Batwing such a good comic.
...
So when I got halfway through the first issue in this book and saw the direction new writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray (?) were taking the Batwing mantle, I was rather furious. I can only imagine something like this playing out in the DC offices:
DC Editors: This African Batman thing really isn't selling. We have a theory that people who buy comics just don't care about diversity, and can't relate to a vigilante in a country other than America.
Jimmy Palmiotti: Hey guys, you just need to realize that our readers aren't that intelligent either, and we need to take every comic book back to the days of corny one-liners, lengthy exposition, and villains whose sole purpose is killing and world domination, and to give the artists something cool to draw.
I don't know for sure if that's what happened, but Palmiotti made Zavimbe quit and Batman immediately makes Luke Fox (son of Lucius Fox) the new Batwing. The Congo connection is only by indirect coincidence from there on out, as it would make little sense to have an African American city boy go play superhero in a place he knows nothing about (Luke's specialties are MMA fighting and, of course, designing super futuristic techie things, like 75% of Batman's sidekicks/partners, not political science). At one point, Batman has Luke down to the Bat Cave and tells him, "I want you in Africa." Luke replies, "Why, because I'm the black one?" and Batman just grins and says "Funny." That's it. Literally, Luke is asking a question that deserves to be asked, but Palmiotti doesn't take things seriously, so he dismisses it as quickly as possible, and then throws Batwing into some of the most played-out, cliche, pointless scenarios against inept-but-powerful villains.
So I blame the writer(s) mostly, and the editors or whoever makes these calls, for fucking up a previously great book that Judd Winick was doing. Also, whoever is illustrating this thing now doesn't seem to know how certain rather important things look. Specifically, Luke Fox is an MMA fighter, but when he's shown throwing a powerful punch, he always leans forward and kicks back his opposite leg up in the air, like a yoga pose, or someone who can't fly imitating how Superman flies. I'm not an expert on fighting techniques, but I think I've watched and learned enough to know that balance and keeping your legs grounded is super important, so this leg lift thing looks ridiculous and is just one more reason to hate this comic now.
Aaaaand now I'm going to read Volume 5 because it's the last one and I had to get my library to have them all shipped from other libraries around the country because this book apparently sold so poorly that even Denver Public Library's massive comic collection doesn't have any of them.
So the Batwing title has, up until now, been all about the Batman of the Congo (and sometimes other countries in Africa). The character, David Zavimbe, was great, and his allies and enemies were compelling and fitting. The biggest conflicting aspect of David Zavimbe that sets him apart from anyone else accepted into the broader Bat Family is that he was forced to be a soldier as a boy, and killed lots and lots of people (which we don't see too graphically but it's alluded to). The impact on his psyche, and that of his friends who were similarly orphaned, tortured, forced into cruel situations for survival, etc., are very real and powerful, serious issues. The fallout, and his fight against the corruption within his police ranks and the complexities of power shifts throughout Africa were key to making Batwing such a good comic.
...
So when I got halfway through the first issue in this book and saw the direction new writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray (?) were taking the Batwing mantle, I was rather furious. I can only imagine something like this playing out in the DC offices:
DC Editors: This African Batman thing really isn't selling. We have a theory that people who buy comics just don't care about diversity, and can't relate to a vigilante in a country other than America.
Jimmy Palmiotti: Hey guys, you just need to realize that our readers aren't that intelligent either, and we need to take every comic book back to the days of corny one-liners, lengthy exposition, and villains whose sole purpose is killing and world domination, and to give the artists something cool to draw.
I don't know for sure if that's what happened, but Palmiotti made Zavimbe quit and Batman immediately makes Luke Fox (son of Lucius Fox) the new Batwing. The Congo connection is only by indirect coincidence from there on out, as it would make little sense to have an African American city boy go play superhero in a place he knows nothing about (Luke's specialties are MMA fighting and, of course, designing super futuristic techie things, like 75% of Batman's sidekicks/partners, not political science). At one point, Batman has Luke down to the Bat Cave and tells him, "I want you in Africa." Luke replies, "Why, because I'm the black one?" and Batman just grins and says "Funny." That's it. Literally, Luke is asking a question that deserves to be asked, but Palmiotti doesn't take things seriously, so he dismisses it as quickly as possible, and then throws Batwing into some of the most played-out, cliche, pointless scenarios against inept-but-powerful villains.
So I blame the writer(s) mostly, and the editors or whoever makes these calls, for fucking up a previously great book that Judd Winick was doing. Also, whoever is illustrating this thing now doesn't seem to know how certain rather important things look. Specifically, Luke Fox is an MMA fighter, but when he's shown throwing a powerful punch, he always leans forward and kicks back his opposite leg up in the air, like a yoga pose, or someone who can't fly imitating how Superman flies. I'm not an expert on fighting techniques, but I think I've watched and learned enough to know that balance and keeping your legs grounded is super important, so this leg lift thing looks ridiculous and is just one more reason to hate this comic now.
Aaaaand now I'm going to read Volume 5 because it's the last one and I had to get my library to have them all shipped from other libraries around the country because this book apparently sold so poorly that even Denver Public Library's massive comic collection doesn't have any of them.
January 26, 2023
An enjoyable comic. Sad that the first Batwing retired, but good that the other Batwing took his place. I wonder if Luke's dad will find out he is Batwing.
June 5, 2019
Batwing: Welcome to the Family picks up where the previous volume left off, collecting the next eight issues (Batwing #19–26) of the 2011 on-going series and collects eight one-issue interconnecting stories.
This trade paperback has David Zavimbe as Batwing retiring from the Batwing mantle and passing the role to Lucas "Luke" Fox, son of Lucius Fox, who happens to be a colleague of Bruce Wayne at Wayne Enterprises. Based now in Gotham City, Luke Fox as Batwing is fighting against rather forgettable villains like Lady Marabunta and Lord Lion-Mane. Additionally, we have a Zero Year tie (Batwing #25) and his teaming up with Pippi Giovanni as Legionary to take down Charlie Caligula in Rome (Batwing #26).
The team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti penned paperback. For the most part, it was written somewhat well. I had wished that the first issue, Batwing #19, was collected in the previous trade paperback, as it dealt with the concluding story of the previous story arc and feels misplaced here.
Lucas "Luke" Fox as Batwing is an interesting choice of a replacement. We get to know the Fox family more as he has two sisters (Tam and Tiffany) and his parents (Lucius and Tanya) who are intertwined with Bruce Wayne. Not sure how I feel of having Batwing taken out of Africa, since the first three trade paperbacks enforced that Batwing was the Batman of Africa.
With the exception of one issue (Batwing #20), which was penciled by Julio Ferreria, the entire trade paperback is penned by Eduardo Pansica. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style.
All in all, Batwing: Welcome to the Family is a somewhat good continuation to what would hopefully be an equally wonderful series.
This trade paperback has David Zavimbe as Batwing retiring from the Batwing mantle and passing the role to Lucas "Luke" Fox, son of Lucius Fox, who happens to be a colleague of Bruce Wayne at Wayne Enterprises. Based now in Gotham City, Luke Fox as Batwing is fighting against rather forgettable villains like Lady Marabunta and Lord Lion-Mane. Additionally, we have a Zero Year tie (Batwing #25) and his teaming up with Pippi Giovanni as Legionary to take down Charlie Caligula in Rome (Batwing #26).
The team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti penned paperback. For the most part, it was written somewhat well. I had wished that the first issue, Batwing #19, was collected in the previous trade paperback, as it dealt with the concluding story of the previous story arc and feels misplaced here.
Lucas "Luke" Fox as Batwing is an interesting choice of a replacement. We get to know the Fox family more as he has two sisters (Tam and Tiffany) and his parents (Lucius and Tanya) who are intertwined with Bruce Wayne. Not sure how I feel of having Batwing taken out of Africa, since the first three trade paperbacks enforced that Batwing was the Batman of Africa.
With the exception of one issue (Batwing #20), which was penciled by Julio Ferreria, the entire trade paperback is penned by Eduardo Pansica. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style.
All in all, Batwing: Welcome to the Family is a somewhat good continuation to what would hopefully be an equally wonderful series.
March 6, 2016
Entertaining enough read, though the villains are pretty forgettable, and it's mostly action at the expense of actual depth.
June 30, 2016
The original Batwing quits and Lucious Fox's son takes on the identity.
February 19, 2020
Pojawienie się postaci Batwinga przy okazji działalności Batman Inc. było w sumie okey. Wiadomość o tym, że postać dostanie własną serię - no tu już byłem bardziej niż sceptyczny. Historia Davida Zavimbe jednak pokazała pazur i już cieszyłem się z kolejnego tomu, aż tu nagle dong! David postanawia zrezygnować z kostiumu, gdy siedzi koło łóżka umierającego Matu. Jestem w stanie to zrozumieć. Lęki bohatera skonfrontowane z ostatnimi słowami przyjaciela mogłyby być taką drogą do swoistego oczyszczenia. Nie. Wrzućmy Luke'a Fox i po sprawie.
Z synem Luciusa Foxa mam taki problem, że ten chłopak ma prawie wszystko. Dostał kostium ot tak w zasadzie (jest niby wytłumaczone, że po historii z Zero Year Batek miał chłopaka na oku i od początku go typował jako Batwinga, ale... No serio? David był o niebo lepszych herosem, z własną mroczną historią. Był Afryką, odmiennością jaką DC potrzebowało. Tutaj mamy młodego boksera, który z racji rozpoczętej roli ma problem z jej pogodzeniem wraz z życiem rodzinnym i uczuciowym. Luke ma obłędną dziewczynę, z którą różnie wychodzi. No i dostaje pierwsze zadanie. Rozpracowanie syndykatu Marabunta.
Jak się okazuje, cała zajawka w Afryce i zabawy w tłuczenie "mrówek" ma jeszcze kilka warstw i tak przyjdzie Luke'owi użerać się z wrogiem wyglądającym jak skrzyżowanie lwa z koniem... Plus z jego trzema "normalnymi" konkubinami (swoją drogą jak one z nim, ehe...). To chyba największe udziwnienie w omawianym tomie, choć końcowy "Kaligula" to też porządny czubek. W całym tomie mamy też parę razy występy gościnne Batmana, który stara się "odpowiednio" prowadzić młodzieńca.
Nowe obowiązki młodzieniec będzie musiał skonfrontować bardzo szybko, bo prawie na początku ktoś atakuje jego dom i uprowadza mu ojca. Nie miałem problemu ze scenami akcji. Walki są fajnie zarysowane i dynamiczne. Kłopotem są bezbarwni przeciwnicy, mało ciekawa akcja i rysowanie herosa po łebkach. W pewnym momencie Luke walczy z niejaką Lady Vic, czyli taki przegięty odpowiednik Deathstroke'a, tyle że w spódnicy, a wyglądający przy tym tak komicznie...
Czwarty tom miał być ofiarą moich przyzwyczajeń i chciałem się "wyżyć" na "Welcome to the Family" poprzez danie tylko dwóch gwiazdek, ale tytuł nie zasłużył na to. Mimo narzekania jest tutaj momentami naprawdę przyjemna akcja. Relacja Luke'a z dziewczyną jest dla mnie bardzo realna, bowiem sam miałem podobne akcje, gdy druga połówka wstawiała kit, że się z kimś spotyka, aby mnie mocniej zmotywować do działania i akurat w tym aspekcie mogłem się z bokserem utożsamić. Nie jest to zła historia, ale nie też jakaś wybitna, tyle że ma spory minus, bo pozbyto się tu charyzmatycznego "byłego" bohatera.
Ps. Patrząc po ocenach, nie tylko ja jestem rozczarowany tą podmianką, ale dajcie szansę nowemu Batwingowi. Zawsze można go zjechać z ziemią przy okazji piątego i de facto ostatniego tomu z tej serii...
Z synem Luciusa Foxa mam taki problem, że ten chłopak ma prawie wszystko. Dostał kostium ot tak w zasadzie (jest niby wytłumaczone, że po historii z Zero Year Batek miał chłopaka na oku i od początku go typował jako Batwinga, ale... No serio? David był o niebo lepszych herosem, z własną mroczną historią. Był Afryką, odmiennością jaką DC potrzebowało. Tutaj mamy młodego boksera, który z racji rozpoczętej roli ma problem z jej pogodzeniem wraz z życiem rodzinnym i uczuciowym. Luke ma obłędną dziewczynę, z którą różnie wychodzi. No i dostaje pierwsze zadanie. Rozpracowanie syndykatu Marabunta.
Jak się okazuje, cała zajawka w Afryce i zabawy w tłuczenie "mrówek" ma jeszcze kilka warstw i tak przyjdzie Luke'owi użerać się z wrogiem wyglądającym jak skrzyżowanie lwa z koniem... Plus z jego trzema "normalnymi" konkubinami (swoją drogą jak one z nim, ehe...). To chyba największe udziwnienie w omawianym tomie, choć końcowy "Kaligula" to też porządny czubek. W całym tomie mamy też parę razy występy gościnne Batmana, który stara się "odpowiednio" prowadzić młodzieńca.
Nowe obowiązki młodzieniec będzie musiał skonfrontować bardzo szybko, bo prawie na początku ktoś atakuje jego dom i uprowadza mu ojca. Nie miałem problemu ze scenami akcji. Walki są fajnie zarysowane i dynamiczne. Kłopotem są bezbarwni przeciwnicy, mało ciekawa akcja i rysowanie herosa po łebkach. W pewnym momencie Luke walczy z niejaką Lady Vic, czyli taki przegięty odpowiednik Deathstroke'a, tyle że w spódnicy, a wyglądający przy tym tak komicznie...
Czwarty tom miał być ofiarą moich przyzwyczajeń i chciałem się "wyżyć" na "Welcome to the Family" poprzez danie tylko dwóch gwiazdek, ale tytuł nie zasłużył na to. Mimo narzekania jest tutaj momentami naprawdę przyjemna akcja. Relacja Luke'a z dziewczyną jest dla mnie bardzo realna, bowiem sam miałem podobne akcje, gdy druga połówka wstawiała kit, że się z kimś spotyka, aby mnie mocniej zmotywować do działania i akurat w tym aspekcie mogłem się z bokserem utożsamić. Nie jest to zła historia, ale nie też jakaś wybitna, tyle że ma spory minus, bo pozbyto się tu charyzmatycznego "byłego" bohatera.
Ps. Patrząc po ocenach, nie tylko ja jestem rozczarowany tą podmianką, ale dajcie szansę nowemu Batwingowi. Zawsze można go zjechać z ziemią przy okazji piątego i de facto ostatniego tomu z tej serii...
August 14, 2019
This bitter taste in my mouth... This is what disappointment tastes like, isn't it?
*sigh* Such a goddamned waste of such a great start. Well now I'm just grumpy.
I don't think I could find any part of this that I enjoyed. The art was substandard (especially on those expressions, holy flippin heck). The first issue in particular had some eyebrow-raising panel. This in particular bothered me, because even if I didn't really enjoy the last volume, the solid art got me through to the end. This time I was annoyed pretty much right off the bat.
As for our new Batwing... Luke is just an asshole, which is appropriate seeing how far up his own behind he is. Obnoxious to the extreme, this one. It got difficult to read after awhile between the constant horrendous flirting and the ego the size of Nunavut that, if he stopped for two seconds for some self-reflection, he would realize he doesn't even vaguely deserve. Can you get that I'm not the biggest fan? Really? Well, congrats, you're more intuitive than Luke. His character is a dealbreaker for moving on with the series for me.
The plot was honestly boring, which is impressive with how many explosions there were. I didn't give a single shit about the Fox's family drama; get that the hell outta Dodge. And a bunch of things that made zero sense were just glossed over for... plot? I guess? An attempt at character development? I have no clue. For instance: Luke's ex's Father dies, she comes over in tears, he smells like a dumpster diving homeless guy, and... yeah. Sex is definitely the next logical step there. Naturally. Also Luke taking his mask off in an alleyway with people nearby without even looking around first, wtf? There are other examples, but I'm not wasting my time flipping through this thing again.
The dialogue with every character was also just off (David talking to Matu was cringe-worthy and ooc). And speaking of, are you fucking kidding me guys I will find whoever's idea that was, pry their eyes open, and squirt in lemon juice until they give him a proper end. I mean it. I'm furious with how that went.
Basically, I'm done here. David's gone (which just rubs me the wrong way in general), and as he departs, so do I. The quality of this series sadly left before I got the chance to though.
Damn shame.
*sigh* Such a goddamned waste of such a great start. Well now I'm just grumpy.
I don't think I could find any part of this that I enjoyed. The art was substandard (especially on those expressions, holy flippin heck). The first issue in particular had some eyebrow-raising panel. This in particular bothered me, because even if I didn't really enjoy the last volume, the solid art got me through to the end. This time I was annoyed pretty much right off the bat.
As for our new Batwing... Luke is just an asshole, which is appropriate seeing how far up his own behind he is. Obnoxious to the extreme, this one. It got difficult to read after awhile between the constant horrendous flirting and the ego the size of Nunavut that, if he stopped for two seconds for some self-reflection, he would realize he doesn't even vaguely deserve. Can you get that I'm not the biggest fan? Really? Well, congrats, you're more intuitive than Luke. His character is a dealbreaker for moving on with the series for me.
The plot was honestly boring, which is impressive with how many explosions there were. I didn't give a single shit about the Fox's family drama; get that the hell outta Dodge. And a bunch of things that made zero sense were just glossed over for... plot? I guess? An attempt at character development? I have no clue. For instance: Luke's ex's Father dies, she comes over in tears, he smells like a dumpster diving homeless guy, and... yeah. Sex is definitely the next logical step there. Naturally. Also Luke taking his mask off in an alleyway with people nearby without even looking around first, wtf? There are other examples, but I'm not wasting my time flipping through this thing again.
The dialogue with every character was also just off (David talking to Matu was cringe-worthy and ooc). And speaking of, are you fucking kidding me guys I will find whoever's idea that was, pry their eyes open, and squirt in lemon juice until they give him a proper end. I mean it. I'm furious with how that went.
Basically, I'm done here. David's gone (which just rubs me the wrong way in general), and as he departs, so do I. The quality of this series sadly left before I got the chance to though.
Damn shame.
December 9, 2022
Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray take over the book and **** all over it.
David Zavimbe is unceremoniously retired in their first issue and every aspect of the book as we know it sacked off. The book isn’t even set in Africa anymore. And every unresolved plot thread is abandoned.
Their run is instead about Luke Fox, son of Lucius Fox, and apparently Bruce’s first choice for Batwing all along. What a load of bull**** Why on Earth would Luke Fox be his first choice for Batman of Africa?! And apparently Africa doesn’t need a Batman anymore.
Luke is one of the blandest and least charismatic characters I’ve ever read. The plots are paper-thin and entirely predictable. The Zero Year tie in issue is so cliche it must be a joke.
In short: I hated everything about this poorly written volume except the art.
David Zavimbe is unceremoniously retired in their first issue and every aspect of the book as we know it sacked off. The book isn’t even set in Africa anymore. And every unresolved plot thread is abandoned.
Their run is instead about Luke Fox, son of Lucius Fox, and apparently Bruce’s first choice for Batwing all along. What a load of bull**** Why on Earth would Luke Fox be his first choice for Batman of Africa?! And apparently Africa doesn’t need a Batman anymore.
Luke is one of the blandest and least charismatic characters I’ve ever read. The plots are paper-thin and entirely predictable. The Zero Year tie in issue is so cliche it must be a joke.
In short: I hated everything about this poorly written volume except the art.
December 22, 2020
A fine enough outing. They keep Batwing out of Gotham. The villains are interesting enough, (big animal themes - good shout out to Ghost and the Darkness). Honestly, I'd have liked to see Batwing tangle with someone I know (Riddler, Joker, Two-Face, etc.) These villains are a little too odd to be iconic. The Rogue's Gallery is so good that this just feels a little disappointing in comparison.
The art and overall writing work. I'm still interested in seeing more.
The art and overall writing work. I'm still interested in seeing more.
November 30, 2017
Bardzo przyjemny tomik. Wraz z Davidem rezygnującym z roli Batwinga, komiks porzuca dramat i powagę na rzecz lżejszego klimatu. Lucas Fox spisuje się świetnie jako bohater tej serii. Nieco gorzej wychodzą mu relacje z rodziną, którą zaniedbuje na rzecz walki z przestępczością, w czym również jest amatorem. Fajna akcja, ciekawe postacie, oby tak dalej.
December 29, 2023
I've yet to see Luke Fox written as a compelling character, and this is prime example. He's an arrogant, spoiled rich brat who gets himself into scrapes he can't manage to get out of himself and doesn't seem to develop from one issue to the next. The love interest makes no sense, and the villains are so terribly corny they'd embarrass a Teen Titans writer.
February 21, 2021
Well crafted story. Took a long time to finish this one but was indeed a good read :)
October 23, 2020
The volume in which we swap main characters. Hopefully the writers invest more in Luke Fox than they did in his predecessor. I'll stick it out and see how things go. I do like the concept and setting.
We discussed Batwing this week on Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXZvi...
We discussed Batwing this week on Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXZvi...
August 12, 2016
Reprints Batwing #19-26 (June 2013-February 2014). David Zavimbe’s story has come to an end and a new Batwing is needed. Luke Fox, the son of Bruce Wayne’s closest aide Lucius, is just what Batman is looking for. An MMA fighter with a degree, Luke is also looking to help the world. Christened the new Batwing, Luke is out to fight crime and when he brings down a diamond mine tied to an international crime organization, Batwing finds himself with a target on his back that he cannot shake.
Written by Jimmy Palmioti and Justin Gray and with art by Eduardo Pansica, Batwing Volume 4: Welcome to the Family is a relaunch of the Batwing title. Following Batwing 3: Enemy of the State, this volume introduces the new Batwing. Batwing #25 (January 2014) was also included in DC Comics Zero Year collection.
Batwing was a character that was kind of interesting but just didn’t quite work. Judd Winick was never the greatest writer and tells very simplistic comic book stories (which isn’t always a bad thing). Jimmy Palmioti and Justin Gray kind of follow in his footsteps in their writing style but a change-up of the character does help.
The decision to bring Batwing to America kind of defeats the purpose of Batman, Inc. (ok, he’s supposed to be more “international” but he spends a lot of time in Gotham). In getting rid of the Batman, Inc. aspect of the book, the series actually improved. Lucius Fox has always been a good supporting character for Batman and it is fun to see his family more heavily tied to Batman. It kind of reminds me when Phil Urich became the Green Goblin at Marvel…but that didn’t turn out well. I hope Luke Fox has a better run.
The art for the series feels very ’90s. I like how Batwing’s costume has almost evolved to Batman Beyond’s Batman costume (you even see a little preview of it Batwing #24). What really sells this collection is the two great Batwing covers by the late, great Darwyn Cooke who really seems to have fun with the character’s design…I just wished he had done a few issues.
Batwing 4: Welcome to the Family is an improvement. It isn’t perfect but the series is going in a better direction in this volume. Unfortunately, Batwing was doomed and the series ended not long after this collection. Batwing 4: Welcome to the Family is followed by the final volume Batwing 5: Into the Dark.
Written by Jimmy Palmioti and Justin Gray and with art by Eduardo Pansica, Batwing Volume 4: Welcome to the Family is a relaunch of the Batwing title. Following Batwing 3: Enemy of the State, this volume introduces the new Batwing. Batwing #25 (January 2014) was also included in DC Comics Zero Year collection.
Batwing was a character that was kind of interesting but just didn’t quite work. Judd Winick was never the greatest writer and tells very simplistic comic book stories (which isn’t always a bad thing). Jimmy Palmioti and Justin Gray kind of follow in his footsteps in their writing style but a change-up of the character does help.
The decision to bring Batwing to America kind of defeats the purpose of Batman, Inc. (ok, he’s supposed to be more “international” but he spends a lot of time in Gotham). In getting rid of the Batman, Inc. aspect of the book, the series actually improved. Lucius Fox has always been a good supporting character for Batman and it is fun to see his family more heavily tied to Batman. It kind of reminds me when Phil Urich became the Green Goblin at Marvel…but that didn’t turn out well. I hope Luke Fox has a better run.
The art for the series feels very ’90s. I like how Batwing’s costume has almost evolved to Batman Beyond’s Batman costume (you even see a little preview of it Batwing #24). What really sells this collection is the two great Batwing covers by the late, great Darwyn Cooke who really seems to have fun with the character’s design…I just wished he had done a few issues.
Batwing 4: Welcome to the Family is an improvement. It isn’t perfect but the series is going in a better direction in this volume. Unfortunately, Batwing was doomed and the series ended not long after this collection. Batwing 4: Welcome to the Family is followed by the final volume Batwing 5: Into the Dark.
August 24, 2014
The first Batwing was an honest cop in an otherwise-crooked force in the DRC. A former child soldier, he used Wayne-granted technology to fight crime, warlords, and corruption. He had his own supporting cast and a compelling set of circumstances. I wanted to read, read, and keep reading about David Zavimbe.
All of a sudden, he gives up the mantle under weird, ambiguous reasons and Batman dubs Lucius Fox's son Lucas the new Batwing. Lucas is not only a genius and an early college graduate who is also somehow a MMA sensation; he's a ladykiller with a strong sense of justice and fairness! He's a male Mary Sue, and the writers beat us over the head to show us how pure he is. (He and his girlfriend haven't had sex yet! He agonizes over being a good son while still neglecting family duties in order to play hero!)
If I wanted to read about a young genius superhero with angst over how he balances his family life, his love life, and his superhero life, I'd read Spider-Man. And if I wanted to read about a hero who's little more than the "black best friend" to an established superhero, I'd read early Falcon stories. Or early John Stewart stories. Or early Steel stories. Or War Machine stories.
The villains are fun and the story wasn't a mess, but still: what happened? Was writing about the DRC, an African nation that actually exists, more difficult than writing yet again about Gotham, an American city that's actually fake? Was it too boring to write about fleshed-out characters of either gender? Did the tired tropes that dominate the new Batwing's life seem fresh and exciting?
What happened?
All of a sudden, he gives up the mantle under weird, ambiguous reasons and Batman dubs Lucius Fox's son Lucas the new Batwing. Lucas is not only a genius and an early college graduate who is also somehow a MMA sensation; he's a ladykiller with a strong sense of justice and fairness! He's a male Mary Sue, and the writers beat us over the head to show us how pure he is. (He and his girlfriend haven't had sex yet! He agonizes over being a good son while still neglecting family duties in order to play hero!)
If I wanted to read about a young genius superhero with angst over how he balances his family life, his love life, and his superhero life, I'd read Spider-Man. And if I wanted to read about a hero who's little more than the "black best friend" to an established superhero, I'd read early Falcon stories. Or early John Stewart stories. Or early Steel stories. Or War Machine stories.
The villains are fun and the story wasn't a mess, but still: what happened? Was writing about the DRC, an African nation that actually exists, more difficult than writing yet again about Gotham, an American city that's actually fake? Was it too boring to write about fleshed-out characters of either gender? Did the tired tropes that dominate the new Batwing's life seem fresh and exciting?
What happened?
February 14, 2015
This book has a lot of different Batman concepts meshed into one- The brand new costume design for Batwing looks very similar to the design of the Arkham Knight character, from the video game. The costume also resembles a suit that we saw in the very first episode of Batman Beyond, that Bruce made, to make up for his failing strength. At one point, we actually do see the Batman Beyond suit in the lab that our main character uses.
Why do I bring all of this up? well, I am not sure why they decided to take the book in this direction. I could assume that the original, African setting and character, from the first few volumes might have turned off your typical super hero comic book reader. Sure, we like Diversity in our books, whether the character is African American, Hispanic American, or Chinese American, but the keyword there is "American", and the stories have to take place in America.
I think that DC didn't want to let the series die, since they had been getting a lot of flack for their lack of diversity, and decided to keep Batwing as a black character, but tied him much tighter to the Batman mythos- being the son of Lucius Fox, and having him live in Gotham.
With all that being said, I felt like the book had a lot of cliche narration, and way too much narration to begin with. Speaking of Cliches, the book also featured every possible cliche you could find when dealing with a new, young adult super hero. It was fun, but nothing special.
Why do I bring all of this up? well, I am not sure why they decided to take the book in this direction. I could assume that the original, African setting and character, from the first few volumes might have turned off your typical super hero comic book reader. Sure, we like Diversity in our books, whether the character is African American, Hispanic American, or Chinese American, but the keyword there is "American", and the stories have to take place in America.
I think that DC didn't want to let the series die, since they had been getting a lot of flack for their lack of diversity, and decided to keep Batwing as a black character, but tied him much tighter to the Batman mythos- being the son of Lucius Fox, and having him live in Gotham.
With all that being said, I felt like the book had a lot of cliche narration, and way too much narration to begin with. Speaking of Cliches, the book also featured every possible cliche you could find when dealing with a new, young adult super hero. It was fun, but nothing special.
October 11, 2015
I have to give DC some credit - I think they finally realized that the story they were telling with Batwing wasn't working. The darkness, the environment, all of it made it a very unappealing story. So this is the in-continuity reboot. The first issue wraps up the previous volume's story in a 'neat' bundle, then sends Zavimbe out the door and replaces him with a new character. And to be fair, this incarnation is more... relatable, I guess would be the best word for him. Son of Lucius Fox, someone who has always wanted to be part of the Batman clan, but doesn't quite know how much more he's bitten off. Most of the collection is about Lucas discovering the problems of trying to balance life with the cowl, which is okay if a bit well-worn. Then there's a zero issue, apparently creating a new villain but not doing a whole lot to illumine either Lucas or the villain. And then there's a final issue, where the premise of a world-travelling Batman character finally gets off the ground, and makes for a decent little story. So the book feels a bit schizophrenic, with some good sections, some less so, but ultimately works out to an average level. At least it has a more optimistic vibe and a more relatable hero.
January 3, 2017
Why did we stop following the interesting and rather unique-for-DC story of David Zavimbe version of Batwing? When Batman or Black Canary or any other titular hero has a crisis of conscience we get a couple of longish story arcs detailing what they are going through. But, the black, non-American has a change of heart and he gets dropped? Really? For Lucas Fox? The spoiled rich kid who is bored? Really?
Okay, so we have Luke now as Batwing. He fights off 70 armored terrorist thugs. I only counted in the high 20s in any given panel, but lets say 20 armored terrorist thugs at one time. Why has he waited for Batman to get the go ahead. Now, we do see in a flashback that he saves Bruce Wayne from a shooter while wearing a mask, but if he is this bad-ass, either he should be the world champion MMA guy, or he should be the guy where people say, "remember Batman? What a chump, is the real shiznit." (Because people still say 'shiznit' in Gotham.)
The only reason I am going to read the next book is because it is part of the larger bat-family storyline and will play some role in the upcoming (for me) Gothopia event.
Also, Lady Vic gives this book 2 stars instead of 1. If she hadn't been there, suckville all the way.
Okay, so we have Luke now as Batwing. He fights off 70 armored terrorist thugs. I only counted in the high 20s in any given panel, but lets say 20 armored terrorist thugs at one time. Why has he waited for Batman to get the go ahead. Now, we do see in a flashback that he saves Bruce Wayne from a shooter while wearing a mask, but if he is this bad-ass, either he should be the world champion MMA guy, or he should be the guy where people say, "remember Batman? What a chump, is the real shiznit." (Because people still say 'shiznit' in Gotham.)
The only reason I am going to read the next book is because it is part of the larger bat-family storyline and will play some role in the upcoming (for me) Gothopia event.
Also, Lady Vic gives this book 2 stars instead of 1. If she hadn't been there, suckville all the way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2014
Very impressed with the artwork by Eduardo Pansica. A bit like 70's George Perez but updated with 21st Century finishes. Palmiotti and Gray usually churn out top rate stories and they do so again here. This is not a series I've followed but I thoroughly enjoyed this collection which introduces a new Batwing.
A perfect jumping on point and I have to admit that I think I might like this one best, of all the current Bat-titles.
A perfect jumping on point and I have to admit that I think I might like this one best, of all the current Bat-titles.
August 31, 2014
A new Batwing...not tied to Africa but the Wayne legacy.
It would be a nice time to have a JLI, I'm just saying because this Batwing is international!
A good story and intro to a new member of the Bat family.
It would be a nice time to have a JLI, I'm just saying because this Batwing is international!
A good story and intro to a new member of the Bat family.
November 11, 2014
Genius MMA fighter related to the CEO is only slightly less ridiculous but vastly preferable to crusading policeman on a corrupt continent.
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