BATMAN: Anarky

by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle

Titan Graphic Novels £12.99 P/B

REVIEW (from Kimota #11)

Political idealism fights The Batman, when the super-intelligent Anarky attempts to make people see the truth - that all rulers use the people they govern. Ignoring the question of why such a super intellect can’t spell should be glossed over after my own track record. Anyway intelligence is no foil against the likes of Batman. So Anarky trains hard in all martial arts as well as reading philosophy.

Alan Grant, the writer, takes on the near impossible task of preaching ideology to American comic book fans. Obviously Anarky has to be a ‘baddy’ as he is looking to put all leaders out of a job, but soon Grant piles on the sympathy - the reader may even have got to like him if he would only stop spouting speeches of political rhetoric all the time.

The ending enevitably shows Anarky to be wrong. However, skilfully, Grant only shows the method Anarky was trying to introduce his idealism was wrong. The American reader will no doubt read it as The American Way is right and proper - I just like the way Alan Grant left the question open. It is possible that Alan Grant has sympathy for the philosophy of anarchy. If so watch out Gotham Anarky may be back, and perhaps he’ll win next time.

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