DC is putting out a ton of Batman comics these days, but few have a history like that of Batman: Europa. The long-in-development miniseries inspired by artist Jim Lee's time in Italy has finally arrived, and it doesn't disappoint.
If you're wondering what the Europa subtitle for this series is all about, the basic premise is for a story that takes Batman to iconic cities all across Europe. The set-up is all there for a great Batman adventure story, and set-up is mostly what this first issue is. It begins in Gotham as a weakened Batman dukes it out with a terrifying Killer Croc, only to learn from Alfred that not only has somebody hacked into the Batcave's computer systems but has also infected Batman with a deadly virus tuned to his DNA.
All signs point toward the Joker being responsible, so Batman follows the trail to Berlin to hunt down the Clown Prince of Crime for answers. Turns out the Joker isn't responsible after all. Instead, he's also infected with the deadly virus. If the two want to survive, they'll have to work together and uncover the mystery of who exactly is manipulating them into being on the same team.
Having the two arch enemies work together is bound to lead to some odd (and likely humorous) scenarios, and already, Batman doesn't seem too thrilled about it. Writers Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali give us access to Batman's always-melancholy thought process, while also delivering some great one-liners for Joker, keeping this 36-page issue entertaining from beginning to end.
In any good Batman tale, Gotham serves almost as a character of its own. The dark alleys and crime-ridden streets give the city a personality, and it's a character the Dark Knight knows like the back of his hand. Taking Batman off his home turf provides an opportunity for the writers to explore how the various cities of Europe are both similar and different to that of the Caped Crusader's home, with Azzarello and Casali highlighting the personality and underlying themes of Berlin as Lee brings the city and its iconic monuments to life.
The writing team delivers some solid character work here, but Lee's artwork takes this book to a whole other level of quality. He's responsible for both the pencils and inks in this first issue, and the result is a book that is drool-worthy from cover to cover. The painted style works perfectly for the comic's European setting, adding a sense of culture and elegance to his depictions of the cities' most prominent pieces of architecture.
It might not have been completely worth the 11-year wait, but Batman: Europa is nonetheless a fantastic start to a mini-series Batman fans definitely should be paying attention to.
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