Batman: Europa #1 was a great read, as the Dark Knight and the Joker found themselves infected with a deadly virus and subsequently forced to team up in Europe. Their journey takes them to Prague in this issue, and it serves as both a crash course on the city's history as well as a solid Batman adventure.
The Joker and Batman are on the hunt for the Trojan Horse, a new villain using metallic golems to slow down the not-so-dynamic duo. However, the Trojan Horse is just a stepping stone to the mastermind pulling the strings behind the scenes.
What exactly the villain seeks to gain from infecting both Joker and Batman is unclear, but it's a mystery that will have readers wanting to pick up the next issue. The city-trotting adventure carries on nicely, as writer Brian Azzarello's voice shines through with some clever wordplay that never gets bogged down in Batman's inner monologues. However, at the end of the day, this mini-series is really just an excuse to showcase some truly breathtaking art.
Giuseppe Camuncoli takes over at duties from Jim Lee in issue #2. If you thought last issue was gorgeous, you haven't seen anything yet. Each and every panel is a highlight, as Batman smashes through the automatons with his fists and gadgets, all in brilliant hand-painted detail. Every close-up of the Dark Knight's grizzled, tired face is frame-worthy.
Then, there is the city of Prague itself. The entire point of this mini-series is to have a Batman comic take readers on a European tour, and in that regard, it is without a doubt delivering. The painted style works wonders as Camuncoli brings the city to life in stunning fashion. When combined with Azzarello's history lesson on the city's past, it paints a complete picture of a place in the real world that many who are reading this comic will likely never get to see with their own two eyes.
So far, removing Batman from Gotham, and America as a whole, has worked wonders. The Dark Knight rarely leaves the rooftops of the city he calls home, so to see him in a new, real-world environment so brilliantly realized is a treat. This mini-series, one that many assumed would never see the light of day, is a rare treat, one where artists can flex their creative muscles and bring some stunning real-world locales to life. For that reason alone, it's worth checking out this issue. Thankfully, there is a good Batman story to go along with it.
