Batwoman: Elegy

Well this one’s gonna be a book review, but first I have to preface the article by saying something.

I’m not really a huge fan of graphic novels. I tend to buy them, and then within a year I grow bored of them taking up shelf space, and I give them away to friends. I guess at heart I’m a bit of a purist (read: obsessive compulsive) when it comes to comics. I like the individual issues, purchased on Wednesdays or found in back-issue bins, boarded and bagged and tucked away safely in their safe white boxes, stacked back to front so they don’t get all bunched up at the spines… Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I have a problem, but at least my problem isn’t as bad as Nuv’s. I can quit buying comics any time I want, but Nuv will always be into necro-beastiality.

Now where was I? Oh yes, the graphic novel problem. Not really digging the graphic novel format means that I have very few in my collection. I own the collected Hellboy comics, for instance, and the complete Sin City titles are a given. Finding the individual issues in either case would just be too expensive and too much of a pain in the ass (like my continuing ‘friendship’ with Nuv). THAT SAID, there are only two titles for which I own both the individual issues – mint condition, naturally – AND the special-edition graphic novel. One, of course, is Darwyn Cooke’s groundbreaking DC: The New Frontier. The other is the topic of this week’s solo article. FUN FACT! You can always tell when I’m writing alone because there are no third-grader spelling mistakes.

So yeah, BATWOMAN: ELEGY! Let’s talk about it! Everyone knows that Bruce Wayne frigged off somewhere back in 2008. I don’t know where because I didn’t read whatever the “event” was that DC fobbed off to sell more comic books to suckers like Nuv. But the events that took place within the pages of Detective Comics during his absence were truly groundbreaking for the entire comic book genre. As most people know by now, the creative reigns were handed to the Batwoman team of superstar novelist Greg Rucka, and soon to be legendary artist J.H. Williams III. Their contribution ran from Detective Comics issue 854 to 860 and garnered not only critical acclaim within the comics world, but also from sources such as the BBC, CBC, CNN and even the evil shitheads over at Fox News. Batwoman’s wearing black and red! She’s a super smart, tough ass heroine with a normal bust line! And she’s a lesbian!? People went nuts, and folks who had no interest in comics headed to the comic shops to buy the title. As a result, DC gave the run the Deluxe Edition hardcover treatment when it came time to release it as a graphic novel.

And, man oh man, the package itself is beautiful. With an all-new jacket design by Williams and classy silver on black embossing on the book itself, before you even open it you know this is something worth having in your house (unlike Nuv, who will steal your cutlery and the lingerie section from your Sears catalogue). There is a wonderfully written introduction by radio and MSNBC news commentator – and first ever openly-gay news anchor – Rachel Maddow that is short, punchy, timely and altogether bang-on. Definitely worth reading.

But let’s get to the main course here: The reproduction of the comics themselves.  What can you say? DC marketed this book under its Deluxe Edition banner, and it’s easy to see why. At 7.5 x 11” it’s an oversized collection because – let’s face it – it would have been an absolute crime to package this gorgeous story in anything smaller. Immediately upon opening the book you find yourself awash in Dave Stewart’s vibrant reds and heavy jet blacks, wondering how in the hell the original Batman ended up in grey, blue and yellow. Dave Stewart’s colours mean everything to this story and they pop so hard that every page turned is absolute eye-candy. But what would those colours be without the art? There aren’t enough accolades to describe J.H. Williams III masterpiece, and the way he’s utterly changed the game. The layouts alone are an absolute revelation. I’d even go so far as to say that Williams’ stuff is nothing short of the next step in comic art evolution, only I doubt anyone working today could match either his skill or the pace with which he produces his staggering designs.

And Rucka’s story is a real doozy. It’s a mystery and a hunt. There are scenes of quiet reflection and scenes of absolute mayhem. It’s a story about a woman dealing with her fractured family, her rough-and-tumble past, her newly uncertain future and, as everyone knows, her own interpersonal relationships and sexuality. It’s a lot of ground to cover in eight regular-sized issues, but Rucka handles it with a light touch and, as a result, the story never feels bogged down, forced or ungenuine.

And, as though that weren’t enough, the bonus materials alone make the book worth owning. It’s chock full of pin-ups and variant covers by artists like Adam Hughes, Alex Ross and Jock, rough character sketches, additional notes, and even script pages. All together, the back of Elegy is every bit as fun as the story itself. There is no shortage of Special / Deluxe Editions that turn out to be anything but special or deluxe, however this one was put together with a lot of care and it really shows. Take it from me – a guy who doesn’t really like graphic novels or his co-columnist – this one is a must have.

Put one in the air…

– Ian