Batman #114

Despite a few heavy-handed moments, Batman #114 sticks the landing where it counts, exploring the effects of modern society on the human psyche while providing intense action and stunning artwork. The ClownHunter backup pulls together all the threads of the previous stories in a satisfying manner while providing a possible future path for the character that may set him on a more promising and narratively versatile path. Excellent all around. Read Full Review

This event has wavered between surprisingly character-driven stories like last month's installment"and no-holds-barred Gotham action like this one. It's a testament to Tynion's writing that both are equally compelling. Read Full Review

Fear State is moving at a breakneck pace now and I'm immensely enjoying it. Tynion has managed to redefine Batman's status quo during his run, and I'm sure he has a few surprises left before he finishes his run. Issue #115 can't come soon enough. Read Full Review

Jorge Jimenez matches the energy of the story perfectly with art that is highly detailed, slick and filled with great action and expression from its characters. Read Full Review

Batman #114 is summer blockbuster worthy. There's a hell of a fight and a lot of surprises in the issue as the Peacekeepers battle it out in Gotham and Batman's caught in-between it all. This is some of the best additions to the Batman myth in a long time giving opponents who feel worthy to take on Batman and his entire time and also feel grounded in many ways. Where this is going to go remains unknown but it's a journey I'm all in for. It's one hell of a ride so far and hoping it to continue to be. Read Full Review

Fear State isn't giving Batman much to do yet, but it's certainly not boring. It's about time for Tynion to put Batman in a more proactive position in this event now. Read Full Review

Pick this issue up, it's a good one! Read Full Review

This is a fight-based issue and it is truly gnarly. Between the art and some clever writing ideas, this is one heck of a fight and really propels this story forward. Read Full Review

A fun issue that brings us action and a slight cliffhanger of an ending. Read Full Review

Batman #114 is an explosion of color as Peacekeeper-X and Peacekeeper-01 duke it out. There's a sense of heart running through this arc in the scenes between Miracle Molly and Poison Ivy, which makes this issue an improvement on earlier Fear State issues. Read Full Review

Fear State is still not hitting the highs after all the build up that led this to be a highly anticipated Batman event. There are certainly character beats with Scarecrow that James Tynion nails in Batman #114. Jorge Jimenez's artwork certainly helps keep the visual storytelling look like a big event. Its just that the focus in this series thus far has not matched grand scope Fear State wants to have. Read Full Review

Though this issue packs the visual punch we've come to expect, it continues to focus on the strangest portions of Fear State. It's just disappointing to see a book with such fantastic artwork be so hindered by its storytelling. Read Full Review

Once again, Batman "Fear State" fails to move the needle in a meaningful way. While I won't consider this issue a yawn-fest like the previous turnouts, I will consider it rather lifeless. Read Full Review

Fear State continues to be an uninspired mess of a story that makes Batman a bit player in his book and event.  I know it's bad when I'm yearning for the good old days of the City of Bane! Read Full Review

At this point, Batman as a title just feels like biding time until this whole arc and run is put out of its misery of mediocrity. Read Full Review

cincyfan

Oct 10, 2021

Phenomenal as always!!

daspidaboy

Oct 05, 2021

Finally this issue gets into motion and is interesting. The art by Jorge Jimenez is of course jaw dropping and there are a couple of plot twists as well as great action.

Federico Liguori

Aug 10, 2023

I really love this story arc. Don't get the hate.

Screaming Enigma

Jul 25, 2023

This was the best issue of the main story yet when it comes to Fear State. However, I will say that the book as a whole is a bit dragged down by the backup story. Speaking about the former, I really enjoyed this and, if you read my review for Issue 113, you'll know that I got exactly what I wanted here. The first two issues, while written well and overall good issues, were slower in their pace. I think, for a big story such as this, the story needed to pick up a bit, and that's precisely what happened here. The action with Peacekeeper-01, Peacekeeper-X, and Batman were great and allowed Jimenez to showcase, once again, just how great he is. Moving to the backup, the last installment wasn't as engaging as the first, and this one doesn't do a nything more than said installment, unfortunately. As I said in my review in the previous issue, I actually do like Clownhunter and I think his character has potential, but this story hasn't done that much for him, in my opinion. As of now, I don't plan on reading the continuation of the story in Batman: Urban Legends. I'm not typically a huge fan of backup stories, but I can only hope the next one is better if this title is going to keep them going. more

TSMack

Oct 11, 2021

Better than the last issue. The fight between PK-01 & PK-X with Batman in the middle was good. Molly's belief that people should be cleansed of their "traumas" shows what a flawed character she is. People are stronger than she realizes. So Tim is going to hang with a serial killer now? Seems out of character for him.

retcon_D

Nov 13, 2021

I really just don’t care anymore.

Psycamorean

Oct 05, 2021

Aside from the art by Jorge Jiminez, this isn't worth reading. The plot seems very slow and not much happened here. It's just a very uninteresting issue.

Comics Code Authorities

Oct 29, 2021

Can't say I'll Miss Peacekeeper X. Then again I can;t say I'll miss PK-01 either. Or any of the entire magistrate. The best part is that these poor man's robocops will be on the way out. That's all I really see to this issue. We're halfway through Fear state but half of nothing is still nothing. And that seems to be all that's been accomplished since #106. I suppose all the real stuff will be reserved for the upcoming conclusion. These 6 issues seem to simply be just filler material.

egonnn244

Oct 06, 2021

"Grab my hand" Is it me or is Batman starting to feel more and more like an extra in his own book? And does Tim have a new boyfriend already? I thought he retconned his entire history for Bernard. And what's going on with the continuity for this Fear State event? In Batman, it feels like it's all happening on the same night, while in Nightwing and I Am NOT Batman it feels like days or even weeks passed since Magistrate formed. What gives?

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Mingthemerciless - Oct 7, 2021

Tynion has been writing Batman as a peripheral character for months now. Hes even made him almost helpless when he does show up in his own book. The intention of course is to remove him from Gotham. Williamson will be writing globe trotting batman after Tynion leaves the book and his successors have to clean up his mess.

Merlyn

Oct 05, 2021

I'm so sad for Jimenez that he has to work with such a bad "script". No one cares about your stupid Molly, dude, she's boring. The fact that she's supposed to be a hero yet she thinks that she'll save people by brainwashing them is just crazy on Tynion's behalf. Batman is, as always in Tynion's run, a side character that has no control over anything that happens here. P.S.: Ten bucks that Clownhunter and Tim are going to be a couple if that kook Fitzmartin gets to write them.

Quinn

Oct 05, 2021

In the old days, all the action of this issue could have been compressed into two pages. Basically all that happens is that Simon the Pieman's other troops fail to take down the mad dog guy controlled by Scarecrow and Molly the Ecstasy girl says she knows Scarecrow's plan. She also declares what her organization's goal is - to allow people to become what they could have become without all the DC Major Action Plots stories. Let me sum up what all means to me - Huh? Apparently Molly and her group have their own brain device or something. Whatever. Basically they are doing the same thing Simple Simon is. Freeing Gotham from the old systems and installing their own. Way to stick it to the Man, man. You guys are so radical and cool. Whatever. The funny thing is that Batman could have sat out this issue and the results could have been the same. The battle was between the forces of Simon Says. Lift the Batman pages out and the action could have stayed the same. His presence did not tip the balance of either fighter. Also, if you are going to fight armored guys, just hitting them with your fists is not a great strategy Bats. Just saying. How about bringing some, I don't know, EMP devices that can cut out electronics. That shows you can actually think and why perhaps depending on technology and not hard training for years that produce smart, tough strategic and tactical fighters is the not-better way to go. Again, Gotham just seems to be happy doing nothing. The police, feds and national guard can't storm Simon, Simon's lair? The governor can't declare a state emergency? Telling people they are helpless via the false Oracle doesn't strike me as something that would actually paralyze the authorities. It might keep people indoors, which is actually good in an emergency, but that's it. This plot does not pass the smell test. Plus, Batman has tons of allies. Where are they? Tynion you have to deal with the Bat books and all their characters if you're going to write some huge magnum opus story. You can't ignore what is inconvenient to your plots. It's called the difference between being a good writer and being a Hack. Good luck on Substack. I honestly can't imagine why any reader would follow you there. At DC, you, at least, have Batman. He is a popular character and people like to read Batman. Notice that I said Batman and not Tynion. Something to think about. At least with you gone, DC can get all petty and make sure not to use any of your lame Batman characters so as to deprive you of residuals. Or I could be wrong. more

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Psycamorean - Oct 5, 2021

What's even more frustrating about Miracle Molly is that she goes on this monologue about hating Simon Saint for the things he's done, when if you go back to the last arc, she and the unsanity collective willingly worked with him to cause all of this because it aligned with their ethics. This was a complete reversal, without any of the necessary work to get there.

Quinn - Oct 5, 2021

That's Tynion all over. His Gotham reaction societies are all "I hate what you did, I'll do the exact same thing." It's about as smart as the Guardians creating the Yellow Lantern Ring in the Green Lantern movie to fight Parallex who tried to harness the power of fear but became evil. It makes no sense when you think about it for 5 seconds. (Also give me a like, it really boosts my vanity).

Psycamorean - Oct 5, 2021

I feel like a lot of writers simply don't plan/flesh things out in their writing enough. You can tell who does and doesn't. Hickman? Certainly does. Ewing? Almost positively. Tynion? Not so much.

Psycamorean - Oct 5, 2021

Maybe this slip up had to do with Tynion accelerating things after quitting Batman for substack, but we're three issues into Fear State proper and I couldn't tell you what the point of most of this is yet.

Mingthemerciless - Oct 5, 2021

Lol Quinn you're in excellent form with this one. I'm still trying to understand a Bat "event" where Batman is a peripheral character in his own book. Tynion cant leave this title quickly enough.

Mingthemerciless - Oct 5, 2021

The "point" of this is to get Bruce Wayne out of Gotham. I'm Tynion would love to see some of his original characters stick around but hes in the minority on that score. Even the name Miracle Molly stinks.

Quinn - Oct 5, 2021

Get Bruce out of town while sidekicks and a “new replacement” Batman “save” Gotham. Where did ? Oh yeah, when Morrison did his Bats not dead but is lost in time run. It is like DC does not know what to do with their most popular character. Writers create stories meant to show why Bruce is so dedicated and then say nah, anyone can put on the suit and be Bats. Pick a lane.

Mingthemerciless - Oct 5, 2021

Heck Quinn they're even doing a riff on Battle for the Cowl with Tamakis Shadows of the Bat. But Fear State exists solely to get Bruce out of Gotham and Tynions original non starters as the new cast in Gotham. I'm betting that get dumped pretty quickly.

Quinn - Oct 5, 2021

Like I said, they’ll do it just to be petty and deprive Tyrion of income, which works for me. You’re right, DC is just repeating past plots. They’ve been doing that for a while. King’s run was constantly rehashing old stories. This is nothing new.

egonnn244 - Oct 6, 2021

This review's got some bite to it. Nice one.

Quinn - Oct 6, 2021

I call them like I see them. See my Green Lantern Annual 1 review from a month ago for something that I really liked. I just hope DC follows up on Yellow Lantern Cruz. That is a story I want to read.

Merlyn - Oct 6, 2021

Very good review! The fact that Molly is straight up thinking like a villain, as in "I want to brainwash people for their own good to save them" and Tynion actually presents her as a hero tells you a lot about what Tynion's mindset is and that's the most scary thing here. The fact that people like him are "influencers" on social media is even scarier. I also say "good riddance" to him, I won't miss him as a writer. Also, why do you always end your reviews like that? :))

Psycamorean - Oct 7, 2021

I'm not a pussy so I'm not afraid of comic book writers.

Quinn - Oct 7, 2021

Simple. Nobody is always right and nobody is always wrong. And when I used to present my reviews and opinions (much more respectfully) online, people would get caught up in some minor point and the thread would be about that minor point and how I was wrong and the larger topic would be forgotten. Anyone who has posted on the Web has seen a thread that started as being about, say, never swing at a three and 0 pitch become why some guys deserved to be hit by a beanball.

Quinn - Oct 7, 2021

But one time I admitted that I could be wrong about my controversial opinion and the thread went on as normal. I think that people on the Web don't mind being disagreed with, but they do mind being told that they're wrong. Over the years, I've changed my mind about things. Was I wrong in the first place? Not really, that was how I felt at the time. Also, just because I don't like, say, a writer (Denny O'Neil) doesn't mean that anyone who likes their stuff is wrong. These are opinions afterall.

Merlyn - Oct 7, 2021

Fair enough, it's a decent catchphrase, to be honest.

egonnn244 - Oct 7, 2021

The Web is a perfect place to have a respectful exchange of different opinions.

Psycamorean - Oct 7, 2021

The internet is honestly terrible for discussion. The disinformation and misinformation, along with the anonymity of the web, and the pervasiveness of every little conspiracy now being given a platform makes discussion very heated because there's no social backlash, and it makes people go crazy.

Merlyn - Oct 7, 2021

i.e. "I don't like that other people don't think like I want them to so it's bad".

Psycamorean - Oct 7, 2021

If that's what you take away from that, then you're proof that online discussion is terrible.

Merlyn - Oct 7, 2021

It's just the translation of what you actually meant based on all your interactions with others, at least here.

Psycamorean - Oct 7, 2021

Okay then

Mingthemerciless - Oct 7, 2021

Quinn what's your take? We know williamson be writing globe trotting batman when DC throws him out of Gotham. I think DC doesn't quite have the guts to sideline Bruce completely like theyve done to Clark. The book is too good a seller.

Quinn - Oct 7, 2021

Willingham killed Stephanie Brown, so I don’t care. The funny thing was that he wrote as a great Robin, but that was supposed to be a reward for getting killed. The cynicism of that still offends me. I don’t care that the higher ups ordered the death. Have the guts to stand by your opinions.

Merlyn - Oct 8, 2021

I think Ming is talking about WilliAMSON, not WilliNGHAM. :)

Mingthemerciless - Oct 8, 2021

Yes Williamson taking over after Tynion leaves with 117. Dont get me started on how DC is handling Robin's. It appears the retconned Tim Drake is going after all the boys and may have dumped Bernard. This is what DC has reduced arguably their best Ribin to...a horny bi guy with a wandering eye. Funny...nearly 30 years of publishing history and Tim never appeared to be a bi player. DC is a dumpster fire right now.

Psycamorean - Oct 8, 2021

What's wrong with promiscuous bisexuals? And I don't think any of that is based on anything other than rumors made up by clickbait "news" sites to get clicks.

Quinn - Oct 8, 2021

Williamson, instead of Willingham, got it. Still mad after 17 years, but glad he’s not getting rewarded by writing DC’s best selling book. That’s right I carry a grudge.

Mingthemerciless - Oct 8, 2021

So do I Quinn. I buy nothing with Tom Kings name on it.

SenpaifenixJäger

Oct 06, 2021

This is really sad, very sad. They are tearing up their iconic characters to make way for very idiotic characters, with low-quality storylines. This year I don't think DC can increase its sales with this garbage.

fearUhavemeisenough

Oct 05, 2021

Trash! A complete disposable garbage is this number, if you thought Future State was bad, wait Fear State, funny FS both of them and they both suck. I do not know if this Mr. Tynion consumes something that is leaving his neurons dry or always been terrible writer, I think it is time that this man retires and going to be something in what is actually good.I don't know how to mow the grass, start a flower shop. Whatever works for he.

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Mingthemerciless - Oct 5, 2021

Tynion leaves with issue 117 and not fast enough. He also leaves a mess for the writer following him.

SenpaifenixJäger - Oct 6, 2021

omg, he didn't send Joshua, having to fix the Tynion's mess won't be easy.

Quinn - Oct 8, 2021

Actually, it will be pretty easy, barley an inconvenience. (Sorry, I ripped that off.) Just write him better. Have Bruce say, wow, crazy times, but I will be better because I learned lessons. And then write smart stories. Also, I like the Simpsons solution where a judge says we won't refer to these stories upon pain of death.

fearUhavemeisenough - Oct 8, 2021

The death penalty should be imposed on Tynion, Taylor and King for the appalling way they write. I agree with Q if Williams decides to fix this mess and if you allow him I can almost be sure that he achieves something more decent than this man with the nonexistent gift of writing.

Mingthemerciless - Oct 8, 2021

First thing...work on bringing Alfred back. Second thing...dump Tynions original characters. Third thing make Batman the star of his own book again and understand what makes Batman/Bruce such a great character. If Williamson can do that hes well on the way to righting the ship.