I wasn't too interested in Batman Incorporated when it debuted last year. If anything I thought DC Comics was just giving Grant Morrison free reign to do whatever he liked with Batman knowing that a company wide reboot was right around the corner.
The first glimpse I got of Batwing was when the DC/New 52 reboot was announced. My first impression? That it was lame. Coming from me that may seem out of the ordinary given the attention I give to minority superheroes. This was the mantle of the bat extending to Africa. A black Batman! I should have been hyped. But I wasn't. I was not impressed with Batwing's suit and I thought this was just an effort by DC Comics to get a chunk of the Black Panther's fan base.
I'm happy to say I was wrong. The book has a nice vibe. Judd Winick is the writer, and he usually hits it out of the park more than he swings and misses. I figured he'd strike out on three pitches with this one, but he didn't. The art, which has been so so at best for a lot of the new 52 titles (minus anything done by Jim Lee) is probably my favorite part of the book, solid story aside. Ben Oliver, the artist on the book, does great work. I'm really glad that this title has fantastic art to go along with a decent story. DC is trying to establish this character for the first time. They've given him one of their best writers, he deserves a good artist too. I hope this creative team gets to stay together at least the first 12 issues.
Batwing, which recently published its second issue, is in the process of helping establish his presence in Africa with occasional help from Batman. He's a cop on a corrupt African police force. And best of all...his name is David.
The book is a lot better than I thought it would be and much to my surprise, is my favorite of all the new 52 titles from DC. Winick is developing a strong supporting cast, great villains and plenty of mystery. I never thought I'd say this, but Batwing has the chance to be the top black superhero comic in the market. Not that there's much competition, but that's not a designation I planned on throwing this titles way when I first got word of it.
So far Batwing has impressed me. Here's hoping this title can keep up that pace.
