Manallato continues to make a believer of me. This issue is tightly scripted, well plotted, and beautifully drawn. What more could you want?
My challenge in reading this issue was keeping this story distinct from the larger one that Snyder and Tynion are telling in "Batman Eternal." For example, "the Rose" from last issue was revealed to be Carmine Falcone in "Batman Eternal" #2. (In fact, in my review of that issue, I originally mistakenly identified the events of issue #30 as happening in "Batman Eternal" #1.) By using Falcone as the main villain of this series as well as "Batman Eternal," Manallato help contribute to the sense that the plot unfolding in "Batman Eternal" spreads throughout Gotham. I'm fine with that, but, given how complicated "Batman Eternal" already is, I'm not sure it needs the help.
In terms of this series' plot, it's still a little unclear where we're going. I'm pretty sure that we're supposed to believe that the Roman set up the Squid, with Sumo intentionally misdirecting Batman his way. First, you've got the mysterious guy observing the fight and remarking to someone on the phone that Sumo "talked," something that he seemed to be expecting. Then, it seems like the other two mysterious guys place a defeated Sumo into the device in the shipping container to heal him after he took a dive in his battle with Batman; after all, he'd have to be defeated to have the opportunity to rat out the Squid. (If it's not Sumo in the container, I have no idea who else it would be.) It seems like Sumo might've been led to believe that, too, despite the two guys seemingly using Icarus to kill him, a loose end, instead.
But, either way, even if Sumo legitimately ratted out the Squid, I still have no idea what the Roman's or the Squid's plans are. Why kill Elena? Was it really just to prevent her and Bruce from developing the East End? It seems unlikely, given that we learned this issue that Elena's daughter is untraceable, making it clear that they were running from something. (Remember Elena talking about fresh starts last issue?) Why is the East End so key? I'm assuming that it has a link to Icarus, but Manallato hasn't made that link yet, as far as I can remember.
It's only two issues, so no need to present everything as a pretty package just yet. But, the lack of clarity on the Sumo issue hearkens to Hickman-esque plotting, where confusion is confused with intrigue. A little more clarity on the events that we witness -- so we know what we're actually witnessing -- would be great.
*** (three of five stars)
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