Summary
Bruce Wayne is about to turn 18 and inherit a fortune and take over the family business. But one choice on a dark night changes his course in a way he doesn’t expect.
After an argument with a “friend,” Bruce drives off to clear his head. In a custom Aston Martin built for speed, Bruce drives around Gotham to process his thoughts. Sirens and curiosity lead Bruce into a police situation and a high speed chase. (Hey, the Aston Martin could keep up better than what the police were driving!) While he ultimately helped catch the criminal, he’s a civilian interfering in police business. So Bruce earns community service. At Arkham Asylum.
The Nightwalkers are a new, dangerous criminal element in Gotham. They target the rich and drain their bank accounts. They use the money to commit acts of terrorism and then kill their victims. One of the Nightwalkers is in Arkham, and she takes a liking to Bruce. She refuses to talk to anyone else, and the police need her talking. But she is more dangerous than Bruce can imagine.
Review
I have mixed feelings about the DC Universe in general, which I have mentioned before. And I’m not usually a big fan of Batman. But I love the whole idea of this DC Icons series. I have Wonder Woman Warbringer already, and Catwoman: Soul Stealer is on my wish list for August. Both the Wonder Woman book and this one about Batman have exceeded my expectations!
There are plenty of nods to the Batman cannon – probably more than I caught as I read this. I could see the hints of the hero/vigilante yet to come in Bruce’s thinking and drive. His choices here as a young man felt consistent with what I’ve seen of Batman in other venues over the years.
This story was terrific. Madeleine is a fascinating character full of secrets and lies. She is complex and nuanced. A perfect foil for Bruce Wayne. The Nightwalker situation was a great way to build tension and suspense. I was supremely happy with how all the pieces clicked together. I hope there will be more Batman books by Marie Lu! This was a joy to read.