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James Tynion IV’s biggest Batman story starts off strong in Batman: Fear State: Alpha #1 and sets the stage for Gotham’s heroes’ upcoming adventure.
The Dark Knight has a long fight ahead of him. After months of build-up, Scarecrow has begun his assault on Gotham in Batman: Fear State Alpha #1. The issue sees Batman and his allies scrambling for answers in writer James Tynion IV’s biggest story to date. Beautifully drawn by artist Riccardo Federici, Batman: Fear State Alpha #1 is required reading for anybody looking forward to the barrage of Batman titles coming out this fall. It is a gripping comic that will leave fans on the edge of their seat as the seeds of Gotham’s downfall are planted.
Batman: Fear State Alpha #1 opens with a flashback. Simon Saint is visiting Scarecrow in Arkham Asylum to discuss the concept of a “Fear State.” Saint and Scarecrow agree to work together to send Gotham into a state of terror that’ll consume the city, which will allow them to mold it into a new society. In the present, Scarecrow has captured Batman and has made the first steps towards unleashing his plan. Suddenly, a mysterious signal broadcasts onto Gotham’s airwaves, announcing that the city’s water has been poisoned and that the only way for people to survive what comes next is to be wary of everybody. Refusing to stay down, Batman escapes the Scarecrow’s clutches and desperately races into the city. But now that the Fear State has begun, can the Dark Knight stop Gotham from destroying itself?
Writer James Tynion IV continues his landmark run on Batman with Batman: Fear State Alpha #1, building on his previous work while establishing a fresh entry point for new readers. The opening scene does a great job at explaining the central premise while also introducing characters like Simon Saint, who may not be familiar to everybody who picks up the comic.
After this, the narrative splinters to focus on Gotham’s different heroes and how they will play into the overall crossover. The two characters who benefit the most from this are Oracle and Harley Quinn. Oracle quickly takes on the responsibility of leading Batman’s allies in the absence of Bruce, which seems to set up her return to the Batgirl mantle in Nightwing. This development feels rewarding and satisfying. Similarly, Tynion continues to have a firm grasp on Harley’s characterization. He makes Harley feel like a believable member of Batman’s inner circle and sets her up for a reunion with Poison Ivy that may prove critical to saving Gotham.
Fresh off of a string of variant covers for Batman and Joker, Riccardo Federici provides the interior art for Batman: Fear State: Alpha #1. Federici is great at capturing distinct characters and frequently uses close-up shots to focus on gestures and facial expressions. Thanks to this, even simple dialogue scenes become engrossing, as characters reveal their personalities by the way they carry themselves. Federici also uses a lot of cross-hatching in his work, which pairs well with the colors from Chris Sotomayor. Gotham City is dark, dank, and dire, which Sotomayor explores through a wealth of deep blues and greys. He also makes the bold choice to cast multiple scenes in glowing light, often using the radiant brightness of screens to control the tone of the room. It works remarkably well and further distinguishes the book’s locations.
Overall, Batman: Fear State: Alpha #1 is an exceptional primer for Batman’s latest crossover storyline. While the issue is light on action, it has strong character work that builds towards multiple upcoming storylines featuring members of the Bat-family. In many ways, the Dark Knight is the least interesting person here. Characters like Scarecrow, Oracle, and Harley Quinn gain some rewarding time in the spotlight. The stellar writing from James Tynion IV and beautiful art by Riccardo Federici and Chris Sotomayor make this an engaging read, as Scarecrow unleashes a new brand of horror. With a new Batman creative team set to debut this winter, the stage is set for Fear State to shake Gotham City to its core.
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