First Look—Batman: Off- World
Batman is venturing into outer space for a seven issue adventure. Have a first look at the pages of issue 1.
The preview pages of Batman: Off-World, a new seven issue mini-series have been released. Written by Jason Aaron with artwork by Doug Mahnke and Jaime Mendoza we have a very different Batman.
At the beginning, Batman is using a chainsaw to cut down Riobots, which appear to a mechanical and biological mixture. Now Batman is known for not killing but it looks like Jason Aaron is drawing from his King of Killers run on The Punisher, because this seems like a more brutal Batman.
We also have a more vulnerable Batman. No longer in the shadows of Gotham but the bleakness of space, it appears that Batman is going to be facing different obstacles. A great scene has Batman admitting that the foes he is facing do not know him and consequently do not fear him.
Held back by a few alien Firestomers, Batman faces a huge horned alien covered in armour. In a great line, Batman is referred to as “the alien”. He is no longer on Earth, so alien does seem appropriate. The big guy asks Batman to show him why Batman should be allowed to scrub the toilets. In an interview, Aaron describes the spaceship Batman is on as “a mercenary training school”. So Batman might be learning a few new tricks on his journey.
Injured and out classed, Batman finds himself in the brig. We have some elements of Batman. His internal monologue is suggesting that the outcome of the fight went as he expected. At least we have some element of Batman’s strategy and planning, even if he isn’t doing very well. But these are pages from the first issue of a seven-issue mini-series and it wouldn’t exactly be a story if Batman managed to take out the big bad in the first issue.
In the final frame we get even more of a hook with the arrival of a Tamaranian. You might know Starfire from the Titans. She is a Tamaranian (sometimes spelt Tamaranean). Her first words to Batman mention that she betted against him and lost money. She has no faith in Batman but now considers that he owes her. It’s probably going to be a rough relationship.
For Batman’s adventures in the Slag Galaxy (yep, that’s where Batman is headed for the seven issue mini-series) watch out for Batman: Off-World.