Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire Review - Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo
Azzarello/Bermejo/Batman - just that combination of words is enough for Batman fans to instantly buy this because, after Deathblow, they went on to create the superb Lex Luthor: Man of Steel and the controversial but brilliant Joker. Its no surprise that DC looked at the success of those two later books and thought a reprint of their earlier, lesser-known comic was in order. And Im glad they did reprint it if only for Bermejos art, which is always amazing, rather than Azzarellos writing which, for me anyway, is often hit-or-miss and in After the Fire, its definitely lacking. The plot is easily what disappointed me most about this book - its convoluted to an absurd degree especially when the double and triple crosses begin happening towards the end. For a 3-issue mini-series, it didnt need to be so twisty and over-complicated. Yes a lot happens, but when you take a moment to think about whats going on, it makes very little sense, especially the reveal at the end when you find out that the whole chase was kind of pointless. Also, Bruces friend is someone weve never seen before and never will again. Hes just inserted into the story as a plot device rather than an actual character which felt incredibly contrived. I did like that Azzarellos penchant for realism meant that we get to see a lot of Bruce Wayne rather than Batman, which made for an interesting angle to the story rather than the usual superhero schtick. Part of the books problem is that Deathblow is simply not an interesting character: hes your run-of-the-mill tough guy with a gun and no personality. Hes like a cross between the Marvel characters Nuke (they both paint lines on their faces and have military backgrounds) and the Punisher (they both hunt bad guys, have no superpowers, and have no problems with killing people) - not exactly the best ingredients to create a memorable character. And then to top it off, name him Deathblow? Despite Azzarellos script lacking a cohesive plot, so long as you dont think too hard about the story, its an enjoyable read mostly because its such a gorgeous book to look at. Because the real reason you should be reading this is for Lee Bermejos art: incredible is one way to describe it though the full range of superlatives are applicable. If youve never encountered it before, its breathtakingly beautiful art thats realistic and fantastical all at once. Bermejos Batman is one of the best renditions of the character Ive ever seen its just perfect. While this early work doesnt show the refinement which Bermejo acquired since this book (see Batman: Noel for his most recent, brilliant Batman), its still an amazing version of the Dark Knight that few artists can come close to. 
Bermejo and colourist Tim Bradstreet give Gotham this early 20th century look with a lightly golden sheen to the panels, dotting its skies with zeppelins, though the references to Vietnam in the past put it at least late 20th century, and the mutants outfit is definitely modern contemporary (looking like something Tyler Durden would wear). Mixing in different aesthetics gives the story a warped but not unpleasant - timeless feel and coupled with Azzarellos story jumping back and forth 10 years every other page, makes for a quite discombobulating reading experience. This deluxe edition is repackaged in a sturdy hardback designed like other Batman hardcovers and features a nice slip-on cover. Extras-wise there isnt much, just a handful of sketches and notes by Bermejo explaining his process. These are interesting but Id expect more from a deluxe package. After the Fire is definitely worth reading if youre a fan of Azzarello and Bermejos books though its dont expect anything as good as their later works, and if you havent experienced Lex Luthor or Joker, I highly recommend picking up those over this. After the Fire is a very poorly plotted noir-ish pseudo-political thriller where Batman only pops up in a few scenes but Bermejos art is extraordinary and makes picking up this book worthwhile in the end. Batman/Deathblow: After the Fire Deluxe Edition by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo is out now in hardback