The Many Arms of Death

Batwoman's face
Marguerite Bennett
Aug 13, 2020

     Steve Epting's art in comics and graphic novels is fantastic.  Eptig is able to give Batwoman: The Many Arms of Death a classic feel with modern sensibilities, as he has with other superhero comics.  

     We are introduced to Kate (Batwoman) and her lost year where she spent time on an island full of degenerates, with her lover keeping the peace.  Now she returns while tracking down some arms dealers who are selling the biological weapon the monster man serum.  My biggest complaint is that we do not really get enough backstory to care about or know who some of these characters are that are involved in the high technology weapons.  

I enjoyed the art of the islands, and thought there was fun play with the shadows used.  The first few pages of Rebirth developing Kate's lover was amazing, although the rest of the world-building did seem to taper off after that.  Several of the motivations seem wonky compared with stories told about Kate earlier, but I still love this superheroine.  I want to care about the Many Arms and the Island, I really do, but they just are not developed enough for me to get there.  There are many shots of Kate having no power, not even her Batwoman armor and gadgets, and still being super, so there is that to enjoy.  Kate still shows that she is a strong woman of steel, but the world-building as a whole was just bad, unfortunately.  

The last issue is about a far future Kate who is in charge of fighting not illegal arms transfers but  a new Batman who has walled off Gotham.  

Overall, I enjoyed the artwork, and I liked seeing Kate falling in love in her lost year, although we don't learn enough as to show really why she does.  It's a middle of the road piece, but does help set Kate up for future stories.  

Reviewed by Anne G
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