Batman just had the most epic multiverse moment ever in DC history

Once I reached the page Batman #135, in which Michael Keaton’s Batman from the 1989 movie pops up, I thought to myself, “Ah, they’re doing one of You can also find out more about the following:.” You know, one of those multiverse sizzle reels.

It seems like they’re everywhere in superhero adaptations these days, from the CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths to HBO Max’s Titans” Doctor Strange: The Multiverse of MadnessThe following are some of the ways to get in touch with us: Spider-Man: The No Way Back. Let’s be honest: Expect at least one in this summer’s multiverse-shattering The Flash. They might not literally be sizzle reels, but they have that effect — a view of an infinite multiverse that is really just there for the cool factor. Reactions range from “Look at all the actors they rehired!” to “Those guys look like guys I remember but different! Wow!” We’re not going to spend any real It is not too late to start. with these characters, they’re just here to tickle the nostalgia of a clued-in audience. The multiverse is hype.

The first multiverse montages felt new and surprising, but like any trend, it’s devolved a bit into a rote brand exercise. But in Chip Zdarsky, Mike Hawthorne, Jorge Jimenez, and Mikel Janín’s BatmanThe story is told by #135. The book’s multiverse sizzle reel tickles your nostalgia and makes your pulse race. It also strengthens a battered, bent Batman at the end of the story and emphasizes the fact that the Batman from every universe wants to help.

Then it does what a comics montage can only do: ask why Batman movies, games and Elseworlds are so often savaged by the Joker.

What other things are happening in our favorite comics pages? We’ll tell you. Welcome to Monday Funnies, Polygon’s weekly list of the books that our comics editor enjoyed this past week. It’s part society pages of superhero lives, part reading recommendations, part “look at this cool art.” There may be some spoilers. It may be that there is not enough context. The comics will be fantastic. If you haven’t read the previous edition yet, please do.

Image: Chip Zdarsky, Mike Hawthorne, Jorge Jimenez, Mikel Janín/DC Comics

We will pick you up from the airport Batman Batman chases Halliday, a man who has discovered that he is a fearless killer known as the Joker in another timeline. Naturally, he went mad with frustrated ambition, did some Comic Book Science, and now he’s falling through world after world as his presence supercharges the Joker of that universe, or — if the Joker is dead there — revives him into sinister life.

I won’t spoil all of the Batmans who appear in BatmanIt’s hard to describe #135 without mentioning that it feels as if the team behind it is trying to make use of all things unique to comics. Comics allow you to seamlessly transition from art, animation, video games, or live-action renderings. And artists Hawthorne, Jimenez, and Janín do just that, with poster-worthy art that’s instantly identifiable as specific video games, TV shows, films, animated works, and a wealth of the great Batman epics of comics history.

Zdarsky is a master at choosing which Batmans to highlight; those who do the most for Our Batman as well as the ones that best express the theme of the issue. He has chosen Batmans that are suited to the three different generations: those who can relate to Bruce Wayne as a father and people at the age where they will see him. Batman BeyondThe. Dark Knight Returns, and of Adam West’s Batman. It’s these Batmans who look at Our Batman and immediately reach out to help him.

The Old Bruces advise him on how crime didn’t come to an end on their worlds when their Jokers died. And when Batman finally corners Halliday in a fragment of existence created by his obsessed mind (a floating chunk of Gotham City slowly being devoured by skyscraper-sized, red-lipped sharks) it’s Adam West’s Batman’s loaned utility belt, complete with that hokey old can of shark repellent, that saves the day.

It’s a perfect Batman comic.

Image: Mark Waid, Dan Mora/DC Comics

Be still my beating heart. Are we finally going to get a real name to call Billy Batson when he’s in his superhero form?

Image: Si Spurrier, Phil Noto/Marvel Comics

X-Men books aren’t wasting any time swinging out of the Sins of SinisterThen, and even into Fall of X event. It would be nice to take a rest. Mother Righteous is a villain who I like a lot. She’s a mysterious villain, revealed only recently to be Mister Sinister’s clone, and she wants to beat him with science instead.

And I’m not mad at all that it took me until now to realize that her name itself is a play on his.

Image: Kyle Starks and Steve Pugh/DC Comics

It was very difficult to choose just one joke out of the many that I read. The Peacemaker Struggles Hard!This book made me laugh out loud at least 3 times. It’s extremely good, please read it. Is it me, or does Steve Pugh’s drawing of this parole officer look exactly like Taika waititi?