Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham #6 concludes the action-packed crossover series with a thrilling mystery marred by a rushed narrative.
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham #6 dives into the antagonistic forces behind the beloved series Fables. Published by DC Comics’ now-defunct Vertigo imprint, Bill Willingham’s Fables tells the story of a fictional city inhabited by fairy tale creatures. The DC Black Label crossover Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham returns to the world of Fables to team Bigby Wolf up with the more traditional hero Batman. Written by Bill Willingham with artwork from Brian Level, Jay Leisten, Anthony Fowler Jr., and Lee Loughridge, the crossover series finally comes to an epic conclusion in Issue #6, with a lackluster narrative but stunning art.
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham #6 sees Sheriff Bigby and Cinderella travel through worlds to Gotham City in search of a lost book of spells. Once there, Bigby receives a hostile welcome from Batman. When the Caped Crusader warms up to the Lord of Wolves, the duo goes after the book thief. Batman and Bigby crash into Bookworm’s hideout while a ritual is underway. A zombified Bookworm lunges at Batman as his bodyguard transforms into a hideous monster, revealing herself to be Grendel’s mother from the infamous Old English epic Beowulf. In the blink of an eye, a gruesome brawl breaks out. As books fly around and candles extinguish, Batman realizes they are out of their depth and makes a last-ditch attempt to get an upper hand.
Writer Bill Willingham’s Fables started with a strong premise, using modern retelling to give new life to old myths. As the story progressed, however, the plot seemed to dwindle. Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham #6 suffers from the same mistakes as the original Fables series. This final issue feels like a rushed attempt to get to an amicable conclusion. The dialogue sound flat and repetitive, lacking subtlety in certain passages. The steady flow of the narrative, however, coupled with a gritty fight at the start keeps the issue entertaining. Willingham has been building the suspense throughout the series, which finally plays out in the final issue. The face behind all the mischief is finally revealed, with a nod to the author’s previous creations.
Artist Brian Level’s work marries together elements of grit and horror, giving Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham #6 an eerie atmosphere. His bold line art poses the characters in exaggerated movements and wild expressions. The inking team of Jay Leisten and Anthony Fowler Jr. fills the artwork with depth and adds a dynamic, animated look to the book. One of the appealing aspects of the issue is the inventive panel work that frames the action in fantasy motifs. Colorist Lee Loughridge gives the finale a rustic appearance, using earthly colors that resemble old, hardbound books. Loughridge, however, does not just limit the colors to brownish tones but also uses a wide range of other colors when the situation calls for them.
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham #6 shows how to weave a tale full of suspense and intrigue while bringing together characters from two completely different mythologies. While every detective story comes with post-climax exposition, the plot usually leaves clues for the readers or ends with a shocking conclusion. This book, however, dumps the information on the reader without any foreshadowing, making the final reveal feel nothing but forced. Despite the chinks in the armor, a hard-edged Batman and a no-nonsense Bigby make a good team. Their chemistry becomes the driving force of the book and makes it worthwhile.
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