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We have seen our fair share of funny punches in comic books. Spider-Man punched a kid. Batman slapped Robin. But one of the funniest panels drawn was in “Batman: The Widening Gyre,” a DC Comics limited series, when Catwoman punches Batman in the face in issue 6. (Affiliate Link)
I was less than thrilled when I read “Batman: The Widening Gyre,” which had Batman being out of character by cracking jokes and letting people into his lifestyle. This out of continuity story, written by Kevin Smith and illustrated by Walt Flanagan, had Batman acting more like a stand-up comedian than the brooding masked hero we know from Gotham City. It also had some alarmingly bad figure drawings. But I have to admit, it has some positive moments. Like when Catwoman punches Batman in the face. In this six-part miniseries, Bruce Wayne (Batman) gets engaged to Silver St. Cloud, a blonde heiress we could not care less about, and Selina Kyle (Catwoman) does not take the news too well.
“Batman: The Widening Gyre” is a follow-up to Smith’s earlier work, “Batman: Cacophony,” and continues his unique take on The Dark Knight. The story emphasizes how Bruce Wayne has the sexual stamina of a jack rabbit, banging Silver St. Cloud eleven times in one day. There are these awkward moments where the comic shows Batman capturing masked heroes, but skipping the cool parts where he tracks them down and beats them up. We don’t even get to see him battling iconic villains like Poison Ivy or the Joker, or locking them up in Arkham Asylum. But the good news is that there are some cool parts in the storyline. Like when Catwoman punches Batman in the face. It never gets old.
Did you read “Batman: The Widening Gyre”? Because you should. It is so different from any other Batman story that you have to read it just to make a proper opinion. While it may not feature familiar elements like Alfred’s witty remarks or intense battles in the streets of Gotham City, it offers a unique perspective on the Caped Crusader. The trade paperback collection is available for those who missed the individual issues, allowing readers to experience Kevin Smith’s unconventional take on Batman in one sitting.