Publishers: DC
Writers: Matteo Casali, Brian Azzarello
Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Gerald Parel
Colourist: Gerald Parel
Editor: David Piña
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Price: $4.99

Batman Europa #4, starts and ends with blood, switches venues to Rome and reveals the villain who poisoned Batman and Joker. The protagonist makes perfect sense: who else would orchestrate such an elaborate attack? Will the eternal struggle between Batman and Joker end in the Eternal City?

The Joker’s brain lives in the same state as Schrödinger’s Cat: he simultaneously wants and doesn’t want to kill Batman. And the Caped Crusader begins to understand the madness. “You must be crazy to make me have to be the rational buddy,” Joker says. Finally both Batman and Joker figure out why they both were poisoned: the villain thinks they need each.

Every issue of the Batman Europa mini-series has had a different feel and focus, and Batman Europa #4 is no different. It’s a psychological cat-and-mouse. For the conclusion of Batman Europa #4 the wonderful Gerald Parel handles the art, over Giuseppe Camuncoli’s layouts. Each page is an explosion of blue and purple. The Joker looks like a piece of used celery.

If anyone ever writes a book about the psychological relationship between Batman and Joker, this mini-series is a must-read. And if you don’t care about that, read it because Batman Europa #4 exciting and beautifully rendered in both art and narrative.

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker