Writer/Artist: Eddie Campbell
Publisher: DC
Eddie Campbell is known for his self-published comic book Bacchus, which I never read. From The Previews I could tell that the artwork would at least be semi-decent and Batman would be fighting Nazis. You cannot go wrong with Batman fighting Nazis.
Order of the Beasts does involve the Third Reich, and the elseworlds story takes place in prewar England, but Mr. Campbell does not provide as hoped a two-fisted account of Batman eradicating the Nazis as they curse "Der Fledermausmensch!" However, darned if Campbell's stand-alone, meaty Batman tale does not offer something nearly as interesting.
Campbell's story takes in account the staid English environment of the past. He contrasts the innocent radio big band sounds with a burlesque secret society patterned partially on the infamous Hellfire Club. Campbell however mixes the facts that are often more inspired by a well-known episode of The Avengers with a bizarre homage to Wind in the Willows. This creates an even more perverse atmosphere because his characters are twisting the innocent fairy tales of childhood.
The Whydunnit Mystery involves nursery rhymes and creates a fascinating detective procedural for the reader to follow. Campbell's characterization of Batman is at once sane and brilliant, and I'm certain Vertigo fans will find the English counterpart to Commissioner Gordon smile-worthy. Even if not a Vertigo aficionado, the reader will enjoy the intelligent cast, which includes smart Bobbies still out of their depth, as well as the depiction of an odd but understandable culture. Because of the remote setting I'll wager that even British readers just may discover something new in Campbell's tale.
While pastels are not the usual medium one expects to find illustrating Batman, and Campbell's mystery is more cerebral in nature than the average Batman story, his artwork still lends excitement and action to the panels. The colors still bring out the eerie nature of the bat and still give him a heroic look while among the Order of the Beasts.
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