BEYOND THE DARKNESS, A BRIGHTNESS ALWAYS SHINES. Hope is at the end of the tunnel, but how much of it is real? Terry McGinnis comes face-to-face with his past, reliving moments of his pain and history. When the Batman Beneath takes from him the only people he's ever loved, Batman Beyond is forced to confront those dark moments all over again. But he won't do it alone. Kyle the Catboi has to face the root of his sorcery, the master magician John Constantine, but so much time has passed since they've last seen each other. The truth will be revealed on this long, strange trip!
All these callbacks comfort us, but they could very easily feel saccharin-sweet or over the top. Thankfully, they actually pull double-duty in Batman Beyond Neo-Gothic #4. They give us that nostalgic reminder of many great moments that have led to issues like this, but they also show the other kind of struggle that heroes can go through in comic conflict. The past has been weaponized against our heroes and how they handle it could be their biggest test yet. Read Full Review
Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic #4 gives some great insight into Kyles backstory and his mentorship by Constantine, even if it isnt how it really happened according to him, but since thats all we as readers have to go on right now, it helps us learn more about him as a character. Also, despite most fans knowing Terrys actual backstory, seeing a twisted version of it changes it up and helps us recognize Terrys fears and doubts, getting a little more insight into his character as well. Read Full Review
Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic has been superb through its first three issues, and while issue #4 is a different beast in some ways, it's no less compelling. Read Full Review
In conclusion, I believe the lack of continuity, nonsensical prose, dialogue, and esoteric metaphors aid the nightmarish premise. While this book takes a lot of effort to read, its execution significantly lacks clarity. Objectively, neither the abstract art nor the heavy text lend itself to easy reading or interpretation, but it may be up to readers to decide if they like it. I certainly don't. Yet, I think Constantine's selfish but entertaining story fit right in with the mystical tone. If you aren't willing to drop Neo-Gothic by this point, you might be the target audience. Personally, I'm certainly happy to hand the reigns of wrangling this incoherent mess back to Jackson as soon as he gets better! Read Full Review
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