Bat-Mite #4 - DC Comics

BAT-MITE No. 4, November 2015

It is certainly clear with Dan Jurgens’ script for Issue Four of “Bat-Mite” that he “really wanted a different head space as a writer” when the American author settled down to pen “The Gold Standard”. For whilst the twenty-page periodical contains plenty of pulse-pounding pugilism two thirds of the way through the comic as Booster Gold sets about laying a serious smackdown upon the villainous Gridlock, the vast majority of this book’s set-pieces try to be much more tongue-in-cheek than a bibliophile might ordinarily expect from one of the creative team behind “The Death Of Superman” in 1993.

Indeed, Jurgens has previously gone on record to explain that he was “up for an anything goes type of series” at the time he accepted the job from “DC Comics” and that he felt the meddling imp offered “a good, fun, romp.” Sadly however, such a sense of amusement doesn’t arguably project from this particular book’s narrative, with Bill Finger’s diminutive co-creation coming across as an utterly dislikeable troublemaker as opposed to the well-meaning, slightly endearing nuisance who simply wants to emulate the good deeds of his hero, the Batman; “You ruin everything! You imbecile! You’re responsible for this disaster!”

True, the reality warping gremlin eventually makes everything he’s done wrong right by reversing his preposterous decision to makeover Michael Jon Carter, his super-powers, costume and name into something “more Batmanish!” But having already unsuccessfully tried to claim the glory of putting out the fiery remains of Reagan Bennington’s beloved photo album, and subsequently attempted to cause Booster Gold to plummet to his death when he mistakenly thought the Justice Leaguer was a deadly Silent Sentry, it’s difficult to imagine many readers had any patience left with the egotistical, ultra-frustrating meddler.

Debatably this publication’s sole salvation therefore may well rest upon the shoulders of Corin Howell, whose cartoonish reimagining of the titular character certainly helps imbue Bat-Mite with plenty of personality. The “red-headed" artist also does a great job of portraying the truly-palpable exasperation the rest of this comic’s supporting cast feel whilst interacting with the so-called “Champion of Justice”, especially Regan when she storms out of her department having realised her unwanted ‘magical’ flat-mate actually expected praise for destroying her aforementioned highly sentimental book.

Writer: Dan Jurgens, Artist: Corin Howell, and Colors: Mike Atiyeh