Batman Vol. 4 #5 review time. I picked this one up after a particularly long day of routing trucks. Sometimes, you just want to read about someone having a worse commute than you. And honestly? Bruce Wayne definitely wins that contest this month.
You guys know me, I’m a Wolverine guy. I usually prefer my heroes short, hairy, and Canadian. But I have to admit… this Batman run is winning me over. Bruce doesn’t have a healing factor, and he can’t just tank a missile like Logan. So when he survives a 90 MPH car crash in this issue, it’s not because of a mutation, it’s because of logistics.
Specifically, the logistics of wearing a Layer 0 body armor that probably costs more than my entire office building.
That’s the difference: Wolverine heals; Batman just buys better insurance. And I respect the hustle.
After the boardroom tension of previous issues, this book hits the gas. Titled Date Night, it’s essentially a 22-page extraction mission dressed up as a social engagement.
The Plot: How to Ruin a Date in 3, 2, 1…
The setup is simple: Bruce is on a non-date with Dr. Anna Zeller. They’re in a car, discussing her talk show appearance, trying to pass as normal humans who don’t spend their nights punching clowns.
And then, the 000 Gang shows up.
If you’ve ever complained about traffic, just be glad you don’t have the legendary Triple Zeros boxing you in on the Yamamoto Avenue Overpass. This is where the issue turns into Civilian Survival Horror. Bruce can’t grapple away because he has a civilian package (Zeller) to protect.
The logistics here are a nightmare. Bruce has to drive like a maniac to survive while pretending he isn’t a highly trained vigilante. It’s a delicate balance of acting like a scared rich guy while simultaneously pulling Fast & Furious drift maneuvers that would make Vin Diesel jealous. “Oh no, Dr. Zeller, I don’t know how I drifted that corner perfectly! It must be the traction control!” Sure, Bruce. We believe you.
The Villain Audit: Enter The Ojo
We have a major First Appearance alert. The Ojo crashes the party with dual swords and her pet ravens. Yes, an unkindness of ravens. Because this is Gotham, and you can’t just be an assassin; you need a gimmick. If you don’t have a theme animal, do you even qualify for health insurance in this city?
There’s some cool backend data on her name. Solicitations originally listed her as Lady Death Man (which is a terrible name), but the book calls her The Ojo. It’s a smart rebrand. Ojo is Spanish for Eye, but given the katana and the anime armor, it’s definitely a pun on the Japanese Ojou (meaning Young Lady or Princess).
Functionally? She’s a problem. She slices Bruce’s car to ribbons. She’s not a big bad CEO like the Minotaur; she’s the consultant they call in when the project is over budget, and they need to fire everyone. Literally.
The Art: Jiménez on Wheels
This is where the issue earns its $4.99 price tag. Jorge Jiménez draws a car chase like he’s directing a Michael Bay movie, but with better lighting.
The sense of speed on the overpass is incredible. You can feel the weight of the car drifting and the impact of the bikes crashing. There’s a panel where the car goes off the bridge; the perspective is dizzying. As someone who appreciates good vehicle mechanics, the destruction looked satisfyingly expensive. That car was definitely a write-off. I hope Bruce has gap insurance.
The Cliffhanger: A Failure of InfoSec
Collectors and continuity nerds, pay attention to the last few pages.
Damian Wayne shows up to save the day (classic Robin move), but in the heat of the moment, he calls Bruce Father right in front of Dr. Zeller.
This is a catastrophic failure of Information Security (InfoSec). Dr. Zeller isn’t a random waitress; she is a genius scientist specializing in identity technology. She isn’t going to miss that slip-up. The physical extraction was a success, they survived the crash, but the strategic mission failed. The secret is out. Great job, Damian. You saved the date but ruined the InfoSec.
The Logistics of Investing: A Lesson for Rookies
If you’re new to this game, listen up. I usually talk about supply chains for trucks, but comics have a supply chain too. Batman Vol. 4 #5 is what we call a Speculator Key. Here is your lesson on why you should buy this, even if you don’t read it:
- The First Appearance Rule: This issue introduces The Ojo. New villains are like new IPO stocks. Most fail, but some (like Punchline or Bane) blow up. Buying this issue is buying a share in her future stock. If she shows up in a movie in 5 years? This $5 comic becomes a $50 comic.
- The Solicitation Error (Deep Cut): Originally, DC told shops this villain was named Lady Death Man. They changed it to The Ojo at the last second. Collectors love this kind of trivia. It adds a story to the physical object.
- The Play: Grab Cover A (the standard cover). It’s usually the one that holds the most value over time because it’s the true first image. Put it in a bag, put a board behind it, and throw it in a box. It’s safer than crypto and looks cooler.
Batman Vol. 4 #5 Final Verdict
Batman Vol. 4 #5 is a pure adrenaline spike. It takes a break from the heavy conspiracy stuff to give us a best-in-class action sequence. It’s loud, fast, and gorgeous.
Is it deep? No. It’s a car chase. But sometimes you don’t need a supply chain audit; you just need to watch a billionaire destroy a luxury vehicle while fighting motorcycle ninjas.
Score: 8.5/10
