Review: Batwoman Vol. 4- This Blood is Thick

Quick Summary

Pros: The main storyline is interesting and exciting all the way through. The characters are entertaining and the character development is executed well. The volume’s conclusion will leave fans wanting more. The artwork looks good and matches the story well.

Cons: Bane’s inclusion here feels a bit out of place.

Overall: This is another hit for the Batwoman series. It captures the same levels of action and interest that previous volumes were able to develop. Meanwhile, it continues to build upon the characters themselves and makes their story even more compelling. This is all served up with some solid artwork and a minimal presence of negative features. Any interested reader can enjoy this book, but we’d suggest reading the previous volumes in order to get the full impact of the story.

Story

In what should not be a surprise at this point, Batwoman Vol. 4: This Blood is Thick, by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, easily continues the success of this series. It further develops the relationship between Batwoman and the DEO in what is clearly becoming the next big event for the Batwoman series. Uncertainty is developed, action is showcased, and the characters are as amazing as ever. There is even an amazing Killer Croc story among all of this success, something I had not expected at all. This is a quality comic book from start to finish.

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The main narrative in This Blood is Thick focuses on Batwoman’s contentious relationship with the DEO. This puts her in confrontation with Bane, introduces strife between her and her cousin, and, finally, puts her on the path to face off against Batman himself. Though the fight with Bane felt a little out of place, the rest of the action here is tense and builds on an interesting larger story. 

Outside of the action, the schemes woven throughout this story are one of the volume’s biggest draws. It is clear that Bones has some alterior motive regarding Batwoman and, possibly, her father, especially considering the fact that he is related to both parties. Meanwhile, Batwoman’s decision to send Bette in to save her sister implies that she will not be conforming with the DEO’s deal. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding what is taking place here and that just makes the entire journey more exciting.

It helps that this journey also ends on another excellent cliffhanger. There are a lot of plot threads up in the air and any one of them could come crashing down at any moment. Leaving the story in this way made me incredibly excited to pick up the next volume.

This Blood is Thick also continues with the fantastic levels of character development that have been present since this series began. Bette demonstrates that she has actually become a formidable fighter, rather than just a child trying to be a superhero. Jacob Kane’s personal life begins to intersect with his role in training vigilantes. And Kate and Maggie’s relationship continues to grow, even if this means that both characters are forced to go through some rough stuff in order for them to grow. Everyone leaves this book a better person than they entered it, which is a wonderful sign of progression for this comic.

Speaking of character development, it is also worth noting that This Blood is Thick also contains one of the best Killer Croc stories I’ve read in a long time. This interlude doesn’t exactly enhance many aspects of the main narrative but it is still highly entertaining regardless. Plus, it introduces the possibility of some variables coming in to play somewhere down the road.

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Art

The majority of the artwork in This Blood is Thick comes from Trevor McCarthy. Though not as instantly gorgeous as J.H. Williams III’s artwork, I actually ended up appreciating the change in styles. The shift allows the rising action, seen in this book, to feel distinct from the climactic events of the previous volume. It also contains enough of J.H. Williams III’s elaborate structures and page layouts to maintain a sense of consistency throughout this entire series. It might not make for the most beautiful comic ever created but it does make for one that is noticeably above average.

This Blood is Thick also contains a single, interlude chapter from Francesco Francavilla. The tone of this chapter is darker and the concepts it deals with are more outwardly sinister, all of which is reflected in the artwork. Francavilla makes the characters in this chapter look creepy and adds a lot to the suspense. It makes for a worthy addition to the visual quality of this comic.

Continuity

Batwoman Vol. 4: This Blood is Thick continues the story from Batwoman Vol. 3: World’s Finest (Review).

The story here is continued in Batwoman Vol. 5: Webs (Review).

This volume also references other comic books, detailed below:

• At one point, Bone’s mentions the death of a “kid”. This death took place in Batman Incorporated #8, collected in Batman Incorporated Vol. 2: Gotham’s Most Wanted.
• Batman’s defeat by Bane is mentioned. This occurred in the Batman: Knightfall arc.