Batman's rogues' gallery includes some of the most fascinating and recognized super-criminals in the DC Comics universe. While they have always preferred to pursue their own agendas, they have sometimes teamed up to take on the Caped Crusader together. Writer Tom King, whose Batman run came to an abrupt halt after only 85 issues, unites the vicious villains for a different purpose -- to pull off the greatest heist in the history of Gotham City. Set in the early years of Bruce Wayne's crimefighting career, Batman: Killing Time #1 is an action-packed miniseries that sets off a flurry of thrilling events. With the release of Matt Reeves' The Batman, the fan hype surrounding these characters gets a new outlet in Batman: Killing Time #1.
Batman: Killing Time #1, written by Tom King with artwork from David Marquez and Alejandro Sánchez, is run by the who's who of Gotham's underworld. Killer Croc (Waylon Jones) enters the First National Bank of Gotham City in disguise as a security guard watches him closely. The Penguin has already bribed the guard, so all that is left to do is for Waylon to pull off this one-man robbery. Croc unleashes hell, terrorizing the staff and taking innocent citizens hostage. Meanwhile, Selina Kyle is playing tennis with the wife of the Bank's president, Ronald Barrington, who does not know her true intentions. Soon, The Riddler visits Barrington in his office, forcing him to do his bidding in exchange for his wife's life.
As Tom King's meandering Batman/Catwoman limited series nears its close, the scribe throws himself once more into the criminally insane world of Gotham. Batman: Killing Time #1 stitches together multiple narratives and cutaways to portray the chronology of events through one single act. A foreboding narration and a timestamp precede each event in the style of a detailed report, which gives the book the feel of a crime drama. Unlike King's usual body of work that focuses on the baser side of human nature, Batman: Killing Time #1 delves into more action-focused storytelling. As the villainous schemes go according to plan, the plot gradually narrows down a linear path, forming a base for the events to follow.
Unlike the tense storytelling, the artwork is supple and free-flowing, providing anatomically correct character features. Artist David Marquez is no stranger to the Dark Knight's escapades, having illustrated some of the earliest issues of the Batman/Superman series. Be it an all-out brawl or a tedious tennis session in the afternoon, his intricate lines add weight to every movement of the characters and frame them in elegant postures. One of the most captivating aspects of the artwork is the intense close-ups that emphasize the precariousness of the situation. Colorist Alejandro Sánchez provides the panels with grace and beauty, using varying color tones to create a shading effect. His colors add a cinematic aesthetic and artistic flair to the book.
Batman: Killing Time #1 has the makings of a great story. The villains pool their resources and brains to pull off a high-stakes heist while a dark detective is determined to catch the perpetrators. Two star-crossed lovers seem destined for heartbreak while a mysterious artifact with an enigmatic past emerges. The issue is an exhilarating ride from start to finish, with interlinking narratives forming the root of exposition in the story. The play-by-play narration, while engaging, adds nothing to the plot, which itself follows cliched tropes. The first act ends with an eventual betrayal as honor among thieves is an archaic concept in Gotham. The twist turns up the overarching suspense and thrill by a notch. Batman: Killing Time #1 is a different sort of Batman story where the Caped Crusader plays second fiddle while his rogues' gallery steals the spotlight.
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