Batman: The Ankh

 Writer: Chuck Dixon

Artist: John van Fleet

Rating: 7 of 8

Batman

The Ankh

Everybody dies. No matter how much we might wish it wasn't true and that we could just keep on holding onto what we know, we can't. Eventually, we all have to get off this merry go round called life and move on, no matter what comes next.

But what if you couldn't? It's a conundrum faced by Egyptian Princess Khatera who, thanks to her father, can never die. No matter how many years go by, no matter what is thrown at her, she will survive - and it's driving her mad. 

The idea of living to see everyone you love die is it's own kind of horror. No matter how many times she loses those she loves, she can never move on. It'd only make sense if she lost herself to madness and evil and in some ways, she does - but is she truly lost?

Written by Chuck Dixon, one of the most prolific Batman writers there is, it's layered with some of the best writing I've ever seen from the writer. Before we even get to Gotham or Batman, Dixon brings us on a beautiful journey that begins with a father's love, then a startling discovery, until it finally moves onto just what that means.

Thanks to the Egyptian trappings, the story's filled with a wonderfully mystical quality that, surprisingly, fits rather well. Usually, Batman works best when he's kept close to the ground, facing uniquely twisted serial killers and sinister plots, but Dixon tells it in such a way that never betrays Batman's detective sensibilities, or it's mystical qualities.

Van Fleet also brings it to remarkable life, filling Dr. Katar's office with a stirring beauty, while an underwater battle has a strange kind of gloom. The only problem I have with it is how a certain Batman villain looks, at least in the face. With how Van Fleet draws him, he looks a lot more stupid than he should. Other than that, it all looks very good.

Overall, a very good tale, one that's well worth looking into.