Bane comes to Gotham.
For better or worse, there aren't many DC books right now that manage to offer a consistent creative team. The best most writers can do is tailor each story arc to its respective artists. In that sense, Tom King;s Batman really sets the gold standard. Each new arc feels like a completely new book even as it also contributes to King's larger road map. That trend continues as artist David Finch returns to the table to chronicle a cataclysmic showdown between the Dark Knight and Bane.
With Finch back in the co-pilot's chair, the series shifts away from the surreal, psychological drama of recent months and towards a more action-driven conflict. We've seen what demons haunt the minds of both Batman and Bane. Now the time has come for Bane to exact vengeance on the one foe he could never quite break. That said, King continues his habit of keeping Bane out of the limelight. The villain doesn't physically appear in this issue, but his presence is felt all the same. And considering how often Batman stories in all media make the mistake of emphasizing Bane's physical strength over his cunning and will, that's a promising sign for the battle to come.
Surprisingly, Batman #16 is actually a pretty darned amusing comic. While the opening and closing scenes highlight the darkness to come for the Bat family, King and Finch set the majority of the issue in a Batman-themed fast food restaurant. Seeing Bruce and his various Robins react to the prospect of "Joker-ized fries" really is quite an experience. And not only is the fast food setting entertaining, it allows King to really dig into some of these character dynamics for the first time. We've seen how Bruce interacts with Duke in this series, but this is really the first opportunity for characters like Dick, Jason and Damian to stand out.
That bright, cheery setting isn't necessarily the best use of Finch's art style, even if it does cater to the always versatile colorist Jordie Bellaire. Finch isn't able to inject much emotion or energy into these pages. The issue also suffers from a problem that's plagued the Bat-books for years - most of the past and present Robins look too similar to one another. It can be tough to distinguish between Dick and Jason in many close-up panels. I wish DC had stuck to Grant Morrison's idea of reverting Jason back to his pre-Crisis, red-haired status.
But elsewhere, Finch thrives as he explores a dangerous confrontation inside Arkham Asylum and the early damage caused by Bane's visit. The opening pages offer a tense, engaging start to the story, with plenty dramatic angles and shadows setting the mood for the darkness enveloping Gotham.
The Verdict
No two of Tom King's Batman storylines feel the same, and that's one of this book's strongest qualities. This issue doesn't entirely play to artist David Finch's strengths, but it does offer a solid blend of Bat-meta humor and foreboding build-up to what promises to be a titanic clash between Batman and Bane.
Editors' Choice
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