Batman #139 is written by Chip Dzarsky and published by DC Comics. Artwork and main cover art is by Jorge Jimenez, colours by Tomeu Morey and letters by Clayton Cowles.
Batman #139 is available now, in print and in digital platforms where all good comics books are sold.
Synopsis
Following the cataclysmic events of “The Gotham War,” Batman finds himself completely isolated from his family, struggling to keep the rage of Zur in check. But he can’t stop, because he’s out there, haunting the city, taunting the Dark Knight: The Joker. And the new Batman is ready to stop him once and for all. “Mindbomb” begins!
Review
The Gotham War is over. Selina is gone and Bruce is now isolated from everyone he cares for. Acting entirely alone it now falls back to writer Chip Zdarsky to chart the next chapter of The Dark Knight’s story. At this point I can’t remember the last the main Batman book had such a palpable sense of building tension. With echoes of each of his previous arcs, Zdarsky has dark intentions for Batman and they’re beginning to show through already.
Batman #139 starts in earnest as The Dark Knight stops a street level crime. A typical mugging that one would expect but that has been missing on the streets of Gotham of late. It seems with Selina off the board some of Gotham’s criminals have reverted back to old behaviours. Thankfully a vengeful and angry Batman was there to save the innocent victim. But after only one page we’re treated to a splash from Jorge Jimenez which perfectly communicates that this Batman isn’t quite right. There’s something different. Something angry. Is the effect of Zur en Arrh still lingering?
Criticism is often levelled at DC for a lack of consequences following its event stories. But here the effects of The Gotham War are still very much in play. We learn that Bruce isn’t living at the Brownstone. He’s now renting an apartment under the name Lenny. Zdarsky does a great job of showing Bruce’s isolation without needing to heavily retrace the steps of the past few months. As such we’re pretty quickly down to business as the “Mind Bomb” storyline gets properly underway.
The bulk of issue #139 is made up of some classic Batman detective work. When The Joker murders a local entrepreneur there’s a plethora or clues left behind. As Batman pieces together what Joker is up to this time the story not only pulls on threads from Zdarksy’s Batman run. It also picks up lingering moments from Batman: The Knight, also written by Zdarsky before taking over the main book. It brings a great sense of gravitas to the story. Playing on the shared histories of the characters makes this feel more like a long-game, well planned story rather than something off the cuff and in the moment.
When Batman and Joker do come face-to-face it seems the Clown Prince of Crime has himself some new threads. I suddenly feel the need to catch up on The Joker: Man Who Stopped Laughing as Zdarsky picks up threads from Matthew Rosenberg’s story. But the action is short-lived as we’re side-swiped by revelations about Batman’s mental health which certainly live up to the “Mind Bomb” title. Where does the story go next? You’re guess is as good as mine but this could be Zdarsky’s biggest arc yet!
Verdict
A brilliant opener to this latest chapter of Chip Dzarsky’s Batman run. The “Mind Bomb” is already shaping up to be a Batman story for the ages and is the culmination of the last year of storytelling. Also, all hail Jorge Jimenez as nobody draws Batman or Joker like he does.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
