Batman #146 is written by Chip Zdarsky and published by DC. Artwork is by Jorge Jimenez and Michele Bandini , Colours by Tomeu Morey and letters by Clayton Cowles. Main cover art (left) is by Jimenez and Morey.
Batman #146 is available from today, in print and in digital platforms where all good comics books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
The explosive “Dark Prisons” continues as Batman learns from an old mentor what Zur’s plans are for Gotham City…and the world! Can the Dark Knight escape from a prison designed by the ultimate version of himself? And what nefarious role does The Joker play in all of this?
Review
The pieces are continuing to come together as Batman returns for another issue today. For a few issues now I’ve been picking up on the Chip Zdarsky’s plan to connect the dots right back to his own Batman: The Knight. Now it seems more like he’s connection the dots right back to the beginning of time as issue #146 re-contextualises many of The Joker’s earlier appearances.
It’s a bold move on the part of Zdarsky to be dipping in to so many blockbuster moments from DC history to paint them from a new angle. Batman #146 goes hard in its opening pages, complete with Michele Bandini, returning to moments from Death in the Family and Death of the Family. The latter striking a particularly nasty blow to readers, like me, who still miss the dearly departed Alfred. Taking these sorts of chances with established storylines is risky business. But Zdarsky lets any pressure wash over him like water off a duck’s back. There’s no perceptible hesitancy or cautiousness. The story is just charging ahead leaving a wave of destruction in its path.
At this stage in the story there are a few interesting points beginning to come clear. First is that Joker seems to be something of a pawn for Daniel Capito. We’ve seen him training Bruce in Batman: The Knight and Joker in his recent Year One arc. But what his ulterior motives are is a total mystery. Why he’s pointed Joker for directly at Bruce in this instance is clearly something which will come in to focus in the coming months. But for now it’s interesting to see him puppeteering so much of the action. Particularly when zooming out to see what Joker was trying to accomplish in all these key touch points.
The other fascinating point is seeing how members of the Bat-Family are dealing with Failsafe on the streets of Gotham. Unaware that Bruce is still stuck in the basement underneath Blackgate, the Bat-Family has no reason not to trust Failsafe that he’s the real deal. We saw last month that some are more trusting than others. Here Zdarsky plays on that a little more. An important moment between Dick and Barbara builds on their hesitancy to trust the robotic-Batman. I felt issue #146 could have used another scene to better understand Damian’s perspective on the situation. For now it seems that he is blindly believing this robot is his father and that seems a little out of character. I would not be surprised if this turns out to be some kind of weird play to keep a close eye on Failsafe.
Jorge Jimenez and Bandini do an incredible job of sharing artistic duties. Whilst it helps to have Tomeu Morey providing colours all round, both artists are able to work to their strengths whilst sharing key moments throughout the story. Bandini’s Joker moments are as impactful as the action they depict. Whilst Jimenez continues to bring his incredible design work to each of the Bat-Family team on the ground in Gotham.
Verdict
A solid issue building on the mystery surrounding Joker, Batman and a mysterious figure from both their pasts. Batman #146 is led by the incredible due of artists Jorge Jimenez and Michele Bandini, both of whom bring a dynamic style to the streets of Gotham.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
