Batman #148 is written by Chip Zdarsky and published by DC. Artwork is by Jorge Jimenez, colours by Tomeu Morey and letters by Clayton Cowles. Main cover art (left) is by Jimenez and Morey.
Batman #148 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
It all comes down to this: Batman versus Batman! With Damian’s life—and the future of Gotham—hanging in the balance, nothing can prepare either version of the Dark Knight for what’s about to happen!
Review
All good things must come to an end. With Absolute Power lurking right around the corner that goes doubly for Chip Zdarsky’s current “Dark Prisons” arc in the pages of Batman. That storyline reaches a dramatic conclusion today with the Bat-family circling around their father and mentor in his hour of need. It’s a huge coming together of the book’s core cast for a season finale of epic proportions. One which has a lot of ground to cover in tying up Dzarsky’s lingering plot threads going in to DC’s summer event story.
We open issue #148 in flashback mode for one final conversation between Bruce and his then mentor Daniel Capito. The pair muse on the idea of creating backup personalities, the psychological approach which birthed Zur-En-Arrh. The one-page scene serves as a final reminder that Bruce and Daniel never quite saw eye-to-eye on the concept of Zur, something which Bruce likely regrets agreeing to given his present predicament.
Returning to the present day, Batman #148 picks up where last issue left off with Bruce and Tim reuniting and setting up the final battle between the one true Batman and his robot counterpart. With trusty artist Jorge Jimenez on board we’re treated to an epic shot of the Dynamic Duo entering the cave with Bruce exclaiming “Call the family. It’s time”. It’s the kind of rallying cry which perfectly sets the reader up for what is about to come.
Elsewhere the final chapter of Dark Prisons” finds Robin staring down his own Zur-En-Arrh nightmare whilst learning more about Daniel Capito’s ultimate plans. There’s an interesting twist to this subplot, one which sets up some potential storytelling for the future. Without spoiling the twist we do get some cool action with Damian and Tim teamed-up, Boy Wonders fighting side-by-side. Jimenez is working on overtime with three different Robin costumes to draw in just this sequence. It’s a fast moving sequence which plays to Jimenez’s incredible ability to inject a sense of movement and fluidity in to each and every panel.
Whilst Oracle coordinates from afar both Nightwing and Red Hood join Bruce in the assault on Zur-En-Arrh/Failsafe. Again playing to Jimenez’s strengths, Zdarsky writers blow after blow as the heroes go up against the purest form of unhinged Batman. The fight itself is brutal and Zdarsky does a great job of leading us to believe that none of the Bat-family is safe. I’m going to choose my words carefully but there’s a brilliant bait-and-switch which works in another little flashback to Bruce’s plans to take down Failsafe. Zdarsky takes us on a rollercoaster ride which leads to a hero shot for the ages. Thanks Jimenez. With father and son reunited and villains vanquished, there’s time for one last full page splash to reminder us how much we love these characters and how much I love this artist.
Verdict
A blockbuster fight for the ages between Batman and Failsafe. Chip Zdarsky pulls together all of the plot threads and neatly ties them in to a satisfying and arresting finale. Whilst Jorge Jimenez brings the action with an incredible series of enormous, high stakes set pieces.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
