Gotham City is about to say goodbye to some old friends. After 32 issues, Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jiménez conclude their run on “Batman”. The pair have pushed Bruce Wayne to the edge and back. From “Failsafe” to “Joker: Year One”, there hasn’t been a shortage of exciting tales.
It is no surprise that their final story pulls out all the stops. “The Dying City” has cast a new light on Jim Gordon. Readers watched The Riddler form an uneasy alliance with the Court Of Owls. The result may lead to a global catastrophe. If that wasn’t enough, a new Rogue has entered the game.
BATMAN #157 by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jiménez, Tony S. Daniel, Tomeu Morey and Clayton Cowles sees the Dark Knight take one last shot to save Gotham from falling.
Let’s not wait any longer & dive into this conclusion!
BATMAN #157 by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jiménez, Tony S. Daniel, Tomeu Morey and Clayton Cowles (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
In this parting chapter, Zdarsky swings big. The overall sense of failure weighs heavy on both Batman and Gordon. During his run, both have had set-backs. Batman’s strained family relationship. Gordon’s fall from grace. The writing brings out their true selves. This is evident with Batman’s daredevil attempt to stop Kull from returning to Russia with Riddler’s info.
Pacing keeps rising as stakes become insurmountable. Even when there is one victory, the gravity of Gotham’s last stand never leaves the reader. Zdarsky throws in a few layered showdowns towards the closing act. None might be larger than the face-off internally. Between the action is a struggle. It perfectly brings events full circle with both leads. The result is a bittersweet ending. The conversation between Batman and Gordon puts perspective on the past while closing the chapter with new promise. No better way to say goodbye for now but hopefully not forever.
Jiménez is joined by Daniel for this final outing. Right from the start, Jiménez brings a dramatic flair to the aerial escape. Readers can’t help but be swept up in the chase. It concludes with a bold image of Batman lunging at his latest foe. The mid-panel shot throws a huge exclamation point on this portion.
It is equally matched for Daniel’s portions. The showdown between Riddler and Gordon had been building. Seeing both release their anger lives up to the build. It also provides Gordon something he has been searching for: internal acceptance. With his involvement in Mayor Nakano’s death, the art deals with his tortured conscience. Readers get this moment of calm before the main event starts.
Jiménez closes out the action with a brutal fight. Each panel becomes filled with tensions. Batman realizes there is no turning back. The sheer ferocity of this match connects. It leads into a surprising end before the epilogue. Daniel brings out the pent-up feeling from the heroes. Their reactions speak volumes to the guilt they have been carrying. It leaves readers with a spectacular parting image. A full page vision of Batman via Jiménez ends events with a hopeful thought for what’s next. A bittersweet ending indeed.
OVERALL GRADE: 9.6
Zdarsky and Jiménez leave it all in the pages as their epic run concludes! The thrilling last stand of Gotham is cemented with strong writing and phenomenal art. Readers simply can’t afford to pass on saying goodbye and hope this pair returns to Gotham’s streets sooner than later.
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