DC Comics reviews for 7/17/19 – Batman #75, Aquaman #50
Batman #75
It all begins here. The final arc of Tom King’s Batman run kicks off with the extra-sized City of Bane’s first chapter. Since last issue’s confrontation of Bruce and Thomas Wayne, a lot has changed namely Gotham is fully and totally under Bane’s thumb. With the help of Psycho Pirate, Gotham has become a warped nightmare city with most of Batman’s enemies now operating as the law and Gotham’s regular defenders nowhere to be found.
The only vigilante activity operating now is that of the lone Batman and his new sidekick while Alfred can only watch on in restrained terror. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne begins his long path to recovery and finds a not so warm welcome and a surprise reunion. Over the course of his lengthy Knightfall homage, King has essentially killed Nightwing, broken Batman emotionally with the aborted wedding to Catwoman and turned him against his friends and partners. There’s nothing left for Bruce now but to rally for one final effort to stop Bane. But as this issue proves, getting to Bane is going to be harder than Bruce could possibly imagine.
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There’s been a sense of sameness for much of the Year of the Villain tie-ins, but King works his in very well that really enhances the story and makes effective use of this Villain Christmas event.
Tony S. Daniel returns to pencil most of the issue with some assists from Mitch Gerads. Daniel has been one of the stronger artists who’ve paired with King on this run so it’s a big win that he’s on board to draw the arc. Gerads probably should have done more work on Batman besides the random amazing issue and that’s evident by his pages this issue. At least that whole Mister Miracle book worked out OK for him and King.
King has had some rough patches during his run, but this was a strong beginning to the arc that will largely come to define readers’ opinion of his overall work. This was exactly the kind of start King needed to get fans excited about the City of Bane and it definitely delivered.