“The Dying City” – Part Two
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artists: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Color Artist: Tomeu Morey
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Review by Max Byrne
Batman #154 picks up from the previous issue, with the aftermath of Mayor Nakano’s murder dominating the proceedings. This is the catalyst for an issue that is heavy on detective work. Due to multiple suspects being in the frame. I like this narrative approach from Zdarsky, as it showcases the cerebral side of Batman, the side that doesn’t rely on his physical prowess to get the job done. It is an interesting portrayal of his process, as he logically follows the evidence, visiting with the various suspects in turn.
Rough Day. Rough Night.
Amidst a succession of potential killers, ranging from Vandal Savage to The Riddler, to the Mayor’s own wife, the cliffhanger ending to this issue presents the would-be-killer as a very leftfield choice indeed! To mention it here would be to ruin the impact of the final pages of this issue. So you will just have to see it for yourselves, but be prepared to be shocked and surprised….
Of course, the path to this revelation is an interesting one, as a great deal of time is spent portraying Batman’s hypothesis that the evil combination of Riddler and Leonid Kull are the real killers. I like the potential of this villainous pairing that seems to be way back to prominence for the Court of Owls too, which would be a welcome return in my opinion.
Indiscretion
There is an interesting subplot here too. With a yet unseen man named William Pureford representing himself as Bruce Wayne’s long lost brother… And subsequently an equal claimant to the Wayne fortune. Whilst this seems to be a ridiculous concept, the way that the backstory of the character is recounted does in fact add some credence to the possibility of there being some truth to his story. The plausibility of Thomas Wayne having a side piece during a turbulent time in his marriage could certainly have happened.
Conclusion
Batman #154 is a slowburner of an issue that explodes into life with a jaw dropping finale. To see where our hero goes next will be extremely intriguing. As somebody very close to him now has dramatically fallen from grace. This will shatter the Dark Knight’s moral compass and sense of right and wrong to its very core. With Wayne Enterprises facing public unrest, his potential new family member entering the fray and a coterie of woes to face as Batman… The next few issues should be a succession of must read books..
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
