Posted - January 11, 2024

Batman 4

Last issue's cliffhanger and this issue's cover points to tragedy. I'm bracing myself.

Okay, let's match the cliffhanger last issue where the Gothams "meet" Psycho Pirate and Hugo Strange and then jump to this panel with Batman, dead soliders, and a crying Gotham Girl.

Gotham is in another part of the city and there's a guy who is literally and figuratively on the edge.

The guy blows himself up, fortunately Gotham is invulnerable.

This is another foreshadowing of the Monster Men arc.

Gotham Girl is in the Batcave,apparently still reeling from her encounter with Psycho Pirate.

Gotham Girl was not the only one facing Psycho Pirate, so was Gotham. What happened to him? He is much changed since the last time we saw him. Here he is arguing with the Batman.

There goes the Batmobile.

Here is the tie-in to al the dead soldiers at the beginning of the issue.

Gotham flies off. It's all very heavy, to lighten it a bit we have this exchange between Duke and Batman.

Batman takes some gear out the the Batmobile's trunk, sets the self-destruct sequence on the car, and flies off himself.

Across this story arc Amanda Waller comes across as the hero (villain?) I love to hate. Here he is in an amusing "security" discussion with one of her peers.

Just wanted to note that Tom King's writing was very good from the start but it's becoming even better.

Waller fesses up to sending Psycho Pirate and Hugo Strange. It's her fault. The tragedy of the Gotham's is her fault. This is the part of the comic where I'm gritting my teeth contemplating the chaos Amanda Waller has unleashed.

Tragedy after tragedy. One of the soldiers escaped, and, in vengeance, killed the Gothams's parents.

That soldier is, in turn, killed by Gotham.

Gotham always wanted to be a hero. Always wanted to be a hero. What a tragedy.