• Summary
• Review
• The Moments
• Conclusion

§Summary

As the memories of the zoo pulse through Bruce’s mind he receives his final rabies shot from Dr. Thompkins. While she is asking him to call her if he starts growing fangs, her final words put into perspective that while his body may be healed, his mind is still swimming with the events and death of his father. “That should be the end of you and bats.”

While Gordan is dismayed with his efforts in getting reelected as the mayor of Gotham, he reminisces on that very funeral. Uncomfortably, he looks Bruce eye to eye and tells him that his father was one of the bravest men he ever knew, and that he sees that in Bruce as well. He also informs him that they plan to tear down the zoo where the tragedy occurred and the replace it with something ‘practical’. Bruce chases Gordan down a moment later and tells him that he doesn’t want the zoo to be torn down. He wants it to remain as something that makes everyone look, something to shine.

As we move to the present, Batman rides his motorcycle through the streets of Gotham while members of the Party Animals look on. As they watch there heads up displays shows the bounty on Batman’s head, and to be honest, the price isn’t worth the risk. As he circles though the streets, Alfred is relieved of his duties in Gotham, but decides to stay, to watch over this final confrontation. Batman finally settles in at the meeting place between him and Roman, as Alfred spots a multitude of sniper wielding henchmen on the rooftops

Roman arrives with his party in tow and lets Batman know that the two hundred million was wire transferred this morning. Batman then clicks a button and shows what he spent it on, as the memorial lights at the zoo shine across the clouds of Gotham, illuminating the bat signal via the stacks of money on the spotlight. The deal is off, and the Party Animals move for the kill.

While Batman is able to hold his own, he talks about Roman profiting off of the death of the people of Gotham, that he doesn’t care how many bodies he has to step over to get what he wants. While Roman doesn’t care, unfortunately, Batman does, as Roman orders the snipers on the roof to take out the Party Animals trying to fight Batman. In the chaos that ensues Batman is tied down and the torture begins. His arm is broken, he’s stabbed with his own knives, he’s lit on fire, all of this occurring as that two hundred million dollars burns away in the sky. Roman simply just laughs “He believes that burning the cash, exposing the truth, it’s going to inspire them. He thinks he’s the hero…The only hero of this story, Batman, is money. And now I’m going to prove it to you,” His Henchmen then takes his Bat Axe and smacks him off the roof.

Batman falls to the parking garage below, while the police turn on him and chase him throughout. Officer Gordan is in pursuit and comes across a broken and defeated Batman trying to escape. She hold him at gunpoint, but eventually lets him go, and reports no sign of him. As Batman escapes to one of his caves and starts stitching himself up, Alfred appears and tells him that he’s leaving. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? … Just know, what’s coming next… is on your head”.

Roman then goes live on the air and tells us a little story. He used to work on a pig farm, and worked as the executioner. While most of the time the animals would struggle and fight against their death, every once and a while one would accept it, allowing the bolt pistol to strike the pleasure center of their brain, allowing the animal to die in ecstasy. He then speaks of these large corporations, making money with their money, pushing the citizens of Gotham to do the right thing so that they can do whatever they want. The dream is dead, there is no progression, they want the people of this city to stay right where they are, so that they can rule the world. Trucks begin to unload crates of masks and guns as Roman announces that everyone is invited to the party and that millions of dollars are up for grabs. “Welcome to the party, Gotham”

§Review

What a way to kick us back into the chaos. This felt like the climax of the story, where Batman shows that he will stand up to Roman, even with two hundred million dollars on the line. That Bat Signal is supposed to inspire hope in the citizens of Gotham, to show that Roman isn’t in control of the situation, and that Batman is going to expose it all. Then the story just throws it back in our faces and Roman could care less about the footage going to the new stations, or the money being burned. He believes that deep inside, money can control anyone, and he’s going to prove that by putting it into the hands of the people, and all they have to do is kill each other.

The summary of this issue doesn’t really give it justice. The story is interwoven masterfully in the beginning, it almost feels like a movie scene and it punches in all the right places. I think this issue is takes advantage of these smaller panels to great effect, it makes these fight scenes feel faster with so much more movement then one giant splash page. Overall I found this issue to be incredible entertaining but also a huge punch in the gut when these big heroic moments don’t actually lead to a peaceful ending as we expected.

§The Moments

I just really love the whole vibe of Dr. Thompkins, I feel like she’s the kind of Doctor I would want my kids to go see. She has such a warm smile and the humor she is using feels very comforting

We get a little continuity here with this giant butcher knife wielding Party Animal jumps on Batman’s back, and then a bunch of spike pop out. He then proceeds to continue fighting the others while this big dude is just stuck and can’t move. What a wild moment

I just think it’s kind of hilarious that they haven’t really explained these three pink people that hang around Roman. The tentacles coming out of their head don’t feel like costumes, they don’t have names, one of them is a child, it’s just so wonky to me but I kind of love it.

I just absolutely love the look of this moment. The lettering all cracked up like the bone that is being broke, the scream being placed inside the text, it’s just perfection to me.

§Conclusion

This series is doing a really good job of keeping me invested. I have that feeling of being compelled to read the next issue. It doesn’t even feel manipulative, like a cheap cliff hanger, but I am actually invested in this story and I feel like this is going to be one for the ages.