Batman #156 – Chip Zdarsky, Writer; Tony Daniel, Writer; Tomeu Morey, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: The penultimate issue of Chip Zdarsky’s Batman run has a lot left to resolve with only a double-length issue after it, so it’s no surprise that this issue moves a mile a minute. Riddler has been exposed as the mastermind behind Jim Gordon’s murder case, having used the Mad Hatter’s trick hat technology to brainwash him into shooting Nanako. While that’s enough to free him, it’s not enough to repair things between him and his lover – so he and Batman are going to have to take their frustrations out on Nygma Corp instead. No surprise for Riddler, he’s turned his entire tower into a series of puzzle boxes waiting for Batman – each with their own fiendish trap or riddle. There are some clever twists to the riddles, but one gets the impression that they’re just killing time before Riddler decides to stop playing fair. Regardless, it’s one of the best set pieces Zdarsky has done in a while.
But Riddler is just one of many threats still at play. Leonid Kull, the new leader of the Court of Owls, has his own agenda to play – one that ties in surprisingly with geopolitics. And then there’s the mob of protestors outside Wayne Enterprises, trying to enforce a violent veto on Bruce Wayne’s charitable activities. And then there’s Commander Star, the violent new vigilante who made his debut on the scene at the start of this arc. He seemed to be a commentary on violent antiheroes – but this issue makes clear he’s a villain, as well as giving him a surprising identity under the mask. It’s all very entertaining, but it’s a bit rushed – almost like Zdarsky was told he had a firm time he had to be done with his run by because they had a massive new creative team teed up. It’s a little messy, but still very entertaining and thankfully Zdarsky has an extra-sized finish to bring it home next month.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
