As the Gotham War heats up, Batman and his family go to extremes and cross lines that even they might question. Writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Jorge Jimenez construct a powerful chapter of no-holds-barred fights and family drama that leaves readers with a heartbreaking final image.
The climax of this story revolves around a no-holds-barred brawl between the two youngest members of the Bat-family. Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing, tries to halt the back up personality that Batman is currently operating under and the entire family seems divided on whether or not it is ethically acceptable to force someone to live with an alternate identity. The emotional intensity of these scenes is breathtaking and adds a new dimension to Batman that feels more human and vulnerable than usual, which adds a level of danger to the character that might be missing in some versions of the character.
Another great moment is when Robin and Batman138 capture Chips Hassel, the leader of the Tiger Gang, while he is trying to fake his death off a pier by using a device from their Sea Beast caper. Using a signal from his Utility Belt radio, Robin is able to follow the crooks into their submarine and turn it against them, subdue them, and transport them to jail. While it may have been more convenient to just kill the crooks, that would have taken away from the emotional impact of this sequence.
While there are some moments of humor in the action sequences, this is a very dark story that is rife with tragedy. Batman’s actions are a bit disturbing, especially his ingenious plan to force Jason Todd to take his mind-altering “fear suggestion” medication or continue to act violently towards others. While it might be a good idea to get him to stop hurting people, forcing him to take this drug doesn’t seem like an ethically sound approach.
Despite a few minor quibbles, this is a fantastic issue of the book. The artwork is beautiful, the characters are engaging, and the story is well-paced. The ending is heartbreaking, and Zdarsky and Jimenez leave readers with a compelling visual that will have them counting down the days until the next chapter of this epic story.
A soaring story with some amazing art, batman138 is worth checking out for fans of the dark knight. This issue has some incredibly intense fights between family members and a very disturbing sequence that sees Bruce abandon his code to protect a member of the Bat-family. It is a brutal story that is well worth picking up, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next chapter of the war.
