Batman (2016-) #82
DC Comics
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mikel Janin, Jordie Bellaire
Picking up right where the last issue left off, Batman #82 is 20 pages of a brawl that has a very shocking conclusion. A lot of the previous issues within the City of Bane storyline have been a little slow. Specifically, the issues about Batman and Catwoman in Hawaii (yes, that’s a real thing) where there no was nothing shown from Gotham. The last two issues which depicted the return of the Dark Knight, along with Catwoman, to Gotham were pretty damn good. I’m happy to say this issue is also pretty solid.
As I said at the beginning, Batman #82 is just an all-out battle between Batman and Bane, plus Catwoman gets involved too. The fight is satisfying to witness and that mostly attributed to the art of Mikel Janin who’s always done a damn fine job each time he’s had the opportunity to draw a Batman issue. The panel work is incredible adds a nice swiftness to coincide with the brutality. Throughout Bane and Batman’s confrontation, there are scenes depicting Thomas Wayne’s whereabouts. They’re slower paced scenes, which are executed nicely by Janin and writer Tom King and bring a great contrast between the Batman/Bane scenes.
Speaking of Tom King, his dialogue and overall writing were very good throughout. There was barely any repetition and everyone spoke pretty naturally. The big twist at the end left me with a lot of confusion and, considering there are only 3 issues of his main Batman run left, I can’t possibly see this ending in a way that satisfies everyone. The closer we get to the end, the more nervous I get – yet, the more I’m enjoying this series.
My biggest gripe is that this issue just felt pretty short. That’s been a reoccurring issue with me and Tom King’s run on Batman. There’s really nothing else I can mention without spoiling the entire issue. I’m interested and excited to see what happens next, but a little bit hesitant. This entire run on Batman has had me perplexed from the get-go. I just hope these last few issues are great.
Batman #82
Batman #82 is a grudge match between Bane and Batman, all the while Thomas Wayne is plotting his next move. Mikel Janin's art is amazing, as usual, and Tom King's writing is pretty solid throughout. It's just felt short, though the ending will have you eager to see what happens next. Pick up this issue if you've been reading King's Batman. After all, with only 3 issues left, why quit now?
-
Story
-
Characters
-
Art