I Think I'm Going Bats: Review Of BATMAN, VOLUME 3

BATMAN, VOLUME 3:  I AM BANE  (DC Comics, September 2017) Trade Paperback, 176 pages.  ISBN: 1401271316 / 9781401271312.  Tom King, Writer.  David Finch, Artist.  Collects Batman #16 - #20, #23 - #24, Batman Annual #1.  

 

Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

Monster Men. New costumed vigilantes. Mad doctors. Each new threat has brought Batman--and Gotham City--to the brink. But it was all a smokescreen for the real threat in the shadows...

Bane. 

 

The man who has physically tested the Dark Knight like no man before is back to finally break the Bat. Can a battered, exhausted Batman fend off one of his greatest foes ever? 

 

Written by breakout star Tom King and illustrated by David Finch and Mikel Janín, the newest installment of this best-selling, critically acclaimed graphic novel series sees the Dark Knight take on Bane in their deadliest confrontation yet!

 

 

My review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

     Aside from a few quibbles with the Bane storyline, this is a good volume of the new Batman and shows writer Tom King hitting his stride as he begins to introduce his version of Batman/Bruce Wayne - - a brooding introspective good Samaritan who often questions his own stakes in the game and reasons for doing what he does - - but keeps on doing it anyway. 

 

     What bothered me about the five-part Bane storyline was how long it took to develop. This could easily have been a three-part story without sacrificing much. However, the fantastic art of David Finch made it worth it, along with some great portrait-like covers by him. 

 

     What I really enjoyed about this collection were the stand-alone stories from Issues #23 and #24. The Brave And The Mold (clever pun on a DC title) team-up with Swamp Thing was brilliant. Pairing Tom King up with Mitch Gerards on art was a great idea. Put the old team from the Baghdad series together and see what they can do with superheroes. More, please. 

 

     The “Every Epilogue Is A Prelude” (aint' that the truth when it comes to ongoing comics superhero series!) Issue #24 was insightful, especially the final scenes with Batman and Catwoman (Bruce and Selina). 

 

     Another highlight here is King's use of classic poetry to emphasize moods, settings and enhance that great artwork.