Review: Batman 24
If you give me the chance, ill talk your ear off about comic books. As the legend states, "Abel's first words were 'Batman.'" #TeamBatman
Batman #24 is perhaps one of the most shocking Batman issues in recent memory. It dropped a huge bombshell on all Batman fans, as Bruce did something none of us thought would ever happen - He proposed. In what is easily becoming one of the most interesting arcs in Batman history, Tom King is taking us into parts of the Batman psyche that we have not explored before and is changing the Batman mythos in only the way King can. Our Batman aficionado Abel Loza is here to take a look at the newest, and craziest Batman issue.
Review: Batman #24
“Do you like your life?"
Synopsis
After Batman successfully returned Gotham Girl back to normal, Claire (Gotham Girl’s real name) doesn’t know whether or not she should use her powers to be a superhero or return to being a normal citizen; knowing that the more she uses her powers the closer she is to dying. While talking it over with Batman, Claire tries to figure out if all of this is worth it and asks Bruce if he is happy being Batman. After a deep look into Batman’s psyche, we find out the answer is no. In order to try and fix is loneliness, Batman tracks down Catwoman and asks Selina to be Mrs. Batman.
Break Down
Spoilers ahead!
Wow. Even though many news outlets had reported on it earlier in the week, it was still hard to believe that Batman was going to propose to Catwoman. Although initially shocking, if one looks at the past year of Batman under writer Tom King, the twist at the end of Batman #24 stops being a shock and it starts to make sense, once you break down what's being going on in Batman’s world this past year.
King has taken Batman on an emotional journey for the past year, and it seems as though it has taken its toll on the Dark Knight. King is really playing to this angle that Batman is not happy doing this and seems to be over being a hero and is only doing it because he is scared to see what is on the other side.
Tom King has been able to deconstruct Batman and Bruce to his purest form through his run this past year, and more so in this issue which has really shown us the innermost emotional status of the Bat. King’s use of Claire as a pseudo-psychologist for Bruce was a perfectly used tool to delve into the question of whether or not Bruce or Batman is happy doing this or if it’s worth it.
If any other member of the Batfamily would have asked, Batman would not have been as open as he was with Claire. Perhaps this is due to Bruce witnessing what Claire went to and has a vulnerable spot for her or if the years and the crime fighting really has aged and dragged him down, to a point where he isnt happy anymore. The dynamic between Batman and Gotham Girls is like that of father/daughter, which is what Batman tends to be to all of those in the Batfamily. Whatever the reason was, King made it seem as a simple back and forth between superheroes, but it turned out to be a therapy session.
It’s always been assumed that Bruce enjoys being Batman or that he does it for his parents, but since The Button, it was revealed by Thomas Wayne that Bruce doesn't need to be Batman for them. He can quit and start being happy. So this story thread form The Button has been brought over to the main Batman continuity.
Happy, according to Bruce (or King) is apparently being married to Catwoman. Batman is in a vulnerable position, and I guess to Bruce, this is what makes most sense and marriage seems to be the most normal thing he can do. Plus it seems like he really does care or Selina, so all of this does make sense. But it's not any less shocking to the rest of us.
King has been able to make Batman the most human character out of any other I can remember, and I'm really excited to see where this goes. Every time I proclaim and issue to be my favorite, the next one comes along and supersede. Bravo King!
P.S. This is merging Earth-2 continuity with the main continuity as Bruce and got married and had a daughter. Perhaps this means a Huntress makes her appearance in the main DC Universe.
Abel Loza is a Contributor to ComiConverse. Follow him on Twitter: @st_abel45
Shocker!
Tom King has taken Batman in an entirely new direction, one that we have not seen Batman in before, and is really reinventing on how we think of Batman. This is the most vulnerable Bruce has been and we can't wait to see where this plays into for the next story arc.