Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Batman #40
DC Comics
Snyder, Capullo, Miki & Plascencia
Batman versus The Joker. This is the end-all-be-all battle between the pair. It's bloody and it's serious and it has repercussions that will last for a while. This is a great read that really puts a strong punctuation on the pair's relationship. If you like Batman fighting the Joker then this is the issue to pick up.
It's noteworthy that this book carries a five-dollar cover charge for only twenty-six pages of material. If you look back at the past year of Batman (proper) books, roughly half of them have this level of price point. The five-dollar comic book is coming because DC knows the readers are willing to pay for it. Especially for a finale to a major arc, such as Endgame.
Batman and friends fight their way to the Joker through the mob of Joker zombies. The goal is for Batman to extract some of Joker's blood in hopes of getting a cure for the zombie virus. If only it were that simple. Both Batman and Joker have some tricks up their sleeves that put any plans in disarray. The pair eventually squares off toe-to-toe underground.
Batman is finding that the Joker is faster than usual. This puts them on equal footing, which means Batman winning isn't assured. Joker offers Batman a taste of immortality in hopes that Batman's ego for doing the endless crime-fighting routine will tempt him. This would also allow Joker to have his dance partner forever.
Snyder tries to turn Batman's ego to one that is a tragedy. One that was always predestined to end in death. Batman lives on, but Bruce Wayne doesn't. I'm not sold on Snyder's attempts here. Batman, it seems to me, can only be Bruce Wayne (as proven again and again) and is something that he will continue to do as long as Gotham needs a Batman. Snyder is trying to climb a big mountain here by changing that notion and I don't believe he pulls it off.
The comic ends with a huge shift. Batman, Joker, Alfred and Gotham are left changed. Not in good ways either. The book's future is a wide-open space at this point. In this regard, Snyder writes a beautiful final two-page conclusion as told by Alfred. I'm not sure I agree with Alfred's assessment or why Bruce would write what he wrote but that is for the individual reader to decide.
Capullo is fantastic on art. He's got a tall task with the battle and he nails it on every panel. The fight simply wouldn't be the same if the artwork wasn't dramatic and epic and that is what Capullo brings here. He definitely creates a creepy Joker with the evilest of intentions on his face. Batman looks like a tired, but determined man to stop Joker at all costs. The art is fantastic in this comic book.
Batman fights the Joker. Yet, this comic is so much more than that. Snyder puts some misdirection in this issue to keep the reader on the edge of their seats. The final few pages are as surprising and dramatic as the final bloody confrontation between the pair. If you can spare five bucks this week I recommend checking this issue out, regardless if you have read any of this arc or title of late. Don't miss this issue because it may turn out to be a classic.
4.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
