Batman #52 –
DC Comics
Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Riley Rossomo
Additional Inks by Brian Level
Colors by Ivan Plascencia & Jordan Boyd
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover by Greg Capullo, Danny Miki & Fco Plascencia
How do you follow a legend? At the very least, how do you follow a team that has had one of the most (if not THE most) successful comic book runs of the last few years. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s names will forever be etched in the history of the Batman mythos…but there is a Rebirth coming. James Tynion IV, also no stranger to The Dark Knight, is tasked with the initial process of the transition. After the events of the last issue, and the coming changes, what lies ahead for this 52nd issue?
From the first couple of pages, you realize that this story is all about moving on. A fitting theme for us readers, struggling with having to move on from something we are so familiar with. So we get flashes of Bruce Wayne’s past, combined with a heist he is trying to stop in the present day. We quickly find out that this is no normal heist, something very important from Bruce’s past has been taken. It almost feels like an after thought, because you will easily get lost in the personal inventory of Bruce Wayne and his relationship with Alfred. In this instance, I think you will be very satisfied with the ending (if you want to call it that) that you are given.
As talented as James Tynion IV is, I can’t help but wonder if he felt he was given an almost impossible task. At the same time, it was an incredible honor to be the one to bring this amazing 52 issue run to a close. Flashbacks can be an unnecessary tool, but the mastery to which they were used here showed just how vital they can be to the story. Rossomo did a fine job with the art, but it is going to take some time before you see Batman and tell your brain that it isn’t Greg Capullo at the pen. This did not feel like goodbye, more like “see you later.” A great job by everyone involved, and a wonderful way to pass the torch to Tom King in the upcoming Rebirth.
RATING: PULL