Forever Evil: Arkham War #2 Review

Sides are blurred as enemies become allies.

The second installment of Arkham War sees Bane making deals while a heist takes place under his nose.

While the first one was more of a recap and build-up, this puts the pieces in the place as every side is involved in a high stakes war.

With great art as usual, Tomasi is slowly getting the War moving.

SPOILERS FOLLOW.........................

First of all, the cover is a misdirection. No Talon fights here. But they are the wild card in this War, and this issue deals with that.

We first see Bane's men have invaded the Man Bat territory. And immediately, there was something I disliked a little.


While I've never been much a fan of Man Bat, I did like the crisis brewing inside Kirk. But now that he's a kind of mob boss and totally articulate in his speech patterns.There's no crisis there, and he's now a bland villain.

Elsewhere, Gordon and Pierce are holed out somewhere as they prepare to rescue the Blackgate warden. And their conversation is interesting.  The 'earthquakes' part means that No Man's Land did take place in some way, as do the 'plaugues' reference Contagion.


Close by, Penguin meets with Bane and we finally get to the grey are of Bane. I loved their conversation as both measure the other and there is palpable tension in the air.

Oswald is playing all sides apparently, and sends Bane to Blackgate, where the Arkhamites led by Scarecrow are stealing the Talons as well as Gordon to the warden's rescue.

A full out war has erupted in Blackgate. Manbat tries to leave with the Talons but is caught by Bane, who does a strange gesture of help to Gordon. He gives them the warden's assistant, leaving them with cryptic words.

SPOILERS END..........................

Visually great, Bane was redeemed in this issue and Penguin is apparently Tomasi's favorite right now.

If you love the Batman Rogues and especially Penguin, pick this up.

So, I give it 8.5 out of 10

+Bane and Penguin get great character moments
+Great visuals
+The pacing is great

-Some characterization is questinable