Batman #35 Review

You’re never alone.

So, Snyder’s Endgame has begun – and yes, it’s everything it was hyped to be. And more.

Combining disparate elements of the Batman mythos into a cohesive story would be a trouble for most people – but not Scott Snyder.

His love and reverence for each aspect of Batman shines through, including ones I thought were long gone with a more grounded aspect and Morrison’s departure from the title.

Capullo himself is a beast of similar nature. I loved what he did in this issue, the subtle gestures, the facial expressions – this is a love letter to all that is Batty.

SPOILERS FOLLOW……………….

Endgame has a decisive nature to it’s very name – and promises so many hidden layers that have only been glimpsed at.

For this is an endgame of a double entendre – and this is where SPOILERS take full effect, so be warned, this seems to both refer to Batman’s plans for the Justice League and Joker’s ‘final’ confrontation with Batman after his rejection at the end of Death of the Family.

And when you’re dealing with something as large as the League and as personal as the Joker, you know things will get heated.

One of the biggest themes of Batman in the wider DC universe has been that he’s jousted against Gods alongside Gods. He may be the epitome of human possibility, but he can never reach what’s beyond that. So, Superman (an alien), Wonder Woman (a demigod), Flash (a superhuman), Aquaman (a half-alien) and Cyborg (half-machine) are all possibilities beyond his reach.

Even in the opening, with something as light and frivolous as the rebuilding of the Theater, there’s a deep sinister meaning lurking beneath – something Lex Luthor has based most of his vendetta against Superman. The idea of a ‘savior’ taking our burdens and rescuing us is all well for short-term, but in the longer run, it destroys the idea of individuality and self-reliance.

And contingencies are something Bruce is very paranoid about. For the savior of today can easily become the persecutor of tomorrow.

Bringing up back to present day Gotham, we see a chemical gas attack take place in midtown Gotham, and already things are not what they seem. A harmless gas, a marauding Batman in a robot suit – what’s going on? Though the dialogue is a little corny, it sets the stage for what is to come. An arena of sorts.

And Snyder is cruel but cautious. He gives us a glimpse of what Bruce is up to, his paranoia seeping through an elseworld type situation where he battles a lost war having broken his oath on gun, lost his hands and then finally, loosing his life.

But that is all a dream.

Bruce has been running different simulations in his sleep mode using Scarecrow’s fear toxins (which is a touchy subject around Alfred given what’s happening in Batman Eternal) to prepare for anything after the harrowing events of Batman Eternal. We see Alfred’s estranged daughter Julia Pennyworth in control of the bat-computer (see my Batman Eternal reviews #21-#24 for more explanation of the current status quo).

It seems she is now fully on board and it’s nice to see him with a growing list of allies – only for that to be turned against Batman soon enough.

                                                                                            

Drawing back a little, think about Death of the Family. The Joker systematically defeated and captured the entire Bat family, only to make Batman (‘his one true love’) see that the allies made him weak and dependent.

Now comes the onslaught of Bruce's second family - The Justice League. Whereas DOTF was a love letter to Bruce, this is a death sentence.

Hell hath no fury than a lover scorned.

One by one – Wonder Woman, The Flash and Aquaman, attack him as it is revealed that he released the gas from before to make sure no innocent bystander gets caught in the crossfire. But even all the precautions are for naught as Superman arrives.

The Tower of Babel feel is fresh here. Batman uses magic to stop Wonder Woman, friction to stop the Flash and a foam jumpsuit for Arthur.

Diana’s safeguard seems to trap her in a dreamlike state, but there seems to be no safeguard for the Man of Steel.

The Bat armor is punched through buildings, landing in the Gotham Theater and that is when Bruce admits that even through the prospects of gods as saviors is enticing, it leaves you at the mercy of their whims.

And right now, they’re finding his death very desirable and……funny.

It seems the Joker is back in town. The amount of elaborate planning that has gone into this is not to be scoffed at. We saw a little of the mind control aspect of Joker’s accessories in both Dark Knight Returns and Death of the Family, now it’s reached heightened potency (bringing back memories of what he did to Superman in Injustice) as every League member seems affected.

Though I have to wonder how the Joker did all this – especially after the state we saw he was in last time. An explanation from Snyder is needed soon, but this nagging issue detracts a little from the story’s overall enjoyment…...

The backup is Dr. Mahreen Zaheer who returns home after a breakout at Arkham Manor involving five separate prisoners but with one thing in common – they all believe the Joker came to them.

Mahreen returns home to find the five in her home, with one of them Ephram Snow starting to tell of his first encounter with the Joker after some maniacal omen sightings.

This reads like an inverted Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader as Ephram says that the Joker is the devil himself and starts a story twenty years in the past of the Joker forming in the mist and telling him about the ‘girls’. Mahreen mentions that this is a variation of a story he’s been telling many times before, but Ephram continues and says that the Joker formed in his prison, telling him a story….

Each of them start arguing about Ephram’s version, but Mahreen asks Snow what this is all about – and it’s simple for Ephram, one of their stories is true and that person will be spared the Joker’s wrath.

Outside, a demented figure watches. Is it the Joker?

Despite some obvious differences from the main plot, this story also deals with the idea of Joker as a godly figure, whom the criminals of Arkham worship and see as their ideal.

Pure madness is what Joker represents, and it’s interesting that each of the crazies have a different story to tell. Elements of The Killing Joke are here as the multiple choice stories express themselves. The main theme is that like the Batman, the Joker is timeless.

And when Gods have whims, insects will be played with and squashed.

SPOILERS END………………

I really applaud Snyder and DC for the secrecy with this title, and it comes off thanks to a combination of some seriously honored concepts and themes, and Capullo’s terrific artwork.

There are problems, especially for anyone coming into this book fresh, but they’re minor and while knowing the backstories will enhance your reading, it is still on a basic level both wondrous and terrifying.

So, I give it 9.0 out of 10.

+The themes are expertly given
+Some well thought out contingencies
+The artwork!

+Manages to be new reader friendly
+The backstory really accentuates the threat of the main one

-A major aspect of this story feels a little contrived