Writer: Tom King
Artists: Clay Mann, Mitch Gerards, David Finch and many more
Rating: 6 of 8
Tom King's Batman
An Overview
Though King's Batman was definitely divisive, it still had a lot of praiseworthy moments and stories,too. I can definitely understand having problems with it, but there's a lot to like as well. Though I'm not as a big a fan of Bat/Cat as other comic relationships, I do like seeing Bruce's concerted efforts to be happy.
Whether it's proposing to the woman he loves, or trying to train newer superheroes, Gotham and Gotham Girl, he's trying to find a life beyond the rage and pain of that alleyway from so many years ago. Though some definitely want the opposite, as we see in #49, with the Joker feeling Batman needs pain to motivate him and that, without him, he'll be a lot worse than he already is.
It's an interesting counterpoint to what Scott Snyder did, as when his Batman was 'dead', the Joker ceased to be the Joker and was just a regular man, indicating he needed Batman to be the Clown Prince and without him, he just stops. Here, it seems the Joker would be regardless, but needs the Dark Knight to temper an unseen fury.
Though we see a fair amount of Batman's human side, we also get to see how unflinching and unmoved he is in the face of an incredible danger like Bane, letting him know that every night someone tells him he's going to die, that this is the end. Then, he says 'And yet... I'm still here', a line which still gives me chills years later.
![Comic Excerpt] And Yet.. I'm still here. (Batman 20 by Tom King ...](https://external-preview.redd.it/vY-74ROXbBBZtMQ_v0swE_uRYBvDfz95Bj7h8QME1Ek.jpg?auto=webp&s=78f0152f8dda9840bc35dc773e7736fcdaa7521a)
Despite all the positives, there are certain things I still have problems with, like Selina feeling, like Joker, Bruce needs pain to be Batman and that if he's happy, he won't have that pain to fuel Batman. I don't think that'll ever be the case, as I think Batman is who he is now. Even if he's married, his son's happy and the people he love are ok, that'll still be who he is. He'll never be a quiet man, sitting at home, leaving the city be, or content not putting that costume on and living up to that promise.
Later on, an alternate Thomas Wayne enters Bruce's reality and tries to give him a life he could never give his own Bruce. He doesn't think he needs to be Batman anymore, that he can be with Selina and be happy, but Bruce reveals ''Life is a choice you make every day. Every damn day. I choose her. I choose happiness. And I choose Batman''.
Here, King makes clear that he can be happy and be Batman, that Bruce chooses to be Batman, instead of it solely being a vow he made years ago. Though I like that, I wish there had been different reasoning given for Selina leaving him, as the one she had doesn't make sense. I'm not sure using an alternate Thomas holds the same weight as using Bruce's actual Dad, though he might not have fit the story King was trying to tell.
Overall, King's run is decidedly mixed. It's definitely not terrible, not only due to the stuff I mentioned above, but also some other pretty great stories, like the really funny double date with Lois and Clark, the rather stirring War of Jokes and Riddles, or the tales of a boy disturbingly similar to Bruce. It could be a lot stronger and, towards the end, get to the point a bit quicker, but ultimately, it's both a very satisfying and fairly disappointing run.
Whether it's proposing to the woman he loves, or trying to train newer superheroes, Gotham and Gotham Girl, he's trying to find a life beyond the rage and pain of that alleyway from so many years ago. Though some definitely want the opposite, as we see in #49, with the Joker feeling Batman needs pain to motivate him and that, without him, he'll be a lot worse than he already is.
It's an interesting counterpoint to what Scott Snyder did, as when his Batman was 'dead', the Joker ceased to be the Joker and was just a regular man, indicating he needed Batman to be the Clown Prince and without him, he just stops. Here, it seems the Joker would be regardless, but needs the Dark Knight to temper an unseen fury.
Though we see a fair amount of Batman's human side, we also get to see how unflinching and unmoved he is in the face of an incredible danger like Bane, letting him know that every night someone tells him he's going to die, that this is the end. Then, he says 'And yet... I'm still here', a line which still gives me chills years later.
Despite all the positives, there are certain things I still have problems with, like Selina feeling, like Joker, Bruce needs pain to be Batman and that if he's happy, he won't have that pain to fuel Batman. I don't think that'll ever be the case, as I think Batman is who he is now. Even if he's married, his son's happy and the people he love are ok, that'll still be who he is. He'll never be a quiet man, sitting at home, leaving the city be, or content not putting that costume on and living up to that promise.
Later on, an alternate Thomas Wayne enters Bruce's reality and tries to give him a life he could never give his own Bruce. He doesn't think he needs to be Batman anymore, that he can be with Selina and be happy, but Bruce reveals ''Life is a choice you make every day. Every damn day. I choose her. I choose happiness. And I choose Batman''.
Here, King makes clear that he can be happy and be Batman, that Bruce chooses to be Batman, instead of it solely being a vow he made years ago. Though I like that, I wish there had been different reasoning given for Selina leaving him, as the one she had doesn't make sense. I'm not sure using an alternate Thomas holds the same weight as using Bruce's actual Dad, though he might not have fit the story King was trying to tell.
Overall, King's run is decidedly mixed. It's definitely not terrible, not only due to the stuff I mentioned above, but also some other pretty great stories, like the really funny double date with Lois and Clark, the rather stirring War of Jokes and Riddles, or the tales of a boy disturbingly similar to Bruce. It could be a lot stronger and, towards the end, get to the point a bit quicker, but ultimately, it's both a very satisfying and fairly disappointing run.
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