Batman #48 Review

Bruce Wayne chats with an old friend.

It seems that Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are hell-bent on ending the “Superheavy” storyline with a bang. Batman #48 is easily the strongest chapter of the core storyline (rivaled only by issue #44’s flashback/tie-in tale). It offers a fascinating reunion between two iconic characters and a deeper glimpse at the true nature of Mr. Bloom and the threat he poses to Gotham City.

The big selling point with this issue is that it chronicles the first encounter between Bruce Wayne and the Joker in the aftermath of “Endgame.” Joker finds himself in much the same state as Bruce – amnesic, adrift and trying to cling to the new life he’s built while also being terrified of the unknown man he used to be. This is one of those extremely rare cases where Joker could be described as a sympathetic character. That’s not to say some of his more sinister qualities don’t crop up during the course of the conversation. The two men find themselves locked in a philosophical debate that illustrates the eternal Batman/Joker feud in a more subtle , down-to-earth way. Less punching, more debating.

Such a dialogue-driven script could make for a visually dull experience, but Greg Capullo’s art can never be described as dull. His facial work alone is enough to keep the conversation lively. There are significant moments of intensity and fear sprinkled in, and Capullo captures these emotions perfectly. FCO Plascencia’s ethereal colors serve to further enhance the mood and sense of foreboding.

That conversation eventually veers into meta territory as both Bruce and Mr. J struggle with the futility of being changed, only to regress back to their old lives in the end. Clearly Snyder is acknowledging the criticisms often lobbied at mainstream superhero comics for their perpetual cycle of temporary changes and status quo reversions. And that’s really all the indication we need that things won’t simply go back to normal once Superheavy is over and Bruce is back in the costume.

Elsewhere, Mr. Bloom steps up his campaign to tear down Gotham and grow something new in his place. This issue answers several questions about what the villain wants, where he came from and why he’s such a massive threat to a city still reeling from Joker’s last attack. Capullo again steps up in a big way during the Bloom sequences, crafting an inhuman, terrifying villain and capturing the full scope of his crusade. All of this builds towards a huge crescendo in the final pages.

It’s a bit disappointing, though, that neither Gordon nor Duke Thomas factor into this issue much. Gordon spends the entire issue as Bloom’s helpless prisoner, while Duke barely appears at all. The closer this series gets to putting Bruce back in the costume, the more this tale of three heroes seems to be shifting into a story of one. Hopefully the oversized Batman #50 can find more time to spotlight Bruce, Gordon and Duke equally.