My first issue of Batman was #400. A special anniversary issue with an introduction by Stephen king, with story and art by a slew of the industry’s most talented people. It was a fantastic entry for me into the world of Batman and it is one of my favorite issues of this series. Three hundred and thirteen issues later we come to the end of this volume, and while not as great an issue as that #400, this is still a nice way to end things.

Swan songs don’t come around very often and it’s nice to see Fabian Nicieza fully embracing the chance to send this series off with style and grace (unlike Batman’s counterpart Superman and the disaster of a final issue of his series). The story is being told by an unknown narrator to some unknown people. The story of 70 years of Batman – in 22 pages not an easy feat mind you – and all the right cornerstones of 713 issues are touched. This issue reminded me a lot of Len Wein’s “Legends” mini series, without all the continuity issues he had to deal with. It’s too bad that not all DC’s flagship titles used this story telling method for their final issues, I had a great time reading this issue and once you find out WHO is telling the story and WHO they are telling it to, go back and read the issue again, it will take on a whole new feeling.

One complaint about this issue would be the art. I understand with the re-boot and all getting this issue out to the public was a rush job, I just wish they would have had one fill in artist tackle the job instead of three. Their styles are not similar enough for the issue to flow seamless from one page to the next. But still, I’m glad we got to read this issue and glad the series went out with class.