Comments

1. TheNextChampion says:

   August 19, 2013 at 9:04 pm

   While not perfect, I have enjoyed this entire run of Batman going through the ‘5 Stages of Grief’. I expect this one is going to be super depressing as the cover indicates a ‘what if?’ scenario.

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2. GL01942 says:

   August 20, 2013 at 8:38 am

   This looks interesting.
   Dropped this book a while ago…pretty much after the whole Damian thing.
   Havnt read much of it since, apart from the Carrie Kelly issue which wasn’t that great.

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3. consafo80 (@consafo80) says:

   August 20, 2013 at 1:55 pm

   Only started reading this at the Batman and Red Robin issue and so far I’ve really liked it. I do hope that Carrie Kelley is the next Robin think it’d be pretty cool to be there at the creation of a new Robin. A new Robin for the New 52. (Yes I know she was Robin back in the day)

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4. KillTheG1mp says:

   August 21, 2013 at 12:03 pm

   That cover is bitchin’ awesome!!

   I must say that of all the Bat titles at the moment, this is my second favorite after Snyder/Capullo’s Batman. Tomasi and Gleason have been on fire and telling one heck of a good story so far!

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5. brendanohare says:

   August 21, 2013 at 1:58 pm

   I might have to get this one. I got the first two collections and they were great, but I was a little off put by the Red Hood issue, and the series feels understandably hollow without a consistent Robin. Anyone know if Gleason penciled this entire issue?

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6. APoetSomeday says:

   August 21, 2013 at 8:38 pm

   I feel that Tomasi has created an essential Batman tale in this run.

   These last few issues are absolutely indispensable for the modern Bat-fan. If you read the story of Damian’s death and you didn’t read this one, then you only read half of the story.

   I feel that, by the end of this issue, Tomasi and Gleason were simply exhausted. Their run has been so taut and emotionally engaging (without ever resorting to over the top melodrama or worn-over cliches, you’ll note) that they were simply happy to have done with it and move on. I could almost feel Gleason sigh with relief as he finally threw down his pencils, or Tomasi lean back at his keyboard after the final draft of the final page, too weary to cry over it anymore. This, to me, felt like a true acceptance of Damian’s death from both a creative and a character standpoint.

   Like all death, it is hurtful and unexplainable and leaves your life is disarray. I felt that Bruce did what I did when I lost a number of people in my life: after months (in some cases, years) of shutting people out, he embraced those people who were sincere in their desire to help and realized that he had been remiss in his responsibilities to them. They were suffering as well, but now it was more a result of his own emotional distance from them…And he finally stopped to consider that fact. Then he cried, something he thought he’d forgotten how to do. I’ve been there myself and so, I imagine, has Mr. Tomasi.

   My girlfriend, who is just starting to enjoy reading comics, read my copy whilst I was out and was moved to tears, even though she hadn’t read any of the other issues. Pete and Pat – you made magic in this issue. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

   This was a satisfying, poignant and rewarding ending. Reading this, I was proud that I am a comics fan.

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7. player1 says:

   August 21, 2013 at 8:55 pm

   I keep hearing good things about this.

   Hoping to pick up the first two trades soon.

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8. TheNextChampion says:

   August 21, 2013 at 10:21 pm

   Great ending to a solid arc.

   Peter Tomasi really pulled it together to make an emotional finale. He’s always had a great voice for Alfred but those final pages were just heartbreaking. Gleason was also pretty damn good as always and he did some great layouts in this. The only thing that bugged me was that two inkers helped him out and it kinda showed. Apart from that nagging issue this was a great issue and I’m excited for the Two-Face arc next month.

   4/5

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9. BradLWoods3 says:

   August 22, 2013 at 4:50 am

   Wow! I was not expecting such a powerful issue. I had tears in my eyes reading this. Loved the early page where Batman is in chains and the way Gleason drew his eyes reminded me so much of Gene Colan and Klaus Janson. This story was simply beautiful. No one captures the relationship between Batman and Damian like Tomasi. POTW! A heartbreaker.

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10. smo5000 says:

    August 23, 2013 at 9:36 pm

    This was such a heartfelt issue, just amazing work all around. Easily my POTW.

    Patrick Gleason is slowly becoming my new favorite artist.

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11. consafo80 (@consafo80) says:

    August 24, 2013 at 11:47 am

    Loved this issue. My fave of the run so far but heartbreaking stuff. POTW for sure.

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12. mgriffith says:

    August 25, 2013 at 1:57 pm

    This is easily on of the best comics on the shelves right now, from any company.

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13. mgriffith says:

    August 25, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    ~ sigh ~ “one of the best … “

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