Ricky Church reviews Batman #43…
In the start of a new epic, a new villain stalks Gotham City. Will Batman be able to uncover the mystery of Mr. Bloom?
Since before Jim Gordon was announced as the next Batman, fans wondered what became of Bruce Wayne in the aftermath of ‘Endgame’. Many believed it wouldn’t be long until Bruce reappeared and reclaimed the mantle of the bat, but it was a surprise to see Bruce again so soon into this new status quo. The question was on everyone’s mind: if Bruce Wayne were alive and kicking, why hadn’t he become Batman again?
Scott Snyder devotes much of Batman #43 to answers regarding Bruce’s return and absence from the cape and cowl. A lot of this information comes straight from Alfred in a lengthy piece of exposition. Though the explanation is long, it is nonetheless very emotional as Alfred describes his desire to let Bruce live in ignorance and see him happy. His view of Gotham, a city that just always takes things away from its citizens, is particularly telling of what he thinks exactly of Gotham City and Batman’s mission within it. The father-son bond between these two long-standing characters has never been more apparent than it has in this issue.
With such a big focus on Bruce Wayne, it meant Gordon and the case involving the mysterious Mr. Bloom mostly took a backseat for the majority of the story. Gordon still doubts his capabilities as a fully deputized Batman and continues to mull over the pros and cons of Batman being partially owned and marketed by a big corporation, but aside from those brief beats, he didn’t get much time in this issue.
Gordon did, however, show he could handle himself in a fight during a stand-off which evoked some classic Batman adventures, such as “The Laughing Fish”. While Gordon may not have all of Bruce’s training and battle strategy, Snyder is showing the former commissioner can clearly learn and improvise just as well as any member of the Bat family.
Greg Capullo’s artwork is, as always, wonderful to look at. His facial expressions stand out this issue, especially with Alfred as he carries much of the emotional weight. Capullo also does an excellent job depicting the action scene at the end, complimented by FCO Plascencia’s gorgeous colouring. This art team is one that never disappoints.
With most of the questions regarding Bruce’s survival and return now out-of-the-way, hopefully the next few issues of this arc will get back to focusing on Gordon’s continued evolution into Batman. The mystery of Mr. Bloom should prove very enjoyable to see unfold, especially as his scene at the end raises many questions and a surprising cliffhanger. If that conclusion is any indication, Gordon’s first case may prove too much for him already.
Rating: 8/10
Ricky Church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=8k_v0cVxqEY
Originally published August 14, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
