Who Rules the Night
Credits: Chuck Dixon (writer), Graham Nolan (penciler), Scott Hanna (inker), John Costanza (letterer), Adrienne Roy (colorist)
Summary:
Bane throws Batman’s comatose body into Robinson Square. Alfred,
Robin, and Jean-Paul soon arrive in disguise and take him away in an
ambulance. Robin contacts Commissioner Gordon, who arranges for Bullock
and Montoya to drop off Decadron, a medicine Batman needs to prevent
spinal damage. Meanwhile, an irritated Scarecrow turns on Joker, who
easily fights him off, and the Ventriloquist is injured in a shoot-out
between his two puppets.
Irrelevant Continuity:
Scarecrow gases Joker, even though he’s already thought to himself
that it wouldn’t work. It could be argued that Scarecrow is unusually
emotional in this scene and simply lashed out at Joker, but that
wouldn’t explain his surprise when the fear gas has no effect.
Review:
I suppose this is the Batman titles’ equivalent to the X-Men’s
post-crossover “quiet” issues. The story is largely devoted to how
various supporting cast members react to Batman’s defeat, and possible
death, although this is far from maudlin. Bullock and Montoya don’t
seem particularly fazed, the subplot pages with Joker, Scarecrow, and
the Ventriloquist don’t even address Batman’s injuries at all, and there
aren’t any of the predictable “man on the street” media montages of the
average Gothamite’s reaction. There are a few emotional scenes with
Batman’s immediate allies, though, including a nice moment between
Gordon and his wife. And the logistics of how exactly Alfred can reach
Batman before the real paramedics can, and whether or not Batman should
be taken to an actual hospital, are handled well. There just aren’t
enough of those scenes in the issue, making the installment feel
inappropriately cold.
And the logistics of how exactly Alfred can reach Batman before the real paramedics can, and whether or not Batman should be taken to an actual hospital, are handled well.
ReplyDeleteThose scenes are the highlight of the issue for me, though I agree, it could have used more of them.
there aren’t any of the predictable “man on the street” media montages of the average Gothamite’s reaction.
I'm pretty sure this was still the time where Batman's existence was generally questioned by most of Gotham, in that he was considered by many to be an urban legend (until you encountered him directly), so that might explain the lack of "man on the street" reaction.