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Batman (2016)
Batman, Vol. 3: I Am Bane
Superstar artist David Finch (Wonder Woman)—along with bestselling writer Tom King—completes his run on the Dark Knight in Batman Vol. 3: I am Bane, featuring the ultimate battle between Batman and his arch-foe, Bane!
He is not a joke. He is not a riddle. He is not a bird or a cat or a penguin, not a scarecrow or a plant or a puppet. He is not a fairy tale or a circus act, a broken friend or a regretful mentor. He is no rich boy pretending to be a knight.
He is Bane. The Batman invaded his home, scarred his mind and broke his back. Now Bane has returned to Gotham City for a single purpose: break the Batman once and for all. But first, he’ll destroy everyone the Dark Knight has ever loved…or loathed.
The young heroes who’ve worn the mantle of Robin. The cops, crime-fighters and vigilantes who make up Batman’s army of allies. Even the madmen and monsters that haunt the halls of Arkham Asylum. Batman will need all of their help—and more—to fend off this unstoppable challenger.
Because both Bane and Batman know one thing: only one of them will walk away from their final confrontation unbroken…
Collects Batman #16-20, #23-24 and stories from Batman Annual #1.
He is not a joke. He is not a riddle. He is not a bird or a cat or a penguin, not a scarecrow or a plant or a puppet. He is not a fairy tale or a circus act, a broken friend or a regretful mentor. He is no rich boy pretending to be a knight.
He is Bane. The Batman invaded his home, scarred his mind and broke his back. Now Bane has returned to Gotham City for a single purpose: break the Batman once and for all. But first, he’ll destroy everyone the Dark Knight has ever loved…or loathed.
The young heroes who’ve worn the mantle of Robin. The cops, crime-fighters and vigilantes who make up Batman’s army of allies. Even the madmen and monsters that haunt the halls of Arkham Asylum. Batman will need all of their help—and more—to fend off this unstoppable challenger.
Because both Bane and Batman know one thing: only one of them will walk away from their final confrontation unbroken…
Collects Batman #16-20, #23-24 and stories from Batman Annual #1.
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2017
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2303 people want to read
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August 7, 2017
Following his daring raid on Bane’s island home of Santa Prisca, Batman has taken the Psycho Pirate back to restore Gotham Girl’s shattered mind. But with Bane hot on his heels, will Batman be able to keep him occupied for five days - or will Bane break the Bat once and for all?
After two solid Batman books, I was worried that this would be the one where Tom King drops the ball (it happens to everyone eventually); thankfully, I worried in vain as I Am Bane is yet another brilliant Batman volume!
This one’s a pretty intense read - there’s a countdown timer with one issue per day, so it’s five issues for the arc - and I was surprised that things escalated as quickly as they did (that final page of the first chapter!). Before that though is an excellent scene between Batman and the Robins in a fast food joint called “Batburger”! I liked the change of scenery from the usual Wayne Manor/Batcave setting.
The banter between Dick, Jason and Damian was unexpectedly funny (Damian making fun of Jason’s receding hairline!) though I don’t know how they can all be solemn over Tim Drake’s recent “death” when, in a postmodern way, they were joking about their own “deaths” moments earlier - maybe King’s just being ironic?
The storyline is an inversion of Knightfall - instead of Batman having to go through a gauntlet of enemies to get to Bane, Bane must go through the gauntlet to get to Batman - and it’s a gripping read. I really enjoyed it, King writes it so well - the dialogue is suitably hard, the action is relentless and the story flows so smoothly.
I’m not surprised though that King went for the classic Bane storyline because the character is quite limited in what you do with him, even if King tried - and he did - to flesh him out more. And even though a certain level of stupidity has to be accepted when reading superhero comics, the overall story still undeniably felt a bit simplistic and silly. The finale is also a bit abrupt.
Still, that’s not to say that it lacks substance. King does a fine job in showing us just why Gotham Girl is so important to Batman, particularly in the epilogue where the two characters have an introspective and thoughtful talk about what it means to be a superhero. The theme of identity that’s been a part of all three books (the subtitle of all three being “I Am…”) comes together nicely as we see both Batman and Bane contrasted as two men who’ve led hard lives, striving for inner peace/happiness.
Their motivations not only make sense but Batman’s also segues beautifully into THAT unexpected scene with Catwoman - Batman taking the conclusion of his chat with Gotham Girl to heart. That said, I don’t think it’ll stick, particularly if DC are consistent with their stance for their characters on this sort of thing in the past. Not to mention the subtitle of that chapter: “Every Epilogue is a Prelude” - King’s got something up his sleeve for these two and I’m not convinced it’ll be as straightforward as all that.
I was delighted to see Ace the Bat-Hound make his Rebirth debut with an excellent origin. I also enjoyed noticing the little details King sprinkled throughout: naming parts of Arkham Asylum “Morrison Hall” and “McKean Clock Tower” (Grant Morrison and Dave McKean created the classic, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth), and “Nolan Alley”. David Finch draws yet more superb pages too - his work on this Batman is the best I’ve seen his art.
The Batman/Swamp Thing team-up, The Brave and the Mold (heh), was a bit dull. Appropriately though, for a comic dedicated to Swampy’s co-creator Bernie Wrightson who recently died, the story is about Alec’s parentage.
If you’ve enjoyed Tom King’s Batman run as much as I have, I Am Bane won’t let you down - this title remains the jewel in DC’s Rebirth crown. It’s also the best Bane book I’ve ever read (though that’s not saying much!). I really enjoyed it - Tom King’s Batman continues to impress and thoroughly entertain.
After two solid Batman books, I was worried that this would be the one where Tom King drops the ball (it happens to everyone eventually); thankfully, I worried in vain as I Am Bane is yet another brilliant Batman volume!
This one’s a pretty intense read - there’s a countdown timer with one issue per day, so it’s five issues for the arc - and I was surprised that things escalated as quickly as they did (that final page of the first chapter!). Before that though is an excellent scene between Batman and the Robins in a fast food joint called “Batburger”! I liked the change of scenery from the usual Wayne Manor/Batcave setting.
The banter between Dick, Jason and Damian was unexpectedly funny (Damian making fun of Jason’s receding hairline!) though I don’t know how they can all be solemn over Tim Drake’s recent “death” when, in a postmodern way, they were joking about their own “deaths” moments earlier - maybe King’s just being ironic?
The storyline is an inversion of Knightfall - instead of Batman having to go through a gauntlet of enemies to get to Bane, Bane must go through the gauntlet to get to Batman - and it’s a gripping read. I really enjoyed it, King writes it so well - the dialogue is suitably hard, the action is relentless and the story flows so smoothly.
I’m not surprised though that King went for the classic Bane storyline because the character is quite limited in what you do with him, even if King tried - and he did - to flesh him out more. And even though a certain level of stupidity has to be accepted when reading superhero comics, the overall story still undeniably felt a bit simplistic and silly. The finale is also a bit abrupt.
Still, that’s not to say that it lacks substance. King does a fine job in showing us just why Gotham Girl is so important to Batman, particularly in the epilogue where the two characters have an introspective and thoughtful talk about what it means to be a superhero. The theme of identity that’s been a part of all three books (the subtitle of all three being “I Am…”) comes together nicely as we see both Batman and Bane contrasted as two men who’ve led hard lives, striving for inner peace/happiness.
Their motivations not only make sense but Batman’s also segues beautifully into THAT unexpected scene with Catwoman - Batman taking the conclusion of his chat with Gotham Girl to heart. That said, I don’t think it’ll stick, particularly if DC are consistent with their stance for their characters on this sort of thing in the past. Not to mention the subtitle of that chapter: “Every Epilogue is a Prelude” - King’s got something up his sleeve for these two and I’m not convinced it’ll be as straightforward as all that.
I was delighted to see Ace the Bat-Hound make his Rebirth debut with an excellent origin. I also enjoyed noticing the little details King sprinkled throughout: naming parts of Arkham Asylum “Morrison Hall” and “McKean Clock Tower” (Grant Morrison and Dave McKean created the classic, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth), and “Nolan Alley”. David Finch draws yet more superb pages too - his work on this Batman is the best I’ve seen his art.
The Batman/Swamp Thing team-up, The Brave and the Mold (heh), was a bit dull. Appropriately though, for a comic dedicated to Swampy’s co-creator Bernie Wrightson who recently died, the story is about Alec’s parentage.
If you’ve enjoyed Tom King’s Batman run as much as I have, I Am Bane won’t let you down - this title remains the jewel in DC’s Rebirth crown. It’s also the best Bane book I’ve ever read (though that’s not saying much!). I really enjoyed it - Tom King’s Batman continues to impress and thoroughly entertain.
November 6, 2017
Rebirth Batman (or “Afterbirth Batman” as I unfortunately continue to think of him, which makes for a mental picture that involves one slimy caped crusader) has been…okay?
(Note to self: when you need to insert a question mark after asserting an opinion, it’s never a good sign.)
On the one hand, we’ve gotten to see a murderer’s row (literally) of great Batman villains (this volume alone features a cavalcade of cameos from a clutch of killers; it’s like walking in a secret meeting of Bathater’s Anonymous, only without the bad coffee and powdered donuts, which is kind of a bummer (the part about the donuts, I mean—powdered donuts are underrated and, in my humble opinion, underconsumed by today’s youth)). And Bane, who takes center stage here (which should not, incidentally, be a spoiler for a volume called “I am Bane,” unless you were assuming it was metaphorical; it’s not, as Bane himself reminds readers by repeatedly quothing that phrase forevermore—I’m not sure Urkel said “Did I do that?” more in the entire run of Family Matters than Bane says “I am Bane!” in this book), can be a compelling villain—sure, he’s a roided up masher, but he’s got something of a compelling backstory, and, theoretically at least, some brains behind the brawn.
On the other hand, characterization in these books has been spotty, and sometimes things just get confusing or ridiculous (like, why does Batman send away his Bat family in an attempt to keep them safe and then enlist help from a bunch of Arkham inmates? That’s just absurd). So, the quality has been a bit…uneven.
On the third hand, I don’t know anatomy very well. That said, while there’s no one right way to draw Batman (Bruce Timm’s angular style was ideal for animated Batman, and Tim Sale’s moody and muted line work was the perfect complement to Batman: The Long Halloween), David Finch draws one hell of a badass, punch-‘em-in-the-mouth Batman. So, at least it’s pretty to look at.
The greatest Bat story ever hung upside down from a cave ceiling? Nope. Good enough to keep reading? Sure…?
(Note to self: when you need to insert a question mark after asserting an opinion, it’s never a good sign.)
On the one hand, we’ve gotten to see a murderer’s row (literally) of great Batman villains (this volume alone features a cavalcade of cameos from a clutch of killers; it’s like walking in a secret meeting of Bathater’s Anonymous, only without the bad coffee and powdered donuts, which is kind of a bummer (the part about the donuts, I mean—powdered donuts are underrated and, in my humble opinion, underconsumed by today’s youth)). And Bane, who takes center stage here (which should not, incidentally, be a spoiler for a volume called “I am Bane,” unless you were assuming it was metaphorical; it’s not, as Bane himself reminds readers by repeatedly quothing that phrase forevermore—I’m not sure Urkel said “Did I do that?” more in the entire run of Family Matters than Bane says “I am Bane!” in this book), can be a compelling villain—sure, he’s a roided up masher, but he’s got something of a compelling backstory, and, theoretically at least, some brains behind the brawn.
On the other hand, characterization in these books has been spotty, and sometimes things just get confusing or ridiculous (like, why does Batman send away his Bat family in an attempt to keep them safe and then enlist help from a bunch of Arkham inmates? That’s just absurd). So, the quality has been a bit…uneven.
On the third hand, I don’t know anatomy very well. That said, while there’s no one right way to draw Batman (Bruce Timm’s angular style was ideal for animated Batman, and Tim Sale’s moody and muted line work was the perfect complement to Batman: The Long Halloween), David Finch draws one hell of a badass, punch-‘em-in-the-mouth Batman. So, at least it’s pretty to look at.
The greatest Bat story ever hung upside down from a cave ceiling? Nope. Good enough to keep reading? Sure…?
December 21, 2018
This is what King's run has been building up to and it doesn't disappoint. The scene in Batburger may have been the best scene in the entire book. Dick, Jason, and Damien sitting down for a fast food meal is comedy gold. I burst out laughing when Bruce took a knife and fork to his hamburger. After that, we get a nice parallel to Knightfall. Bane's coming for the Psycho Pirate and Batman needs 5 days to cure Gotham Girl. I liked that King brought back Bane's henchmen. I don't think we've seen Bird, Trogg, and Zombie since the Chuck Dixon days. One of the issues is devoted to the similarities between Bruce Wayne and Bane's childhoods, both growing up without their parents. It was one of the best issues in the book. Ultimately things come to a head with Bane and I'll leave those details for you to read in the funny pages.
In addition to the Bane story, there's an epilogue featuring Gotham Girl and Catwoman with an ending that was "Whaaaat?" There was also a nice tribute to the creator of Swamp Thing, Bernie Wrightson, who recently passed away. And then they brought back Ace the Bat-Hound for a Christmas story. I guess Titus from the Batman and Robin title has been forgotten about already.
In addition to the Bane story, there's an epilogue featuring Gotham Girl and Catwoman with an ending that was "Whaaaat?" There was also a nice tribute to the creator of Swamp Thing, Bernie Wrightson, who recently passed away. And then they brought back Ace the Bat-Hound for a Christmas story. I guess Titus from the Batman and Robin title has been forgotten about already.
January 27, 2019
I am Bane, the third volume of Tom King;s Batman run (which almost all of my Goodreads comics readers read when it came out 14 months ago), contains two main stories; one is a confrontation between Batman with Bane, who we learn (from him) is not just one of your typical cartoony Batman nemeses, such as jokers, riddlers, two-faces, cats, penguins and so on, but the Real Deal monster, though we know how it this confrontation will ultimately turn out, of course.
That’s the thing about the Batman-villain face-offs, as Batman himself actually says to Bane: Yeah, every night various monsters tell him he is about to die, and we know he will not (or will, but only to rise again). One of King’s angles to the Bane story, echoing Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke, is that Bane and Batman both act on the basis of having experienced early murderous traumas, so it kind of explains the contrast in the volume titles: I am Gotham, I am Suicide, I am Bane. Bane can’t quite reach the historical depth of Joker as a villain in the history of Batman comics, but give King credit for researching the history of Bane for the comics insiders (which doesn’t exactly include me, but I do research obscure references as I go, so I know King has read his early Bane stories). The story is not all that memorable, but there's enough of substance here to make you applaud the completion of this arc.
But the real collector’s dimension of this volume is The Proposal, which, no, I had not read before, even though I knew it had happened, and it is memorable, and really, really good, and moving, and beautiful. Catwoman is just flat-out terrific in King's run. Give Finch some credit for that, too. So: Muted colors, subtle dialogue, just the right feels, contrasting the explosive Bane-Batman confrontation. A classic moment in Batman comics history. Well, I guess I think both of these stories are important to Batman history. This is the best of the volumes so far, pretty much a classic. Tom King is such a good writer.
Other stuff I liked:
*A scene in The Batburger with Bats and the Robins where Batman carves his burger with knife and fork.
*A scene in the epilogue with Gotham Girl and Batman where they discuss what it means to be a superhero. Sweet.
*A later Swamp Thing-Batman story. I like Swampy. It’s an homage to the late Bernie Wrightson, who early on worked on Swamp Thing.
That’s the thing about the Batman-villain face-offs, as Batman himself actually says to Bane: Yeah, every night various monsters tell him he is about to die, and we know he will not (or will, but only to rise again). One of King’s angles to the Bane story, echoing Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke, is that Bane and Batman both act on the basis of having experienced early murderous traumas, so it kind of explains the contrast in the volume titles: I am Gotham, I am Suicide, I am Bane. Bane can’t quite reach the historical depth of Joker as a villain in the history of Batman comics, but give King credit for researching the history of Bane for the comics insiders (which doesn’t exactly include me, but I do research obscure references as I go, so I know King has read his early Bane stories). The story is not all that memorable, but there's enough of substance here to make you applaud the completion of this arc.
But the real collector’s dimension of this volume is The Proposal, which, no, I had not read before, even though I knew it had happened, and it is memorable, and really, really good, and moving, and beautiful. Catwoman is just flat-out terrific in King's run. Give Finch some credit for that, too. So: Muted colors, subtle dialogue, just the right feels, contrasting the explosive Bane-Batman confrontation. A classic moment in Batman comics history. Well, I guess I think both of these stories are important to Batman history. This is the best of the volumes so far, pretty much a classic. Tom King is such a good writer.
Other stuff I liked:
*A scene in The Batburger with Bats and the Robins where Batman carves his burger with knife and fork.
*A scene in the epilogue with Gotham Girl and Batman where they discuss what it means to be a superhero. Sweet.
*A later Swamp Thing-Batman story. I like Swampy. It’s an homage to the late Bernie Wrightson, who early on worked on Swamp Thing.
June 23, 2017
Edit - So Issue 23-24 came in here. At the time of reading single issues it did not say that. So now it does let's rate those!
Issue 23 - 5/5 - It's one of the best stories I've read from King. Like ever. It shows off Bruce and Swamp Thing teaming up. Let's just say things get emotional, the art is wonderful, the ending is heartbreaking, and it makes me want a Swamp Thing solo story again. This was very very very well done.
Issue 24 - 4/5 - I really love the way he writes Catwomen. Her and Bruce's relationship is interesting. However the highlight here is Gotham Girl talking to Bruce. It's both insightful of their differences in outlooks but how they're similar with their heroism. I enjoyed this quite a lot and the ending is exciting.
Fucking FINALLY! King is here and he ready to write a GOOD arc.
Okay well I liked I am Gotham. Some of it was dumb, but some of it was epic, and some great character moments. This is the first "Great" arc for me though in King's run.
So this volume starts off with the Batfamily. Let me just say the first issue is hands down one of my favorite Rebirth issues. Damien, Dick, and Jason eating at batburger was FUNNY as hell and just worked so well. Then the issue ends with a "Oh shit" moment and it gets us into the meat of the arc. Bane vs Batman. Been there done that, right? However the build up, Bane showing he's not just muscle. Then the comparison of their upbringing and how goals may be the same but environment and people transform you into something very different. I really enjoyed the fact Batman doesn't just mutter the same words over and over again like in "I Am Sucide" which was stupid. He's quiet here but when he speaks it's filled with Zingers and fuck yous. That's what I need from bats.
Yeah sure it still had some confusing panels here and there (catwomen one?) and some stuff wraps up to quick (how were they all saved, oh they just were) things like that are silly. But the rest? Man it was good. I loved the final showdown (I hear some didn't). But for me, this is what I wanted from King's run. Hope it keeps up.
Issue 23 - 5/5 - It's one of the best stories I've read from King. Like ever. It shows off Bruce and Swamp Thing teaming up. Let's just say things get emotional, the art is wonderful, the ending is heartbreaking, and it makes me want a Swamp Thing solo story again. This was very very very well done.
Issue 24 - 4/5 - I really love the way he writes Catwomen. Her and Bruce's relationship is interesting. However the highlight here is Gotham Girl talking to Bruce. It's both insightful of their differences in outlooks but how they're similar with their heroism. I enjoyed this quite a lot and the ending is exciting.
Fucking FINALLY! King is here and he ready to write a GOOD arc.
Okay well I liked I am Gotham. Some of it was dumb, but some of it was epic, and some great character moments. This is the first "Great" arc for me though in King's run.
So this volume starts off with the Batfamily. Let me just say the first issue is hands down one of my favorite Rebirth issues. Damien, Dick, and Jason eating at batburger was FUNNY as hell and just worked so well. Then the issue ends with a "Oh shit" moment and it gets us into the meat of the arc. Bane vs Batman. Been there done that, right? However the build up, Bane showing he's not just muscle. Then the comparison of their upbringing and how goals may be the same but environment and people transform you into something very different. I really enjoyed the fact Batman doesn't just mutter the same words over and over again like in "I Am Sucide" which was stupid. He's quiet here but when he speaks it's filled with Zingers and fuck yous. That's what I need from bats.
Yeah sure it still had some confusing panels here and there (catwomen one?) and some stuff wraps up to quick (how were they all saved, oh they just were) things like that are silly. But the rest? Man it was good. I loved the final showdown (I hear some didn't). But for me, this is what I wanted from King's run. Hope it keeps up.
February 15, 2018
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
I really wanted to love this volume. I thought this would be the moment where Tom King finally has a decent grasp on how to write a Batman story arc through a bi-weekly 25-page-long comic issue business structure. With the way things have been getting better (yet always flawed), I thought volume 3, I Am Bane, would be a game-changer. In fact, the way Bane was introduced in volume 2, I Am Suicide, I could only imagine that the Bane-centric story to come would blow things out of the water, or in this case, out of Gotham.
I guess I was wrong.
I Am Bane (which includes issues #16 to 20 as well as #23 and #24) starts off extremely promising. The Bat Family meets up in the most unexpected place and have the most genuine and intimate moment around the table. Bruce warns them all to stay safe and away from an inevitable fight with Bane, a showdown that should be only his problem, and no one else’s. From that moment on, shit hits the fan and everything seems to go downhill for Batman. An unexpected and highly tragic moment hits us like a hurricane. This brings Bruce to call up one his most trusted friend for a favor that will give him the necessary mindset and space to settle things once and for all with Bane.
This is when a five day mission to keep Psycho Pirate away from Bane—enough time for Bruce and Alfred to fix Gotham Girl up from her mental breakdown—is revealed. As you might recall in volume 2, I Am Suicide, Batman steals Psycho Pirate away from Bane, disrupting the peace that existed between these two individuals. While Psycho Pirate’s special mask is a cure to Gotham Girl’s predicament, he is also the cure to Bane’s sanity. As much as you want to love Batman for doing all this in order to save Gotham Girl, too much felt at stake. For someone who broke into Bane’s sanctuary with an insane plan in the previous volume, this story arc showed us an even more chaotic and risky strategy.
The story then shifts into showing Bane’s plan to use a couple of Batman’s “allies” for blackmailing purposes. There was a couple twists here and then that really caught my eye and had me excited and pumped, but then there were plot holes and incomprehensible moments that just didn’t work for me.
Tom King tried really hard to make Batman and Bane similar on a psychological level. In fact, he tried to exhibit a side of Batman that has never really been done before, one where Batman suffers from discrete psychosis and isn’t as sane as we wish he was. In fact, it felt like Tom King wanted us to wonder if an individual like Bruce Wayne could actually be sane enough to be doing all the things he’s done in his life. It felt like this Batman-Bane comparison had the ultimate purpose of reminding us that a guy who dresses up like a bat and who’s done really insane things—and survived them—isn’t a person who hasn’t suffered immensely or who could live a day mentally stable. Maybe this arc had that very purpose, but I couldn’t bring myself to embrace such a depiction of Batman. It just seemed too out the blue to get me to truly appreciate and acknowledge such a vision.
The final two issues are probably the ones that really left me in awe and left me greatly unsatisfied by the story we got. As volume 2, I Am Suicide, might have already indicated, Tom King draws inspiration from the original Knightfall by Doug Moench story arc to deliver his Bane story. This time around, things are flipped upside down. As interesting as the idea was, it really felt uninspiring and unoriginal to me. While the panel-to-panel punching and kicking scenes were powerful and chilling (due essentially to the fantastic artwork by David Finch and Mikel Janin), it didn’t make any sense to me that you could pummel through all these characters while delivering a continuous speech on how unstoppable you are.
Through an “unknown” narrator, the last issue served as a huge wrap-up of what has been going on so far in the story arc. It’s the revelation of this narrator that made me realize the whole new Batman persona that Tom King was trying to bring life to (with all the deranged theme going on). As I mentioned earlier, the revelation that just didn’t stick with me. I also really hated how the whole Batman vs. Bane battle went down. Tom King’s repetitive writing style also wasn’t my cup of tea. After testing it out a couple times in the previous volumes, hasn’t anyone tried to tell him that it wasn’t appealing? Man… It just doesn’t seem to work for me.
Volume 3 also awkwardly includes issues #23 and #24 at the end. Issue #23 offers a little off-story team-up with Batman and one of the most beloved swamp creature in the DC universe. The issue was absolutely unrelated to anything that happened so far to Batman (I am Bane or The Button storyarcs). It had some really interesting ideas conveyed, but, for the most part, was really stagnant. The story is also divided in super short chapters that had the vintage black and white silent movie chapter panels that always featured a title that was also a piece of the dialogue that would appear in the next panel immediately. In fact, speaking of repetition, you can expect to see some more of that throughout the issues as a song is kept on repeat throughout the story. Issue #24 was much more related to I am Bane, but came out super boring in the end. The conversation between Batman and Gotham Girl seemed to be on a loop that never really caught my attention. It also ended with a huge plot twist, something that you've never seen happen in the past (canon story). I wasn't too amazed by this move by Tom King though. The whole "in fear, we say and do crazy things" was stretched to the max in this one.
I’m not sure if a re-read would help or worsen the case, but I can see why this storyarc is able to please a lot of other fans. There are some really brilliant moments sprinkled throughout the story arc, but the consistency wasn’t there. This could’ve been phenomenal, but things thoroughly went downhill towards the end. Now I shall remain optimistic even if everything has been telling me that Tom King’s Batman stories don’t want to impress me. I’ll be waiting for the 4-part DC event crossover with Batman and the Flash to come out and, hopefully, this “The Button” story arc will bring back joy in me regarding this Rebirth Batman series.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
I really wanted to love this volume. I thought this would be the moment where Tom King finally has a decent grasp on how to write a Batman story arc through a bi-weekly 25-page-long comic issue business structure. With the way things have been getting better (yet always flawed), I thought volume 3, I Am Bane, would be a game-changer. In fact, the way Bane was introduced in volume 2, I Am Suicide, I could only imagine that the Bane-centric story to come would blow things out of the water, or in this case, out of Gotham.
I guess I was wrong.
I Am Bane (which includes issues #16 to 20 as well as #23 and #24) starts off extremely promising. The Bat Family meets up in the most unexpected place and have the most genuine and intimate moment around the table. Bruce warns them all to stay safe and away from an inevitable fight with Bane, a showdown that should be only his problem, and no one else’s. From that moment on, shit hits the fan and everything seems to go downhill for Batman. An unexpected and highly tragic moment hits us like a hurricane. This brings Bruce to call up one his most trusted friend for a favor that will give him the necessary mindset and space to settle things once and for all with Bane.
This is when a five day mission to keep Psycho Pirate away from Bane—enough time for Bruce and Alfred to fix Gotham Girl up from her mental breakdown—is revealed. As you might recall in volume 2, I Am Suicide, Batman steals Psycho Pirate away from Bane, disrupting the peace that existed between these two individuals. While Psycho Pirate’s special mask is a cure to Gotham Girl’s predicament, he is also the cure to Bane’s sanity. As much as you want to love Batman for doing all this in order to save Gotham Girl, too much felt at stake. For someone who broke into Bane’s sanctuary with an insane plan in the previous volume, this story arc showed us an even more chaotic and risky strategy.
The story then shifts into showing Bane’s plan to use a couple of Batman’s “allies” for blackmailing purposes. There was a couple twists here and then that really caught my eye and had me excited and pumped, but then there were plot holes and incomprehensible moments that just didn’t work for me.
Tom King tried really hard to make Batman and Bane similar on a psychological level. In fact, he tried to exhibit a side of Batman that has never really been done before, one where Batman suffers from discrete psychosis and isn’t as sane as we wish he was. In fact, it felt like Tom King wanted us to wonder if an individual like Bruce Wayne could actually be sane enough to be doing all the things he’s done in his life. It felt like this Batman-Bane comparison had the ultimate purpose of reminding us that a guy who dresses up like a bat and who’s done really insane things—and survived them—isn’t a person who hasn’t suffered immensely or who could live a day mentally stable. Maybe this arc had that very purpose, but I couldn’t bring myself to embrace such a depiction of Batman. It just seemed too out the blue to get me to truly appreciate and acknowledge such a vision.
The final two issues are probably the ones that really left me in awe and left me greatly unsatisfied by the story we got. As volume 2, I Am Suicide, might have already indicated, Tom King draws inspiration from the original Knightfall by Doug Moench story arc to deliver his Bane story. This time around, things are flipped upside down. As interesting as the idea was, it really felt uninspiring and unoriginal to me. While the panel-to-panel punching and kicking scenes were powerful and chilling (due essentially to the fantastic artwork by David Finch and Mikel Janin), it didn’t make any sense to me that you could pummel through all these characters while delivering a continuous speech on how unstoppable you are.
Through an “unknown” narrator, the last issue served as a huge wrap-up of what has been going on so far in the story arc. It’s the revelation of this narrator that made me realize the whole new Batman persona that Tom King was trying to bring life to (with all the deranged theme going on). As I mentioned earlier, the revelation that just didn’t stick with me. I also really hated how the whole Batman vs. Bane battle went down. Tom King’s repetitive writing style also wasn’t my cup of tea. After testing it out a couple times in the previous volumes, hasn’t anyone tried to tell him that it wasn’t appealing? Man… It just doesn’t seem to work for me.
Volume 3 also awkwardly includes issues #23 and #24 at the end. Issue #23 offers a little off-story team-up with Batman and one of the most beloved swamp creature in the DC universe. The issue was absolutely unrelated to anything that happened so far to Batman (I am Bane or The Button storyarcs). It had some really interesting ideas conveyed, but, for the most part, was really stagnant. The story is also divided in super short chapters that had the vintage black and white silent movie chapter panels that always featured a title that was also a piece of the dialogue that would appear in the next panel immediately. In fact, speaking of repetition, you can expect to see some more of that throughout the issues as a song is kept on repeat throughout the story. Issue #24 was much more related to I am Bane, but came out super boring in the end. The conversation between Batman and Gotham Girl seemed to be on a loop that never really caught my attention. It also ended with a huge plot twist, something that you've never seen happen in the past (canon story). I wasn't too amazed by this move by Tom King though. The whole "in fear, we say and do crazy things" was stretched to the max in this one.
I’m not sure if a re-read would help or worsen the case, but I can see why this storyarc is able to please a lot of other fans. There are some really brilliant moments sprinkled throughout the story arc, but the consistency wasn’t there. This could’ve been phenomenal, but things thoroughly went downhill towards the end. Now I shall remain optimistic even if everything has been telling me that Tom King’s Batman stories don’t want to impress me. I’ll be waiting for the 4-part DC event crossover with Batman and the Flash to come out and, hopefully, this “The Button” story arc will bring back joy in me regarding this Rebirth Batman series.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
August 9, 2023
BESTIES? This one was so friggin' good!!!! This comic had everything I could've wanted in a Batman comic: Bane tearing through Gotham City, all of Gotham's finest villains showing up, a Swamp Thing subplot, Bruce proposing (!!!) to Cat??? I mean, what the hell??? I AM IN LOVE.
As you guys know I'm reading King's Batman run through Kindle Unlimited but I need to get my hands on the second volume of the Rebirth Deluxe editions, since volume 3 and 4 (which are included in it) are my absolute faves of the entire series and I need (!!) them in their physical format! In Batman: I Am Bane, we see Bane's attack on Gotham City. Over the course of five days, Batman attempts to fend off Bane's attacks while he uses Psycho Pirate's abilities to heal the fractured mind of Gotham Girl.
Highlights:
DAY ONE (issue #16)
– the Arkham Asylum guard's bloody smile, showing the words "I AM BANE" written on his teeth (LIKE WHUAT??? HOW COOL IS THAT??)
– the Batburger fast food restaurant is so iconic and I love all scenes that take place in it (the employee asking Bruce if he would like his fries Jokerized - LMAO)
– Duke, Damian, Dick and Jason are such misfits but I actually had trouble keeping them straight as I'm not that familiar with comics featuring them as characters (in their roles as The Signal/We Are Robin, Bruce's son/newest Robin, first Robin/Nightwing, second Robin/Red Hood respectively)
– Duke saying to the other Robins: "Wait, all of you have been dead? Am I going to be dead?" And then Bruce, who can never take joke, being hella serious, replying: "No one is going to be dead. That's the point. Not after Tim." - BITCH WHEN I TELL YOU I SCREAMED!
– the boys joking about Alfred's cucumber sandwiches
– Dick calling Bruce "Mr. Raised By The Butler"
– Cat using the Bat signal (and Gordon being all flustered about it, like THAT'S OUR SCHTICK)
– the scare that was Nightwing, Robin, and Red Hood hung by their necks, apparently dead. "I AM BANE" is written in blood on their bodies
– Alfred being an absolute shithead after Bruce asks him for help: "It seems I heard you ask for ... help? Undoubtedly an absurd mistake on my part. My apologies in advance for my ignorance." :D
DAY TWO (issue #17)
– Batman locking Nightwing, Robin and Red Hood up (LMAO) and then asking Superman to take care of them - TRULY ICONIC
DAY THREE (issue #18)
– that title page with all the Gotham villains is so friggin' cool! (reminds me of a Marvel movie with how the characters are arranged :D)
– flashbacks of both Bruce and Bane's childhood; how similar and different they're origins are
DAY FOUR (issue #19)
– loved that Bane was in the spotlight for this issue and Bruce took a backseat
– Bane tearing his way through Arkham Asylum and confronting the who's who of Batman villains (really reminded me of Loeb's Hush, which I didn't enjoy all that much plot-wise but I do love when we just get to see all of Gotham's finest at play!)
– EVERYONE - from Maxie Zeus to Riddler to Scarecrow - shows up
DAY FIVE (issue #20)
– Bruce hearing Martha's voice reminding him to get back up as Bane beats the shit out of him (MY HEART)
– Martha telling Bruce that he doesn't need a heroic death for her to be proud of him (MY GOD) and Bruce stating: "Yes Mother. I know." (catch me sobbing, how 'bout that)
The weird Flash/Button-thingy wasn't included in Kindle Unlimited, so I missed the interlude that was issue #21 and #22, and this book closed with issues #23 and #24 (two of my all-time favorites!!!)
Issue #23: SWAMP THING TIME
– Batman teaming up with Swamp Thing is one of the greatest things eveeerrr => Swamp Thing arrives in Gotham to seek Batman's help in investigating a murder (which turns out to be that of his father)
– it's hilarious to see characters like Commissioner Gordon and Alfred react to the presence of a living plant monster, especially as Batman never drops his stoic demeanour
– also Swamp Thing basically not talking and Bruce therefore having to be the chatty one - brilliant!
Issue #24: BAT CAT PROPOSAL TIME
– Bruce chasing Selina across the rooftops (just never gets old)
– Claire (Gotham Girl) asking Bruce why he fails at happiness, him answering it's because he's afraid (gosh, I love how King parallels his talk with Claire to his chase/subsequent talk with Cat)
– Bruce finally catching Selina, telling her that he BOUGHT the diamond she stole the day they met (I AM ALREADY SOBBING) bc he knew he would need it some day, needed it in the same way he needs her (I AM SQUEALING)
– Bruce admitting that he's hella scared, taking a knee, professing his love for her, and finally saying: "Marry me." (Also such a Bruce thing to not frame that as a question but a command/plea. :D) - I WAS ON THE FLOOR
– also the ART was so on point, I love this new sexy look for the two of them!!
As you guys know I'm reading King's Batman run through Kindle Unlimited but I need to get my hands on the second volume of the Rebirth Deluxe editions, since volume 3 and 4 (which are included in it) are my absolute faves of the entire series and I need (!!) them in their physical format! In Batman: I Am Bane, we see Bane's attack on Gotham City. Over the course of five days, Batman attempts to fend off Bane's attacks while he uses Psycho Pirate's abilities to heal the fractured mind of Gotham Girl.
Highlights:
DAY ONE (issue #16)
– the Arkham Asylum guard's bloody smile, showing the words "I AM BANE" written on his teeth (LIKE WHUAT??? HOW COOL IS THAT??)
– the Batburger fast food restaurant is so iconic and I love all scenes that take place in it (the employee asking Bruce if he would like his fries Jokerized - LMAO)
– Duke, Damian, Dick and Jason are such misfits but I actually had trouble keeping them straight as I'm not that familiar with comics featuring them as characters (in their roles as The Signal/We Are Robin, Bruce's son/newest Robin, first Robin/Nightwing, second Robin/Red Hood respectively)
– Duke saying to the other Robins: "Wait, all of you have been dead? Am I going to be dead?" And then Bruce, who can never take joke, being hella serious, replying: "No one is going to be dead. That's the point. Not after Tim." - BITCH WHEN I TELL YOU I SCREAMED!
– the boys joking about Alfred's cucumber sandwiches
– Dick calling Bruce "Mr. Raised By The Butler"
– Cat using the Bat signal (and Gordon being all flustered about it, like THAT'S OUR SCHTICK)
– the scare that was Nightwing, Robin, and Red Hood hung by their necks, apparently dead. "I AM BANE" is written in blood on their bodies
– Alfred being an absolute shithead after Bruce asks him for help: "It seems I heard you ask for ... help? Undoubtedly an absurd mistake on my part. My apologies in advance for my ignorance." :D
DAY TWO (issue #17)
– Batman locking Nightwing, Robin and Red Hood up (LMAO) and then asking Superman to take care of them - TRULY ICONIC
DAY THREE (issue #18)
– that title page with all the Gotham villains is so friggin' cool! (reminds me of a Marvel movie with how the characters are arranged :D)
– flashbacks of both Bruce and Bane's childhood; how similar and different they're origins are
"I am not a joke. I am not a riddle! I am not a bird or a cat or a penguin! I'm not a scarecrow or a plant or a puppet! I am not your broken friend! I am not your regretful teacher! I am not a child's fairy tale! I am not a circus act here to amuse and frighten you! I am not another one of your madmen howling at the moon! And I...I am not...I am not some rich boy playing dress-up! I AM BANE!"– only for the parallel shots to end on the climax: Bane punching Batman in the face, telling him that this is where it ends; then walking away from Bruce's body trying to communicate with Bird, only for Catwoman's voice to answer him, giving Bruce time to flee; Bane, infuriated, finds his thugs hun from the ceiling with the words "I AM CAT" scratched on their chests (iconic callback to the previous issue)
DAY FOUR (issue #19)
– loved that Bane was in the spotlight for this issue and Bruce took a backseat
– Bane tearing his way through Arkham Asylum and confronting the who's who of Batman villains (really reminded me of Loeb's Hush, which I didn't enjoy all that much plot-wise but I do love when we just get to see all of Gotham's finest at play!)
– EVERYONE - from Maxie Zeus to Riddler to Scarecrow - shows up
"I was done. All of this. All of you people. The insanity. The fighting. The death. The Venom. I was done. All I needed was the Pirate. Just a little help from the Pirate for the pain. I could've come to Gotham. To take him. But I did not. I was done. Instead, at great expense, I arranged for Professor Strange to deliver him to me. Is it my fault that Strange could not accomplish this task without violence? How can I control Strange while trying to remain peaceful?! But regardless, I had the Pirate. I had peace. I was done. And the Batman came to my island, to my prison! The building where my mother died, where I raised myself from nothing! I was done, and he came. And he broke my back! And he stole my peace! I was done!"– King focusing on the imposing nature of Bane, as well as the tragedy of his return (Bane is a man who finally conquered his addiction and was content to remain walled up in his fortress until Batman dragged him back into this crazy world of capes and tights and never-ending grudges)
DAY FIVE (issue #20)
– Bruce hearing Martha's voice reminding him to get back up as Bane beats the shit out of him (MY HEART)
– Martha telling Bruce that he doesn't need a heroic death for her to be proud of him (MY GOD) and Bruce stating: "Yes Mother. I know." (catch me sobbing, how 'bout that)
The weird Flash/Button-thingy wasn't included in Kindle Unlimited, so I missed the interlude that was issue #21 and #22, and this book closed with issues #23 and #24 (two of my all-time favorites!!!)
Issue #23: SWAMP THING TIME
– Batman teaming up with Swamp Thing is one of the greatest things eveeerrr => Swamp Thing arrives in Gotham to seek Batman's help in investigating a murder (which turns out to be that of his father)
– it's hilarious to see characters like Commissioner Gordon and Alfred react to the presence of a living plant monster, especially as Batman never drops his stoic demeanour
– also Swamp Thing basically not talking and Bruce therefore having to be the chatty one - brilliant!
Issue #24: BAT CAT PROPOSAL TIME
– Bruce chasing Selina across the rooftops (just never gets old)
– Claire (Gotham Girl) asking Bruce why he fails at happiness, him answering it's because he's afraid (gosh, I love how King parallels his talk with Claire to his chase/subsequent talk with Cat)
– Bruce finally catching Selina, telling her that he BOUGHT the diamond she stole the day they met (I AM ALREADY SOBBING) bc he knew he would need it some day, needed it in the same way he needs her (I AM SQUEALING)
– Bruce admitting that he's hella scared, taking a knee, professing his love for her, and finally saying: "Marry me." (Also such a Bruce thing to not frame that as a question but a command/plea. :D) - I WAS ON THE FLOOR
– also the ART was so on point, I love this new sexy look for the two of them!!
September 7, 2017
** received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
2.5 stars
So, I had hopes for this one. Not particularly high hopes but hopes all the same. I enjoyed the first volume well enough but the second one was a travesty. So, when I started this one, I thought my opinion on this series can only go up. And… it stagnated.
The Good:
- The Batburger scene was glorious! Duke was back! The Batboys were back! It was a cute little scene with Duke meeting up with the Batfamily as Bruce warns them about Bane. There was the cute bit where Bruce intimidates the hell out of the guy working the register because he asks if Bruce would like to “Jokerize” his fries. “Richard” buys Damian a Happy Meal he isn’t very happy about. I loved them bickering like siblings!
- More of them acting like siblings! Please! Then we get Damian making fun of Jason’s hairline and Duke being concerned about joining the Dead Robin Club. And Duke seriously concerned about Bruce eating a hamburger with a knife and fork. This was so lighthearted and fun and I just wanted more of this! It was beautiful! I adore the Detective Comics series but Damian, Dick and Jason have not shown up in the last 2 trades so I really liked seeing them work with Duke on this. I really thought this volume was headed towards teamwork between Batsy and the Batboys and unfortunately, I was wrong.
The first issue is fantastic.
The second… not so much. King is trying way too hard to make this a serious, dark and edgy storyline and it’s not working. Still a lot of repetition as far as dialogue and Bane are concerned. The “I am Not” speech hinted at several Batman villains and I got the point after two.
Also, might want to stay away from reminding me of better iterations of Batman villains... just saying.
King’s intent to show Batsy and Bane as parallels of each other eventually made Bruce look delusional after a point. When he was a child, he still spoke to his mother - understandable. Then he grew up, became Batman and he still kept talking to her as if she was alive? Not in a “visit and talk to her gravestone” kind of way but in a "I see force ghosts" kind of way? I just can’t see Bruce doing that.
The Strange? Then the book recaps the last 2 volumes over like 7 pages for reasons?? Bane is just pontificating all over the place and it's like being at an amateur poetry slam for goths. "I give nightmares" "I am the night" "you forget, I am Bane". Like dude, take it down a notch.
It's way too much and the attempts make his and Batsy’s stories seem parallel was such a big stretch. They’re similar because Bruce were felt like he was trapped in a prison when his parents died and Bane literally was? What? Then I compare it to All Star Batman where better parallels were established for a relationship with Harvey Dent. Trying to force this connection between Bruce and Bane doesn't quite work.
Also, this is such a far cry from the Batman that distrusts supers he doesn't know. He's willing to trust and leave his city to these 2 nobodies, Gotham and Gotham Girl (urg) because they have powers? Is this Bruce Wayne? He would never do that. His biggest thing, even outside of the DCEU, is that the importance of being human and having that vulnerability is what makes you a hero. Being super powered creates a potential for a tyrannical rule and he knows that. This doesn't quite add up. I initially thought this was a cool idea but the harder Bruce leans into it… the more holes I see in his logic.
The Whuh? That whole issue was full of some of the spaciest, overindulgent dialogue like this exchange:
What?
The Gotham Girl storyline doesn't work for me because I think this should be 100% Duke or even Harper or some other established Batfamily member having these conversations with Bruce? I mean, I'm trade waiting All Star Batman so maybe he's having those conversations with Duke in that series but you've introduced Gotham Girl solely in this series; she was a side character to her brother in the first volume and I'm supposed to be invested and believe Bruce's investment. I don't and I don't like these overdone, metaphorical conversations and for something that got him so wrapped up in Bane's web, it ended with about two panels fixing her. It's just so... disappointing.
The Meh: The Bathound issue is short but pleasant. Again, this makes it clear that what appeals to me the most about Batman in this series is his interactions with the Batfamily.
Maybe I would have appreciated the Swamp Thing issue more if I knew anything about Swamp Thing. Batman is a passive member of this story. The ending once again is about Bruce Wayne trying to grieve which is usually something I find relatable but here, after reading him talking to to his mother while fighting Bane, it was just too much for me
Tl;Dr: The biggest reason I will be stopping here with this Batman series is that there just isn’t enough of an appeal for me. As I’ve said before, I’m not the biggest Bruce Wayne fan. I often find his character a little dry and boring but the one aspect of him that I respect is his intelligence. He’s cautious, studious, and near obsessive with researching and plotting out how to tackle his adversaries. I just… don’t get enough of that here. The concept of the Gotham/Goth Girl storyline confuses me. All the set up King is doing with these villains just isn’t appealing to me because everyone - everyone is so over the top and hyperbolic to the point of hilarity. I’m having more unintentional laughs than I think I’m supposed to and that’s not good. So, I’ll be getting off here and reading Detective Comics and All Star Batman instead. Yikes.
2.5
2.5 stars
So, I had hopes for this one. Not particularly high hopes but hopes all the same. I enjoyed the first volume well enough but the second one was a travesty. So, when I started this one, I thought my opinion on this series can only go up. And… it stagnated.
The Good:
- The Batburger scene was glorious! Duke was back! The Batboys were back! It was a cute little scene with Duke meeting up with the Batfamily as Bruce warns them about Bane. There was the cute bit where Bruce intimidates the hell out of the guy working the register because he asks if Bruce would like to “Jokerize” his fries. “Richard” buys Damian a Happy Meal he isn’t very happy about. I loved them bickering like siblings!
Damian: This isn’t what I asked you to purchase, Richard
Dick: It comes with a toy
Jason: If you don’t want the toy, I’ll take it
Damian: The toy is mine!
Dick: ‘The toy isth mine!’
Damian: I hate both of you!
- More of them acting like siblings! Please! Then we get Damian making fun of Jason’s hairline and Duke being concerned about joining the Dead Robin Club. And Duke seriously concerned about Bruce eating a hamburger with a knife and fork. This was so lighthearted and fun and I just wanted more of this! It was beautiful! I adore the Detective Comics series but Damian, Dick and Jason have not shown up in the last 2 trades so I really liked seeing them work with Duke on this. I really thought this volume was headed towards teamwork between Batsy and the Batboys and unfortunately, I was wrong.
The first issue is fantastic.
The second… not so much. King is trying way too hard to make this a serious, dark and edgy storyline and it’s not working. Still a lot of repetition as far as dialogue and Bane are concerned. The “I am Not” speech hinted at several Batman villains and I got the point after two.
Bane: I am not Crazy Quilt! I am not the Weasel! I am not Condiment King! I am not the Eggman. I am not the Walrus! Cuckoo -
Bruce: Okay, I - I think I got it
Also, might want to stay away from reminding me of better iterations of Batman villains... just saying.
King’s intent to show Batsy and Bane as parallels of each other eventually made Bruce look delusional after a point. When he was a child, he still spoke to his mother - understandable. Then he grew up, became Batman and he still kept talking to her as if she was alive? Not in a “visit and talk to her gravestone” kind of way but in a "I see force ghosts" kind of way? I just can’t see Bruce doing that.
The Strange? Then the book recaps the last 2 volumes over like 7 pages for reasons?? Bane is just pontificating all over the place and it's like being at an amateur poetry slam for goths. "I give nightmares" "I am the night" "you forget, I am Bane". Like dude, take it down a notch.
It's way too much and the attempts make his and Batsy’s stories seem parallel was such a big stretch. They’re similar because Bruce were felt like he was trapped in a prison when his parents died and Bane literally was? What? Then I compare it to All Star Batman where better parallels were established for a relationship with Harvey Dent. Trying to force this connection between Bruce and Bane doesn't quite work.
Also, this is such a far cry from the Batman that distrusts supers he doesn't know. He's willing to trust and leave his city to these 2 nobodies, Gotham and Gotham Girl (urg) because they have powers? Is this Bruce Wayne? He would never do that. His biggest thing, even outside of the DCEU, is that the importance of being human and having that vulnerability is what makes you a hero. Being super powered creates a potential for a tyrannical rule and he knows that. This doesn't quite add up. I initially thought this was a cool idea but the harder Bruce leans into it… the more holes I see in his logic.
The Whuh? That whole issue was full of some of the spaciest, overindulgent dialogue like this exchange:
Claire:is that what it is? This whole costumed life? It's being a hero?
Bruce: no. But most of the people who do it want it to be that.
Clarie what about the other people? The not most. (really? really?)
Bruce: you don't want to be them
Claire: are you them? (my phone keeps correcting this bc it's not proper grammar)
What?
The Gotham Girl storyline doesn't work for me because I think this should be 100% Duke or even Harper or some other established Batfamily member having these conversations with Bruce? I mean, I'm trade waiting All Star Batman so maybe he's having those conversations with Duke in that series but you've introduced Gotham Girl solely in this series; she was a side character to her brother in the first volume and I'm supposed to be invested and believe Bruce's investment. I don't and I don't like these overdone, metaphorical conversations and for something that got him so wrapped up in Bane's web, it ended with about two panels fixing her. It's just so... disappointing.
The Meh: The Bathound issue is short but pleasant. Again, this makes it clear that what appeals to me the most about Batman in this series is his interactions with the Batfamily.
Maybe I would have appreciated the Swamp Thing issue more if I knew anything about Swamp Thing. Batman is a passive member of this story. The ending once again is about Bruce Wayne trying to grieve which is usually something I find relatable but here, after reading him talking to to his mother while fighting Bane, it was just too much for me
Tl;Dr: The biggest reason I will be stopping here with this Batman series is that there just isn’t enough of an appeal for me. As I’ve said before, I’m not the biggest Bruce Wayne fan. I often find his character a little dry and boring but the one aspect of him that I respect is his intelligence. He’s cautious, studious, and near obsessive with researching and plotting out how to tackle his adversaries. I just… don’t get enough of that here. The concept of the Gotham/Goth Girl storyline confuses me. All the set up King is doing with these villains just isn’t appealing to me because everyone - everyone is so over the top and hyperbolic to the point of hilarity. I’m having more unintentional laughs than I think I’m supposed to and that’s not good. So, I’ll be getting off here and reading Detective Comics and All Star Batman instead. Yikes.
2.5
January 3, 2018
Honestly, I think this is my favorite rebirth storyline. Also I love Alfreds sassiness
December 15, 2018
Read as part of Batman: The Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 2
August 28, 2017
Review to be published on the release date, 9.5.17, at the request of the publisher.
August 30, 2017
It’s been over a year since DC relaunched all of their titles with Rebirth and much like The New 52 from a few years ago, it is a mixed bag. Both its strength and weakness are that the books are evoking the publisher’s glorious past, but feel unable to craft new stories. However, when it comes to a certain Dark Knight Detective, he remains unbreakable, even though his back was indeed broken and speaking of which, this third volume presents a literally smashing climax for the first year of Tom King’s Batman.
Please click here for my full review.
Please click here for my full review.
May 27, 2018
I received this from Edelweiss and DC Comics in exchange for an honest review. I also received a copy from Netgalley.
I was just a little slow in picking this one up, since I received my copy last July... I'm sorry I waited so long! I was really disappointed in the first two volumes of the Rebirth Batman, and decided to take a break, but didn't really plan on waiting 10 months.
This was really good, all around. While the battle between Bane and Batman was intense (how could it be otherwise?), I really enjoyed the "Every Epilogue is a Prologue" chapter, especially the long discussion with Gotham Girl. It shows just how deep the emotions run in Bruce Wayne, and some long-held internal fears that most Batman authors don't ever seem to delve into. So, kudos to Tom King for that.
Oh, and that ending! I didn't see that coming! I won't be waiting 10 months to read the next one, that's for sure!
I was just a little slow in picking this one up, since I received my copy last July... I'm sorry I waited so long! I was really disappointed in the first two volumes of the Rebirth Batman, and decided to take a break, but didn't really plan on waiting 10 months.
This was really good, all around. While the battle between Bane and Batman was intense (how could it be otherwise?), I really enjoyed the "Every Epilogue is a Prologue" chapter, especially the long discussion with Gotham Girl. It shows just how deep the emotions run in Bruce Wayne, and some long-held internal fears that most Batman authors don't ever seem to delve into. So, kudos to Tom King for that.
Oh, and that ending! I didn't see that coming! I won't be waiting 10 months to read the next one, that's for sure!
December 4, 2017
I Am Bane is the finale of Tom King’s I Am... trilogy of Batman books. Just like with the first two, I initially read it in single issues and didn’t like it very much, but then re-read and enjoyed it a lot more. That said, out of the three, this is probably my least favourite — though still not bad by any means.
Like I mentioned before, I'm really not too familiar with Bane as a character. I remember starting one of Chuck Dixon's painfully overwritten Bane comics before quickly abandoning it in favour of something more compelling, but that's pretty much it. Maybe that's why I liked this volume less than the first two — Tom King uses a lot of Bane's past to highlight the parallels between his character and Batman's, and I couldn't appreciate this bit of storytelling to its fullest.
Still, I liked a lot about I Am Bane. The beginning scene in the Batburger with Bruce, Damian, Dick and Jason Todd having a banter was outstanding, and made me wish that Tom King would write all their solo series, too (to be fair, with DC's generally poor current roster of writers I would love to see him write any and all DC books, especially Superman).
The action scenes in this volume are really intense and cool, the artwork's top-notch as usual, and everybody's characterisation is still on point. The Swamp Thing crossover was okay, although I expected more from King in a Batman/Swampy team-up. The best part of the collection was the very last issue, though — the one where Batman talks with Gotham Girl about the meaning of being a superhero. And in the very end, with that twist between the Bat and the Cat — that's cool, I say! I hope King has some great storyline planned for that.
A couple of things did bother me, though, like what actually happened to Dick, Damian and Jason in the end of the first issue? That was unclear. The finale of I Am Bane storyline with all the shouting was still unintentionally too comical and reminiscent of the HISHE Superhero Café sketches. The wrap up of a fight between Batman and Bane was too abrupt, I would prefer a more clear resolution.
Anyway, I'm glad I decided to give Tom King's Batman another chance. He's one of my favourite writers right now, and is clearly incredibly talented. People say that his run is weaker than Scott Snyder's without realising that only half of Snyder's run was good, and he's losing his grip on the character by the minute (All-Star Batman was, in my opinion, unreadable — I couldn't even finish the first book). I think King's take on the character is fresh and full of great ideas, and very much worthy of Bat's complex history. To me, it's even superior to some of Snyder's earlier Bat-books. It just requires a bit more patience and attention to see how good it actually is.
First read: Aptil 5, 2017
Rating: ★★・・・
Second read: December 2, 2017
Rating: ★★★★・
Like I mentioned before, I'm really not too familiar with Bane as a character. I remember starting one of Chuck Dixon's painfully overwritten Bane comics before quickly abandoning it in favour of something more compelling, but that's pretty much it. Maybe that's why I liked this volume less than the first two — Tom King uses a lot of Bane's past to highlight the parallels between his character and Batman's, and I couldn't appreciate this bit of storytelling to its fullest.
Still, I liked a lot about I Am Bane. The beginning scene in the Batburger with Bruce, Damian, Dick and Jason Todd having a banter was outstanding, and made me wish that Tom King would write all their solo series, too (to be fair, with DC's generally poor current roster of writers I would love to see him write any and all DC books, especially Superman).
The action scenes in this volume are really intense and cool, the artwork's top-notch as usual, and everybody's characterisation is still on point. The Swamp Thing crossover was okay, although I expected more from King in a Batman/Swampy team-up. The best part of the collection was the very last issue, though — the one where Batman talks with Gotham Girl about the meaning of being a superhero. And in the very end, with that twist between the Bat and the Cat — that's cool, I say! I hope King has some great storyline planned for that.
A couple of things did bother me, though, like what actually happened to Dick, Damian and Jason in the end of the first issue? That was unclear. The finale of I Am Bane storyline with all the shouting was still unintentionally too comical and reminiscent of the HISHE Superhero Café sketches. The wrap up of a fight between Batman and Bane was too abrupt, I would prefer a more clear resolution.
Anyway, I'm glad I decided to give Tom King's Batman another chance. He's one of my favourite writers right now, and is clearly incredibly talented. People say that his run is weaker than Scott Snyder's without realising that only half of Snyder's run was good, and he's losing his grip on the character by the minute (All-Star Batman was, in my opinion, unreadable — I couldn't even finish the first book). I think King's take on the character is fresh and full of great ideas, and very much worthy of Bat's complex history. To me, it's even superior to some of Snyder's earlier Bat-books. It just requires a bit more patience and attention to see how good it actually is.
First read: Aptil 5, 2017
Rating: ★★・・・
Second read: December 2, 2017
Rating: ★★★★・
October 30, 2017
This volume contains the historic Batman proposal to someone close to him, which means that this story is one that will be remembered for a long time, so this volume is worth picking up just for that. In addition, there is a really good Bane story, which makes Bane a much more sympathetic character. Thanks to this story, I'm now much more interested in reading Bane stories. Finally, one of the bonus stories in the back is an Ace the Bathound origin story. That one was very touching, because it is so obvious that Bruce and Ace, two broken souls, need each other, but Bruce is oblivious to this fact.
Oh, I almost forgot. Bruce eats a hamburger with a knife and fork. Hilarious!
Oh, I almost forgot. Bruce eats a hamburger with a knife and fork. Hilarious!
May 30, 2018
Tom King writes an excellent Batman. The main story in this volume builds upon events from the previous two volumes. Bane arrives in Gotham City, itching for a fight after Batman snatched the Psycho Pirate from his clutches last volume. Alfred serves tea as the two discuss their differences in a calm, civilized fashion …
No. I'm just kidding. They fight. It's epic. One of my favorite sequences was Bane following Batman into Arkham Asylum. Naturally, all sorts of familiar faces are encountered.
My single favorite moment of the whole book was that scene in the rain with Catwoman. Yeah. That one. Brought tears to my eyes, it did, and that was before I even turned to the last page. It's a scene that longtime fans have been waiting for.
After that, King follows with a couple of unrelated standalone adventures, just to torture anyone who doesn't have volume 4 ready to hand. Evil, evil man …
This is some of the best Batman writing I’ve seen in a long time. Highly recommended!
No. I'm just kidding. They fight. It's epic. One of my favorite sequences was Bane following Batman into Arkham Asylum. Naturally, all sorts of familiar faces are encountered.
My single favorite moment of the whole book was that scene in the rain with Catwoman. Yeah. That one. Brought tears to my eyes, it did, and that was before I even turned to the last page. It's a scene that longtime fans have been waiting for.
After that, King follows with a couple of unrelated standalone adventures, just to torture anyone who doesn't have volume 4 ready to hand. Evil, evil man …
This is some of the best Batman writing I’ve seen in a long time. Highly recommended!
August 22, 2017
Bane... 'nough said, right? ;)
but perhaps this.... : Bat on his knees.... loved it!! :D
but perhaps this.... : Bat on his knees.... loved it!! :D
October 16, 2019
that issue 24 straight up attacked my batcat feelings (in the best way ofc) and now i have. well. a lot of feelings.
January 4, 2022
This was another great volume and we see Bane invading Gotham and well Batman is preparing everyone for his coming and we see him take the robins out but man the scene that happens and the carnage and then the flashback to their secret origins and how both Bats and Bane are connected by targedies and its like one of the best issues easily and then the face off at Arkham which was so cool and the inner monologue of Bruce about why he is doing this and then the face off which is like one of the best and so cool, easily one of the best Batman stories! I love the slow build-up and the tension and the inevitable face-off like an old hollywood movie and its complimented by some of the best art ever and its just insanely beautiful, a must read!
Plus the story with Swamp thing was okayish and then the big moment with Selina which makes this volume a must read in the history of Batman which is awesome so yeah I highly recommend it for great writing and art and an even better story which leads to some nice status quo changes!
Plus the story with Swamp thing was okayish and then the big moment with Selina which makes this volume a must read in the history of Batman which is awesome so yeah I highly recommend it for great writing and art and an even better story which leads to some nice status quo changes!
October 30, 2017
Tom King concludes here the whole "I am..." storyline he's developed since issue one.
Bane being the centrepiece of this third arc it is somewhat... brutal. But King being the writer it is somehow intellectually brutal.
After taking the psycho-pirate away from Santa Prisca Batman has 5 days to use him to save Gotham Girl's mind-and we happen to understand why it was so important to him btw. But Bane is intent on taking the pirate back with a vengeance.
Then the fun really starts with a traumatic first issue's last page after a funny "bat burger and jokersised fries" scene.
Tension grows up exponentially before exploding in a shockingly violent free fight scene between the two antagonists, concluding rather abruptly without any twist or whatnot.
The issue where Bane walks his way through every inmate of Arkham spells filler but it has the virtue of explaining his motivation and delivering some cool lines ("I don't have nightmares, I give nightmares"- boy, do I like this one!)
So once again King writes excellent dialogues. The "ins" are snappy and clear enough while the "offs" always give me the sensation of insightful double entendre. All this while Bats and Bane bash each other's skull in (that's the intellectually brutal part). Kinda weird but this is Tom King for you.
Then there's an homage to the late Bernie Wrightson involving Swamp Thing, very clever and quite funny but a) going nowhere in particular, b)not well fitted in this volume.
After an interesting discussion between Gotham Girl and Batman on what it is to be a super hero the last issue reveals a final surprise (I could tell you but then...).
I'm not sure where it'll go in the long term though.
The annual is so-so. Two good stories counterbalanced by two lousy ones. Your average multi-stories annual.
In conclusion a very good volume. Tom King maintains his position as one of the best writers nowadays and, though I'm not his best fan, David Finch delivers at the drawing board.
Bane being the centrepiece of this third arc it is somewhat... brutal. But King being the writer it is somehow intellectually brutal.
After taking the psycho-pirate away from Santa Prisca Batman has 5 days to use him to save Gotham Girl's mind-and we happen to understand why it was so important to him btw. But Bane is intent on taking the pirate back with a vengeance.
Then the fun really starts with a traumatic first issue's last page after a funny "bat burger and jokersised fries" scene.
Tension grows up exponentially before exploding in a shockingly violent free fight scene between the two antagonists, concluding rather abruptly without any twist or whatnot.
The issue where Bane walks his way through every inmate of Arkham spells filler but it has the virtue of explaining his motivation and delivering some cool lines ("I don't have nightmares, I give nightmares"- boy, do I like this one!)
So once again King writes excellent dialogues. The "ins" are snappy and clear enough while the "offs" always give me the sensation of insightful double entendre. All this while Bats and Bane bash each other's skull in (that's the intellectually brutal part). Kinda weird but this is Tom King for you.
Then there's an homage to the late Bernie Wrightson involving Swamp Thing, very clever and quite funny but a) going nowhere in particular, b)not well fitted in this volume.
After an interesting discussion between Gotham Girl and Batman on what it is to be a super hero the last issue reveals a final surprise (I could tell you but then...).
I'm not sure where it'll go in the long term though.
The annual is so-so. Two good stories counterbalanced by two lousy ones. Your average multi-stories annual.
In conclusion a very good volume. Tom King maintains his position as one of the best writers nowadays and, though I'm not his best fan, David Finch delivers at the drawing board.
September 24, 2017
With this volume, Tom King finally wins me over to his Batman. The lead feature is cheesy, but it works. Mostly, I'm impressed with the Alfred and Swamp Thing back-up stories. It takes balls to shoot Alan Moore in the face. Even if he doesn't rise to Moore's standard, King at least addresses the elephant in the room that shows up whenever anyone tries to write Swamp Thing.
July 18, 2017
The art has been great in these volumes so far. The story? Not so much. Everything has been building to some sort of epic fight between Bane and Batman in this volume and nothing much really happens. Tom King's run has been pretty disappointing so far.
February 19, 2017
I Am Banal.
October 15, 2018
Bane is badass in this. Batman barricades himself in Arkham so bane has to fight everyone in Arkham and does it with ease.
Does batman save the day? Obvs!
Does batman save the day? Obvs!
February 28, 2025
Melhor volume até agora do run do Tom King com o Batman. Uma história dinâmica, bem contada, com ritmo acelerado e intenso, que valoriza tanto o vilão quanto o herói. O Tom King conseguiu finalizar muito bem esse arco todo envolvendo o Bane, Pirata Psíquico e Gotham Girl que foi iniciado na primeira edição de sua fase.
Nesse encadernado, como é possível identificar pela capa e pelo nome da HQ, o vilão central é o Bane. Mas não é apenas um confronto entre o herói e o vilão porque o vilão quer destruir a cidade ou roubar algo. A motivação do Bane agora é vingança, uma vingança muito bem construída por diversos aspectos.
Toda a motivação do Bane é consequência do arco passado "Eu sou suicida", em que o Batman invade Santa Prisca. Essa invasão do Batman provocou no Bane uma necessidade de vingança, pois o Bane estava no país dele, com o Pirata Psíquico realizando uma espécie de "tratamento" para que o Bane saísse do vício do Veneno.
Dessa forma, o Bane que estava se curando e estava "tranquilo", viu o Batman invadir sua casa e roubar sua cura. E inda, nesse encadernado, ficamos sabendo ainda mais da origem do Bane e sua relação com Santa Prisca, o que causou ainda mais ódio no Bane quando o Batman invadiu o local.
No que tange o embate do Batman com o Bane, as artes são muito bem desenhadas e a articulação dos personagens é muito bem feita. O plano que envolve a vingança do Bane enquanto o Batman segura as pontas para sobreviver e curar a Gotham Girl é bem imersivo, você compra a trama facilmente e fica preso no ritmo que o Tom King explora muito bem de 9 quadros por página.
No final, ainda temos 2 histórias interessantes. Uma envolvendo o Monstro do Pântano e outra com a mulher gato, onde ficamos sabendo um pouco sobre a infelicidade do Batman, seu medo e também a motivação.
Nesse encadernado, como é possível identificar pela capa e pelo nome da HQ, o vilão central é o Bane. Mas não é apenas um confronto entre o herói e o vilão porque o vilão quer destruir a cidade ou roubar algo. A motivação do Bane agora é vingança, uma vingança muito bem construída por diversos aspectos.
Toda a motivação do Bane é consequência do arco passado "Eu sou suicida", em que o Batman invade Santa Prisca. Essa invasão do Batman provocou no Bane uma necessidade de vingança, pois o Bane estava no país dele, com o Pirata Psíquico realizando uma espécie de "tratamento" para que o Bane saísse do vício do Veneno.
Dessa forma, o Bane que estava se curando e estava "tranquilo", viu o Batman invadir sua casa e roubar sua cura. E inda, nesse encadernado, ficamos sabendo ainda mais da origem do Bane e sua relação com Santa Prisca, o que causou ainda mais ódio no Bane quando o Batman invadiu o local.
No que tange o embate do Batman com o Bane, as artes são muito bem desenhadas e a articulação dos personagens é muito bem feita. O plano que envolve a vingança do Bane enquanto o Batman segura as pontas para sobreviver e curar a Gotham Girl é bem imersivo, você compra a trama facilmente e fica preso no ritmo que o Tom King explora muito bem de 9 quadros por página.
No final, ainda temos 2 histórias interessantes. Uma envolvendo o Monstro do Pântano e outra com a mulher gato, onde ficamos sabendo um pouco sobre a infelicidade do Batman, seu medo e também a motivação.
January 19, 2022
70% | B | Great
"I'm sorry, sir, my ears are not what they once were. It seems I heard you ask for...help?"
After the let down I felt for volumes 1 & 2, I was unsure if I should continue with King's run. Well, let me say that I'm glad that I decided to give it one more chance. This volume is miles better than the previous instalments. Both Batman and Bane get some great moments, and the parallels between them are done very well. Obviously, the standout has to be the Batburger scene which is pure comedic gold and full of Batfam goodness. Whilst there's a lot to enjoy, it's unfortunate that King's need to add extremely repetitive dialogue slips through, but not to the point where it's intolerable. Overall, I'm impressed that King managed to improve so much between volumes, and I am now more sold on his Batman. (Oh, and I forgot that there are some okay short stories at the end, so, yeah...)
"I'm sorry, sir, my ears are not what they once were. It seems I heard you ask for...help?"
The epic showdown between Batman and Bane. Who will prevail in the fight for Psycho Pirate?
After the let down I felt for volumes 1 & 2, I was unsure if I should continue with King's run. Well, let me say that I'm glad that I decided to give it one more chance. This volume is miles better than the previous instalments. Both Batman and Bane get some great moments, and the parallels between them are done very well. Obviously, the standout has to be the Batburger scene which is pure comedic gold and full of Batfam goodness. Whilst there's a lot to enjoy, it's unfortunate that King's need to add extremely repetitive dialogue slips through, but not to the point where it's intolerable. Overall, I'm impressed that King managed to improve so much between volumes, and I am now more sold on his Batman. (Oh, and I forgot that there are some okay short stories at the end, so, yeah...)
August 17, 2025
Brutal, operatic, and relentless. I Am Bane is Tom King and David Finch firing on all cylinders, pitting Batman against one of his most fearsome foes in a raw, no-holds-barred showdown. The arc balances big, bone-crunching action with psychological intensity, as Bruce faces not only Bane’s fury but the cost of dragging allies and family into his war. Finch’s art makes every punch land with weight, while King threads in emotional stakes that give the chaos meaning. A dark, gripping entry in the Rebirth era that reminds you why Bane is one of Batman’s ultimate mirrors. Continuing to enjoy the run
May 31, 2018
A big old fist fight with Bane, I'm in. Tom King doesn't get to complicated here and it works, it is a big old fight with Bane with some nice elements with Gotham Girl and cat woman. There are some shorts stories in the back that are surprisingly good too. The joker dog gave me a good chuckle with Alfred and the Swamp thing was also a good short story. The art is great, nice and clear action with good details... lots of teeth flying... just sayin
June 12, 2019
Batman vs Bane ****
Batman&Catwoman *****
Ace-Bathound ******
Batman&Catwoman *****
Ace-Bathound ******
October 9, 2017
This is King's mic drop for his run on Batman.
World: The art is great for what the story needed it to be. The tone, the colors, the emotions and the characters were spot on. This world has been building since the first issue of King's run and sure there were some hiccups here and there in terms of the world building with the Monster Men and tie in but overall this arc really brings the pieces that King has built since issue 1 to full circle and it's great. The world feels very Batman and yes the world is grim dark but given that the rest of the Trinity are so different I like it.
Story: I like full circle stories and grand arcs that today off and this is the payoff. There was some wonky stuff with 'I am Gotham' but taken as a whole the story is much better. This arc was relentless and I liked it. It felt to me like this was King's version of 'Court of Owls' where he finally made Batman his own and interpreted Gotham and all it's pieces his way. Using Bane like the way he did, never expected it (but I'll get to that below). The story was satisfying emotionally and gave us the bad as action we wanted. The end with the aftermath and the Cat stuff I liked. I like moving forward and this dance they've been doing for 20 years (modern era) needs to mean something. The Swampy story was also phenomenal.
Characters: Great! This is King putting his stamp on Batman. Batman is Batman and there's not a lot of wiggle room cause of his brooding by Claire and Selina really gave him something to anchor and the mother stuff was great. Bane, what can I say? From stupid Mexican Wrestler to Doctor Doom and a force of nature and the immovable object for Bruce, King as done this character well and taken him where I didn't expect. The issue with all the villains really reminded me the best parts of 'Hush', 'Long Halloween', and 'Death of the Family'.
This was a great arc, a full circle and finally King putting something in the Batman run to mark his place.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is great for what the story needed it to be. The tone, the colors, the emotions and the characters were spot on. This world has been building since the first issue of King's run and sure there were some hiccups here and there in terms of the world building with the Monster Men and tie in but overall this arc really brings the pieces that King has built since issue 1 to full circle and it's great. The world feels very Batman and yes the world is grim dark but given that the rest of the Trinity are so different I like it.
Story: I like full circle stories and grand arcs that today off and this is the payoff. There was some wonky stuff with 'I am Gotham' but taken as a whole the story is much better. This arc was relentless and I liked it. It felt to me like this was King's version of 'Court of Owls' where he finally made Batman his own and interpreted Gotham and all it's pieces his way. Using Bane like the way he did, never expected it (but I'll get to that below). The story was satisfying emotionally and gave us the bad as action we wanted. The end with the aftermath and the Cat stuff I liked. I like moving forward and this dance they've been doing for 20 years (modern era) needs to mean something. The Swampy story was also phenomenal.
Characters: Great! This is King putting his stamp on Batman. Batman is Batman and there's not a lot of wiggle room cause of his brooding by Claire and Selina really gave him something to anchor and the mother stuff was great. Bane, what can I say? From stupid Mexican Wrestler to Doctor Doom and a force of nature and the immovable object for Bruce, King as done this character well and taken him where I didn't expect. The issue with all the villains really reminded me the best parts of 'Hush', 'Long Halloween', and 'Death of the Family'.
This was a great arc, a full circle and finally King putting something in the Batman run to mark his place.
Onward to the next book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews