Batman #69

Tom King's Batman will go down as an important run for the character. This Knightmare arc should be pointed at as to why he really gets the character. This is an essential purchase either in issues or in trade, and I can't wait to see where the run goes next. Read Full Review

Overall Batman #69 is a good read and I can't wait to read the next issue! The most action packed scene is the sparring match between Thomas and Bane, but King makes a great effort not to give us any clues as to the endgame of these two villains. I really hope that Thomas perhaps at the last-minute betrays Bane in an effort to save his own son, but judging by his actions so far I seriously doubt it. We'll see how the next issue plays out!! Read Full Review

King's resolution to the issue left me floored. I cried a little bit. Then I couldn't shake it. This is the best issue of King's run, hands down. I am still thinking about it. This is comic book excellence right here. The writing and art are perfect. This run has been great. King just pushed it to the next level. I give an A plus rating very rarely. This is one of those times. Read Full Review

The art by Yanick Paquette is amazing. The panels depicting Bruce and Selina dancing through his trauma are engaging. They grab the reader's eye and move it across the panels almost in a dance itself. Well done. Read Full Review

The high point of the Knightmares arc, this issue is an excellent encapsulation of the duality of Tom Kings Batman run, alternating between both bittersweet feelings and violent posturing. Read Full Review

Batman #69 delivers a strong, beautifully rendered ending to an overly drawn-out story arc. Read Full Review

Batman #69 is the final story of Knightmares, and the second half of this bizarre arc has picked up the pace with some twist illusions and a great sense of tension. Read Full Review

Tom King pulled out a Houdini like escape that not only rescues the most meandering and questionable moments of the Knightmares story arc but completely justifies all of it. The art work is poetry in motion. While his entire run has been littered with peaks and valleys, this issue soars above and sits amongst his best issues on this run. Read Full Review

King and Paquette masterfully tie the seven Knightmares together with the rest of the run, as Bruce slowly and painfully wakes up. Read Full Review

Ultimately I felt like this was the strongest issue of Batman during this Knightmare story arc, and I was happy to finally learn and confirm Thomas Wayne Batman's motivations and why he's here. I think this issue low key does a great job at showing us that even when Bruce is trapped in his dreams facing his greatest fears, his mind is always at work trying to figure out the case because he is the world's greatest detective. Read Full Review

Like the previous issues of this storyline, there will be readers who vehemently disagree with my assessment of "Knightmares," that its ephemeral, shifting narrative feels dramatically unsatisfying, for all its outre storytelling choices and all the things King has left unsaid. To be honest, they might not be wrong, either. But given the high concept of this storyline - being trapped in a never-ending series of bad dreams - I think this experimental approach is justified, that that the threads that come together are intentional, rather than an oversight. Read Full Review

King is at his best when he is without limitations. Knightmares has given him the ability to tell his story without limitations and the result has been fantastic. Read Full Review

We've got about 30 issues left, which means we're entering the 4th quarter. This is where championships are won. I believe King has what it takes to win a ring, but we'll have to wait to see if it happens. Read Full Review

King's “Knightmares” ending was a fantastic summary of Batman's character. It may not reveal anything radically different, but King presents it so well. While “Knightmares” ran one or two issues long, but the conclusion was near-perfect. A great ending to a long story arc. Read Full Review

Great wrap up on the story and King continues to write some of the best Batman/Bruce Wayne stories out there. Read Full Review

By better juggling character exploration and art with plot evolution, "Batman" #69 is the most balanced issue of the 'Knightmares' arc, offering a full package of story and art to its audience. Read Full Review

The circuitous narrative spooled out over the last several issues comes to fruition, here, when Batman finally finds the key to freeing himself from the labyrinth of fear. The art is stellar, as is the narrative. This is one to pick up. Read Full Review

Despite some serious hiccups in the overall story arc, King reminds us that he has a story worth telling, and he does so backed up by some great artwork. Read Full Review

Ultimately, Knightmares never managed to avoid feeling like a massive stalling tactic. Fortunately this issue looks to get the book back on track as King seems ready to get the story rolling again. Barring another prolonged time-killing arc like this one, Batman is about to get interesting again. Read Full Review

Yanick Paquette is a competent artist and I always loved his version of Dick Grayson as Batman. I was afraid that he would overpower and change the story because his style is different from that of the other artists that have shaped Kings Batman epic. However, Paquette tries to stay in the same line as that of the other cartoonists. His Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle look very familiar. Thats good. Now, what I dislike is his version of Batman. It worked for Nightwing but it does not appeal to me here. Read Full Review

BATMAN #69 seems to answer (at least for now) one of the core questions behind Tom King's run. While some of the story gets pushed into exposition towards the end, the issue is strong overall, getting readers back on track from a narrative perspective. Read Full Review

Working well only as a transition issue, Batman #69 marks the end of 'Knightmares,' and with this end comes the promise of a Batman story worth reading. Read Full Review

Do heroes hurt? It's a question Tom King has been trying to answer through the vessel of Batman. I haven't always enjoyed the ride but I do have respect for the process. That time is over now. No more introspection, no more Bat/Cat cringe-worthy rhyme innuendos. It's time to ramp things up again, to take Batman back to his roots. Maybe even, oh I don't know, have the World's Greatest Detective actually detect something for a change? Maybe figure out once and for all what's at stake between Bane and his father? Just no more naked Bane wrestling, please? Read Full Review

BATMAN #69 maintains some gorgeous artwork and some new revelations in regards to Flashpoint Batman's presence. However, the issue still falls short as it continues to drag on the "Knightmares" arc. Read Full Review

We are finally at the end of the "Knightmares" arc, but while Batman #69 does serve to shift the narrative towards the next chapter in an engaging way, it really only illustrates what readers know and editors should have: the entire "Knightmares" arc was a long stall, filling issues and pages for no redeemable purpose bt to extend the run. Read Full Review

Finally! Finally, we can move on from "Knightmares" and get back to the story at hand. King has milked this concept for way too long, and it's time for us to actually get some plot progression. This issue has some nice scenes, so I don't want to take away from that, but none of it is new, fresh, or original. It's felt like King has just been phoning this in for months now, and I desperately just want to move on. Read Full Review

Batman #69 was an improvement to the "Knightmares" arc that came way to late into the game. How long it took Tom King to get to this ending just further cemented the fact that "Knightmares" was a filler story arc. In the grand scheme of things this is a story readers can skip and still grasp what King is doing with his Batman epic. Read Full Review

The Knightmares are over and that is cause for celebration all on its own!  Tom King does give some answers here, but it's wrapped up in a been there done that feeling issue that wasn't as satisfying as it should have been.  Read Full Review

Greg Hound

Apr 17, 2019

nice

axdn

Apr 17, 2019

Amazing! This was beautiful :)

Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln

Apr 17, 2019

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS There were a lot of hints throughout the nightmares that Batman and Catwoman's love was false and this reveal has once again thrown this run over on it's head. Although it makes me slightly uncomfortable to see Batman tearing up because he realized he was in denial about false love, it is still a very human and relatable thing and makes it a pretty heavy plot point.

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Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

If that was the point of 69 issues, it’s nothing new. I kept telling that people.

Tony

Apr 17, 2019

This time King uses a dance to tell the readers what's happening and push us forward to the story. Something that I like is that for the first time in a long time, We can see Batman actually reasoning and evaluating his situation like a detective would do, in fact he's thet world's greatest detective, so is good for me to see a thinking Batman, more or less. There is some interaction between Bane and Flashpoint Batman but real answers will have to wait to issue 75. The thing with Catwoman fits with the story and there is some sort of revelation (I don't know if I can trust what Batman says since this is a nightmare and I don't know what pretends King). I like very much the way how king portrayed Thomas Wayne. He looks insane. I don't hav e any problems with the art and colors I think they're good in fact I think the art and colors in general are very good in all king's run. I think all of us knew that all this was generated by a Scarecrow's toxin so it's not a surprise, there are better and worse stories with fear toxin but in this case is what we have. So with this issue and the revelation the nightmare(s) ends for Batman and for some readers. I like that because it's true I like in general king's work but it's true too that the series needs a new direction. Batman needs to put aside the whole situation with Catwoman, it's time to continue with the story. Overall an ok issue, isn't a explosive final and I think King could have done a better arc, the repercussion of the revelation will be seen in the future, We will have to wait to see if it's true or it's just another distraction of King that will have some other explanation. more

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Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

I have read as good as every Scarecrow story and no story is worse than this. King really doesn’t get how the fear gas works. It’s not that difficult to understand though.

Tony - Apr 17, 2019

That's funny because after I wrote that, I started to think in some "fear gas" stories and yeah the toxin isn't well use in this arc.For a moment I thought King really would't use it. I still bring faith in this series but it needs a real shake. The league stretched too much and is already breaking. I read an interviewe and King promises good things so I hope those things happen.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

I wished he wouldn’t use it. Seems like a random explanation to justify his nightmares. Even so they were just Dreams, not really nightmares. King constantly promises that, but he only delivers mediocre stories at best. Lately his stories are really bad.

Tony - Apr 17, 2019

The thing is Scarecrow is in covers of issues 70 and 75 and according to the saying of King in next issue (70) there will be another revelation. So lets see what happen.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Scarecrow is my favorite villain, but if King doesn’t do him justice I don’t want him in the story.

Psycamorean

Apr 17, 2019

I don't know how to feel about this issue. On one hand, things did indeed happen. On the other hand, most of the revelations were not revelations at all for this reader. On some mutated third hand, I'm glad that this Bat/Cat relationship seems dead as Batman admits to himself that it was never love. I never felt it was genuine and I'm happy that feeling was validated. Unless it's just a nightmare, of course, and he will love her by the end of this. I don't know. Images of a naked Bane towering over/straddling a defensive old man aside, I actually liked this issue. Could this be a turn of the tide towards me liking Batman again? Let's give it a few more issues.

bucswin611

Apr 26, 2019

The thesis of this (....let's say difficult) arc, distilled into one issue, and it's pretty good! Some trademark Paquette layouts and fantastic Fairbanks colors in the the Bat-Cat dance across the decades are the highlight, with the Bane-Thomas interactions feeling secondary.

Linkush

Apr 17, 2019

So that's it, we are finally done with Knightmares. To be honest, I expected more. yes, we got some answers to what "Knightmares" was all about and we finally got to see Thomas again so there's a story progression, but the issue still left me unsatisfied. I wanted to see Batman actually breaking through the dreams to face Scarecrow or his father but instead I got to see Bruce explaining to Selina what was Knightmares all about. While I did enjoy reading it, I still wish we got something else to close the arc. Whatever I'm just happy the arc is over and we can finally get to the main story again. Art was fantastic, the highlight of this issue for me, especially the parts with Bruce and Selina. Overall, I enjoyed reading most of it a nd I'm interested to see what will happen next. more

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Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

I hope King just ignores Scarecrow until the end of his run. It’s for the better. King definitely doesn’t understand how the fear gas works.

Federico Liguori

Apr 25, 2023

Finally, a good issue.

Afre

Apr 18, 2019

To be honest, it was pretty okay. Doesn't save this arc being terrible, but at least this was okay and not annoying or feeling like filler. Art was great and writing was passable, a bit messy but not bad. I get what King was trying to do, but it was executed pretty badly. But this arc took way too long. 8 issues is too much for so little story that feels so disjointed.

mrDovydas

May 06, 2019

It's finally over....hopefully.

pizzamain

May 12, 2019

idk if me having to read an explanation makes this better or worse

Dispatchdcu

Apr 17, 2019

Question 1: Why does Batman like Sophie Tucker? Who listens to that? The song is creepy, and old, and does make you feel lonely.... sure... which Batman is BUT, who even knows that song and why is King tying that song into this dream? Again, how many people know they song? I can thank my grandma for that knowing that song but 1/10 readers will get that .... AND it doesn’t really add much to the story other than show that King is trying to be poetically deep. Question 2: Why does Bane like to fight nude? Why would someone want to fight him nude? Thomas Wayne clearly was ok with it. And how would Bane not realize Thomas had a gun in his pocket? He was wearing pjs. That gun would have fired in his pocket while fighting or wrestling Bane. Is the point again something deep that I simply can’t understand about Bane? He sits in the dark on skulls naked and he fights naked. What does that show me and why is it important? Please someone tell me the importance because I guess I’m an idiot. Question 3: In a dream, Batman figures out that his dad is involved FROM ANOTHER EARTH because he saw him right before he went unconscious. Makes sense.... are we supposed to believe after like 6 issues of a dream, Batman can just snap out of it after hearing a Sophie Tucker song and figure out his daddy doesn’t want him to be Batman so he’s working with Bane? That makes NO DANG SENSE!!!! And we explain 6 issues by scarecrow gas???? King just wants to play this cerebral game with his readers when in all reality he writes himself into a corner and has to explain it out quickly and easy. I’m frustrated because we were given 5 pointless issues that could have been summarized in one issue. This arc was not necessary for the story and did not progress the story at all. We could skip it in trade and not miss a beat just like the gift story arc and like 2 other arcs his written. Question 4: who buys Thomas working with Bane as simply “he doesn’t want Bruce to be Batman so he’s going to hurt him?” And more importantly, how did Thomas get here? How did Bane even know he existed? Many would assume Skeets but how did Bane piece this together? COME ON!!! King is stretching this out, milking it to get to 100, and putting plot threads together as he goes that don’t really fit. Statement 1: I am currently not a fan of Kings writing BUT whoever tweeted that awful pic to him earlier this week should be ashamed. We may not like what a writer writes, but their is no reason to attack them directly with something ignorant and so hateful. I will give this a 6 simply because the dream is done... I’m confused still and think he’s trying too hard to give us a story that’s deeper than Pizza Hut deep dish pizza when that’s not what anyone asked for or wants. Just make it straight forward and give us answers. Please. more

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Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Bane being naked is a King thing. Maybe King mistook him with Zsasz, since Zsasz was the one, who ran around naked. And to answer your questions: so you can kick him in the balls more easily.

Dispatchdcu - Apr 17, 2019

Why would Thomas be ok with any of this? Or training with Bane... especially naked. It just all seems weird and unnecessary. But yes.... a free shot in the balls would be easier

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

I haven’t read it yet. Were they training or fighting? If it’s training, it’s weird indeed😂 King seems to have a thing for this : Hugo Strange did his workout naked too at some point. It fits his character though.

Dispatchdcu - Apr 17, 2019

I think it was like sparring

RBL - Apr 17, 2019

Stop being generous, even if this finally puts an end to this story this is hardly even a 4/10.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Ive read it now& know what you mean. Had to laugh myself. When Bane yelled More, it sounded more like a sex game 😂

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 17, 2019

Bane was fighting naked in order to be more “free” in his movements.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Sure 😂

myconius - Apr 17, 2019

yeah. Bane sweats so much, that being naked lets him air out those butt cheeks during battle.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Ewww 😂

egonnn244 - Apr 18, 2019

What awful twitter pic?

Dispatchdcu - Apr 18, 2019

What do you mean egon

Darkseid24 - Apr 18, 2019

??

egonnn244 - Apr 18, 2019

"BUT whoever tweeted that awful pic to him earlier this week should be ashamed"

Dispatchdcu - Apr 19, 2019

Oooooooooh. It may have come down by now. It was a photoshopped pic of an African American baby dancing with text under him that said “King” and a pic of someone holding a gun with text under the gun saying “me”. It was awful, disgusting, way too far, and completely unnecessary. Some of the hate inside people.... just wow

myconius - Apr 19, 2019

twitter is a infested with deranged minds.

Dispatchdcu - Apr 19, 2019

That it is. ..... Snapchat is for the angsty teenager, Instagram is for the college young adult, Facebook is for the older adult and Twitter is the smokers lounge....

myconius - Apr 19, 2019

ha! nice analogy!

Darkseid24 - Apr 19, 2019

I like Twitter, but some people are crazy. Tumblr is awful though. Facebook is ok. Depends on whom you talk to.

Dispatchdcu - Apr 19, 2019

Dude Tumblr is awful!!!!

Darkseid24 - Apr 19, 2019

I know

egonnn244 - Apr 20, 2019

I agree, Dispatchdcu. Hate someone's work as much as you like, but attacking them as a person, wishing them dead or something alike is just terrible. But hate is very prevalent in the world nowadays, especially on the internet. Even this site is no stranger to it.

myconius - Apr 20, 2019

sadly every human alive has some degree of good and bad inprinted into their DNA. it's as old as time itself. how many of us can think back to our school years and not think of a time when we weren't being bullied or harassed. unfortunately history books are chocked full of stories of evil deeds.

Dispatchdcu - Apr 20, 2019

It's so true. However, I have seen so much good in this work personally as well. For every good there is a bad. Fred Rogers once said ”When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping”. Ever since I've heard that phrase its always helped me look through some of this sadness and disgust we see in the world. :)

myconius - Apr 20, 2019

"where there are helpers, there is hope." -yes! that was really fantastic!

Dispatchdcu - Apr 20, 2019

Fred Rogers was the MAN

Spacey Medicine

Apr 30, 2019

Honestly probably the best issue in a while in the sense that something happened and a lot of our expectations were explicitly vindicated. But the fact that we had to drag it out so long to get here is annoying, as is the fact that we all knew what was coming here.

Nihilist

Apr 17, 2019

So, we're done with Knightmares. About damn time! What was the point of the entire arc, aside from being practically nothing but filler? I don't know, but comparing this week's issue with those preceeding it, I can confidently say it'd alone be enough. Yay, we got some predictable answers, and we got some, any, story progression. That's more than all previous issues combined. The art is good and consistent, so if you're looking for a comic that looks decent, I could recommend this one. There's a nice, psychodelic element to it, but it didn't feel abused and overused for the most part. Overall "meh" - can't call it a bad comic, like its predecessors, but it's still not enough to make me even remotely interested in what's happening on i ts pages. more

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RBL - Apr 17, 2019

It’s more than meh, this is bad. Every story mentioned has failings and inconsistencies present. It’s bad.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

@RBL I agree with you here.

Tony - Apr 17, 2019

I think the big problem in King's run is the -meh- issues, I mean before and after 50 some stories could be shorter plus the repetitive topics, some guys may like it and others may hate it but these two elements are present in King's Batman.

waltgator93

Apr 17, 2019

We finally learned what Batman's greatest fear was and boy I am so glad this is last issue of the story arc. More interested in the Bane and Thomas Wayne stuff which still feels out of characteristic for Thomas to be doing this. It looks more like they are either equal partners or in Thomas's mind he's actually in control.

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RBL - Apr 17, 2019

More like Thomas lost his mind because he hardly seem to be the character King himself wrote earlier in this run. It’s bendis level ignorance of continuity and that has never been a good thing.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

None of the characters seem to be themselves anymore.

RBL - Apr 19, 2019

They share writing credits, and I’d imagine he would have to be familiar with the characters involved in the crossover, or at least know what the other author was doing, if he planned to use them in his story.

Darkseid24 - Apr 19, 2019

If he didn’t write Thomas, he should have done his research about his character.

egonnn244

Apr 17, 2019

"It's time to wake up" Finally! Yes, please. Let's wake up from this drawn out Knightmare that has lost any semblance of substance months ago. Let's start with the two, not that important, questions that still linger in my mind: - Why is Bane naked? It's the same question I've been asking while reading "I am suicide". Just why? - In all the scuffle, in all the fighting Bane didn't felt the gun in Thomas' pocket? I get it, suspension of disbelief, showing how Bat-dad is different from the Bat-son, but still. They were wrestling, there was... touching of things. And it wasn't a tiny pistol. But like I said, it's not important. What is important, is this. After months and months, there is, finally, progress in this story. I know, right. I can't believe it either, but it is true. Batman dances with Catwoman here and I must say I love it. The art is beautiful, scenery and their outfits change form panel to panel. It's really great (it's actually a majority of my score). And Batman explains to her (and to us) what was going on for the last few issues, fighting the fear toxin and all that. I am glad he did that, it gives justification and context to those issues, but it doesn't make them better in any way. Not one bit. As for the Bane and Thomas Wayne part. It felt weird, to be honest. I can't decide whether it was awkward or stupid (again, naked Bane) and whether Bat-dad's plan is cool or stupid. Does he want to be the only Batman in existence or does he want his son to be "happy" (i.e. not be Batman). If it's the first, I'm curious to see how it goes. If it's the second... well not that curious. And that whole "you don't love me; you can't love anyone, because you have the Vow; you love your crusade" thing. I'm really hoping Batman (and King) will prove Catwoman from Batman's subconscious wrong. I'm sick of "the hero needs to be sad to do his job" thing that's been going around. It already spreads. It infected the Flash, I'm worried it might poison the Man of Steel or Wonder Woman or some other hero. It has to end. more

ohhaimark

Apr 22, 2019

THE GOOD: -I didn't hate this as much as the last few issues, so I'll give it that. -The art is magnificent. Yanick Paquette is super talented. -I liked some of the nostalgia with Batman and Catwoman dancing, like their classic costumes, and King's constantly overused Year One/boat outfits. -King admitting that Batman doesn't love Catwoman was super satisfying. I hope this issue is the last one with mopey Batman. THE BAD: -Bane and Thomas Wayne's scenes just didn't interest me. And Bane fighting naked is as weird and gross in a bad way as everyone says it is. -I'm not a huge fan of the dialogue. I wasn't mad at it this time, just kind of indifferent. It definitely could've been done better given the potential and th e premise. -Still not sure why Thomas Wayne is bad. Because Bruce is still Batman? That seems like a huge stretch. more

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Darkseid24 - Apr 22, 2019

At least King explained on Twitter why Bane is naked: because during his imprisonment in Santa Prisca he lost his cloths during solitary confinement& that’s why he enjoys being nude all the time- according to King.

ohhaimark - Apr 23, 2019

That sounds like kind of a stretch. I think he ‘s just trying to go for some kind of effect that doesn’t really work.

Darkseid24 - Apr 23, 2019

Agreed.

myconius - Apr 24, 2019

all the years Bane went fully clothed, now all the sudden he just wants to be naked all the time?

I Review Comics

Mar 11, 2022

Batman #69 - Why is Bane Naked? Writer: Tom King | Artist: Yanick Paquette Cover by Francisco Mattina Review ✍ Tom King’s Knightmares is a very weird story arc. It doesn’t start with a bang, doesn’t have any shocking reveals and there isn’t much of a climax. The arc just ends like sex in a loveless marriage. As this issue progresses we get more “Bat-Simp” as Bruce uses his connection to Selina to pull himself from under the influence of Scarecrows fear toxins. This aspect of the comic is written as a below-average romance with Bruce pining after a woman that left him at the altar. The fact that even in a dream Bruce can’t get the girl without groveling is kinda pathetic. While Batman slumbers on, the rest of th e issue hones in on the blooming alliance between Thomas Wayne (Flashpoint Batman) and Bane. This story is more interesting than the Bat-Cat stuff which is way to melodramatic but also has its weird shortcoming in that the two characters spar and Bane is naked throughout their scenes together. There’s no real reason for Bane to be naked here and the fact that Thomas Wayne is smiling through much of this exchange is weird. The variant cover by Francesco Mattina is fantastic. The art from Yanick Paquette is gorgeous in spots and utterly bizarre in others. The nostalgic takes on Bruce and Selina are a nice touch as they dance through the comic but these moments don’t make up for the odd sequences in this issue or storyline. It’s as if Knightmares was a throwaway storyline designed to fleece Batman readers who were looking for any sort of resolution to the Bat/Cat storyline. At a glance, there are some brief moments of imagination in the Knightmares storyline. The silent issue of #68 comes to mind as well as the Professor Pyg fight in issue #62. Those comics worked because Tom King was able to get out of his way and let Lee Weeks and Mitch Gerads do the heavy lifting artistically. The rest of the storyline had no clear direction and even the ending feels Low-T. I can’t see a new reader picking up this graphic novel and seeing it as a definitive take on any of these characters which is a shame because like comics, dreams are only limited by imagination. In Short: After 6 issues of Knightmares, I’m still trying to figure out the point of it all. For More Subscribe: https://ireviewcomics.substack.com/ more

Maker

Apr 17, 2019

What the hell is going on with bane? Shame

Talon1load

Apr 17, 2019

This issue pisses me off even more than the rest of the filler nonsense. One, why does King keep having Bane fight naked? This was never a thing before. Suddenly this master tactician thinks it’s a good idea to fight with his dangly bits hanging out? Stupid. Second, why is Thomas here? There’s no explanation and it makes zero sense. Third, this damn dream sequence is just annoying. Holy hell, get over the break up already. I honestly don’t understand how anyone could still want a relationship between Batman and Catwoman after King’s run. He has made this pairing toxic. We were treated to the usual terrible dialogue and the lyrics to a song that probably no one knows. Also for the grand finale of the Knightmare arc and Batman is STILL LOCKED IN THE DAMN MACHINE!!!! So there’s no real resolution to anything. The 4 is all art which was decent enough but it had zero chance of making up for this nonsense story. more

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Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Terrible issue in so many ways. Hated it.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 17, 2019

Terribile dialogues? Annoying? Man, did you read it?

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Dialogue was better than in most of Kings stories, but far away from good.

Talon1load - Apr 17, 2019

If you’re questioning how the dialogue is bad then I’m wonderinf if you read it. We got the return of the “Bat, Cat” bullshit and more of the stilted speech from Batman. Thomas Wayne sounds different than EVERY other iteration of the character and Bane is just running around naked for no damn reason. This issue sucked donkey balls.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 17, 2019

Man, I really don’t know what do you mean for “bad dialogues”, really. Learn to read.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Bad dialogue means, that everything the characters are saying is cringy. Nobody talks like that in real life. Best example, when Bane said „More“ at least it was funny with no cloths on 😂

Talon1load - Apr 17, 2019

You probably need to take your own advice about reading. I didn’t say “bad dialogues” anywhere in my review.

myconius - Apr 17, 2019

“bad dialogue" means the opposite of good dialogue. it's pretty simple really.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 18, 2019

“We were treated to the usual terrible dialogues and the...” This is embarrassing.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 18, 2019

The dialogues are not cringy, the opposite AND we are in a fucking DREAM.

Talon1load - Apr 18, 2019

This IS embarrassing, for you. I’m getting concerned for your ability to read. Look back up there. There’s no “s” on dialogue. Also, being in a dream doesn’t excuse poor writing.

Talon1load - Apr 18, 2019

Your inability to read would explain how you think King’s dialogue is good though.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 18, 2019

Mhhh, I don’t think so. What dialogue you was referring to? No one. You just committed an error.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 18, 2019

Your inability to write explain why you can’t understand King’s writing.

Talon1load - Apr 18, 2019

Dude, what are you talking about? What error? You can’t even write a coherent sentence. I’ve talked about the problems with Kong’s dialogue numerous times. The “bat” “cat” nonsense. His characters stilted speech. The out of character dialogue. I’ve talked about it pretty clearly. At this point I’m just assuming that you’re trolling so I’ll stop.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 18, 2019

So, it’s dialogues not dialogue.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 18, 2019

But, again, out of character? What the Hell.

Talon1load - Apr 18, 2019

Sigh. It’s dialogue. It’s really important that you be right when correcting someone.

myconius - Apr 18, 2019

what amazes me about this arc is not only is it poorly done, but it's not even all that original. this story is pretty much just a bad rip-off of Batman #682 & #683 Final Crisis: Last Rites. but whereas Morrison only needed TWO issues to tell that story, he also made Batman a total Bad-ass that eventually figured out what was going on, but was able to pull his way out of the nightmare machine. ...King's Batman is too busy spouting sappy dialogue & dancing the night away like a fool.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 18, 2019

Dialogue= singular (1 dialogue) Dialogues=plural Bat and Selina have dialogues not a dialogue ;).

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 18, 2019

Myconius, look I’m tired to say how GREAT is this run, so please stop. I’m tired and I’m sure that you are too.

Talon1load - Apr 18, 2019

Holy shit man. Look it up in a damn dictionary. You are wrong and the more you argue it the dumber you look.

myconius - Apr 18, 2019

Andrea D’Alò - i never grow tired of saying just how crappy Tom King's Batman is. :D

myconius - Apr 18, 2019

Hey Talon1load, what do you think is the deal with Tom King and the constant obsession with bare assed Bane?

Darkseid24 - Apr 18, 2019

@Andrea Best example for Kings bad dialogue he is always using is Batman 55. Dick sounded like a braindead idiot there. Or HIC. Every character is out of character in Batman 69. King didn’t even get how the fear gas works, gave no explanation for why Thomas is in this timeline. He reduced Bruce on an average guy, who is constantly whining about his ex. It’s just bad, everything about it.

Darkseid24 - Apr 18, 2019

to

myconius - Apr 18, 2019

not only did King reduce Batman to an average guy, but a hapless one. ...and WHY would Thomas Wayne join up with Bane? just beyond silly.

Darkseid24 - Apr 18, 2019

Im asking myself this too. Hope it doesn’t get worse than this. Thomas should have stayed in Flashpoint timeline.

Talon1load - Apr 18, 2019

I don’t know what’s up with Bane being naked all the time. Maybe he digs that sort of thing. I don’t know. I don’t judge. Well, I judge his writing but not that. Lol

Darkseid24 - Apr 18, 2019

Maybe he is a nudist.

Talon1load - Apr 18, 2019

Maybe

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 18, 2019

Talon you are wrong and you know it.

myconius - Apr 19, 2019

do you all hear this? you opinions are "wrong".

myconius - Apr 19, 2019

*your

Talon1load - Apr 19, 2019

He’s trying to say my grammar is wrong because he’s incapable of using a dictionary.

myconius - Apr 19, 2019

ha! worrying about grammar on this site, is like trying to treat a shotgun wound with a band-aid.

myconius - Apr 19, 2019

it's nothing more than an insignificant distraction from the hulking mounds of Gorilla Turds that is this run.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 19, 2019

“This issue has great dialogues”= correct “This issue has great dialogue”= incorrect “At page 6 there’s a very complex dialogue between Selina and Bruce”

Talon1load - Apr 19, 2019

You’re literally to stupid to argue with any further.

Darkseid24 - Apr 19, 2019

@Andrea maybe you should read more complex books, but Kings dialogue is always pretty bad. The characters are often just babbling& Sound out of character. The editors must be sleeping. And the dialogue between Bruce& Selina wasn’t deep at all. What are you talking about?

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 19, 2019

I was giving an example to Talon. I read A LOT of books and I found King’s dialogues pretty complex. In the previous issue Superman says “You love to have to be Batman”, that was a clue for this issue.In this issue we can also see the attitude of Bruce to not saying the right question, like in the first page, where he asks to Selina to dance AND we can see the reflection of this when he asks “why?”.He didn’t say the right question because, in both of the situation, he was scared about the answ

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 19, 2019

Answer, I ran out of space.

myconius - Apr 19, 2019

Tom King's dialog is complex, is it? ....now i've heard everything.

Darkseid24 - Apr 19, 2019

@Andrea So do I and I think King’s dialogue is awfully written. It sounds as it was written by a child. He wants to be deep, but isn’t. Many of his sentences don’t even sound like correct English. The characters are often talking about stuff, that doesn’t have anything to do with the situation they are in. Best example, when Ivy& Harley talked in HIC or Mr Miracle. Awful.

Andrea D’Alò - Apr 20, 2019

I found King’s dialogues not only complex, but realistic. His characters does not talk about everything that is happening. You can literally study Tom King’s Issues. With this, I’d like to end this discussion because we are going nowhere.

myconius - Apr 20, 2019

if you feel that way about his dialog then that's fine. but you don't have to try to convince the rest of us otherwise. might as well be shouting at the clouds at that point.

Darkseid24 - Apr 20, 2019

@Andrea His dialogue is one of the worst I’ve ever read. And no people don’t talk like that especially not some characters, they all sound like they are braindead. But yeah let’s agree to disagree here.

CaptnAmerca

Apr 17, 2019

This arc had more filler than a gas station hot dog. Glad it's over.

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myconius - Apr 19, 2019

hahahaa! good one! :D

Quinn

Apr 17, 2019

All these dream issues lead up to Bruce telling dream Selina, who keeps changing form into the various Catwoman depictions made over the years, that his greatest fear is that he does not love Selina. The other part is Old Thomas Wayne scrapping with NAKED Bane. (For the record, fighting with your testicles and penis hanging out to flap around is really a had idea. That's how sopranos are created). Old Thomas beats Bane and walks away only to be grabbed and thrown down. Old Thomas, when at Bane's mercy answers the age-old question of "is that a gun in your pocket or are you glad to see me?" It was a gun. Funny how a regular-sized hanggun in the pocket of a sweat pants showed no outline or evidence of existence until Old Thomas pulle d it out of his pocket. (Pockets where you can hide a gun are another reason why you wear some damn pants when scrapping). Bane accuses Old Thomas of CHEATING - NO FAIR!!!. Old Thomas says he doesn't cheat, he wins. Bruce also speaks a lot of exposition of how he beat the fear gas. By being more afraid, the body produces more adrenaline and self-protects. It would have been easier to say, when I realized I was in a dream, I woke myself up BECAUSE I'M BATMAN. (See How It Should Have Ended for more on this). So I guess, these dreams are meant to show Bruce's greatest fears. But I really didn't get that impression. I just saw them as wheel-spinning that really didn't offer me any insight. And I guess Selina in these dreams is Bruce's unconscious mind telling him truths he wouldn't face otherwise? I don't know, it just seems King being really self-indulgent without having the talent to really make these issues count. I am really tired of this. Just get on with it. Also, Old Thomas doesn't want Bruce to be Batman, but works with psycho killers? What kind of sense does that make? He doesn't sit down and explain how being Batman is a waste of one's life and maybe by using the Wayne fortune to help people, he will do more to fight crime? Old Thomas just teams up with killers? How does that help Bruce, Gotham? Innocent people? To quote another billionaire Super Hero - "Not a Great Plan." All in all a very frustrating issue built on a set of frustrating issues. Or I could be wrong. At least the art was good. Or I could be wrong. more

RBL

Apr 17, 2019

Best thing about this issue. This abysmal, asinine, and utterly pointless arc is finally over. The next one should be better because the bar has been basically placed on the ground. This book states that Batman is incapable of emotion and that scares him, more so than anything else. Being incapable of love due his vow is his biggest fear; too bad we’ve seen him feel so strongly he eschews all reason in more than a few instances. such as Robin Rises and when he pursued the KGBeast after he shot Dick Grayson and ruined the Nightwing title. We’ve also seen him shaken to his core after he believed he lost Tim. Not to mention his pursuit of Talia Al-Ghul when he wanted to let her know he would be getting married. I mean, that is his own w ork he’s ignoring right there. Pure idiocy. A man incapable of love and emotions would not fight what is essentially a god to recover a body just for the chance to see if he can bring that person back. I also find it incredibly hard to believe Thomas Wayne would actively seek to damage or otherwise have his own son be taken off the board, just because of some odd belief he has to be Batman. It even runs contrary to how he was presented in Flashpoint and The Button, Convergence even. A man so irrevocably changed by his son’s death would not seek to harm that very son, no matter whatever notions he has in his head. Is this enough payoff for over half a year of nothing? Not in the least, there is no satisfying revelation to be had or anything to merit the waste that was the *Knightmares* arc. more

myconius

Apr 17, 2019

there’s no reason for this to plot to get dragged out so much. aside from each issue being inconsistent from one another, what Batman run in history has ever needed this many issue to tell it’s story before? at the conclusion 'Knightmares' the meandering plot has barely even progressed.

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Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

This issue was so awful, it makes me want to quit reading Batman

myconius - Apr 17, 2019

i've tried to give up reading Batman, but the hopeless fanboy in me won't allow it. though i've mentally and emotionally checked out from this run some time ago. now i just tune in to see Tom King embarrass himself.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Same here. I keep reading it, because it’s in contuinity, but I don’t enjoy it at all. At least we have Detective Comics.

myconius - Apr 17, 2019

very true! Tomasi's Detective is the first i've enjoyed a new Batman comic in a LONNNNNG time!

myconius - Apr 17, 2019

one thing i really enjoy about Tomasi's Detective run is he mostly ignores Tom King's panty waste of a Batman and just writes the character the way he should be written.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Yes. Tomasi once stated, that he is first reading stories with the characters& then he’s trying to write them in character. King doesn’t seem to do that. Glad Tomasis Detective Comics is good so far.

myconius - Apr 19, 2019

Tomasi definitely does his homework. plus has real talent for writing as well. this other guy... zero points on all counts.

Darkseid24 - Apr 19, 2019

Agreed. Even so Tomasi isn’t perfect either. He has to prove he can make Arkham Knight a meaningful character, but definitely better than King. With King I’m worried every two weeks that he might mess my favorite characters up. Overall I’m worried about that since Darkseid War. DC went too far there.

myconius - Apr 20, 2019

it's never a guarantee, but i have faith in Tomasi. when given a set of characters he really cares about, he's always very passionate. and that always comes out in his writing. and Bruce. Alfred & Damian are all characters that he really loves. heck! it's Tomasi that is responsible for pushing DC to bring back Damian. he told me so himself, when i asked him about it at a convention. great guy BTW.

Darkseid24 - Apr 20, 2019

Yeah, but I’m not a fan of Damien. I think Nightwing, Tim& Oracle were enough. King said in an interview, that Batmans lowest point is yet to come.

Darkseid24

Apr 17, 2019

Awful issue. Does King ever research the characters he is writing or does he just force his story on them? I’d say the latter. The nightmares Bruce is having, turn out to be a fear gas illusion indeed as it was mentioned some issues ago. However two things are really wrong here: Normally Batman can only overcome the fear gas by either facing his fears or enduring them until the fear gas wears off. Sometimes he realizes it’s just an illusion& he can overcome his fears. In King‘s story it is stated, that Batman can overcome them, if he is just afraid enough, what actually contradicts every Scarecrow story ever written. The worst fear usually destroys people& that’s why Batman is so special, because he can deal with his fears. A fear gas illusion also doesn’t let its victim enjoy some beauty moments as it was shown in nightmares ( dreams would fit better), it induces Fear or forces its victim to revisit traumas. King must have never read one single Scarecrow story. Secondly his worst fear is Catwoman or rather because she left him& I can only face palm. King continues to portray Bruce as an average guy, who is obsessed with his girlfriend. But that’s not what Bruce or Batman is about. Selina is one of his major love interests, but breaking up with her would never effect him so much. Apparently King doesn’t know, that they have an on off relationship. So this feels like bad fanfiction. What really made me laugh was the way Bane is portrayed here. Training with Thomas sounded more like they did some sex games, since Bane was completely nude. Only makes his character look bad, but doesn’t have any purpose. Unless Bane& Thomas suddenly have a gay relationship. King also gives zero explanation about why Thomas is even in this timeline. It makes zero sense& his team up with Bane makes even lesser sense. It’s like bad fanfiction again. With the fear gas mentioned, I hope Scarecrow is spared from King’s terrible writing in the upcoming issue. Batman 69 is a disaster in so many ways. A shame, that the art gets wasted for this train wreck of a story. Sad, I had hopes here... more

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myconius - Apr 17, 2019

i'd say you had it right when you said he forces his story on them. ...normally Batman COULD overcome fear gas. ...but not Tom King's Batman, NO! he has to weep and feel sorry for himself. maybe cut himself a little while listening to Fall Out Boy.

Darkseid24 - Apr 17, 2019

Agreed. The reason why Batman always overcomes it, is also that he’s able to endure pain& fear. He can fight even so he’s still under its effect. King portrays him so weak.

ohhaimark - Apr 18, 2019

@myconius- HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! *wipes tear from eye* HAHAHAHAHA!!!

myconius - Apr 18, 2019

@ohhaimark- hahahaha! but seriously though, right? :D

Talon1load - Apr 18, 2019

Kings Batman has been portrayed as weak from the start until the inexplicable moments when he can apparently do anything like fix his own back or walk 200 miles in the frozen tundra. He’s so inconsistent it’s ridiculous.

Darkseid24 - Apr 18, 2019

Nothing makes sense anymore. King should have quitted after 50, it was mediocre until then, but it turned so bad.

myconius - Apr 18, 2019

Darkseid24 you are 100% correct!

Michaelbn

Apr 18, 2019

Even King has no idea what he is doing. Fanfictions are better than this.

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myconius - Apr 18, 2019

i like that analogy.