Batman #84

Tom King has given us a story that cuts to the heart of Batman's motivations. Will Bruce give into the demands of the man in whose memory he became the Batman? Or will he instead heed the words of the man who raised him and helped him become the Batman? Read Full Review

Jorge Fornes delivers some beautiful art in this issue. Showing familiar moments from different angles and perspectives gives a fuller sense of those moments to readers of the series. The layout of the panels is fantastic and there are some brilliant uses of shadow and negative space that make the characters pop. Read Full Review

So how will this all end? I have no idea. It has been a fun ride up until now. Let us hope that King can stick to the landing and make something great. Read Full Review

Overall, King does a fantastic job explaining Thomas Wayne's psyche during this event and sets up the final conclusion to the 'City of Bane' arc. Read Full Review

In the penultimate issue of his run on the series, writer Tom King uses an extended series of flashbacks to lay out the tragedy of Thomas Wayne's life and his motivations. It points to the central question of his run: "can Batman be happy?" While not the most action-packed issue, BATMAN #84 is a fascinating character study. Read Full Review

While this issue basically pauses the ongoing story in the middle of the climax to provide exposition, the exposition it gives is essential to understanding the story as a whole. Read Full Review

The second-to-last issue of Tom King's run arrives with Batman #84, but it's an issue that, with so much story left to tell, feels an awful lot like stalling as it takes readers not into a final showdown but reminds them how we actually got to this point. To be fair, it's a beautiful stall. Read Full Review

Even though this issue takes us away from the story, it is still a must read because of all the answers revealed and there is some amazing writing in each episode that happens that kept me entertained and engaged in the entire issue. King did a great job making sure to keep integrity in each event and making sure not to just cram a bunch of events that only showed us the answers and moved on. There is amazing art work to complement the story and I highly recommend you pick this one up ASAP! Batman #84 is available now, so get up off your butt and go pick it up now! Read Full Review

Batman #84 provides some much-needed answers and a novel approach to depicting the life of Thomas Wayne. Read Full Review

Let's be honest; there are no big shocks in this issue. We get some new information but thats not really the point. This issue serves as an argument as to why a character like Thomas Wayne would essentially become the villain of this story, and I think its successful at doing that. Read Full Review

City of Bane will end very shortly, and Thomas Wayne's entire origin and motivations are now clear. While his reasoning for wanting to stop Bruce Wayne are sound, the methods he uses are suspect. Overall this is an interesting issue that is a fun read and overcomes its faults through its interactive nature. Read Full Review

Batman#84 is a great, concise explanation of Flashpoint Batman. While the flashback sequences were elevated by King's expert use of reverse storytelling, it is ultimately marred by FP Batman's behavior in previous issues. Read Full Review

And I think that's the crux of my critique: while they are moments I do enjoy, the overall direction seems a little wonky and something that can't really be overlooked with the conclusion around the corner (which despite my fatigue, I will dutifully read). Read Full Review

This issue was a case of better late than never in terms of fleshing out Thomas motivations, but theres a real weirdness in the City of Bane arc culminating in a final conflict with Bruce and Thomas. Read Full Review

Batman #84 is fine. That seems like a lackluster assessment, but it really feels like a placeholder, biding time for whatever comes next while doing its best to stretch out the little bit of context that King wanted to give to Thomas Wayne's motivations. Read Full Review

The issue is almost all flashback as the creative team continues to delay the finale. The flashbacks don't reveal anything worth the delay. Read Full Review

If Batman #84 was a standalone comic than it would succeed in telling a summarized version of Flashpoint Thomas Wayne's backstory leading into "City of Bane." But that is not what Batman #84. This is the penultimate chapter for the story that Tom King has built his entire run on Batman around. For there to be this big of a stalling tactic applied going into the final issue for "City of Bane" is inexcusable. If it wasn't for the strong artwork from Jorge Fornes and Jordie Bellaire this issue would've been an even bigger swing and miss than it turned out to be. Read Full Review

This issue wasnt nearly as bad as the past 2, but it still doesnt crack adequate. Read Full Review

This issue wasnt nearly as bad as the past 2, but it still doesnt crack adequate. Read Full Review

Aside from a few nice moments, this issue is a complete waste of time that delivers a message that completely contradicts everything Thomas Wayne has been doing" So" Basically" Your standard Tom King comic these days. Read Full Review

This issue gives us some much needed context when it comes to Thomas Wayne's character. In addition we have a great artist working on this book. Unfortunately, this all comes with the extremely poor decision of putting the issue in reverse order of events. Now, there is a way to do it properly. I don't want others with great ideas that involve playing with story structure to be discouraged. However, understand that you are swinging for the fences and unfortunately that means you have a high chance of failing. That is the case with this new issue of Batman. That one decision affects the book so greatly that all the good that this issue does is immediately and decisively undone. This is beyond disappointing. Read Full Review

axdn

Dec 04, 2019

Comicbook goodness!

Another Nerd

Dec 04, 2019

The perfect penultimate issue.

+ Like • Comments (1)

waltgator93 - Dec 5, 2019

How?

Detective Chimp

Dec 06, 2019

Yes, I gave #83 a 1 and #84 a 10. Allow me to explain myself. The Good News : FINALLY! We have the background story of Bat-Thomas and I think is just amazing, I really like this character since Flashpoint and I think this background story is very good stuff about Thomas so I spare a review of 10 for this issue but... As another "King" said (the singer Carole King) "It's too late baby, now it's too late". Too late after a terrible run from Tom King. And the Bad news are : I bet King kills Bat-Thomas the next number... I know because is King's way and because the infamous foretelling of Gotham Girl at the end of "I'm Gotham". So I'm expecting the worst. And you?

Anotherfan

Dec 04, 2019

So questions were answered. Plotholes were loved. Origins ans background were added. But hey that only means that King doesn't know what he is doing. That was the tale of a broken man and it was profound and touching. It give more depht to the overall run and it really prepare for the last showdown. Not particullary fan of the reverse narration but it was done correctly.

+ Like • Comments (3)

• Likes (2)

• Linkush
• Detective Chimp

Show all comments

Darkseid24 - Dec 5, 2019

Broken man? You mean psychotic mass murderer.

Anotherfan - Dec 5, 2019

Yeah. Two sides of the same coin

Detective Chimp - Dec 6, 2019

I loved this issue for the same reason even when I know is weird because I think overall King's Run is crap but this issue I think was good stuff.

LunaMoody

Dec 04, 2019

Things I liked about the issue........ 1. I rather liked that Thomas had a history with Selina in his world. It's kind of cool that she was like his Robin sort of. It was an unexpected twist. And the fact that Martha kills her was sad but cool also. The whole we met here no we met here thing was over kill. I can understand it between Selina and Bruce but to use it between Thomas and Selina takes what was kind of cute it to far. 2. The art was good in some place not so much in others. Over all it was okay. 3. I liked the story. It was a bit confusing as you read it, but that is due to the way it's lined up. Once you have read it all through, it sorts it's self out order wise. Though still leaves you with questions. The way it was wr itten it appears that the catch up is only for the reader and not being told to Bruce, so we can expect some retelling in the next issue probably. 4. I don't mind the placement of this story. I think it would have been so much better to have had it broken up and added to different issues further back in the arc. It would have helped with the story progression and made it feel like it was actually moving along somewhere. Also it would have been nice to have had some parts of it fleshed out more. But over all this issue was pretty good. I think King had a good idea with this story line but just doesn't have the experience under his hat yet to pull something this big off as he wrote it. I think it would have been far better if his whole run hadn't been about this story. That's where he went wrong and why we ended up getting so many issues of just time filler. 5. The tie into the Booster issue was a nice touch. I think Thomas got the gist of The Booster story from listening to Booster talking to Selina and Bruce afterwards. Questions I have about this issue....... 1. Okay I have to say I loved the date issue with Bat, Cat, Lois and Superman. Loved it! But are we the reader now supposed to believe that considering the lives these 4 characters live and who they are, not a one of them felt like they were being followed and watched? Really?? I mean Superman has said many times he can find Bruce anywhere from his heart beat alone. So you don't think he would have notice the same heart beat (Thomas's) following them around? 2. How did Thomas make it through his world ending? That just wasn't very clearly shown. And on that how did R-Flash save him and when? He tells Thomas that he killed him. So he couldn't have done it while dead obviously . So when? 3. Thomas made a vow to war against anything that would cause his son pain. Except apparently himself. Because that is all he has done since he took up with Bane. Why? If he doesn't want his son hurt why not just go around killing all his major villains? That would have made more sense and Thomas was not above killing people. Are we to believe that his time with Catwoman changed his thinking so much that he couldn't see how this way was only hurting Bruce more? Bane could have killed Bruce easily when he broke his back. Plus putting Alfred in danger and then letting him be killed makes no sense at all. Bruce became Batman because he witnessed the murder of his parents. Why would he think that would be changed after Alfred is killed. Alfred was for all intents and purposes his father. Why would Thomas think that Bruce would not feel and make that same vow to avenge Alfred? 4. Wasn't the Penguin and Thomas friends on his world? I seem to remember a story where they I believe had a casino together??? Or maybe that was from some other world? I don't know it's hard to keep track sometimes and it doesn't help when they make movies of the different stories and change them around. 5. Bane is alive still. That is a major let down. So we can expect more annoying issues with him in them, no doubt once again bragging about breaking Batman. His sad and pathetic one claim to fame. So much for Thomas's promise to kill him for hurting Claire. 6. Why is Thomas drawn with the better body? Bruce looks chubby while Thomas looks fit. more

+ Like • Comments (6)

• Likes (2)

• Linkush
• Kreniigh

Show all comments

Canada_Comic_Guy - Dec 5, 2019

Love the detailed review! Even if I think this is a 2.0 at best.

LunaMoody - Dec 5, 2019

Thanks Canada guy

Detective Chimp - Dec 6, 2019

Luna, you have a good point. Penguin in flashpoint world works for Thomas that's seems to be a big mistake in this story.

LunaMoody - Dec 7, 2019

I thought so. Don't they have anyone at DC that does fact checks on stories? They seem to miss a lot of stuff anymore. Do you read Nightwing? In the Nightwing annual they said that Dicks parents were shot when they weren't. And how they died has been written about many times over the years so that is a huge mistake to make. They need some serious fact checkers at DC

Detective Chimp - Dec 12, 2019

@Luna I think they actually need some "serious people" in all comic industry.

LunaMoody - Dec 13, 2019

True or for the ones working in to start to actually give a damn about the characters and not just the over all credit for having gotten one of their stories out

Linkush

Dec 04, 2019

Oh man, what an unfortunate time to release this issue. This could have been so much better if it was released instead of issue #81. As it stands, this issue does a good job establishing Thomas's motivations. It gives us a much-needed explanation of what Thomas was doing all along and why he did it. However, I can't say that the fact this issue came so late in the arc didn't affect my enjoyment, because it did. And as usual, The art is beautiful, just as you'd expect from this run.

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (5)

• Anotherfan
• Detective Chimp
• Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln
• Kreniigh
• Tony

Detective Chimp - Dec 6, 2019

@Linkush I liked this issue just as you. But the run as a whole is terrible and I don't expect a good end in #85.

Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln

Dec 05, 2019

Thankfully this issue happened. I was so used to detractors complaining about not knowing what happened to Thomas Wayne for *ages*. I knew from the start it would be explained. So I would reply "It's a mystery. Keep waiting. That's what mysteries are... a mystery." Of course now that it is revealed they will continue to say things like "Tom King never had anything planned, he just made it up on the spot". It used to be "Tom King forgot". As for the actual issue itself, umm it sure isn't the kind of penultimate issue you would expect. The way it is delivered is a bit of a clusterfuck, likely due to the premature ending. It seems the flashback is being told in reverse from Thomas Wayne's perspective. I would have to reread it to confirm t hat observation. It doesn't really give much new information that observant readers couldn't already piece together, but it does explain how Thomas Wayne is still around. I also haven't read the Flashpoint Batman stuff from the past, so I can't say how much of his past is new material here, but I do like that he took Selina under his wing and they had a kind of father/daughter relationship. That establishes a connection between the two immediately, and with one issue left it is information that is sorely needed. Looking forward to the... wedding? Showdown? As well as Tynion IV's Batman, which I previously thought I wouldn't be. more

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (1)

• Linkush

Psycamorean - Dec 7, 2019

Most of the Flashpoint stuff doesn't line up at all with the original story. So it's all new.

Crimson Knight

Dec 04, 2019

If I'm being honest this wasn't my favourite issue of King's Batman, but I still liked it. The issue felt like it tied a lot together, explaining the reasons for the events in both king's run as well as things in in Brian Azzarello's original batman flashpoint book. I could go into more detail as to what I liked and what I didn't but I have a feeling others did that already, so do I agree with the haters, no. Do I agree with a perfect score, also no. It's a good story with great art, two months too late.

FASHI

Dec 05, 2019

The issue's heartbreaking in that it's a window into how much better this series could've been with both a re-prioritization of... priorities and tighter pacing. We needed this dive into Flashpoint bat so much like 30 issues ago, maybe showing the character motivations so we know why things are happening or something, maybe dropping bane entirely because he doesn't do anything interesting and thomas is so unexplored. there's easily an arcs worth of cool stuff in this that's just breezed by. It also highlights king's inspired structural experimentation, it took a lot of work to fit this big of a story into 22 pages. it's as clean as it possibly can be and the little thomas bits we do get are potent.

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (1)

• Detective Chimp

Detective Chimp - Dec 6, 2019

Agree. Is sad to think about how good this book should be (because is BATMAN!) and how bad actually is for a real lack of common sense from King.

egonnn244

Dec 05, 2019

"My little boy..." Not bad, I enjoyed this one. Filler? Yes. Should have been released much earlier to reveal naggingly missing plot details? Most definitely. But we finally learn how Thomas Wayne got to the Prime universe. It fits, involves a speedster (there is a coloring error in the issue), makes sense and fills a plot point that really should have been filled much, much earlier. And I also like the twisted version of the Batman oath that Thomas took. That man is really too far gone. Also, no pretentious dialogue or repetition. Unfortunately, we do get another variation of "we met on..." Yeah, not bad, but where was this type of writing for the last 30 something issue? Where Mr. King?

+ Like • Comments (14)

Show all comments

Talon1load - Dec 6, 2019

It doesn't really explain how he got there though. How did it still exist? Since when can Reverse Flash go to dead timelines? When Thomas disappeared in the Button it was going out of existence but suddenly he's not and instead of going to talk to his son he decides to destroy his life? This was just more nonsense.

Detective Chimp - Dec 6, 2019

I'm making the same questions as you egon.

egonnn244 - Dec 7, 2019

What's to explain? When Barry fixed the flashpoint, that reality didn't disappear and just kept on living for some time. And when Thomas charged on the dissolving reality Eobard snatched him in that moment saving him. And then he got fixated on ensuring that his son is "happy" and leaves the Batman behind because it's pain, hurt and all that. This run is full of nonsense and questionable decisions, but this one seemed pretty clear.

Talon1load - Dec 7, 2019

I was under the impression that Flashpoint completely disappeared after everything was fixed. That was the whole point.

egonnn244 - Dec 7, 2019

The whole point was yet another reboot of the universe.

Talon1load - Dec 7, 2019

True. I meant that once the timeline was fixed the Flashpoint timeline disappeared. That was the whole point for Thomas. To replace it with the proper timeline where Bruce survived

egonnn244 - Dec 7, 2019

And he was pretty disappointed here when he realized that the "wrong" timeline wasn't erased.

Talon1load - Dec 7, 2019

I got that but there’s no explanation as to why it wasn’t erased

egonnn244 - Dec 7, 2019

It just wasn't. I don't really need any more explanation than that.

Talon1load - Dec 7, 2019

I do. I like for things to make sense.

egonnn244 - Dec 7, 2019

It's comic books, so the definition of "sense" is very, very wide. The most powerful weapon in the universe doesn't work against yellow, "punching" reality resurrects dead Robins and no one can tell that Clark Kent is Superman. Yeah, the definition of "sense" is very wide.

Talon1load - Dec 7, 2019

The rings have worked against yellow for over a decade now but there is always a suspension of disbelief. I still think an explanation is needed for the story. I get it that you don’t but that’s just how we differ I guess.

egonnn244 - Dec 7, 2019

I know that they work now and I'm glad that you brought up the suspensions of disbelief. The flashpoint timeline wasn't erased because it wasn't. And people don't recognize Clark Kent as Superman with glasses because they don't. I know that we won't see eye to eye on the matter but it's always nice to have a civil conversation with someone on the internet. That stuff is rare. Especially now when people are triggered by everything. Literally everything.

Talon1load - Dec 7, 2019

Facts.

allenquanobi

Dec 04, 2019

I liked that we finally got some answers to flashpoint Batman, but his motivation is unconvincing. He clearly knows this is not the same universe Batman as flashpoint so he can't assume it will all turn out the same. Also the art was not good, especially with an egregious error in coloring flash's suit that caused a ton of confusion.

mrDovydas

Dec 09, 2019

Nooo no no nonono no. This is not what this series need at this exact moment. It's way too late to waste another issue trying to explain Flashpoint Batman's actions - and they're not even justified, most of the stuff shown here either was a no-brainer or makes no sense. And King tries to sort of do the thing he did so well half a decade ago (wow, time flies!) on the Grayson Future's End oneshot, where he tries to tell the story from the finish to the beginning, rather than telling it from beginning to the end, like, you know, regular writers do. But it does not work here. At least the art was nice.

MKW69

Dec 04, 2019

Another Grayson futures end or Pax Americana like issue. I don't like it.

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (2)

• myconius
• RBL

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

only that this idiotic mess of Tom King's doesn't deserve to be in the same sentence as Pax Americana. ...at least Pax Americana had a plan and actually tried.

Darkseid24

Dec 04, 2019

This isnt as bad as the last few issues, but still bad. We are finally getting an explanation for why & how Thomas can even be in this timeline. I don’t read Flash, but I don’t think Reverse Flash is powerful enough to bring people from already erased timelines back to the canon ( if so, he should bring Pre52 Darkseid& Desaad back to me), so this feels like a deus ex machina. It also pisses me off, that Thomas is still thinking he& Bruce are the same kind of Batman. Thomas is nothing more than a psychotic mass murderer asshole, so why doesnt Bruce point this out? This isnt his father, his father died. All of this should be emphasized more. Dialogue is missing, but thats because all of this is way too late. Thomas motivations shou id have been made clear, when he fought Bruce in the desert, not 1 issue before the final one. Kings concept is a mess. I don’t think the idea of Bruce having to fight an alternative & corrupted version of his father is a bad idea, but King just can’t write this story due to bad dialogue & concept. Also this Catwoman love story is just annoying and lame. At least Bane isn’t dead, I just wish the same would go for Alfred. Also will a writer ever address the trauma Bruce just suffered? He lost Alfred& had to face a twisted version of his father. That’s a real sick story, I would probably like, if it was written way better. I wish Bruce would kill Thomas in the final issue, that’s the only time, where I would forgive him breaking his no killing rule. Hope Thomas is put there where he belongs: into oblivion. more

+ Like • Comments (7)

• Likes (2)

• myconius
• Nihilist

Show all comments

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

i just find the entire concept of Thomas doing all this to spite Bruce for not listening to him just laughable!! ... so damned f*****ng idiotic!!

Darkseid24 - Dec 4, 2019

Totally agree. It’s one of the dumbest motivations ever. Thomas also doesnt realize how much of a Psychopath he is, therefore his life as Batman doesnt apply to Bruce. Wish he was just killed off.

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

yeah. the "motivation" makes absolutely ZERO sense. Tom King probably just threw in ALL the characters in the last page of issue #50 with Bane, just to be shocking. ...he obviously had NO plan why they were there, or what to do with any of them. ESPECIALLY Thomas!! ... the bonehead has just been stalling, while he tried to figure out what to do with them. ...at this point i'd gladly see Thomas get killed off.

Darkseid24 - Dec 4, 2019

Totally agree. Glad Bane isnt dead. King made me hate him, but since I have read Knightfall I think Bane deserves better.

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

Bane most definitely deserves better. ALL the characters in this run deserved better. ....just one more issue of this hot trash!

Darkseid24 - Dec 4, 2019

Agreed. Glad my favorite characters werent much involved. Yes just 1 more

Detective Chimp - Dec 6, 2019

All the characters deserve better, King is a character shredder, Alfred is dead, all those characters in Heroes in Crisis dead and wally totally ashamed, and I fear next number King ends killing Thomas. What more? Maybe now Bane awakes and decides to start a new life under the name "RANE"...

superstan52

Dec 06, 2019

If Thomas wanted to spare Bruce the pain and misery of being Batman, wouldn't he have made SURE Bruce and Selina got married? After all, the reason they Didnt wed was because Selina was convinced if Bruce was happy, he couldn't be Batman?

JBL Reviews

Dec 04, 2019

King is really asking a lot by giving us so little story progression each issue

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (4)

• myconius
• RBL
• Talon1load
• Russellmaniaxxx

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

because he had no plan. he's just stalling. waiting for this all to be over. he's a fraud.

RBL

Dec 04, 2019

Not gonna lie, whatever this was, good isn't it. Using the word "earlier" for every panel makes it feel incredibly messy, and as we're talking about a character from an entirely different Earth it muddles it even further. I'd say there would have to be a better way to indicate where and when things happened but simply "earlier" is not it. While I can't recall the Flashpoint story, I am fairly sure there are inconsistencies or retcons present here. How the story develops seems to be for the most part unconnected with Doomsday Clock as people believed, so that's another concept thrown out the window. It's disappointing that while it presents the motivations of Thomas Wayne it does so in a poor fashion and shows little else. Thi s was not good. more

Afre

Dec 04, 2019

Eh. Just eh. Reverse flashbacks might sound very artistic and deep. It actually makes it a bit more jarring, especially since I don't remember Flashpoint so well. So if someone wants to enjoy this issue more, you need to read Thomas bits backwards. So, we finally got a Thomas backstory. In a penultimate issue of King's run. There wasn't any better place to put this? Like, after "Fall and the Fallen"? (I am ashamed I remember the names of King's arcs) Put this really needed to happen before City of Bane. "Present Day" arc doesn't go anywhere. Summary is again so misleading. In other news, water; wet. What is in this, isn't actually that bad IMO. I don't hate it. I hate the idea of this, I dislike City of Bane, but this, as an iss ue, is fine. Okay. If you don't mind the reverse flashbacks. Does this explain Thomas' actions? Well... Eh. Sort of. I guess. He is broken. I like that Selina existed in Flashpoint but Martha killed her. I like a lot of things. King clearly had a vision for Flashpoint Batman, and focused more on him, than Bruce. I guess it takes talent to have 33 issues (from 50-83) to swift focus from Bruce to Thomas and still have Thomas a big question mark. Why didn't King write Flashpoint Batman? And left his Batman run to someone else? Also, a big error happens in this. Art is good, yes, but Flash is colored as Reverse-Flash in the only panel he appears. Sigh. Overall, if you have any interest in King's run, this issue is okay. If you don't dislike City of Bane, this issue is okay. If you dislike both, this issue is pointless. A single "okay-at-best" -issue won't fix any problems Kings run has. So, a 3/10, better luck next time? more

+ Like • Comments (3)

• Likes (4)

• myconius
• Talon1load
• Nihilist
• Russellmaniaxxx

Show all comments

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

this final arc that so many people have been looking forward to, has just been a disjointed mess. ...Tom King stumbles and falls over the finish line.

Afre - Dec 4, 2019

IMO, King has been stumbling since issue 50

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

yeah. everything since 50 has been a mess. ....i'd even go as far as to say he was in trouble even as far back as his first arc.

Spacey Medicine

Dec 31, 2019

Okay then.

DarePool53

Dec 27, 2020

"Hey, everyone! Tom watched Memento and got a real swell idea for his Batman comic!" Other than Fornes's art, this book is garbage. However, I am delighted that King didn't get the chance to spread his hare-brained plot over the 100 issues as initially planned. One. More. Issue. Left.

Psycamorean

Dec 04, 2019

Ugh, you know I have to get a pesky wisdom tooth extracted today and I think that will be at least 5 times better than this issue. His "explanations" aren't explanations. This is just shitty. "Thomas Wayne is an asshole because... he's always been an asshole." My mind is blown. We knew that Thomas Wayne was an asshole, we didn't need most of this. And again, what happened with Booster? He told Batman a story about a spooky alternate timeline, like Batman hasn't seen countless of those. And Bane is in a coma?? Getting shot in the head isn't something you typically survive, but I guess in the DC universe, brains are stronger than bullets. That's just so fucking typical. Have some balls, go all out. At least then this shit wouldn't feel so god damn pointless, on top of being bloated and stupid. I don't have it in me anymore... One more issue and then we're mostly free... Here's hoping Batman/Catwoman continues getting pushed back. more

+ Like • Comments (3)

• Likes (7)

• myconius
• Nihilist
• Talon1load
• RBL
• Russellmaniaxxx
• Mark
• CaptnAmerca

Show all comments

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

i really liked your analogy saying that wisdom tooth extraction is better than this. i had all four done at once, and that was a better experience that reading this.

Psycamorean - Dec 5, 2019

Thanks. It went really smoothly. It didn't take as long as reading this issue did and was virtually painless. So, I was right.

myconius - Dec 5, 2019

hahahaha! too funny! glad to hear it went smoothly.

Quinn

Dec 04, 2019

I don't know what linear story telling did to King as a child, but it must be terrible. Because King just refuses to tell a story in linear order. Apparently Thomas Wayne's whole motivation is that he fell in love with the Selina Kyle of his world and he wants Bruce to, in some sort of weird psycho-sexual transference thing, seal the deal. Apparently Martha Joker killed Selina and Thomas Bats doesn't want Bruce to miss out. Again, we get huge amounts of decompression. The Bruce Thomas confrontation amounts to one punch then we cut to non--linear flashbacks that don't really amount to anything. We see how Thomas came to Bruce's world, but the labored backstory was overly complicated. All it amounts to is "Father Knows Best." I remai ned unconvinced. Just be over story. It's SOOO SSSLLOOWWW. Everything hits with the impact of week-old bread, stale and moldy. Do things so the story stays fresh. Any baker knows that. Or I could be wrong. more

+ Like • Comments (12)

• Likes (7)

• myconius
• Talon1load
• superstan52
• Nihilist
• Russellmaniaxxx
• Mark
• DarePool53

Show all comments

superstan52 - Dec 4, 2019

Great first sentence.

LunaMoody - Dec 4, 2019

I don't believe Thomas and Selina had 'That" kind of relationship. It didn't feel or hint in that direction to me.

Quinn - Dec 4, 2019

Like I said, I could be wrong. But really did get a vice of Thomas having sexual feelings for his Selina, but fighting to keep them down. Which would explain why Martha Joker shot Selina 2.0.

Quinn - Dec 4, 2019

Above sentence should read "vibe" not vice.

Detective Chimp - Dec 6, 2019

The story of #84 is crystal clear. Thomas gets laid with flashpoint Selina giving him a new hope and sense for his life after the death of his son and his jokerized wife (killed by himself). He even stop killing the rogues but the Selina dies fighting crime on his side and the darkness backs to the hearth of Thomas and when he realize Bruce is repeating his own story he decides to step and "save" his boy. That's the story and I think is easy to understand. Now when comes to like or dislike this issue #84 is up to you. I liked it but I understand if others don't. I think King's Run overall is terrible but this issue was very interesting for me.

Talon1load - Dec 11, 2019

Except Thomas didn't get laid by Flashpoint Selina, they had a father/daughter relationship. Also, she wasn't killed, she was paralyzed in Flashpoint.

Detective Chimp - Dec 12, 2019

I don't think that's a father/daughter thing.

Talon1load - Dec 13, 2019

I think their relationship was very clearly NOT sexual.

Detective Chimp - Dec 18, 2019

You don´t need to see 2 people in bed to know they have something.

Talon1load - Dec 18, 2019

Ok man. Whatever helps you sleep at night.

Detective Chimp - Dec 18, 2019

Oh thank you father.

Talon1load - Dec 19, 2019

You’re welcome my son

Nihilist

Dec 04, 2019

I see no reedeeming qualities here. Not one. Everything in this issue is just bad - writing is awful, dialogues, the very little there is, are even worse, which is nothing new in this series, art is bad, story is pretty much nonexistent. Aside from maybe two pages, every panel is a retrospective of Thomas' life, but it... sucks. It lacks any real depth and emotional weigth for us to truly care about it. 84 issues, that's how many opportunities King had to explore the character, to set up his motivations, slowly, step by step, foreshadow some things, explain others, creating even more questions in the process. But no. This is what we got instead - a piece of meaningless filler, because there's no other term to honestly call it, which neither pushes the story to its end, nor offers satisactory flashbacks to give us some insight into what, how and why. If Miller's horrendous All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder was euthanized, I see no reason why King's run wasn't. I mean, it was cut short by 15 issues, so let's be thankful for that, but 85 issues is still way too much, considering the writer didn't tell us anything of value since 2016. This trash ain't even worth torrenting at this point. more

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (6)

• myconius
• Darkseid24
• Talon1load
• RBL
• Russellmaniaxxx
• Mark

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

i strongly feel that Tom King had no idea what he wanted to do with all the issues that DC gave hime for Batman. he's just been treading water trying to figure out something "epic". but instead he embarrassed himself with this hot mess. it's about time the fraud finally had all this blow up in his face.

Rusty_

Dec 04, 2019

whoever wrote this need a helmet on they head

+ Like • Comments (3)

• Likes (2)

• myconius
• Talon1load

Show all comments

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

HAHAHAHAHA!!!

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

anyone giving '10' needs one too!

Detective Chimp - Dec 6, 2019

Ooops I give a 10 to this issue Bring me my helmet but read my review because I explain why I really liked this issue 84 even when I think King's Run is almost absolute crap since around #50.

OracleJack

Dec 04, 2019

9/10 for the EXCELLENT art. -9/10 for the writing. I don't blame Tom King though. I get it now. He got pulled off his book and he is taking the piss at DC. But he is alienating his fans. We get a recap of things we know. That's all. A recap. And a small twist that changes nothing. Both the solicit and the cover have absolutely nothing to do with the plot.

+ Like • Comments (6)

• Likes (1)

• Darkseid24

Show all comments

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

i don't think he's taking a piss at DC. i think this mess is the best he could come up with so DC yanked him before he could embarrass himself any further. his run was fool's gold.

OracleJack - Dec 4, 2019

I'll disagree. I know it's a meme to hate on Tom King but this is clearly him taking the piss at DC. I won't be reading his upcoming minis and I feel sorry for Tynion but King IS a good writer or at least he knows and understands what good writing is. There's no way he is not doing this on purpose.

Big Brother - Dec 4, 2019

Not everything that gains popularity is a meme. There's been a lot of talk about how bad the book is because people actually don't like it.

OracleJack - Dec 4, 2019

I find it very difficult to not be a joke or him taking the piss. Despite how readers feel for a book, it has to meet certain standards. I think it's a game for King to intentionally burn everything after he was pushed off the book. I disagree with this. I know he is a good writer. I'm angry at DC for taking him off the book. But I'm also a customer and expected from him to do the remaining issues with care and not like this.

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

then Tom King has been taking a piss at DC since his first issue of Batman. his whole run has been a mess, though not as bad as the corner he's painted himself into at the end here. he had no plan of what he wanted to do with this run, and it shows.

Darkseid24 - Dec 5, 2019

A good writer? Some of his stories are mediocre at best, but his Mister Miracle already was awful, if you actually know& love the New Gods. Same goes for his Batman run. And he doesnt have any reason to be pissed at DC when he is allowed to write every crap he comes up with. That makes no sense.

myconius

Dec 04, 2019

Tom King HAS to be making this S**T up as he goes!!! the bozo probably had NO idea what he wanted to to for this run, NO PLAN... just a lot of pretentious hot air!!! F**K YOU, Tom King!!! take this miserable pathetic excuse of a Batman run, and stick it right up your A**!!!!!

GMan97

Dec 04, 2019

Batman has become a parody of a book. I'm very suspicious of the perfect reviews it gets from some reviewers.

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (5)

• myconius
• Talon1load
• KFuqua
• Russellmaniaxxx
• CaptnAmerca

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

agreed! i've been saying this for a long long time!

KFuqua

Dec 04, 2019

Tom King's horrible run on Batman continues. I can't wait for him to be off of this book.

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (5)

• Talon1load
• myconius
• Darkseid24
• CaptnAmerca
• DarePool53

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

just one more miserable stinking issue to go, then James Tynion will come in for damage control.

Talon1load

Dec 04, 2019

Man, what can we really say about this book? Thomas promises to his dead parents that he will spend the rest of his life warring against anything that might cause Bruce pain. Except for him apparently. He can completely fuck Bruce's life up and that's all okay. Bruce also doesn't see what Thomas sees in the Joker, whatever the fuck that is, we don't know because it's also not explained. Thomas also magically knows about the whole Booster thing despite the fact that he wasn't there and should have no frame of reference for it. Reverse Flash somehow traveled to Flashpoint and kept Thomas alive? No explanation how he did that. Also, Thomas now decided to kill the Flashpoint world not to save Bruce and the real world but because he hate s everything. Not the explanation I remember at the end of Flashpoint but ok, King does whatever the fuck he wants anyway. Thomas had a relationship (father/daughter?) with his worlds Selina where Thomas, inexplicably, asks Selina if she thinks it's possible to be Batman and be happy. Talk about forced. Thomas killed all the villains on his world but decided to team up with them on this Earth. That makes sense, right? The reverse order of this comic makes an already bad comic even more painful to read. I'm sorry, but at this point if you like this comic then Tom King could come right out and say he wants to shit in you Wheaties's and you'd still praise him because you're nothing more than a King fanboy/girl. There is nothing remotely good or redeeming about this book be it this issue or the entire damn run. This shows a lack of understanding of the characters as well as just normal human interaction. If you haven't wasted your money on this issue yet, don't. You'll be happier and $4 richer. The art was...okay? That's the most positive thing I can say about this comic. more

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (6)

• myconius
• Nihilist
• Quinn
• DVE
• Darkseid24
• CaptnAmerca

myconius - Dec 4, 2019

somewhere in Tom King's feeble mind, this all seemed so "epic" and brilliant. ...he's probably bruising his palms by patting himself on the back too hard, as we speak.

Death's Head

Dec 04, 2019

Another issue that only needed to be 3 pages long instead of 20. That's King, folks. Jesus Christ.

REYNARD

Dec 05, 2019

King fans after this issue: The book was kind of rushed and sloppy in execution; not a great penultimate issue either. It also has some plot-holes and raises more questions than before. Also King fans after this issue: 10/10 rating I don't care anymore. This book is an embarrassment to the comic industry. I feel bad for anyone who enjoys this book. You can say what you will about taste being subjective, but Tom King is nothing more than a stain on the legacy of Batman that urgently needs to be removed.

M1sf1r3

Dec 07, 2019

Prelude: Hey, I'm finally caught back up to the week I'm in. Anyway, this is the second last issue of Tom King's Batman and an important one apparently. Seeing as there are many questions that are yet to be answered, let's see how this issue tackles at least one of them. The Good: Jorge Fornes, I am so sorry that your art was wasted here because it is absolutely phenomenal. The Bad: Ok, so I understand Thomas' logic. It's very shitty logic but it is logic. So that helps I guess. Why is Eobard messing with Thomas? I guess it makes a certain sense due to Flashpoint but Thawne only screws with the Flash's lives. Colouring is incorrect for a VERY crucial panel. Just takes me right out of the story... It's not even like Red and Yellow can be confused for the same colour! Wow, the dialogue here is awful. Somehow Flashpoint Selina is the same as Prime Selina... somehow. Well, that's how King has it. Flashpoint Selina was actually more alike to Barbra as Oracle. Um.... King? Flashpoint Cobblepot is the security chief of Wayne Casinos and is Thomas' main source of information on the criminal underworld. Not the Penguin. Also Bruce's death wasn't like how King presents it, especially Thomas and Martha's reactions. Conclusion: Come on DC! YOU HAVE EDITORS FOR A REASON!!!!!! CONTINUITY!!! ESPECIALLY FOR AN EVENT BOOK WHICH MORE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE READ!!!!!!! King writes the story as if he head a kid talk about Flashpoint while in recess and based the whole thing off what he heard. more

CaptnAmerca

Dec 14, 2019

This was all very dumb, and I can't wait for it to be over, but I'll bring up one very stupid point. If you take King's motivations for Thomas Wayne at face value, then he would have shot The Joker I the head as he lay prone in the church. That would be the single most helpful thing he could have done for Bruce. One more issue of this masquerade.