At long last the Orghams begin to crumble. Over the course of the entire run, we’ve seen their hubris grow along with their power, making them the kind of villain you desperately want to see fall. The fact that they repeatedly ruined Batman’s life and everything he fought for certainly doesn’t help in that regard, either. After a mystic journey through the desert and months (in our time) of preparation, the hammer falls, and it’s oh so cathartic.
It’s not the first time that this run has pulled the “triumphant return” card, and I’ve talked about the excitement and catharsis those times as well. There is a level of “wait, didn’t we already do this before?” that hampers the reaction to this a bit, but it still manages to provide an exciting backdrop to the climax. When Batman whispers “I’m coming for you” into the radio, it’s a reminder just how much of a powerhouse he is. Each strike against the Orghams acts as yet one more blow that cripples their operation in a way that’s visceral to the reader. It’s a mix of schadenfreude and long awaited payoff.
Part of what makes the emotional triumph work so much is Guillem March’s artwork. This series has cycled through a number of different artists over the course of Ram V’s run with a wide range of talent. I’m happy to say that it’s closing out with one of the industry’s best. His level of detail fills each scene with gorgeous imagery and exciting action. Beyond that, and a much rarer talent, his ability for framing and panel composition allows for emotional, impactful storytelling through a visual language that elevates the already impressive writing,
More than just Batman’s return, each player’ scenes feel meaningful. Everyone gets a chance to shine from Mr. Freeze’s own prep-time moment to Joker’s Daughter taking out the Orgham’s pet revolutionary false flag. Her inclusion especially is one I find interesting. I was initially skeptical when it became clear that she’d be part of the story. Her characterization as of the New 52 was often one formed from the worst tendencies of writers when dealing with the Joker, focused almost entirely on shock and gore (as evidenced by her wearing his face). However, when V reintroduced her in this story, it seems that he actually has something to say with her.
Her trauma at the hands of the Joker is used to recontextualize her relationship with her identity. Rather than once again succumbing to a stronger personality or even recovering through self empowerment, she becomes nihilistically destructive of all social identity. She adopts the class warfare of the “Shadow Angel” agent she killed, but rather than (falsely) claiming to champion the dispossessed, she wants to destroy the facades that people have constructed that allow that separation. It’s a destructive form of coping with one’s own self perception.
In fact, that idea of identity and masks comes up again and again throughout this issue. This makes sense, as it’s been a reoccurring theme of V’s run for a while now. It’s the conflict within ourselves over who we truly are that can destroy us. That’s what Batman learned during in journey in the desert, and it’s what he must save Gotham from. The Orghams want to wash away all of Gotham’s darkness by acting as if it doesn’t exist. It presents a comfortable lie to mask the hard truth, but in doing so only further divides society and prevents reconciliation. That’s why the Ten-Eyed Man’s ability to see through their falsehoods can destroy them: it’s only through those lies that they can exist.
Score: 8.5/10
Backup: Golden Child
“Golden Child” serves as exposition more than anything else. In short, Arzen needs to be alive again for the finale next month and this explains how that happens. As with most dead characters around Gotham, he’s brought back via the Lazarus Pits. Well, technically it’s a “synthesized” version of the Lazarus Pits because they ran out of those for about the dozenth time. After all, we can’t have that status quo ever actually change.
What makes this story somewhat interesting is the way it’s used to explore Talia. During the process, she ruminates on the nature of her relationship with her father, and how his supposed immortality affected that. Most notably, the story suggests that part of her motivation for resurrecting Arzen is that she can vicariously enjoy his parricidal revenge. It’s part of an ongoing rehabilitation of her character that focuses on her growing independence from her father that I like.
It’s overall a satisfactory cutaway necessary for the next stage of the overall story. Christopher Mitten’s dreamlike art is enjoyable as usual, though I don’t know how much it tonally fits this particular vignette.
Score: 6.5/10
Recommended If
- You want to see the Orghams finally fall
- The buildup was all worth it
- We’re 2 issues away from the end; are you really going to stop now?
Overall
As a climax to the Ram V’s extended saga, Detective Comics #1088 delivers. It plays all the cards that it’s been holding close to the chest for months now, and it’s exciting at every step thanks in no small part to Guillem March’s masterful artwork. All that’s left now is to see if it can stick the landing in next month’s finale.
Overall score: 8/10
English (US) · 