The melancholic malaise that hangs BATMAN #48 is palpable, and it's a credit to how adept Snyder and Capullo are at characterization that they make readers do the nigh-impossible: feel sympathy for the Joker. Read Full Review

And maybe that's all Snyder is trying to tell us. Yes, Bruce is going to become the Batman again. The Joker will eventually become what he has always been. But hopefully they, Snyder and Capullo, have made something we can enjoy while it happened. Read Full Review

A menagerie of nightmares float about Gotham in more ways than one, but more importantly the core of Batman discovers its true self. Read Full Review

Batman #48 moves “Superheavy” forward in a truly extraordinary manner, with the simple, yet powerful developments being truly captivating. This is all complimented by some sensational artwork, and when you throw in some thrilling twists it's hard to not recommend this. Read Full Review

While the issue is very heavy on the dialogues, it's surprisingly not boring at all. Artist Greg Capullo does a wonderful job making the issue very visually pleasure, and there's no one moment of dullness reading the book at all. Read Full Review

"Superheavy" seems to keep getting better as it goes along. This new issue delivers thrills and character drama in equal measure. Capullo's art shines regardless of subject matter, and Snyder again shows a firm handle on the rivalry between Batman and Joker. Best of all, this issue strongly suggests that life won't simply return to normal in Gotham once this storyline is finished. Read Full Review

Closing thoughts –Snyder masters the art of pacing and delivers the most compelling issue of Superheavy yet, as we approach the climax of the story. Read Full Review

Once again Greg Capullo's artwork and Danny Miki's colours pop with every panel, especially during Bruce and Joker's interaction; the facial work in both characters is excellent. With this being one of Capullo's last issues before his brief hiatus to work with Mark Millar, he's doing everything he can to give fans some outstanding imagery. With 'Superheavy' coming to a close and Bruce Wayne poised to don the cape and cowl once again, this team is putting out all the stops to deliver a memorable Batman story. Read Full Review

Ultimately, Batman #48's greatest downfall also happens to be its greatest strength - it took a lot of guts for Snyder and Capullo to sideline DC Comics' most popular character and replace him with an everyman, and signalling Batman's return so soon makes me wonder what might have been with an organized, institution-friendly Dark Knight. You can't help but feel like the switchover is a little abrupt, almost as a reaction to post-Convergence reader attrition. But even while Jim Gordon's time as Gotham's sole Caped Crusader has come a little short, Snyder and Capullo are definitely positioning a triumphant return for DC Comics' original Dark Knight Detective. Read Full Review

"Batman" #48 features the moment Batman fans have been waiting for, but Snyder, Capullo, Miki and Plascencia make the journey there just as exciting and gripping. It would have been easy to rush through these post-"Endgame" issues of "Batman," but this careful buildup has turned out to be far more iconic and attention-grabbing than a quick reversion to the status quo. Once again, nicely done. Read Full Review

While Bruce might not be sporting a scalloped cape and the “Joker” isn't wearing a purple tailcoat, you still get the same sense of interplay that these two characters have always had together. Snyder also plays with your expectations as the story unfolds, constantly feeding you lines that make you think one thing and then revealing themselves in the very next moment to be something entirely different. It's equal parts entertainment and enlightenment. And that is only half the story! The rest is Bloom delivering a clever metaphor while engaging in acts of barbarism. Seeing a man capable of such eloquence and thought engage in such acts of brutality is a wonderful moment of juxtaposition that hopefully won't be overlooked in exchange for the spotlight that Bruce will no doubt, and rightly so, steal. Read Full Review

With the final page, Snyder and Capullo are bringing us closer to the end of yet another one of their brilliant Bat-stories. "Batman" #48 explores character and brings depth to action and mystery. This team has shown they can do anything with Batman and his world while making every facet of their story intriguing and fun. Read Full Review

While this may be just an ordinary Tuesday in Gotham City, both Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne stand at crossroads that are anything but ordinary. The people's Batman may be at death's door thanks to his first proper rogue, while the genuine article stands at the edge of the abyss, willing to dive in once again to save his city and reclaim his crusade no matter what the personal cost. Scott Snyder and his art team, while consistently entertaining, don't rest on their laurels with this eighth part of "Superheavy." They started this arc big and they intend to end it even bigger. Read Full Review

BATMAN #48 is a fantastic issue. It ratchets up the drama and intensity of this title to eleven, is excellently scripted by Snyder whose dialogue " while at times overwrought " stands as some of the best writing in his career, and the art of Greg Capullo shines as brightly as it ever has during his run on BATMAN. With two issues to go before Bruce dons the Batsuit again, one can only hope that his return doesn't overshadow all of the great work that this creative team has done to strengthen Jim Gordon's character and build a truly terrifying villain in Mr. Bloom. Read Full Review

Gotham still needs its Batman, but Snyder and Capullo are questioning whether Bruce Wayne needs to be Batman. And right now the answer looks like that there's no other man alive who could possibly be Batman. Read Full Review

Though one exchange in particular didn't overshadow the action the way it should have, this was a solid entry to the Superheavy story arc that reveals some of the layers of Batman and why he has to do things the way he does them. Read Full Review

A surprising reunion graced the final page of last month's issue of Batman, and fans wanted more. Don't worry, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo know that and kick off issue #48 right where we left off. Read Full Review

Although those scenes provided more entertainment than expected and very nearly lit a fire under Bruce's ass in a literal sense, I stress the real show here are the Bruce/Joker scenes. The final page, which I won't spoil, will simultaneously make you cheer for Bruce and feel Alfred's heartbreak. It's quite powerful. Read Full Review

Scott Snyder has never been shy about his philosophical musings. That is one of the most distinctive aspects of his writing, and one of the things that make his public discussions and panel appearances potentially interesting. He has ideas he wants to explore and is willing to talk at length and with sophistication about those theories and metaphors and analogies. In an era when many writers seem to regard the story of ideas as being hopelessly old hat, Snyder's enthusiasm for philosophical discussion is refreshing. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm is also often quite tiring. He seems incapable of telling a story that isn't the “biggest ever!” Despite a professed desire to focus on shorter, more intimate narratives, he inevitably ends up spinning arcs that take up a dozen issues and months of real time. Read Full Review

"Batman" continues the story where Bloom is defeating Gordon while Bruce struggles with his memory and his destiny. The comic has an excellent component where the story alternates between Bruce coming to terms with who he really is while Gordon is losing the battle against Bloom. The comic is backed up with fantastic artwork and provides an excellent final page. The comic's drawback is how Bloom's role in the plot just seems so secondary to getting Bruce back into the Bat suit. The villain just seems too odd with too strange of a means to destroying the population of Gotham for a Batman story. It will be interesting to see how this ends. This is a good comic and one that is worth a read. Read Full Review

Bloom's overly long pseudo-philosophical speech falls flat, especially against the more poignant scenes by the lake. However, Bloom's horrifically ghoulish appearance and his unknown connection to Gordon are enough to keep him compelling as a villain. Read Full Review

A solid entry in the Superheavy storyline, even if it does feel like were dragging our feet a little. 4/5 Read Full Review

On its own, the issue doesn't hold up, but as part of the bigger story Snyder is putting together it's a vital issue. And that ending, it's so nice to see. Read Full Review

The end is on its way! Another Big Batman Blowout is coming from Snyder and Capullo, and this issue does all the heavy lifting to set us up for something spectacular. The tension is rising! It's party time! Read Full Review

While you won't find out the secret origin of Mr. Bloom in this issue, you do begin to see his plans for the city laid out, while continuing the story of the amnesiac Bruce Wayne and his journey to becoming Batman again.  This is all a setup issue, but the setup is interesting enough and as always the art looks great.  I just wish we could put a handle on what Mr. Bloom can actually do because every damn issue it seems that he's got a new ability. Read Full Review

The Batman title has been very hit-and-miss for me since the "New 52" reboot, but unless things turn around fast, #50 will be my last issue for a while. Read Full Review

nice

A rather introspective and self-aware issue that questions the value of fleeting tranquility, before racing towards an exciting climax. While this story arc has had a few lulls, there's no doubt that Snyder has managed execute a strong and character-driven story arc out of a status quo that had some shaking their heads.

Jesus H. Christ! This was arguably the most intense and eventful issue yet in the "Superheavy" storyline. The chat between Bruce and Mister J (let's call him that in lack of a better definition) was simply amazing, although Snyder should go a bit lighter on those bait lines. I have genuinely no idea of what might be in store for the (former) Prince of Crime and that's more than I could hope for. Bloom's anarchic attack on the city feels somewhat deja-vu (the Joker himself in "Endgame" did something quite similar to the citizens of Gotham, although they were not concious in that situation) but its awesomely creepy design by Capullo makes me love him regardless. I hope we'll get some answers about him soon so that we can make a serious judgment of the character.
The cliffhanger was just incredible, by the way. Alfred crying as Bruce accepts his role is one of the most powerful images I've seen in the series so far. more

nice try snyder. but I liked this issue despite bloom's tiring monologue

The conversation with joker was excellent but the realization of Bruce's true identity didn't really translate onto the page, something was lost there. I also didn't get what the bright lights in the beginning and end of the comic had to do with anything.

without a proper origin or explanation of Mr Bloom's powers it's very difficult to suspend disbelief! and as Bloom even kills his own henchmen at the bat of an eye with great ease, it makes no sense why he just hasn't killed (or maimed) Gordon yet?
Capullo's art as always is the highlight of the book.