It's always amazing when you're pretty sure where the story is going to go or where it has to go and the creative team still manages to surprise and captivate readers. It's easy to guess what has to happen in Batman #50 but Scott Snyder is shaking up how exactly certain events will happen. Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV deliver a fantastic story that truly leaves you hungry for more. Yanick Paquette's art and Nathan Fairbairn's colors are truly amazing. We expect certain things in a Batman comic, but this book shows it doesn't always have to take a conventional route. I'm even more excited for what's coming up than I was before. Read Full Review

Before "Superheavy," what did anyone really know about Bruce Wayne beyond bullet points? What did he even know about himself? Snyder gave us a real Bruce Wayne for maybe the first time in Prime DC Continuity. What we learned is that -- even without the tragedy in his heart -- he is still a great man. Determined. Focused. Self-sacrificing. Read Full Review

Batman #49 is easily one of the best issues that Scott Snyder has written, with Bruce's transformation into the Batman being simply extraordinary. The creative team also give us some memorable moments in between this, with a narrative that was captivating from start to finish. Read Full Review

In an industry that is cynically driven by death and resurrection, this is by far one of the best returning chapters I've ever read. The emotions were well-earned and they packed a hell of a punch. Welcome back, Bruce. Read Full Review

BATMAN #49 is an excellent comic book. It's deep, complex, emotionally charged and powerful. Whether you're a lifelong fan of the character, a newcomer only familiar with Snyder's run, or a holdover from Grant Morrison's run, you'll find a lot to like here. The storytelling is tremendous from a visual and narrative perspective, and it definitively answers the question that both Scott Snyder and Grant Morrison, like many writers before them, have been obsessed with: can Batman exist without Bruce Wayne? Read Full Review

This is definitely the most excruciating issue of the “Superheavy” arc yet, the highest compliment there is. Read Full Review

As Bruce so emphatically proclaims in "Batman" #49, he has to be Batman. The journey he takes is arduous and needed, with both the writers and the artists involved lending an urgency to every page. Although it brings huge changes to the Bat mythos, it is done with love for the character and the attention of the best of creators. Read Full Review

I would apply the terms "must buy" and "can't miss" to this issue. It is a tremendous encapsulation of the sheer intelligence and intricacy found in Snyder's run on the title. Read Full Review

It's another great issue, another building block in an era that will undoubtedly stand the test of time as an important part of the mythos of this character. Read Full Review

Closing Thoughts: Seeing Bruce being hopeful that he could somehow have the happy life he's always wanted, and still be effective as Batman, only for that hope to be ripped away was heartbreaking. Seeing Alfred's worst fears come to life, as well as Julie being the one to let Bruce go for the sake of the city were both very emotional moments as well. It blows me away how these guys can get right to the heart of a character so well known, and make you care of a completely different level. Many have been waiting for this moment for almost a year… And it makes you feel like a horrible person for wanting such a thing after seeing what is taken from him, but… Read Full Review

Synder's Batman run is nearing the end and each issue is ramping up to something special. Greg Capullo should be back next issue as Batman hit issue 50. This was another great installment into the Batman mythos these two have crafted. Read Full Review

Snyder and Tynion offer up a side story that turns out so much more powerful than your typical side story; far more psychological than it needed to be, redeeming Alfred emotionally. A deserving goodbye to Williamsburg Coffee Shop Bruce Wayne. Read Full Review

Batman #41 works in large part because of the writer's ability to crosscut and balance multiple elements very well. This story builds towards its climax in a very satisfying way. Read Full Review

Batman #49 is far from being a mere stopgap before the big finale to Superheavy next month. This issue offers a compelling look at Bruce Wayne's return to being Batman and whether the immortality of the Dark Knight is a blessing or a curse. It's a very different comic from the ones that preceded it in both look and feel, and that's part of why this issue is such a great read. Read Full Review

Reviewing comic books is an irretrievably personal enterprise, just as reading them. Despite all of the objective facts and standards that can be brought to bear on a story, ultimately every person's emotional response is unique, and all one can do is own one's feelings withhonesty. So, I will have to begin this review by stating that I found this particular issue,Batman #49, to embody many of my responses to the entire SUPERHEAVY arc that Scott Snyder has been pursuing for some nine issues now. It is interesting, philosophically rich, well-written, flawlessly integrated with the accompanying visual art, and it left me utterly cold. Read Full Review

Overall, while its a shame to possibly Jim Gordon go away as Batman, and be brought to heel so he needs rescuing by Bruce, this issue shows just how much being Batman has cost Bruce Wayne, as well as the people he holds dear. Superheavy has been an interesting experiment in the context of Snyders run, and anyone whos interested to see how that concludes shouldnt hesitate to jump on here. Read Full Review

It's a weird issue, to be sure, but the emotion gets through in a lot of meaningful ways. Read Full Review

Most comic fans are reading Batman. If youre not, then I really dont know what to tell you other than you are completely missing out of one of the best modern takes on the character. This issue is near the top of the list of best Snyder comics. Read Full Review

"Batman" brings Bruce Wayne face to face with Alfred with the Batman identity hanging in the balance. Bruce wants Batman back at any cost while Alfred simply can't let the new Bruce Wayne go. It's a touching issue that reveals a lot about what the pair think of Batman and each other. The comic book has guest art that is gorgeous but doesn't provide the same epic feel that Capullo has the knack for doing. This is a very good comic book to pick up. Especially if you are interested in hearing how Bruce Wayne defines the meaning of Batman to the city of Gotham. I enjoyed the comic. Read Full Review

“For Batman to live, Bruce Wayne always has to die!” That pretty much sums up this story. None of the major beats really came as a surprise, but sometimes events unfolding exactly as you envisioned they would is exactly what a story needs to feel satisfying. Here, entertainment isn't handed out through meaningless shock and awe, but through solid character interactions. Much of thedialogue exchanged between “Bruce” and Alfred is quite emotional and thought-provoking and really holds your engagement right to the last page. Can't wait till March 23rd! Read Full Review

Waynes sacrifice for Gotham City is what echoes throughout the alternate realities that Snyder, Tynion IV, and Paquette illustrate. The idea of Bruce Wayne giving up his life in the name of Batman and Gotham City is the bonding agent in this issue as well as in Snyders whole run. As his Batman has been about the ways that Gotham City has kept its secrets from Batman, his Bruce Wayne continually runs into parts of his life that he has had to give up for the safety of Gotham City. And inBatman #49, he has to give himself up over and over. And worse yet, his closest alliesand lovers need to sacrifice their Bruce Wayne as well. The tragedy of Scott Snyders Batman is front and center as Bruce Wayne pays the ultimate price to be Batman. Read Full Review

After being out of the cowl for months Bruce Wayne returns to his rightful place as Batman in Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette's great, mind-bending tale. With allusions to past and possible tales, this issue further provides the thesis that Bruce Wayne is the one and true Batman. Read Full Review

By the end of Batman #49 we are one step closer to Batman reclaiming his real identity. We get answers to questions regarding Batman's immortality that have been flowing through past issues. I'm curious to see how an "all-new" Batman takes the fight to Mr. Bloom. Read Full Review

Well comic fans, you got exactly what you wanted, the return of status quo. It may sound spoiler-ish but that's the nature of comics: the more things change the more they stay the same. I applaud Snyder and Capullo for trying something new. Did I agree with the direction? Not really, but the writing and art is so good that I can go with it. Will this still be a new direction for Batman? Find out next month. Same Bat time. Same Bat Channel. Read Full Review

Bruce is all about being Batman again in this issue and with that we get Scott Snyder's "Machine" that was shown during Detective Comics #27 and what it has to do with our former hero regaining his former glory. This is a strange, but fun issue that shows how determined Bruce is in doing what needs to be done, even in his memory impaired state and while things aren't perfect to me with it's execution, it's pretty awesome seeing a hero reborn. One thing going in that might leave people a little put off is that we have a different art team on this issue, but with their devotion to keeping this book feeling like it has since the New 52, we end up with a really good looking issue. Read Full Review

The comic is an interesting one where I go back and forth as to what I think. To me, that'll get settled in next issue, but I can see what was being attempted here. The emotional aspect is beyond top notch, it's just the backdrop of which that's present I'm a bit mixed about. Read Full Review

Presumably the ongoing story will wrap up with the next issue, after which there are apparently changes in the works for the Batman series. I get the feeling that it may be time for me to take an "off again" break from the series - it's just not living up to its potential. Read Full Review

The pacing of the issue is a little disjointed, partly from the initially confusing opening, but also because it is primarily setting up a key plot development for Superheavy's finale Read Full Review

Most of what's covered this month was already acknowledged and processed better in previous issues, there's the artwork of Yannick Paquette that usually stuns the audience and digs out clarity through controlled surreality but feels completely out of place in this issue, and the general feeling that "Superheavy" is being stretched out unnecessarily. Read Full Review

Morrisson esque issue. A highlight of this run.

It's heavy but great

This issue is really setting Scott and Greg to go out with a bang in their last two issues! The emotion in this book was raw, and we all knew Superheavy had to end with this, but it was written in an interesting way without feeling like a cliche resurrection story.

It's a very emotionally heavy issue. The glimpses of future (or Elseworld) Batmans play nicely with the present-day story, and Snyder unexpectedly brings in a Chekov's gun to complete the arc for some meaningful closure.

The Batman obviously had to come back in some way, and Snyder found a very, very good way to do it. It was clear from the beginning of "Superheavy" that the memory-storage thing would play a big part in it, but this level of emotional charge was not as expected. I personally loved how Alfred reacted to it, both suffering for the return of the damaged man he served his whole life and immediately going back to work as soon as his master came to life again. As others say, the alternate realities are quite confusing, but in the end the idea is quite clear. Also, the lack of Capullo is always a let down, but it's understandable and Paquette does a good job anyway.

No Capullo this issue, they must be saving him up for an oversize #50. The story is pretty good, but the alternate reality flashback are confusing, I'm going to assume it makes more sense if you' be read Futures's End. Bruce's girlfriend finding her way into the cave is other rather contrived.

a pretty solid issue. i enjoyed some of the themes they were playing with, it had a but of a surreal psychedelic feel going on at parts. i admire what they were trying to get across, but something was losing impact in the translation. but still the overall emotion that they were hinting at came across, even if it wasn't perfect. very interested to seeing where this all goes next month!