Batman #155 is a great midway point to this final arc in Zdarsky's run, allowing for a spiritual successor to Year One while adding to it. Read Full Review

James Gordons flawed character comes into the spotlight in an intensely driven chapter. Zdarskys writing takes readers on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Fornes, Morey and Cowles bring a very realistic sense of perspective to each panel. This case is shaping up for a memorable finish. Read Full Review

This storyline is now firing on all cylinders, just like the creative team on this issue. Neat storyline, great twists, phenomenal artwork, and all sorts of fun little subplots and character bits throughout. Read Full Review

Zdarsky's pulled off a masterpiece of a run already, but he's leaving just as he's set up so many more plot points. That could end in a disappointment but he's surprised us so many times that I expect he's got one more up his sleeve. Read Full Review

Crafting a story around "What did Jim Gordon do? has been a uniting question that is bringing together the different sub-plots Chip Zdarsky has been developing. The way it all comes together in Batman #155 grabs your attention. Read Full Review

Overall, Batman #155 is a must-read for fans of the Dark Knight. It delivers a thrilling blend of action, drama, and character development. The stunning artwork and compelling storytelling make this a standout issue in the current Batman run. Read Full Review

Batman #155 eschews the larger than life and wild plotlines that have defined this arc so far (and arguably the run) in favor of a grounded detective story that feels like the kind of Batman comic fans have been wanting for years. Instead of sweeping societal messages and shocking twists about characters' origins, the issue keeps you invested based solely on the mystery at hand and the compelling character work that surrounds it. Read Full Review

Batman #155 is a very enjoyable read that puts a lot of meat on the emotional bone. It clears up some questions but effectively poses new ones too. As Zdarsky's tenure starts to reach the end stages, I have the feeling he is going to leave the stage with some highly charged moments. I cannot wait to see how it all plays out. Read Full Review

Batman #155 takes a side step to analyze how James Gordon could ever kill someone in cold blood, turning Batman's world upside down. Changing focus away from Riddler and Commander Star does feel a little annoying, but it's nice to see the series dig into a subplot as Riddler's meddling continues to create chaos in Gotham. Read Full Review

Batman #155 is much better than the previous two issues, taking its time to zero in on a moody plot boiler that, more or less, keeps the focus on the mystery at hand. Jorge Fornes' art really helps sell the tone. Read Full Review

Batman #155delivers an ugly next chapter in Chip Zdarsky's last run. Zdarsky's quest to tear down all the family figures in Batman's life is depressing, and Jim Gordon's character makes a series of foolishly bad choices. Further, the art is a step down from the previous issue.4.5/10 Read Full Review

I liked bringing the detective work back in

Lately I feel like Batman has been firing on all cylinders and this issue is no exception. To the whole world, even Batman, it seems that Jim Gordon murdered the mayor in cold blood and to the reader you will start to believe it too. Writing, art, colors, and letters combined to make this 3rd part of the story come together and it doesn’t disappoint! Pick up a copy yourself and you decide, would Gordon kill the mayor, his lovers husband?!

(Cover Date: February, 2025)

Yeah, conservative comic readers won't like this.

Commander Star's dialogue in particular is going to rile some (owl) feathers.

Chip keeps taking shots at the right. Although I generally agree with his commentary, this will (continue to) work against his run - as it already has.

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daspidaboy - Dec 4, 2024

Could you explain more how it will ruffle conservatives readers

motorik - Dec 4, 2024 (edited)

Hello Daspida. Hope you are well my friend. Did you read it? All of Commander Star's (who is depicted as an antagonist) dialogue is a summation of American Republican rhetoric. Chip is clearly taking a shot at right wingers that espouse the beliefs Star is stating. I'm from Scotland, so I have no horse in the race as it pertains to American politics. I don't mind its inclusion at all. However, I often see comments on here from people who don't believe politics belong in comics.

motorik - Dec 4, 2024

*I now see you have read it

Smithd33 - Dec 4, 2024

Few conservatives would be ruffled by this. This is written by someone who has very likely never met one and just believes the boogeyman they created about conservatives on twitter. Left wing bubble. Right wing bubble. It’s all a fraud.

Weird Science Jim - Dec 5, 2024 (edited)

it could have been done with a tiny bit of subtlety - it felt more like a parody which might have been intentional but who knows - Zdarsky isn't a very serious guy overall (and he is Canadian to boot!) I think it will throw people out of the issue no matter what side they are on because it is so obvious who he is trying to upset.

motorik - Dec 5, 2024

It was so on the nose it made me laugh.

Weird Science Jim - Dec 6, 2024

Problem is, like you said, it will likely upset a bunch of fans. The one thing I thought today though is that (and this has nothing to do with my own political stance as I avoid politics for the most part) if zdarsky did the same thing but was "on the nose" about the opposite side of the aisle, he would likely be told he couldn't do it or worse. would have been fired and blacklisted.

motorik - Dec 7, 2024 (edited)

Absolutely. To be clear, I'm more left leaning myself. However, there is an absolute double standard at the moment. Particularly in America. The world is becoming so much more 'you can't say this' and 'you can't say that'. If we're really going down that road, you'd think both sides would be held accountable. The balance of that in America is particularly unusual.

Psycamorean - Dec 18, 2024

I think the idea that there's a leftward bent towards censorship is wild when you look at, well, anything happening in our media. The idea that you just can't say offensive stuff or can't hold certain views is societal gaslighting. Americans just elected the antithesis to this idea. I'm sick of this notion that it's the left that needs to simmer down and be more docile while the right continues to radicalize and become more openly derogatory and bigoted.

motorik - Dec 18, 2024

I completely agree with you. My point is that no one will be happy unless writers try to be more apolitical. In injecting their own personal beliefs into established characters, they are legitimately impacting their potential reading base.

motorik - Dec 18, 2024 (edited)

Having integrity is actually dangerous. Mainstream comics are believed to be a dwindling medium. Leftist writers are totally playing with fire in the current political climate. A lot of right wingers simply cannot handle being called out via comics or media in general. That last season of The Boys contained so much spot on social commentary that the conservatives that once loved the show, turned on it like a bunch of children. The kind of people that believe Homlander 'is right'.

Psycamorean - Dec 18, 2024

The problem is that art is inherently political. Comics, especially so. There will never *be* an apolitical comic. There was never a time where comics have been apolitical. Superman was a champion of the oppressed, Captain America punched Hitler. Superhero comics specifically could easily turn into strongman, fascist propaganda in an attempt to keep things "apolitical". I'd rather not have that.

Hex - Dec 19, 2024

The fact that it took the chuds that long to figure out that they were the ones being satirized speaks to their media literacy and overall shouldn't welcome their ideas when most of them just want sexy women, no POC or LGBTQ characters so they can feel comfortable. They don't contribute to the comics medium. Most of them don't even buy or read the comics they rail against. They have people on YouTube or Reddit tell them how to feel. Alienating the people trying to alienating others isn't bad.

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I was enjoying the first two episodes of Dying City, but in this issue it's taken a turn that I really don't care for. the artwork is an obvious pastiche of the style David Mazzucchelli assumed in Batman Year 1. This is bad enough for me: imagine if in the 1980s, they'd had someone working in the style of Dick Sprang in the mainstream Batman comics. it would have been unthinkable, and absurd, yet this is considered acceptable these days. what is worse though that this episode directly plagiarises story elements, character designs, and even panel layouts from Year 1. it's a shame because the first two episodes of this arc were excellent, but the change in tone from a contemporary Batman story to a pastiche of a forty year old story is jarring as hell. I get they have to rest artists, but the replacement should at least attempt to draw in a consistent style, nor should writers pander to replaying scenes from beloved comics from the past out of the mistaken belief that this is fan service. no fan service is giving fans original writing and art more

I can’t wait till this run ends

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motorik - Dec 5, 2024

Yeah, Chip needs to leave. We haven't had an excellent mainline Batman comic in so long. Question is - can anyone do it? I'd love a proper reset. Bring Alfred back - dial back all the family members. Focus on the detective elements more.

Smithd33 - Dec 5, 2024

An old school street level bat book like grants shadow run. Or even legends anthology type. I don’t even need long arcs. Just give me something where Batman doesn’t lose Gotham or something where batgod goes away for a bit

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Um, ok. We learn that Jim Gordon killed the mayor while under the influence of mad hatter tech used by the Riddler. Gordon also had an affair with the mayor’s wife, presumably while under the influence of said tech.

Gordon also worked as a private eye, investigating insurance scams and affairs. Not the work I’d do if I had a commissioner’s pension. We also spend a lot of time seeing Bruce beat up just so he can place a bug on his the shoe of his “brother.” I have to believe there was an easier way.

So we see the pieces move into place for the story. It just doesn’t engage me. I don’t care about the people, there is no emotional pull. Your mileage may vary and fair enough.

I guess my biggest beef is that just a couple of issues ago, there was a whole bit about bat family values, but the story has Bruce acting alone - see planting bug. You can’t have it both ways - Bruce as a loner and Bruce as a family man. Remember for the first 30 of 31 years of Batman, there was a Robin, and Robin planting a bug would have been a great use of the character. I’m just saying.

Not a terrible issue, but it was just lifeless to me. All plot, no character.

Or I could be wrong. more

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motorik - Dec 4, 2024

Mostly plot but definitely some character. Gordon specifically. However, you clearly aren't engaged with these versions of the characters. I thought Gordon's affair was very human. It was a good reminder that even the people you respect most can do things society looks down on. It was fun seeing Batman's faith in Gordon being tested. Did he place a bug on the shoe of his brother? I thought the whole deal was he couldn't see his brother until after 50% of the shares were transferred?

Quinn - Dec 4, 2024

Without rechecking the story, as I recall, there were two body guards protecting someone. If it was a court of owl guy, that is on me. Point about bug stands. But if I dish it out, I have to take it. Well said, sir

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Man, I thought bringing in Zdarsky was a big win for DC and the main Batman book but this continues to go from bad to worse month after month. Chip is an insanely good writer but some characters just don't click and this book is a prime example of that. The art? The less said about the art the better.