I Am Bane was off to a great start even before that creepy finale page. King and Finch are reunited and Batman is all set for another epic story arc. Read Full Review

An uncharacteristic Batman book that ends very much on character. Tom King, David Finch and Jordie Bellaire bring a funny-as-all-hell story to a screeching halt with a dark ending. An absolute must-grab for Bat-readers new and old. Read Full Review

Tom King presents a solid story, and enough meta commentary to keep fans talking about this issue for years. Read Full Review

While Bane does not show up physically in this issue, he can be felt throughout it, the impending doom is strong here. Batman needs time (specifically 5 days) to cure Gotham Girl using Psycho Pirates mask before he can destroy it, something that Bane is aware of. Mix that in with the embarrassment that Bane received from Batman in I am Suicide and you get some strong animosity from Bane. Read Full Review

The openingchapter of “I am Bane” is an ecliptic mix of humor, dark moments, and subplot advancements. While Bane does not physically appear in this issue, his menacing presence is felt everywhere and the cliffhanger ending will definitely entice readers to pick up the next issue. Read Full Review

If you loved "I am Suicide", you will love the beginning of this "I am Bane" arc.  If you hated the it, you will still love this.  In fact, I can't see anyone not liking this beginning and can't wait to see what Tom King has in store next. Read Full Review

King's work on Batman has been impressive since he took it on. I really want to see where he is going. Read Full Review

If you can't tell, issue #16 is my favorite of King's work so far. Something wicked this way comes. And if these twenty pages are any indication, Gotham " maybe even Batman himself, won't be ready. Read Full Review

This is a great start to the story. Plenty of setup and great cliffhanger have gotten me invested. Im happy to say it seems like Kings found his groove. Im still laughing to myself about the Jokerized fries. Read Full Review

With a haunting last page, the first part of the "I Am Bane" storyline is off to a chilling start. Tom King's humor and the shifting tone of the art and story makes this issue a must read for all Batman fan. Read Full Review

Batman #16 delivers what the fans asked for…One Pissed off Bane. King connects this issue in with all the previous storylines leading for I Am Bane to have a bright future. The only slight drawback is in the artwork that makes the background characters look extremely generic. Read Full Review

In the final analysis, Batman #16 is a terrific book, one that effortlessly moves between action and thrills and a feeling of dread into a lighter tone without ever losing a sense of jeopardy and foreboding. The structure of the issue doesn't ever cause the narrative to lose momentum, and King and Finch never forget how many subplots and different strands they've got going. This is certainly is among my favorite issues of this creative team's run thus far. Read Full Review

Batman #16 is another solid story arc start from King. Although this issue is void of action and the decision to leave out what Bane has been up to seems ostensibly amiss — his dialogue is as sharp as we've seen and by the end you'll be cogitating every story seed that King has sown, wondering what actions each and every character will take and most importantly, craving more. Read Full Review

Batman #16 started off light and humorous but ended up with a much darker and more serious tone. It looks as though the I am Bane story arc will bring an end to the story that has been building over the past 3 to 4 story arcs. Batman #16 starts off slow but ends with a bang. For the most part, I have enjoyed Tom King's take on the characters and I can't wait to see where he goes next. Read Full Review

Over the course of the past 15 issues, King and company have made it a point to develop a deep roster of supporting characters into Batman's world. While all Batman runs have access to the historical roster of Robins, this take on Batman also includes Gotham Girl, the Suicide Squad Batman assembled in the previous arc "I Am Suicide," and an increased utilization of Catwoman as a romantic interest and moral grey spot for our hero. Almost all of these characters appear at some point in Batman #16, the start to "I Am Bane," and give the world a deep texture that makes each subsequent issue feel more resonant than it otherwise would. Read Full Review

There are a lot of things to love about Batman #16. It may not be the most action packed issue of the series ever but it doesnt need to be, opting for a quieter issue thats more focused on building up the tension and it does a good job. No doubt greater things are in store, but for now, I Am Bane is off to a very solid start. Read Full Review

It's terrific. Batman #16 is the issue we've wanted Tom King to deliver since day one. Read Full Review

I stand by my review of Batman #15, but this issue really did bring it back around for me. I'm excited to see where the story goes with the rest of the I Am Bane story arc. Read Full Review

Batman #16 is a good read. King does a great job of showing life without the masks for Batman and his boys as well too. Batman may be a loner, but its Bruce that has the need for family and it's shown here brilliantly. We also have some great action in the book as well, with an ending that I completely didn't see at all! Bane isn't present in this issue yet but he's already making his presence known! Read Full Review

No two of Tom King's Batman storylines feel the same, and that's one of this book's strongest qualities. This issue doesn't entirely play to artist David Finch's strengths, but it does offer a solid blend of Bat-meta humor and foreboding build-up to what promises to be a titanic clash between Batman and Bane. Read Full Review

Batman #16 kicks off what will hopefully be an entertaining story with a powerhouse villain that is definitely more than a bruiser. There are serious mind games at play here, and that's where this comic becomes split. King is a master of subtlety and mental manipulation, but the pencils are not playing at that level. As the action intensifies and Bruce & company spend more time in costume hopefully the pencils will move closer to the quality of the writing and colour work. Read Full Review

Batman #16 is a solid set-up issue that introduces us to the major players of the Dark Knight's latest clash with Bane. The interactions that Bruce Wayne has with Catwoman, Duke, Nightwing, Robin and Red Hood helped to establish how dangerous Bane is as Batman is going out of his way to warn those close to him to leave Gotham City. This allowed Bane to come off as a huge threat with having to have the villain appear at all in this issue. The ending further drove home what we should be expecting from the rest of Tom King's latest Batman story in all the right ways. Read Full Review

While it's nice to be getting back to a more straightforward story (bad guy coming for us, we have to stop him), it was hard for me to look past all the little distractions that the story kept throwing at me. Unto themselves, none of my gripes are really all that bad. But with such an extensive volume of them, they start to wear on what was otherwise a very entertaining tale. Basically, the sum of its parts don't equate to perfection, but individual moments were definitely some of the best I've seen King deliver in awhile. Especially in the humor department. I also think the story could have benefited from a more consistent tone. It starts off as a suspense, transitions to a comedy, converts into a drama, and ultimately ends up as horror. It's just very all over the place. But hey, you're getting more for your dollar that way…I guess. Read Full Review

Although I really enjoyed the story in this issue, some of the dialogue was confusing at times and some characters weren't portrayed very well. Then there's the damn Catwoman scene. Not a fan at all. Did we really need to be reminded of that situation again? It was last issue! The art was fantastic though it was the highlight of the issue and has stayed strong through most of the series. Read Full Review

I was getting nervous about the direction of this series but I'm loving the last couple stories. This issue was really good, batburger was a cool concept (let's get that going for real!) and I liked seeing all the Robin's including duke in one place and acting like regular people. Looking forward to more!

The consensus is in, people love Batburger and it's nice Bruce hasn't filed a copyright lawsuit. Honestly the part where Bruce uses a fork and knife to cut his burger made me lose it. It was a very fun issue and it's funny how the Robins are talking about each other's deaths over a Bat-mite meal and action figures. The Batburger scene was fun because we all know from the last page, this story arc is about to get real dark, real quick. Also Catwoman really needs to stop using Gordon's Batsignal as a booty-call tool. It's rude. This is Tom King hitting his stride and he served up a great issue and yes I would like to jokerize that!

This is a perfect comic. Probably my favorite since rebirth.

Great.Tom King make a good start with this story "I'M BANE"

tom king has been on fire with the last three issues of batman

It was that good!

Ok.This is definitely is one of my favorite Batman issues.And is the most unpredictable comic issue in this Batman run so far.

Batman took me through the whole gaunlet of suspense, humor, anxiety and finally terror... Great Intro to new arc. Back to basics I hope!!

Tom King has found his stride with this issue. Batburger was hilarious and the future issues of this arc seem very exciting. Surprising, tight deadlines have made Finch's art more enjoyable to me.

Tom King does do some pretty original stuff with this issue. I thought that fast food restaurant scene was amazing and pretty funny as well. The final reveal was cool but far too far fetched for it to ever be permanent. Oh well, the shock was there for a second.

Well well well... What can i say? This issue is unbelievable!!! Something of very big is starting... Bane is coming to Gotham, and batman is scared about It!!! I absolutely want the next issue in my hand right now!!!
The return of Finch for pencil is something i really appreciate!!!

Two things I took from BATMAN #16:
First, after a rate misstep with I AM SUICIDE Tom King have us, perhaps, his best issue of BATMAN, to date, with this issue.
Second, we need a book starring the various Robins. I can read a while issue is them having lunch at Batburger.
SCORE: 8.8

Comic Book Review (9/10) “Amazing”
*This is a great jumping on point as it is the start of a new story arc.*
Batman #16 “I am Bane Part 1”
Writer: Tom King
Penciller/Inks: David Finch
Plot: Batman is trying to help Gotham Girl get over her fears now that he was able to get Pscyho Pirate back from Bane’s clutches. Now Bane is coming and Batman is preparing for his arrival in Gotham while trying to protect his allies…
Tom King is back, and this feels more like the Tom King of Marvel’s Vision comic or the first five issues of Batman: Rebirth as the dialogue is good again and the story isn’t as convoluted as the previous 7 issues. Not only is King back, but Finch is also back with the gritty artwork that we love. However, my only gripe with Finch’s art are his renditions of Dick, Damian, and Jason. They all looked alike and sometimes it was difficult to tell who was who. His characters are much better when they have masks or defining characteristics such as mustaches (a la James Gordon) or different hair styles (a la Alfred).
The best parts of this issue was the conversation at the Bat-burger fast food restaurant with the Robins and the end page. We all know that the end page most likely does not mean what it is supposed to make readers think, but I like the whole foreshadowing that King does when the Robins talk about how each of them died at least once in their lifetimes. Also, we are introduced to a different Batman who is now in love, as his feelings for Catwoman are the only things that get in the way of his sense of justice and I thought that was a nice touch. Batman purists will undoubtedly hate this aspect of the comic, but I thought it was a nice touch. An amazing start to a new story arc.

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Overall a pretty straightforward start to this arc as Batman prepares for bane's assault on Gotham. You can really feel the tension of the oncoming storm in King's writing and it's fantastic to have Finch's artwork back. I couldn't have higher hopes for this arc and if this set up issue is any indication it will not disappoint.

Okay, it seems that King and Finch are starting on a very good note the third main arc of the Rebirth run. King's writing has so far been alternating between good to great ideas and not outstanding delivering, especially with the "I Am Suicide" arc; "I Am Bane" starts with a completely different tone, one that manages to be both ominous, quite scary and (finally) one of the funniest, most heartfelt issues in a long time concerning the Bat-family. The set-up is ingenious: Bane wants the Pirate's powers back, but Batman can't destroy his mask to return Gotham Girl to her sane self, so for five days the Robins need to run away while Batman tries to endure Bane's attacks. The highest point of the issue is the Bat-burger scene, by far the most honest relationship between the Robins and Batman I've ever read and filled with not obvious, brilliant jokes; the weak link may be the cliffhanger, that, while effective, is sure to be the usual trick to shock new, "naive" readers. Finch's work is amazing and he challenges himself to express comedic effect with great results: maybe the Robins look a bit too similar, but that's a trait of the characters themselves after all.
Finally, the book doesn't even forget about any one of the treads left open by the King narrative, giving the proper space to each of them. Very well done! more

Interesting beginning to the I Am Bane arc, but I was hoping for more of a resolution to the Catwoman story. The ending is kind of surprising, but I feel like it will be a Death of the Family sort of twist.

The issues since "I Am Suicide" have been outstanding, as here we are preparing for the fallout of that storyline, with Bane coming to Gotham for Batman. Strong start to this arc, with some character work on the Robins at Batburger. Yes, Batburger.

I've been waiting for this since the first arc, and I wasn't disappointed! Tom King skillfully develops Batman's relationships with his allies and what it means to be a Robin. I loved the "Batburger" restaurant, very fun as always. Still, I expect even more from the next issues. Also, I'm eager to know what will be Gotham Girl's role.

The story is meh, but the ending is HOLY FUCKING SHIT!

"I let him get this close." Why do these things keep happening to Batman, the World's Greatest Detective? And seemingly misunderstanding Bronze Tiger's motives.

The Batburger section could've been fine if the series was a meta take on Batman but here the tone just doesn't fit with the rest of the story.

Repetition seems to be a theme here: "And yet..."; "I am Bane", which is lame and already getting old.

On a positive note, there is some good artwork - the opening panel's colors were quite reminiscent of The Killing Joke, which was pretty cool.

Decompressed intro. Now anyone can wander in and out Batcave? Funny Robin Fan-Service. Excellent art.

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Kyle Funderburk - Feb 4, 2017

Well aren't you a debbie downer

Mister Bungle - Feb 8, 2017

At least i didn't bring up how 'Bat-Burger' was a complete ripoff from the 'Planet Krypton' restaurant scene at the end of Mark Waid's Kingdom Come.

DarioV - Oct 31, 2017

"Excellent art": 2.5

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