Batman #497 will always be one of those issues that will have me think about what I was feeling after I read this book. It's timeless, even if you don't like Knightfall, or perhaps this is the only book in the series you read, it still stands as a modern classic. Read Full Review

Several months ago DC released a Dollar Comic reprint of this classic issue. I remember reading it when I bought the original, unable to believe every page as I read it. It was well written and drawn, as anything by Doug Moench or Jim Aparo is. I love the way it was put together. It's no wonder this issue still impacts Batman today.
But what I never hear is what a coward Bane truly is. He was too afraid to face Batman at his fullest because he knew he'd loose. He had to wait till he was at his weakest, worn to exhaustion, then face him, bragging to hide his denial the whole time. "You are nothing..." and crap like that. If he was nothing, why'd the musclebound hairball not take him on on fairer terms? Because he was afraid to. And because of his cowardice the loser still brags about it, still in denial that he really just got lucky because he was too scared to take him on at any peak beyond pure exhaustion.
Most look at this issue as Batman's greatest defeat. I'll always see it as that made so by the fact his opponent was a feckless coward. That's why I hate Bane and will never consider him to be anything more than a boastful coward who uses physical strength to compensate for what a wimp he really is.
I bet you expect a low review for that, but in truth I still have to say it's an interesting and exciting chapter to a story I still consider one of the greatest in Bat-history. And I still remember, though it took a while for the one true Batman to return to action, he only got stronger through this experience. And though he may still be physically threatening, otherwise Bane is just a boastful weakling otherwise. And that's all he ever will be. more