Batman #68 Review

Sorry Not Sorry

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Amanda Conner
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: April 10, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

The Knightmares continue and as we get closer to the end, I think we are all trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel and figure out if this all makes sense.  I am not a fortune teller so I can't say that is a big yes or no, but I do know that going into this, the solicit for this issue did rub me the wrong way.  "It's time once again to stick a knife into the Caped Crusader's broken heart, letting the groom-that-could-have-been peer in on the bachelorette (or should that be "Catchelorette"?) party that never was."  Never was?  If they mean never was as in this one didn't happen than okay...if it is trying to say there never was one period, then that is a load of horse shit!  More on that in a little bit...


The issue opens outside the Fortress of Solitude and while this Fortress is long gone, it's not an issue because this is a dream nightmare KNIGHTMARE!  You know the deal and by this point in the game, I'm not really sure if the concept of this arc is to tell a story or an excuse to write whatever Tom King wants and get away with it whether it makes a lick of sense or not.

Back to the intro, Tim Seeley got the honor to write the big wedding preludes before #50 came out and while they weren't all stellar, he did his best.  With so little of the first 49 issues featuring the Bat Family, he gave us some Damian, Dick and Jason moments (among others) and a pretty cool bachelorette party to boot.  This issue feels like a bit of a backstab especially taking into account that Seeley has said he had no idea the wedding wouldn't happen while writing those issues.

The issue itself is pretty harmless...you get some "classic" King jokes (Campbell for one) that will either put a smile on your face or make you roll your eyes, but all of it just feels like Tom King trying to give his fans more of the "Superfriends" instead of pushing his story forward even an inch.  "If you thought Lois and Selena got smashed at the fair, wait until you read this one..."

Again, depending on what side of the fence you are on with this Batman run, you may enjoy the feels you get from Selina asking Lois if they are friends, but you have to get through a whole lot for such little payoff...because remember, this is not happening!  While reading it, I kept waiting for what the "knightmare" really is and even after Superman pretty much announces it, I was still confused.  Confused, but actually a tiny bit excited with the cliffhanger mainly because it looks like we will be able to put all this nonsense behind us soon.  I am hoping that King makes it all better after the face with some big reveal, but I am not holding my breath. 

I did really dig Amanda Conner's art.  Sure, it felt out of place in this run, but she is so good and I will never complain when she does an entire issue.

Bits and Pieces:

Tom King gets his (not a wedding) cake and gets to eat it too as we get another bachelorette party issue to a wedding that never happened.  Fans of the Superfriends fair issue may dig the reprise, but those looking for the story to go forward or even some answers will have to wait another couple of weeks at least.  Frustrating!

5.0/10