In the previous issue of Matt Fraction’s Batman, Gotham City Police Commissioner Vandal Savage made a deal with the new Gotham City Mayor, Pamela Isley (a.k.a., Poison Ivy). He wanted her approval to put warrants out for the Bat-Family. In return, she would get the army she needs to make Gotham Greener, as Vandal says, “by any means necessary.”
Now, it’s time for the GCPD’s commissioner to go after his enemies. Luckily, the Bat Family has a plan.
- Writer: Matt Fraction
- Artist: Ryan Sook
- Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger
- Colors: Tomeu Morey
The plan and the outcome
The issue starts with Bruce Wayne talking to Signal (Duke Thomas), Batgirl (Stephanie Brown), Robin (Damian Wayne), and Oracle (Barbara Gordon). The plan is for them to retrieve all of the items from their bunkers that can’t fall into Vandal’s hands. If they can’t get it, they’re to destroy it. A big part of the plan was Damian Wayne being on defense if things go sideways. But, at the last minute, Bruce switched missions with Robin (more on that later).
Of course, things start well, but then go from bad to worse. Some of the bunkers were already raided, Signal was almost captured (but saved by Batman), and Batgirl walked into a trap. The latter leads to Oracle telling Batman that it was time to enact their secret plan.
Rather than let Stephanie get arrested, Barbara allows the Clock Tower’s signal to be tracked. Oracle knew that her capture and the location of the Clock Tower were so important that the GCPD would abort everything and turn their attention towards her. This saved Stephanie, but this meant Barbara Gordon would be arrested (once again, more on that later).
After that, there was one more mission that needed to be completed, and that’s where Damian Wayne comes in. Initially, Batman was supposed to set charges and blow up Vandal Savage's new home, Wayne Manor (read Batman Nos. 137 and 138 by Chip Zdarsky for that story). After his conversation with Alfred (who's still dead), Bruce decides to give this task to Damian to let him know the past doesn’t matter.
"Because it's you and me now, and that's all that matters."Batman to Robin
Right before Wayne Manor is blown up, Batman apologizes to Damian for how he’s treated him. He also says sorry for not being the father he deserves and that he will try to be better. And with that, Robin smiles, blows up Wayne Manor, and the father and son go home.
Don't worry, it's going somewhere
You’re probably wondering what’s next for Barbara Gordon because there’s no way she’d allow herself to get captured without a plan. She, like Batman, always has backup strategies. So it likely doesn’t stop with imprisonment. Thanks to writer Mariko Tamaki, artist Amancay Nahuelpan, and colorist Tamra Bonvillain, readers will know what that is in the 12-issue limited spinoff series Barbara Gordon: Breakout.
The trailer above doesn’t show what Barbara's mission is in this spinoff. However, from what we do see, she’s going to be locked up with a lot of criminals that she directly (and indirectly) put in the supermax prison. DC Comics fans can also assume that Vandal Savage will do whatever he can to make sure that her stay is as uncomfortable as possible.
Unfortunately for Vandal Savage, he's arrogant enough to underestimate Barbara Gordon. He probably thinks that since she doesn’t have the Bat Family on hand, she'll be easy to take out. And that will be his downfall. Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to find out if that’s accurate.
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