Batman (2024) # 153

 By Mark Rodriguez

After the fight with Failsafe, Bruce set up a new house called the Pennyworth Estate, where all members of the Bat-Family are welcome to stay whenever they need to. Now that the Absolute Power tie-in is over, we start the first new adventure with this new status quo.

"The Dying City Part One" opens with a family trying to find their way home on a late night. The father didn't want to use the parking lot because it was fifty bucks. Suddenly a stranger steps out from behind an alley telling them that they look lost. The man says they won't be finding their way home this way, which looks threatening... but then he gives the family proper directions to get to their destination. Batman watches this and sees the man means no harm. Jim Gordon is with him on the rooftop and says he can't remember the last time the city felt so calm.

Batman warns what usually happens when there's calm, and Jim tells him to take the win for once. Jim says since Wayne Enterprises revitalized old Gotham with affordable housing, social services and other things, it seems other things besides Batarangs have been stopping crime. Batman says Jim is in a good mood these days as his new look seems to give him a fresh outlook. Jim says his new P.I business is going strong especially since Bullock returned to GCPD. He says things feel much more possible now. Gotham is getting better and so are its people.

The news reports that in two months, Nygmatech has become a popular cryptocurrency. Nygma is saying he is helping bring good jobs back to Gotham as due to recent events, the demand for security for technology is at an all-time high. Of course, Nygma is known as the Riddler, and he was recently exonerated from his crimes when it was revealed that he was experimented on in Blackgate Penitentiary. Since then his new crypto, Questeum has increased in value so highly that he was able to purchase Pinkney Tower in the financial distict.

It seems Nygma has also helped revitalize Gotham under Bruce Wayne's approval, but not everybody trusts him. Mayor Nakano still calls the Riddler a murderer, and he is doing whatever he can to keep him in check. He believed in second chances, but he says the Riddler isn't free because he served his time, but because of a technicality. 

Nakano is currently as his office as the news plays and he tells his assistant Mandy to shut it off. Mandy says the polls are split on Nygma and the city has a short term memory. Nakano says in Gotham even the good guys are scary. A named Leonid arrives, saying the city needs a strong leader, and he wishes to speak with Nakano. Nakano tells Mandy it's alright and he'll meet up with her at the new park opening.

Nakano knows why Leonid is here, and he says he's done with everything. He already put Vandal Savage are the police commissioner be he won't be giving Nygma a free ride. Nakanao says he thought the Court of Owls was smarter than to invite the Riddler in. Leonid says the Riddler is good for Gotham, which is their top priority. He says he thought Nakano's top priority was his marriage and he asks what will happen if press finds out about the discretions. Nakano says he's done with the Court of Owls and doesn't care if they tell everyone about it.

Nakano's wife and child show up as Leonid takes his leave. She says she doesn't usually come down to the office but Nakano only comes home after they're already asleep. Nakano's wife is tired and she wants to talk. Nakano says he can't do this right now.

Elsewhere at Nygmatech, Edward is dealing with the fact that floors 18 through 26 won't be occupied until they are clear for inspecting, due to Nakano causing delays. Apparently this will take three months minimum. Just then Batman shows up and Riddler cuts his call short. Batman wants to make sure he's running a legit business and he's selling trojan horses, he'll find out.

Riddler says he's tired of their constant battles. He got tired of trying to prove he's a genius when he can just be one. He always felt the need to prove he was smarter than Batman. Once he stopped he was able to build an empire in two months time by himself and for himself. Batman says he saw the computers on the 27th floor and saw a familiar technology cooling them down. 

Riddler says he used some of Mr. Freeze's technology. He asks if Batman is going to tell Freeze that he has a copyright case. Riddler calls his security guard, Rhonda, and tells Batman to leave before she calls the police. Batman tells Riddler to stay on the lighted path, because he'll be waiting in the dark.

At Nakano's home, his wife says she's leaving him. Nakano says things will calm down after June like they always do. His wife says she can't take the depression while dealing with a husband that acts cold on some days and angry the rest. She will take their son to Central City to stay with her mother. Nakano just walks off.

Bruce arrives at Wayne Enterprises and sees protesters outside saying he's using making the taxpayers pay for the clean up of old Gotham, accusing him of being a 'commie'. Bruce ignores them and tells his people to leave them be and not call security on them. Ms. Birkemoe is in his office and is concerned about to major things. The first is that the media is framing the clean up as handouts for migrants and way to rake in tax breaks. The other thing is the fact that the company is being spread thin. They are so busy with the clean up that they're not focusing on the technology and the money they make from it.

Bruce says that Ms. Birkemoe has done a good job after Lucius stepped down. He expect a rebound in profits before the year ends. She says they need to bolster their tech departments and they might have to start considering an acquisition or merger. Bruce checks his laptop and see that the Wilford Diamond has been stolen. Bruce makes an excuse to duck out and says he will continue the conversation later.

Rowan Birkemoe pulls out her phone and calls Nygma, telling him that Bruce still doesn't see the problem. Nygma says he needs a merger with Wayne Enterprises so that they he can get past all the red tape that Nakano has him stuck in. Rowan says it might be time to consider Plan B.

Elsewhere, the crooks that stole the diamond and making a break for it in their getaway van. The driver figures they can cut through the new park opening today so they can get away from the cops. Just then they see a hero in a superhero costume armed with retractable blades. 

As the vehicle drives past, the man slices alongside the van. The van keeps driving towards the park, which is full of people. They have no intention of stopping until Batman swings in and smashes through the window, kicking the driver in the face. Batman takes the wheel and overturns the van, making it fall on its side and stop before it can hit anyone.

One of the criminals is able to get out of the van and makes a run for it. Batman chases after him but the new hero takes out a gun and shoots the guy through the legs. Batman is angry that he just fired a gun through the streets, Commissioner Savage arrives and tells Batman to back off as the hero just saved lives. The hero salutes him, calling himself Commander Star. He says he served his country and now he will serve Gotham, with his permission. Savage gives him permission and assumes he has a license for his weapons. Nakano says he's not letting another weaponized vigilante run through their streets. Savage agrees and says since they seemed to have reach their hero limit, he has the police arrest Batman. Batman tosses several smoke bombs and vanishes from sight. 

Gotta love how even standing out in BROAD DAYLIGHT, Batman is still somehow shrouded in shadows

Nakano is done with Savage and says he will bring a notion to have him fired. As the mayor walks off angrily, Savage tells Star that the city needs him more than ever. Commander Star agrees.

Later on, Bruce is being patched up by Leslie Thompkins. Bruce says Commander Star isn't the type of problem he's using to dealing with. He's wrapped in a flag and trying to help. Bruce says Gotham is turning good, but now they have another guy running around with a gun and Nygma might still be evil. Leslie says there will always be problems but she wishes he could take a break and tale some satisfaction from the good he's doing. She used to have a clinic and now they have seven, and several doctors and nurses are moving back from other cities. She says she never approved of Batman, but she approves of Bruce Wayne, son of Thomas and Martha Wayne. She believes in the and Bruce will make the city better, and not Batman. Bruce says the city might always need both. He's all patched up and decides to walk home.

As Bruce walks home, he ponders that Gotham is his home and he's trying his best to make it better. Bruce sees a homeless man and offers him a place at the Wayne Shelter. The homeless man calls him a 'commie' and tells him where he can go. As Bruce turns, he sees an owl watching over him. He feels that evil is still working in the city and Batman is still needed.

Elsewhere we see Mayor Nakano get back home. We also see Nygma taking an elevator. Nygma recites a riddle to himself as he checks over his computer equipment. Bruce runs into Rowan who was looking for him. She tells him that a claim was filed against him for half of his shares. She says this is bad. Meanwhile, Mayor Nakano is shot, twice in the chest. Rowan asks Bruce if he has a brother.

My thoughts-

Gotta love a good murder mystery. On one hand, Mayor Nakano is preventing Nygma from running his business. Without Bruce Wayne being interested in a merger, Plan B just might be taking Nakano out altogether. But on the other hand, what's going on with this claim on Bruce's shares? Then on the other hand, Commissioner Vandal Savage might have talked Commander Star into shooting the mayor. Savage probably also wants Nakano dealt, but would he able to talk a self-proclaimed hero into doing so? Then we also can't forget about Leonid and the Court of Owls.

I was confused when I first saw Commander Star and thought maybe he was Peacekeeper or someone with a new look. Then I realized he actually was a brand new character so I actually wasn't supposed to know who he was. I did like the fake out on the previous page where it looks like the jewel thieves ran into Batman only to turn the page and see this random character with blades.

I like the idea of a more cleaned up and peaceful Gotham. I loved the fake out in the beginning with the guy actually giving the family direction instead of attacking them. With both Jim and Leslie telling Batman to just take it easy and enjoy the good he's doing for the city, part of me wonders if Bruce just can't shake the fact that something evil is going on because if Gotham gets too nice, there won't be a need for a Batman. Bruce keeps telling himself that he'd rather do good as the son of Thomas and Martha Wayne and whatnot, but part of me feels he'll never truly let his costumed alter ego go.

I like the idea of Riddler going legit, for however long that lasts. While has has killed people at times, most of his stunts were either petty crimes or just weird contests to try to prove he could outsmart Batman. He's a criminal, yes, but he wasn't the mass murderer most of Batman's villains have devolved into. I also notice that Riddler was still under the effects of the device Daniel Captio strapped him too. He is pretty much using the same words he told him, to stop wasting time proving to the world that he's a genius... and just be a genius and reap in the benefits that can come from it. While he's trying to run a legitimate business, he's still bordering on being shady.

The comic also added the same Swerve Strickland story we saw in the AEW comic. It looks like every comic from that month (I assume Superman, Wonder Woman and whoever else) would have one of the mini-stories, and that AEW comic would just combine them all into one book.

The final thing I'd like to add is how Batman can somehow stand in broad daylight and still be covered in shadows. It reminds me of how All Might also has dramatic shadows on his face, no matter what lighting he happens to be in. I'm sure that was meant to be a parody of well... exactly what Batman just did in this issue. 

It is kind of funny to think about. Batman relies on lurking in the shadows and moving around so quickly, you're not supposed to get a good look at him until it's too late. Before he gets you, you'd think you're fighting against something supernatural. That's why Batman is such an urban legend... or at least he was before years and years of saving Gotham. But I would imagine if you take all the shadows away and he was just standing in broad daylight, he'd probably look like one of the live action movie Batmen, or maybe even Adam West but with a more muscular frame and a better Batsuit, but still looking ridiculous.