Batman #75 out this week

[SixSpeedSamurai]

I actually enjoyed this one, loved Daniels art. However, if Bane lives at Wayne Manor, the Ventriliquist is his butler, everyone works for Bane, so does everyone know Bruce Wayne is Batman?

[Korath]

Well, it was certainly a very pretty pompous ball of nothing.

I read it and felt nothing. I really can't wait for King to move from the main title, and considering how his Bat/Cat is so important for him, I won't bother reading his mini either. If he can't make me feel anything but boredom with such an issue, he won't work for me on Batman anymore, at all.

[Arsenal]

I actually enjoyed this one, loved Daniels art. However, if Bane lives at Wayne Manor, the Ventriliquist is his butler, everyone works for Bane, so does everyone know Bruce Wayne is Batman?

Isn't Thomas the one living at Wayne Manor?

[Inversed]

I'm really liking how despite the "villain takes over city" trope feeling pretty played out, especially for Batman, this actually feels kind of fresh. I like that it's not just chaotic, post-apocalyptic "every man for himself", but instead some semblance of order. Riddler and Joker as the buddy detectives, Hugo as Commissioner, Ventriloquist as Thomas' Alfred is great. Even the Year Of The Villain tie-in worked in this instance, explaining how Bane could get away with it "legally" speaking. And really interested to see how the Batman and Catwoman stuff will end up resolved, this is a case where I am hoping for some semblance of a slow build to them re-connecting rather than immediately back together.

Isn't Thomas the one living at Wayne Manor?

Yeah, Thomas is there with Ventriloquist as his Alfred, while the real Alfred is there as Thomas' hostage so to speak. I do like he's not under Psycho Pirate mind control like alot of us assumed, and instead just being smart and not fighting, while still throwing some backtalk at Thomas.

Bane appears to be in some underground facility not exactly sure where, wouldn't be surprised if its below Arkham.

[K. Jones]

I mean on one hand we've got yet another screwball version of Gotham, akin to something like Gothtopia. The Dark Knight Rises comparisons are apt, and that element is fairly fun. And the fact that Hugo Strange and Psycho Pirate are involved indicates some level of god-tier mind-control that at least gives the story some sort of internal logic. I'll say that the only element of this issue that gave me actual joy was the absurdity of Joker and Riddler cruising around like police detectives, actually seeming to enjoy the absurdity of playing those roles. And realistically based on how devious they are as criminals, they actually should make startlingly good detectives - they are Gotham's master Moriarty-type clue leaving Pop crime lords.

Alfred hostage, Gotham Girl on point and backing from Luthor are good enough McGuffins for me to believe Superman doesn't just fly in and fix everything in five minutes. But that does contrast to the early bits of the run, where the JLA comes in and stops Gotham (Boy), and then come in to do clean-up after the Monster Men. And Superman has been all over this run. Even the re-use of Doctor Double X brings that point to the forefront.

Oh and King 86's Double X. Which is fine, he's definitely a z-list character who got used more in this run just to die in a clever Two-Face murder than he's been used in 50 years. And Two-Face working with Grundy at least almost directly calls back to Dark Victory and Long Halloween, which is a nice touch that I don't hate.

Part of me wishes the art was rendered almost in a New Gotham/TAS style. Or even a Batman '66 style.

I'm hit or miss on Tony's art. He does still have that thing Grant described, that like Jim Lee-through-a-Jim Aparo filter. It feels right but there's also some wonkiness. For a second I thought FlashpointBats might be Bruce wearing the Thomas costume to trick everyone. And I'm really curious to see what Magpie might be up to. I love Magpie and want her to have cooler stories.

[ermac]

Alfred hostage, Gotham Girl on point and backing from Luthor are good enough McGuffins for me to believe Superman doesn't just fly in and fix everything in five minutes. .

That applies for every Batman story. Some suspension of belief is necessary for Gotham to be credible.

[Aahz]

Oh and King 86's Double X. Which is fine, he's definitely a z-list character who got used more in this run just to die in a clever Two-Face murder than he's been used in 50 years.

Ist Double X way to powerfull to get killed like this.
That's in general a problem with many of the siver age villains, they are kind of goofy so many writers treat them like Jokes, but some of these guys (like Double X or Zebra-Man) are really power full at least in comparison to other Batman villains.

[SixSpeedSamurai]

Isn't Thomas the one living at Wayne Manor?

Yes, plus I forgot Bane is using Psycho Pirate to control all the Rogues, so Ventriliquist may not remember anyway.

[cgiants]

Maybe it's me, but I'm tired of the villians taking over an entire city. Isn't Gotham the size of New York City? How the hell is Bane taking over Gotham? Since Bane has taken over Gotham, shouldn't the US government be aware of this? Why does it always seem like Gotham is in it's own little world, and there are no other heroes in the universe to help out Gotham. I need to start reading other comic books.

[Arnoldoaad]

I had 2 thoughts about this

the first one is that I am interested in this arc a lot for similar reasons that i liked the Superheavy arc, its not about how Batman will comeback and fix "this is Gotham for the moment, enjoy the ride"
and I might just enjoy the ride

the second thing is that King said that this was going to be the start of something that was going to change Batman forever, I didnt get what it is because City of Bane definitely doesnt feel like that.
the thing about this kind of storyline just like with Superheavy or something like Superior Spider-man for another reference is that we are always going to be back to the status quo
something like 90% of the comic was about what the villians are doing, I see nothing there that would be permanent, even the change to two-face feels reversable or even ignorable.
so the other 10% was Bruce and Catwoman which will most likely going to cement their relationship, maybe going forward with the wedding
but...
I kind of was expecting that, I just feel like I was also expecting for something more and this isnt it.
Im not necesarily disappointed I just feel like I wanted something different but i dont know what

[Jman27]

so how did Bruce escape his death battle with his Dad felt like that should be included. And why did Selina search for Bruce hopefully her reason is a good one.

[Hulkout42]

I had 2 thoughts about this

the first one is that I am interested in this arc a lot for similar reasons that i liked the Superheavy arc, its not about how Batman will comeback and fix "this is Gotham for the moment, enjoy the ride"
and I might just enjoy the ride

the second thing is that King said that this was going to be the start of something that was going to change Batman forever, I didnt get what it is because City of Bane definitely doesnt feel like that.
the thing about this kind of storyline just like with Superheavy or something like Superior Spider-man for another reference is that we are always going to be back to the status quo
something like 90% of the comic was about what the villians are doing, I see nothing there that would be permanent, even the change to two-face feels reversable or even ignorable.
so the other 10% was Bruce and Catwoman which will most likely going to cement their relationship, maybe going forward with the wedding
but...
I kind of was expecting that, I just feel like I was also expecting for something more and this isnt it.
Im not necesarily disappointed I just feel like I wanted something different but i dont know what

Maye him and Cat save the city and finally get hitched over the beaten and bloody forms of BatDad and Bane?

[BatmanJones]

the second thing is that King said that this was going to be the start of something that was going to change Batman forever, I didnt get what it is because City of Bane definitely doesnt feel like that.
the thing about this kind of storyline just like with Superheavy or something like Superior Spider-man for another reference is that we are always going to be back to the status quo
something like 90% of the comic was about what the villians are doing, I see nothing there that would be permanent, even the change to two-face feels reversable or even ignorable.
so the other 10% was Bruce and Catwoman which will most likely going to cement their relationship, maybe going forward with the wedding
but...
I kind of was expecting that, I just feel like I was also expecting for something more and this isnt it.
Im not necesarily disappointed I just feel like I wanted something different but i dont know what

I think the key to your issue may be in your first sentence above. It's the start of an 11 issue story. If you're not seeing generational change in the first of those 11 issues, that's probably why.

I read and hear a lot of complaints that King "hasn't explained anything yet" or "hasn't resolved anything yet." I think (I hope) the key there too is the word "yet." He has 10 more issues of Batman to go and 12 of Batman/Catwoman. I don't need him to explain or resolve anything until the end of the story.

Mileage will vary among reasonable people. Of course.

[Caivu]

Maybe it's me, but I'm tired of the villians taking over an entire city. Isn't Gotham the size of New York City? How the hell is Bane taking over Gotham? Since Bane has taken over Gotham, shouldn't the US government be aware of this? Why does it always seem like Gotham is in it's own little world, and there are no other heroes in the universe to help out Gotham. I need to start reading other comic books.

Not to mention, where's the rest of the Batfamily? Jason and Dick sorta get a pass since they could be elsewhere, but the others?

[BatmanJones]

Not to mention, where's the rest of the Batfamily? Jason and Dick sorta get a pass since they could be elsewhere, but the others?

I'd be very surprised if we didn't get some kind of answer to this, particularly re: Gordon and Tim since Batman wound up alienating them because he was so convinced Bane was behind a grand conspiracy and they were convinced (for good reason) that he wasn't.

I'm unconcerned about the relative realism of Bane taking over all of Gotham just as I'm unconcerned about the relative realism of anything that happens in comic books.

When someone says something like 'Batman couldn't have possibly taken out that many ninjas' or any of the other, similar complaints in King's run or elsewhere, all I can think is "I guess you don't 'believe a man can fly' then. You should watch the first Superman movie."

Call them "What Ifs," call them "Elseworlds," or call them in continuity... They're all "imaginary stories."