Review: Batman #132

Overview: In Batman #132, Bruce Wayne submerges himself into another Gotham that has spiraled into chaos and insanity. 

Editor’s Note: Due to the anthology nature of this collection, we will feature a synopsis and analysis for each story, rather than breaking up the synopsis and analysis. Spoilers are sure to be revealed.

Story #1: “The Bat-Man of Gotham” Part 2 by writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Mike Hawthorne

Synopsis: Batman #132 begins in a Gotham City apartment on another world in the multiverse. Dr. Leslie Thompkins rushes out the door to pick up a shift. Alfred Pennyworth pleads with her not to go, but as Leslie points out, too many doctors have fled to Metropolis, so someone needs to help those in need.

Elsewhere, the Bruce Wayne of the main universe shadows Jewel (or Julia) as she goes about helping those she can in a Gotham City overrun by venom-enhanced police. In this Gotham, the city is walled off, and the United States has abandoned everyone within those walls. 

Bruce sees a skeleton Jim Gordon talking to him as he helps Jewel. She notices Bruce acting distracted and asks him if he’s hallucinating. Bruce thinks it’s from his multiversal travel, but Jewel knows otherwise. The denizens of this Gotham call it “Crane Brain,” as it derives from a gas pumped into the city by the administration running Arkham Asylum. The gas promotes mental illness, resulting in more people being committed to Arkham. Jewel gives Bruce some pills, which everyone outside of Athena Tower takes to avoid Crane Brain. 

At Athena Tower, Red Mask and his armed men go to the judge’s chambers to see Harvey Dent. Dent rests on a throne before a room full of dead men. Red Mask threatens to take Dent’s venom away if he doesn’t get back out there and deliver this new Bruce Wayne to Arkham. 

At Jewel’s safehouse, Bruce cooks for her while she tells him about Darwin Halliday, the man who owns Athena Tower and creates the drug that combats Crane Brain. Jewel believes he’s the only one standing up to everything going on. Bruce isn’t so sure. As Jewel talks, Bruce thinks back to his world, back to Alfred and his Robins. 

Next week, there’s a fundraiser gala at Athena Tower, and Bruce plans to attend so he can meet Halliday. In the meantime, Jewel gets him a fake ID, and he assumes the name of “Wilson Texlon, a financier from Metropolis.” He also makes some rudimentary homemade weapons. 

At the gala, “Wilson Texlon” asks around for Halliday, but Selina Kyle finds him. She asks him to dance, and it takes every fiber of Bruce’s being to remind himself that this is not his Selina. Immediately, Selina calls him out, letting it be known that she knows he’s Bruce Wayne. When Bruce tries to fake like he needed a fresh start, Selina reveals that in this Gotham, Bruce gave everything up to become a social worker before he died. When Bruce presses to find Halliday, she indicates that Darwin is on the second floor. 

Bruce looks, and he goes cold. The man on the second floor has a familiar smile and face. Though his face isn’t bleached white, nor his lips red, Bruce is pretty sure that Darwin is this world’s Joker. Before he can meet up with Halliday, Selina ensnares Bruce in her whip. Punchline busts into the gala and attacks. 

Bruce breaks free of his bonds and tries to run for it, but Killer Croc intervenes. Croc beats Bruce around, who retaliates by lighting the villain on fire. Bruce is about to make his getaway when he surveils the crowd and sees Alfred. This momentary distraction gives Selina the upper hand, and she gets the jump on Bruce. A man in the crowd pulls out the gun and fires, and Bruce falls out of the tower window. He slides down the building and leaps to a nearby building, busting through a glass window. 

Bruce climbs to his feet and stumbles onto the streets, walking down an alley. He sees a police officer beating someone mercilessly, so he acts. Bruce uses every ounce of his strength to take out the officer, dwelling on how much he misses his world, his sons, and his Selina. But this world needs him, and he’ll never give up. Every Gotham is his Gotham, and as he lies on the ground after taking down the cop, Bruce sees a bat.

Analysis: Batman #132 is part two of a multiversal adventure story that finds Bruce Wayne seeing what Gotham City would look like without his impact. In this world, Bruce has long since passed, and much of the issue revolves around Bruce living out his own Bat-tastic riff on It’s A Wonderful Life. Through his savior and friend Jewel, Bruce sees a Gotham cut off from the world and commanded by a totalitarian government. Unlike the similar vibe seen recently during Fear State and Future State, this is a Gotham, apparently without the Internet. That’s a strange highlight, but it also removes any need for a social feed, constant media chatter, or militaristic drones flying everywhere.

As previously stated, a good chunk of Batman #132 really is about the mood and vibe of this other Gotham. In a way, it feels like sight-seeing, wherein we get a feel for how the government operates (apparently, Judge Dent runs law enforcement and is nothing more than a venom junkie under the thumb of whoever Red Mask is — as I said in my review of Batman #131, I believe it to be this world’s Tim Drake). We also see what all of the traditional members of Batman’s rogues’ gallery have been up to. Joker is a wealthy socialite named Darwin Halliday, and Killer Croc, Selina Kyle, and Punchline hang out at his lavish parties in Athena Tower. 

The success of this issue hinges on three things — Mike Hawthorne’s gritty, grimy, and moody pencils. Tomeu Morey’s dark, noir-inspired colors. And Chip Zdarsky giving readers a glimpse into Bruce’s inner monologue, which guides us through all the emotions bubbling under the surface as he grapples with a world that reminds him so much of home, yet is so far from it. 

The last time we had an outing like this was in “The Gift” by writer Tom King. In that storyline, Booster Gold was our guide, and we watched him witness a horror of his own creation, which served mostly as a setup for the Heroes in Crisis series. This time, Zdarsky and the team use this Elseworlds Gotham tale to force Bruce to reflect on all of the things he had and lost, to strip away Batman and get to the root of why he picked up the cape and cowl in the first place. At his core, Bruce is a person who helps people, giving every ounce of his strength and energy to do so, and that’s reflected in this issue’s end, where Bruce collapses to the ground after saving a victim of police brutality. In doing so, Bruce sees a bat, which inspires him once more to remake himself.

Story #2: “The Toy Box” Part 2 by writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Miguel Mendonca

Synopsis: The backup in Batman #132 happens months ago in Metropolis, as Toyman goes on a rampage, killing innocent bystanders and turning others into toys. Superman (Jonathan Kent) tries to stop him, but before Toyman can be brought to justice, Toyman kills himself. 

Today, Robin (Tim Drake) analyzes one of the dolls Toyman transformed a man into. He notes multiversal energy to the doll, further pointing out that the gun Toyman used was the same one Failsafe used on Batman before Batman disappeared to another Gotham City. Tim says all of this out loud, asking a shadowy figure behind him for help. 

Mr. Terrific tells Tim that his theory is sound, but he’ll need some time to create a multiversal device that will help Robin track down Batman, as well as the other people Toyman displaced. Tim goes home to Bernard, planning to spend some time with his boyfriend before an adventure that could very well end in tragedy. 

The next day, Robin suits up in a special multiversal getup that Mr. Terrific made. He’s given some discs to help send people back to the correct universe. Robin takes the plunge and transports to another universe. Right away, he finds some survivors that Toyman displaced. He also finds Toyman, who is leading an army. 

Analysis: This backup tale feels more functional than enjoyable to read. It’s one long info dump explaining Toyman’s gun and how it fell into the hands of Failsafe, which ultimately was used to send Bruce to another world. It also explores Tim’s resolve to save Batman and lays down relentless exposition to explain away the impossible technology Mr. Terrific gifts to Tim. This new suit and tech will allow Tim to save those displaced by Toyman, but more importantly, they will be the vehicle through which Bruce will return at the end of his journey. 

It’s not the most exciting backup, but it does perhaps set a necessary foundation that will play into this storyline’s end. The art by Miguel Mendonca and colors by Roman Stevens here in Batman #132 craft a vibrant and eye-catching display that counters the darkness of the main storyline in this issue. Unfortunately, it’s just bogged down with so much exposition that reading this backup feels almost like a chore. 

Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with a copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Comixology through Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.