Moving into the third and final act of the most visceral Batman story I’ve read in a good long while makes writing this review kind of bittersweet. While things don’t exactly lighten up in this issue, there’s some slightly more apparent connective tissue between this issue and the main
FLASHPOINT story, and it provides the only glimmer of hope that the most troubled coupling in Gotham City desperately need.
By now, I’m hoping that most of you have read the second issue of this series, but if you haven’t, this is just a warning that I’m about to reference the very last page of issue #2. If you haven’t read that yet, either do it really fast or stop reading this review.
Okay?
Good.
After the bombshell revelation of the Flashpoint Joker’s identity at the end of the second issue as being none other than Martha Wayne, an automatic notion is concocted about what happened to Thomas and Martha Wayne that set them on such divergent paths. Unsurprisingly (but still interestingly), it boils down to how both parents have adapted to the loss of their son. Azzarello and Risso give us insight in this issue about the events surrounding Bruce’s death, and they manage to create a moment that feels as urgent as it is devastating. I’ve never had children, but even so I can feel the hopelessness of Thomas and Martha as they’re forced to watch their small son slip away before their very eyes.
I’d say that moment isn’t for the faint of heart, but that sentiment really applies to this entire series. After this, Azzarello has inserted dialogue about the only hope both parents may have to find peace, or at least find solace, in non-existence. One of the single best moments in this issue comes from a question Martha asks Thomas about their son if he were still alive, and it contains the Batman trademark story tenet of awesomeness wrapped in a thick coat of despair.
Azzarello, more than the previous two issues, also manages to give the readers a hint of Thomas Wayne’s skill as a doctor. Early on and pouring right out of the events of issue #2’s climax, this Batman if nothing else, is still very dedicated to preserving the life of innocents and this comes across exceedingly well in a very marginal amount of panels.
Eduardo Risso really nails it for this finale. There were some moments here where I feel that he had a vibe similar to that of Frank Miller, but really what he does is just bring his very clear vision of this world to life. Risso’s emotion in the face of tragedy really elevate this story beyond the great words that Azzarello gives the characters. While the dialogue forwards the plot, Azzarello easily sells the emotion and urgency of several moments, and the last page’s efficacy as an emotional tool I think I can safely attribute entirely to him. His emotive work has been so strong over these three issues that each read can manage to be a little exhausting.
All in all, this series has been the best single event tie-in comic I’ve ever read. Some would say that a statement like that isn’t saying much, but really, Knight of Vengeance gives you the gravitas, crime-drama, loss, and emotion that have become staples of the Azzarello/Risso team. The mere fact that a series like FLASHPOINT is even attached to this should be an honor to DC and that book’s creative team, and just goes to show that Gotham City and the Batman legend’s storytelling potential is far, far from over. Sad to see it go, but that was a hell of a ride.
