Batman: Knightfall Part Two - Who Rules the Night (edició 1993)

After the fairly drudgy part 1, part 2 delivers a much more interesting read. Bane is almost a side character really, despite his prominence in the plot - he remains fairly shadowy, working at a distance. This allows the story to delve into more interesting topics, such as:

- how Bruce Wayne copes with failure
- the dynamic of power in a void, between Robin and Batman's replacement
- the prize that is "Gotham" - what does it really mean to control a city?

I first read this when I was teenager and picked it up again recently as part of catching up on the Batman timeline. Really love how well this one has held together. ( )

I spent the majority of my review for Knightfall: Volume 1 gushing over how much I enjoyed the story and how pumped up it made me for The Dark Knight Rises. Having just finished Volume 2 and seen The Dark Knight Rises twice, I can easily say that I enjoyed this collection on a much higher level.

I'm not sure if it's strictly because now when I read Bane, I can only hear his dialogue in Tom Hardy's voice or that the story takes a turn in a darker, more compelling direction.

That being said, I'm still not completely crazy about the artwork but it does serve its purpose. Some of the character designs are a little on the dated side (Nightwing rocking a mullet) and I often got confused when presented with Jean-Paul Valley (Azreal) and Detective Stanley Kitch in succession as they looked identical.

The battle within the final few pages is something to behold. I'm a sucker for fight scenes that take place in the rain (for some bizarre reason) and this one makes use of the environment wisely. There a few panels in particular that impressed me and left me wanting more. ( )

Was I the only one who thought the new Batman costume was freaking sweet? ( )

Bane has broken the back of the Batman, and now Bruce Wayne has appointed Azrael to stand in his place, as the Batman, while he mends. Tim Drake (Robin) looks on with growing unease as this new Batman becomes more and more savage and brutal toward the criminals he hunts, and less and less caring for the innocents he is protecting. The new Batman eventually defeats Bane, and barely overcomes his urge to kill the monstrous being who broke his predecessor. ( )