![]() Obviously Ra’s’ globe-spanning criminal operation will come into conflict with the Court’s, and it will be interesting to see how those play off of one another. The reveal at the end that the mysterious woman shown intermittently throughout the issue is in fact Catwoman running from the Court of Owls hints at a lot of possibilities for where the story might be going. The attack, as well as a few dramatic panels of the mysterious woman fleeing her pursuers are some of the only times where we get to see more than fairly static shots of people talking. As before, the art does a serviceable job recreating the style from the cartoon, though the simplistic and workmanlike approach has little opportunity to really shine. If there’s one benefit of the assassin attack, it’s that it serves as an opportunity for Templeton to draw some interesting visuals. He was already coming out to meet them on their yacht why the deception to simply bring him to a slightly different sea vessel? It almost feels like an obligatory action set piece to keep readers’ attention during an issue that is mostly talking, like the screaming bird that pops up near the end of Citizen Kane. This whole sequence is strange and unnecessary. This mystery is further drawn out with an elaborate scheme to trick Bruce into being lured out to sea by assassins where he would be captured by Ra’s’ submarine. The way which Wayne Enterprises happens to own a resort on an island owned by the al Ghuls, which Bruce happens to be visiting when Ra’s needs to speak to him feels somewhat contrived. Where this premise stumbles is in establishing how everyone comes together. ![]() The only reason that I feel a bit differently about this one, however, is that (spoilers for a cartoon from 20 years ago) we do know that soon after this his body dies and he will be forced to transfer his mind into Talia’s. He always finds a way to come back it’s kind of his thing. Normally I would completely roll my eyes at the claim that Ra’s can no longer use the Lazarus pits, because there about as many “last Ra’s al Ghul” stories as there are Ra’s al Ghul stories. You see, Ra’s is dying (when isn’t he?) and claims to want to do some good with the time he has left. As with many stories featuring the Demon’s Head, Ra’s al Ghul uses his daughter to reach out to Bruce for an alliance. Whatever lies ahead, the al Ghuls set themselves up to be major players. The difference here being it’s not yet quite clear what the future holds. I’m reminded of The Long Halloween, where there’s a marked transformation from the standard crime families of the Falcones and Maronis into the freaks and supervillains like Joker that would dominate the city. The framing is of an almost transitionary stage for both Gotham and Batman that has left the city with a vacuum Bruce directionless. ![]() However, it’s clear that something’s not quite right as we wait for the other shoe to drop. ![]() The most immediate and obvious way this sense of finality is established is in the opening pages, as we see Tim, Detective Bullock, and even Talia all comment on how there hasn’t been any crime in Gotham for months. Nevertheless, the series’ pieces are arranged for one last confrontation. ![]() Of course, we know that isn’t the case because the DCAU that this takes place in continues on to include the events of Justice League, Justice League: Unlimited, and eventually Batman: Beyond. More than the final story for the miniseries and even Batman: The Adventures Continue as a whole, it’s almost framed like a finale for the universe all together. With Straightman and Task Force X behind us, Batman: The Adventures Continue Season 3 begins new arc focusing on the al Ghuls and a changed Gotham City. ![]()
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