January 6, 2017
Batman #14
“Rooftops, Pt. 1 of 2”
Written by: Tom King
Art by: Mitch Gerads
If you have been following Batman through the last storyline, “I Am Suicide”, which dealt with the defeat of one of his most dangerous adversaries, Bane, you have been left with one burning question. How and why is Catwoman responsible for 237 deaths? With each issue, fans probably expected all would be answered by the end of the story, but alas, it was not to be. Hence with the brutal defeat of Bane and the role that Catwoman had in breaking his back, it was safe to say that with the impending next issue, those 237 would be explained…or will it?
“Rooftops, Pt. 1 of 2” takes place after Batman and Catwoman return to Gotham. They stand alone on the rooftops of the city. Batman reveals that Amanda Waller has agreed to life imprisonment for Catwoman instead of the death penalty and Blackgate prison instead of Arkham. All for those 237 deaths (There it is again. What happened?!). Catwoman claims that she did it. Batman knows that she didn’t. The only problem? He has to prove it. In the meantime, Batman must deliver Catwoman to the authorities by morning and she is willing to go quietly. Her only condition, Batman must share one last night with her atop the roofs, under a canopy of stars. “The air is cold, our beds are warm.” Batman and Catwoman then share the night, each taking the other on an adventure that maybe up until now, had never known about the other.
As the night ensues, the bat signal repeatedly shines high in the night sky, affording the duo to team up against a host of obscure DC villains. Gorilla Boss? Condiment Man? (Yeah, you heard right!) Kite Man? Those are just to name few. Catwoman then treats Batman to an experience of burglarizing a high rise for a surprise item and surprise results. In the end, they both shed their masks to just be a man and a woman , allowing themselves to be taken by the passion of one another.
The Verdict: After reading the several previous issues of Batman, it was a good change of pace to see these star crossed lovers interact with “one last night” looming over them. Good to see them as Bruce and Selina, as man and woman. The story feels almost sorrowful mixed with the superhero flair of battling the c-list rogue’s gallery of Gotham, knowing that this could be Batman and Catwoman’s last night together. Still, it ends with hope in their union and optimism that Selina will be found innocent. My only complaint? The storyteller is dragging out the those 237 deaths. Well, maybe next issue…
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