The end of the “Failsafe” arc is finally here. Written by Chip Zdarsky, drawn by Jorge Jiménez, colored by Tomeu Morey, and lettered by Clayton Cowles, Batman #130 pits the Dark Knight against his robo-nemesis in a final battle that appears unwinnable. The backup story, “I Am a Gun,” written by Zdarsky, drawn by Leonardo Romero, colored by Jordie Bellaire, and lettered by Cowles, explores the history Batman has with the mysterious Zur-En-Arrh.
Following the previous issue’s events, Failsafe is still an unstoppable machine that’s causing the DC Universe a major headache. The Bat-bot holds all of Batman’s skills and knowledge but none of his remorse or compassion, making the Terminator look like Winnie the Pooh in comparison. Batman is lost in space, but he needs to figure out a way to save himself and get back to Earth to put a stop to Failsafe once and for all.
Looking at the events of Batman #130, the issue hits all the rights notes that the reader would expect from a finale. The events should satisfy fans who expect danger, action, realization, and a juicy cliffhanger at the end. However, the biggest problem here is the pacing. Half of the issue takes place with Batman trying to return to Earth safely from space. It’s a thrilling section of the issue and showcases exactly how the Dark Knight never panics, even when all the odds are against him. Yet, when he arrives back on Earth, everything accelerates at a breakneck speed.
It’s difficult to shake off the feeling that this story might have been planned to continue a little longer, and someone told the creative team to wrap things up quicker. For example, an entire issue could have been dedicated to Batman and Robin versus Failsafe rather than the last few pages of the book. The overall story idea is good and indulges in the wackier side of Batman’s history, but the rushed execution leaves a lot to be desired here.
At this point in the game, Jiménez has already established himself as one of the best modern artists to work on a Bat book. The artist’s work is exceptional in Batman #130 once again, as he nails all the thrills, action, and emotion. Where Jiménez shines is in the build-up to the big action pieces. The artwork delivers sizzling anticipation as the panels lure the reader in and keep them hooked on what happens next. Similarly, Morey’s impactful and powerful colors emphasize the glossy action, as this artist pairing produces eye candy for comic book fans.
The backup story also concludes in Batman #130. Much like the backups in The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing act as tributes to the golden age, so does this story, and it’s a welcome throwback to fans who may want a different kind of Caped Crusader story. However, it also does help to tie up the loose ends and questions from the main tale here, especially around Zur-En-Arrh and the connection to Failsafe, which is welcome.
Despite “Failsafe” holding much promise and potential, the hurried finale of Batman #130 disappoints. What’s even more frustrating is that the beats are all there, but the story fails its landing. Fortunately, the issue does end on a monumental cliffhanger, and this does offer an olive branch for readers who may have been ready to tap out after this storyline.
