BATMAN: GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM #4 (DC COMICS)

The long wait is finally over.

It has been since December of 2024 that Batman’s dark look inside his own psyche hit the LCS. Last readers saw, Batman gave up being Bruce Wayne. This focus on being the Dark Knight led into some questionable directions.

There is little time to react about this stat quo change. Doctor geist and his legion have attacked the citizens of Gotham City. They’ve unleashed their darkness, but are they ready for Batman’s?

BATMAN: GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM #4 by Rafael Grampá, Mat Lopes and John Workman(DC COMICS) concludes its’ intense Black Label saga.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the finale.

BATMAN: GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM #4 by Rafael Grampá, Mat Lopes and John Workman(DC COMICS)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Grampá unleashes pure chaos for this closing round. The writing instantly crafts the dire sense as Gotham burns. Bruce Wayne’s story has been extremely complex in this narration. Doctor Giest’s manifesto dances in the spotlight. It carries such an evil overtone much like Crytoon and The Joker. Their dynamic is uneasy as they discuss the true nature of their partnership. Once events steer back to Gotham, the tide turns colder as Bruce Wayne discovers buried secrets.

Readers watch as Charles Quinton exposes the shady dealings involved with the creation involved with Doctor Geist. The writing is disturbing in portions while shoving Batman directly into the madness. It serves as a powerful piece as the final battle is poised to start. Once here, Grampá pulls out emotional tears in Laura and Gordon’s plots. Weaving in the tragedies offsets the visceral acts unfolding in the streets. The final confrontation does not disappoint. Loose ends are tied as Batman stares into the abyss. It also shows he is human after all when the forces become too great to overcome.

The ending does hint back to the Dark Knight we all know. It leads into a fitting resolution of events. There is no real happy ending, but more of a new age forged. It leaves readers in a space of anxiousness as Gotham’s protector emerges through the fire in a very definitive manner.

READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!

The art flourishes in the manic setting. Gordon’s talk with Laura weighs heavily with the state of affairs at hand. It is a far cry from the anarchy in the streets. Geist standing on the bell tower relishing in the chaos makes a bold statement. The panels open the gates of Hell on Earth as the rioting begins. Crytoon’s talk with the Joker has a sense of evil in the candidness of the situation. Both know there’s no turning back from what’s coming.

Panels show Wayne’s rage as his discovery of Quinton steers into a frightening look at evil. Lopes’ use of black and white coloring adds another layer to the uneasy subject matter. It serves as a rally cry for Wayne to retake his city. The emergence of Batman gets a spectacular full page image. It re-ignites the action with bold pages. Crytoon and the Joker get some intense panels as the blood starts shedding. This becomes more increasingly brutal as Batman pushes his way to Doctor Geist. Readers see how the manipulations took their toll. Wayne’s face is flooded with bruises and pain.

This aura continues until the tremendous turning point. A full page shows Wayne accepting the reality of what the mantle represents. It kickstarts the brutal fallout as Geist’s time is slipping away. There’s no shying away of the viciousness of the pages. The darker subject matter gives way to a more calming epilogue. Readers see the pain and recovery felt by Gotham. This leads Bruce Wayne into a reflection of himself and who he wants to be. This cultivates in a phenomenal final page. What a visual experience.

FINAL GRADE: 9.7

The streets of Gotham burn as Bruce Wayne must discover who he is in a remarkable final chapter. Grampá weaves a beautifully disturbing look at the darkness inside for a terrifying reality of rage. The artwork is fearless in presentation. A vision of Batman that won’t be forgotten after reading this journey into madness.

Let me know your thoughts on BATMAN: GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM #4 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!