To begin, the central event of the issue -- the arrest of Commissioner Gordon for his alleged role in two subway trains colliding -- makes absolutely no sense, even though Snyder and Tynion intentionally leave us with that impression so that we know that someone is setting up the Commissioner. The problem is that it's done in a way where the people around him should also know that it makes no sense, so you have to accept their gross incompetence to accept the outcome.
First, the Commissioner has a distorted view of the events that lead to the two subway trains colliding. Gordon swore that Pyg's henchman had a gun, but no one else (including Batman, watching through the security system) saw him have one. Second, he seems to believe that the bullet goes right through the henchman. Our perspective is half on Jim's side, half not on his side. We see the guy having a gun, though the bullet doesn't appear to pass through him; the henchman just seems to dodge it. Snyder and Tynion don't exactly make it clear why Gordon's perspective is altered, but enough of Batman's enemies have such an ability that I assume that they'll get there eventually.
Second, we have the suspicious technical issues that result in the collision: the two trains heading at one another at a fast rate, the electrical systems conveniently not responding to attempts to shut off the power to stop them from colliding, and the electrical box that Jim shot when firing on Pyg's henchman not even controlling the rail system (according to Jim). All those things don't just "accidentally" happen at the same time.
Third, crooked cop Forbes' hysteria over Gordon's role is too obviously overwrought. OK, maybe you have to take in the Commissioner as a precaution, but he is clearly not guilty of "manslaughter on a massive scale," as Forbes claim. Snyder and Tynion make it clear from the start that Forbes is a dirty cop from the way that Bullock and Sawyer treat him, so it seems likely that Forbes is part of the set-up scheme and using such crime-scene hysterics to make sure that Gordon is arrested.
The problem is that the second and third pieces of evidence meant to lead us to believe that the Commissioner is being framed should also lead everyone else to the same conclusion. Even if Gordon's screwy perspective is known only to the reader, no one asks why two trains were heading at each other at a fast rate on the same track in the first place? No one wonders why the cops lost the ability to control the electrical system, or why an electricity box that theoretically only powers the station's lights would play a role in the rail system? No one raises an eyebrow that the only one accusing the Commissioner of a crime is the dirty cop? All these factors should be evident to Bullock and Sawyer at the very least, but, even if they're not, they should be after a cursory investigation at best. If Jim is in prison by the end of next issue, it's going to be hard to believe the story that Snyder and Tynion are trying to tell, similar to when we started "Batman" with the idea that Dick Grayson was trying to kill Bruce. But, even if he is freed from prison next issue, it's still disappointing to start this series with drama that doesn't even last an issue.
First, the Commissioner has a distorted view of the events that lead to the two subway trains colliding. Gordon swore that Pyg's henchman had a gun, but no one else (including Batman, watching through the security system) saw him have one. Second, he seems to believe that the bullet goes right through the henchman. Our perspective is half on Jim's side, half not on his side. We see the guy having a gun, though the bullet doesn't appear to pass through him; the henchman just seems to dodge it. Snyder and Tynion don't exactly make it clear why Gordon's perspective is altered, but enough of Batman's enemies have such an ability that I assume that they'll get there eventually.
Second, we have the suspicious technical issues that result in the collision: the two trains heading at one another at a fast rate, the electrical systems conveniently not responding to attempts to shut off the power to stop them from colliding, and the electrical box that Jim shot when firing on Pyg's henchman not even controlling the rail system (according to Jim). All those things don't just "accidentally" happen at the same time.
Third, crooked cop Forbes' hysteria over Gordon's role is too obviously overwrought. OK, maybe you have to take in the Commissioner as a precaution, but he is clearly not guilty of "manslaughter on a massive scale," as Forbes claim. Snyder and Tynion make it clear from the start that Forbes is a dirty cop from the way that Bullock and Sawyer treat him, so it seems likely that Forbes is part of the set-up scheme and using such crime-scene hysterics to make sure that Gordon is arrested.
The problem is that the second and third pieces of evidence meant to lead us to believe that the Commissioner is being framed should also lead everyone else to the same conclusion. Even if Gordon's screwy perspective is known only to the reader, no one asks why two trains were heading at each other at a fast rate on the same track in the first place? No one wonders why the cops lost the ability to control the electrical system, or why an electricity box that theoretically only powers the station's lights would play a role in the rail system? No one raises an eyebrow that the only one accusing the Commissioner of a crime is the dirty cop? All these factors should be evident to Bullock and Sawyer at the very least, but, even if they're not, they should be after a cursory investigation at best. If Jim is in prison by the end of next issue, it's going to be hard to believe the story that Snyder and Tynion are trying to tell, similar to when we started "Batman" with the idea that Dick Grayson was trying to kill Bruce. But, even if he is freed from prison next issue, it's still disappointing to start this series with drama that doesn't even last an issue.
Moreover, I know that Snyder loves his flash-forwards, but seeing Bruce tied to a broken Batman signal, with a Bat-insignia carved in blood on his chest, with Gotham burning behind him is a little...much. First, we've already gotten a view of the future in "Batman" #28, so, at this point, we know more about the future of Gotham City than we do about its present (particularly since we're still in the past in "Batman" as a result of "Zero Year"). Second, it's essentially the second time that Snyder is destroying Gotham in a six-year period, assuming that the events that we saw in the first pages of "Zero Year" happen. So, the Riddler floods Gotham and then someone burns it. The more I think about it, the more that I realize that Snyder's time scripting Bruce as Batman could be "Batman: The Incompetent." He doesn't stop the Riddler from destroying Gotham, he misses the Court of Owls taking over the city, he allows the Joker to wreck havoc on the Bat-family, he fails to save Damian from getting killed, and he apparently can't prevent someone from destroying Gotham again. I mean, at this point, should we just give the keys to Wayne Manor to Superman and hope for the best for Gotham?
** (two of five stars)
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