Review by Frank Plowright

The Dying City is a new start for Batman, now again with most familiar elements in place after dealing with trauma in Dark Prisons. With investment by Wayne Enterprises in poorer communities, Gotham seems to be thriving, although there are suspicions about the Ridder’s new tech company. In a fine scene-setting opening chapter Chip Zdarsky shows Gotham’s problems run deeper, and they start at the top.

Power and influence leading to corruption is one theme, but there’s also commentary on the spread of false rumour and outside political manipulation, so an examination of civic leadership in the real world transferred to Gotham. It’s a clever script in which Zdarksy shows how truth is twisted and manipulated, and how some genuinely believe free health care is a bad thing. This drifts in and out of a murder mystery, and the Riddler proves a convincing political strategist while also using the technology of other Gotham villains.

It’s a convincing five chapters keeping most secrets until near the end, drawn by four different artists. The sample is a spectacular action page from Jorge Jiménez who draws slightly more pages than Tony S. Daniel. Ordinarily four different artist wouldn’t be desirable, but they’re all good, and the styles mesh well. Jorge Fornés is the most distinctive, with a blurrier style, but it’s not out of place on a chapter looking back to the relatively recent past.

A succession of fine character notes are topped in the final pages with an appearance from someone mentioned, but not previously seen. They deliver an astute assessment of Bruce Wayne. It’s a nicely layered speech, as it reinforces Batman’s use of Wayne works, and readers are aware he’s so much more.

This is Zdarsky signing off on Batman, and his has been a good run. It’s conceptually strong, and while readers might not like all of his new ideas, surely that’s better than just repeating the old. At his best, as here, Zdarsky provides food for thought, but never at the cost of entertainment.