Deciphering The Dark Knight Rises - Knightfall Vol 1: The Broken Bat

Welcome to another special edition of Deciphering DC with me, Aalok. For quite a few weeks now we've been making our way through the shared history of Batman and one of his deadliest enemies - Bane - all with an eye to the recently released and outright awesome experience that is The Dark Knight Rises.
This week we reach the most critical part of this journey, the fatal confrontation that led to the breaking of The Bat and his rise from the ashes - yes, this is where the movie got the idea!

[Editor : For the previous articles that led up to this epic and legendary story-line in the Batman mythos, see the bottom of this post]


Writers: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon

Artists: Jim Aparo, Graham Nolan, Norm Breyfogle, Jim Balent

Collects: Batman 491-497, Detective Comics 659-663

Technically, the Knightfall arc has gone through a number of printings with surprising inclusions, as well as equally surprising omissions. The first and second printing collected the basic nineteen-part storyline, plus additional issues, in the form of two trade paperbacks. The third (current) printing chooses to combine the contents of the earlier two trades in one volume. However, both the volumes of the first and second printing are two different beasts entirely, so that is how I choose to analyse and break down the story.

The gist of the story – Bane finds Batman a worthy opponent who cannot be taken down in a fair fight. To that end, he breaks all the loonies out of Arkham, so that they can soften up the Batman for him. Batman runs a gauntlet of his rogues’ gallery, only to find Bane waiting at the end. There are so many sub-plots going on at the same time, it puts today’s ‘widescreen comics’ to shame.

When we last saw Bruce Wayne, he was taxed beyond his limits… both in body and soul. A raid at the armoury sets things into motion, providing Bane, Bird, Zombie and Trogg the firepower to lay siege to Arkham and cause the greatest breakout ever in Arkham. Jeremiah Arkham is helpless, and Batman has his work cut out for him.

A badly burnt Bruce refuses Robin’s help and the Mad Hatter makes his first move as a gang of brainwashed criminals try to kill Batman and Robin. Unwilling to play along, Hatter tries to find out who the owner is of a falcon swooping overhead. When Bane discovers the Film Freak on his trail, he proceeds to kill him, proving once and for all that he means business.

The ventriloquist, currently without Scarface finds refuge with Amygdala as they look for Scarface. Meanwhile, Dr Simpson Flanders promotes his new book which offers sympathy to Arkham’s patients who are plagued by the Batman and hounded by the police. Robin comes face to face with Bird and violence ensues.

Meanwhile, serial killer Zsasz has taken over a School for Women and Batman decides to go in. When Swat team members are killed by Zsasz, the game of cat and mouse becomes deadlier. This is where Batman faces his worst psychologically.

Robin decides to chase Bane and gets captured. After his last encounter with Bane, Killer Croc retreated to the sewers. Now, a rematch ensues between Bane and Croc, with Robin caught in the middle. 

Meanwhile, Cornelius Stirk impersonates Batman and lures Gordon so that he could kill him, driving further a wedge between Gordon and Batman. The Joker and Scarecrow team up and capture Mayor Krol and ask him to make a series of phone calls which lead to disasters of escalating consequences.

Batman has his hands full with Firefly and Poison Ivy when the Riddler takes over the talk show too promote Dr Simpson’s book. Robin renders the Riddler ineffectual while the search for Mayor Krol continues, and so does Ventriloquist’s quest to find Scarface.

Scarecrow’s fear gas has an undesired effect on Batman, forcing him to lash out while the Joker floods Gotham tunnel and Batman saves Mayor Krol, gasping for breath….barely. When a shattered Bruce makes his way to Wayne Manor, he finds Bane waiting for him.

Seriously, folks….I don’t think we can ever have a seamless fit in a crossover book of this magnitude but Doug and Chuck’s styles complement each other.  While Doug's writing has a certain literary, philosophical, emotional feel to it, Chuck is humorous, active and relentless, with a dash of wry humour, both are excellent, nonetheless.

Norm Breyfogle draws the first few chapters, doing an excellent job. Rest of the issues are by Jim Aparo and Graham Nolan, with a single issue by Jim Balent. While each has his own style, I prefer the clean Jim Aparo Batman.

Now for the differences in the editions. The first edition has a Kelley Jones cover, made for the trade specially (the very first image of the article). There are no interior covers, but house ads showing the cover art are included as chapter markers. 

The second edition has a Mike Deodato cover, and no chapter markers, no house ads, no interior covers. 

The third (current edition) has a reworking of Kelley Jones’ cover to Batman 497 and contains all covers. Personally, I love Kelley Jones’ art and I have no idea why the covers weren’t there in the second edition. There are two Sam Kieth covers as well, not to be missed.

Rating: 10 on 10.
Run to buy it. Get the latest edition. It contains the whole storyline, with the covers.

Next week: Batman Knightfall Vol 2: Who Rules the Night

Previous articles in this series:

Batman Vs Bane 
Countdown to The Dark Knight Rises - Batman: Venom
Countdown to The Dark Knight Rises - Prelude to Knightfall