Nearly a year into his time as Batman and already Richard Grayson has had to deal with the recent crime wave that began in the 4 issue miniseries "Battle for the Cowl" and continues in Batman #697. In this recent issue written by Tony Daniel and Illustrated by Sandu Florea Batman finally confronts the villanous Black Mask who has somehow returned from the dead. Even though it isn't the original Black Mask the question that has been given to the readers for the last 6 issues is "Who is the New Black Mask?" In the end it is revealed to be Jeramiah Arkham the man who built and owned Arkham Asylum before he set loose all of the villians from the asylum and destroyed it in "Battle for the Cowl."
This issue concludes a great storyline that has been running in Batman for the last 6 issues. The fact that the owner of Arkham Asylum is in fact the new Black Mask comes as shocking news to any avid Batman reader. What I found displeasing in this issue is that it brings the question of "How did Jeramiah Arkham become Black Mask?" a question I hope will be answered after or before the return of Bruce Wayne as Batman. What intrigued me the most in this issue is how Richard Grayson has really taken up the Mantle of the Batman. He has realized in the end of this issue that in order to protect Gotham he must completely immerse himself with the Bat and must get rid of who he really is once he puts on the cape and cowl.
As far as conclusion goes, I think Tony Daniel concluded this story extremely well and while concluding this story opens the door for other stories to be told in future.
Check back next week for my review of "Justice League: The Rise of Arsenal #1"
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