The Artwork is classic and professional. Tom king delivers another deep dark story for Batman fans. Little bit dragged in the end.

Tom King continues his sharp take on the Dark Knight in this new collected volume. The artwork is the professional and detailed quality readers would expect from a DC Comic. When it comes to these characters, the question is: What next?

King proves again that the Batman story will continue, drawing on classic characters like Mr. Freeze and lesser-known villains like KGBeast to create a story that keeps older fans like me intrigued, while inviting new readers to the fold.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a compilation of two story arcs, the first called Cold Days, in which Bruce deals with the aftermath of losing Selina and also being called on jury duty in Mr. Freeze’s trial. The second, Burden of the Beast focuses on Bruce’s relationship with Dick, and some stuff that happens with that.

I loved the first story arc. It was masterful in the art and writing. Bruce’s grief is so apparent, and his handling of it is poignant. There was a single page of imagery—Bruce Wayne fighting Batman—that I adored. It gave me goosebumps. There is so much moral ambiguity. And the way the artists characterize the other jury members is fantastic.

Compared to the previous arc, the one following it felt a lot weaker. There was one comic that compares Dick-as-Nightwing to his younger self, right after his parents murders. The similarities and juxtaposition was beautifully written. The rest, however, just kind of dragged for me. The KGBeast isn’t my favorite villain, so that’s more my fault and not the book’s fault. (And the comic about the ‘children’s’ story grossed me out).

Overall, I felt the handling of Bruce’s grief was fascinating, but the end didn’t really entice me to want more.