Comics
Let’s Talk About The Ending Of “Batman” #40
Today marks the release of Scott Synder and Greg Capullo’s “Batman” #40. The issue marks the finale of the “Endgame” arc that began all the way back in October. It sees The Joker mount his endgame plan against Batman in an attempt to bring everything into one final huge tragedy. And it delivered. Both Batman and Joker are dead.
The final reveal at the end of Batman #39 proved that Batman was willing to do whatever it took to take The Joker down, and #40 cemented that. Whatever it takes may seem vague, but let me be clear: Batman is dead. It’s a twist that was spoiled earlier this month. Despite this, the final revelation of how and why Bruce Wayne is dead still worked. Here’s why:
For the entirety of Endgame, Joker had been teasing that he was this immortal figure. And, it’s still unclear whether or not he was telling the truth. The short answer is: it was probably a joke, but the long answer is much more complicated. The Joker gained his “immortality” from a liquid located beneath the surface of the city. Deep beneath the surface. Here, underground he and Batman have one final showdown.
The brutality of the fight was well earned. Joker cuts a smiley face into Batman’s back, sticks a playing card into his eye. Joker has his spine broken, and, amidst all this, the cave starts to collapse. Batman holds the dying Joker against the ground, and as the cave collapses the two lie there together: dead. Equal sides of the same whole.
There has been no better representation of their relationship. The implications from this storyline means that Batman cannot live with the Joker, and although Bruce refused the taunt of immortality both will assuredly be seen again. Writer, Scott Synder teases that he wouldn’t tell the story of death if he didn’t know how to do the rebirth.
In many ways, this storyline proved to be a thrilling tribute to one of the most famous rivalries in comics history. In essence reminding us what Batman stood for, and that The Joker basically killed himself out of boredom. Both cannot live without the other, and there is something beautiful in seeing them die together.
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
You must be logged in to post a comment.