Batman Knightfall Vol. 2: Who Rules the Night
- Nov 11, 2012
- 2 min read
Writers: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, and Alan Grant
Artists: Jim Aparo, Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Klaus Janson, and Mike Manley
A Successor of the Knight is Chosen, Bane has an Iron Grip on Gotham City! Who will truly rule the Night?
Ranking: 5 stars
The greatest Batman story of all time, KNIGHTFALL, continues!!! Batman has been defeated by the murderous Bane in mortal combat, a battle which resulted in Bane breaking the dark knight's spine! With Batman broken, Gotham City is now helpless to Bane's wrath! Is this the end of the Batman's beloved city, has the caped crusader finally failed to keep his promise? NO!!! Even though his back is broken, Bruce Wayne has chosen a single successor to carry on the mantle of the Bat, a man named Jean Paul Valley, a.k.a. Azrael! A man who was once a deadly assassin programed by an evil cult, but is now a man trying to find his true purpose in life. Bruce tries to give Valley his purpose by letting him protect Gotham City, while Bruce recovers. But Valley is more violent and unstable than Bruce was, and is even willing to use lethal force. With Bane terrorizing Gotham, and Valley determined to take it back, who will rule the knight?
It is an outcome that I dare not spoil...
KNIGHTFALL is a story that shows us that even our greatest heroes are vulnerable. Bane was able to break Batman's back so easily in the last volume, because he released all of the Arkham inmates to weaken Batman to the point of exhaustion. I know that some comic book fans would hate that outcome, but personally I think that it gives a sense of realism to comics. Even though Batman is the toughest man in Gotham, he is still human, and all humans have their limits. Bane was able to determine Batman's limits, and use them to his advantage. But that was in the first volume, BROKEN BAT. What really makes the second volume, WHO RULES THE NIGHT, sensational, is that Jean Paul Valley is Bruce Wayne's polar opposite! He uses excessive force on criminals, gives death threats for even the slightest crime, and doesn't care if civilians are caught in the crossfire. Even Robin can tell that Valley goes over the edge, but there is nothing he can do about it! It can sometimes be gut wrenching to see Valley bring ruin to Batman's name, but it is also makes an incredible story at the same time, because we know that Bruce will not stand by with this, and eventually will have to take matters into his own hands. Any true Batman fan will have that feeling running through their brain.
Other high points of this volume are a side story involving the Scarecrow, Bruce Wayne starting his slow physical and mental recovery, and of course, any scene involving Bane!!! (Who couldn't resist Bane? He's such a sensation to watch)! Do not read this book unless you have read volume one already, and also be sure to check out volume three after you've read this one! KNIGHTFALL truly is the greatest Batman story of all time!!!!
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