Memorial Case Smashing: “Knightfall”

[jetblack927]

Well, in answer to the earlier request by Benicio127, I present a nine-page spread of Batman #497, part of the Knightfall storyline…
To summarize, Bane has broken out all the inmates from arkham, and is systematically setting up batman for the ultimate defeat. Batman has rounded up most threats, but is TOTALLY exhausted. He’s beaten 3 of Bane’s lead henchmen and returned to Wayne Manor where he finally finds…






The two exchange formalities, the fear and fatigue on Bruce’s face is haunting…





Despite the odds, Batman doesn’t back down, he cowls-up and engages Bane head on…the fight tears through the house and eventually into the batcave…





Which leads to the climatic case smashing…





Batman regains his footing, but it’s too much, too little, too late…The lack of sleep, chasing those villains down, the henchmen, Bane easily has his way…








Fans of the Animated Series will remember the same line used in the episode Bane was in…





And just like Buster Douglas knocking out Tyson…it’s done, the impossible happens, and Bane prepares for the finale…





The crack heard around the world…

Comments

[psychopathicus_rex]

Indeed - written correctly, he is a truly epic foel the more so because he was initially meant as a sort of evil version of Doc Savage. Just picture THAT for a second, and imagine the yet-unwritten things that Bane could do...

[starwolf_oakley]

"Evil version of Doc Savage" is very interesting, but it seems that makes him difficult to "adapt." The various animated series just make him a massive and skilled fighter with a "cut the Venom tubes" weakness. Which really makes him an "evil version of Captain America" to me.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Well, yeah, the appeal of Bane is difficult to translate properly, because on the outside, he's very much a brute. I mean, just look at the guy; he's a steroid-pumped behemoth. But the thing is, Bane is actually a clever subversion of the 'brute' persona, because while he IS a brute, he's a brute with BRAINS. I mean, here is a guy who can smash through walls, and does, but at the same time, he's a strategic genius who, at his best, orchestrates his schemes with military precision. His whole gimmick in his early days was the Venom that pumped him up, and yet he's been shown to be able to function just as well without it. This is a guy who was born and raised in Pena Duro, one of the worst prisons on earth, and yet managed to not only survive such an environment, but thrive in it, through the use of both brain and brawn. He's best known for breaking the Batman's back, yes - but in order for that to happen, he first had to conduct an extensive campaign of crime and terror in which he himself barely raised a finger. Yet at the same time, he's gained a healthy dose of respect for the Bat-clan over the years, becoming almost a distaff member of them at times - at the very least, he considers them worthy foes. He is, in short, far FAR more than just a hulking menace with a Venom addiction - and yet, unfortunately, that's the most prominent depiction of him. Outside of comics (and occasionally in), he's become more or less a thug for hire. 'Tis sad.
You know what just occurred to me would be interesting? A team-up between him and Poison Ivy. He was her dimwitted henchman in 'Batman and Robin' ("Bomb... Bomb... Bomb..."), but I don't think they've ever met in the comics. What would be REALLY interesting is if his use of Venom over the years has resulted in an immunity, or at least tolerance, to Ivy's toxins, meaning that she more or less has to face him on his own terms. I'm not sure which one would end up being the boss - they're both very crafty characters - but it would interesting to find out.