Comic Vine Review

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Batman: Gates of Gotham #5 - Part Five: Welcome to the Future

5

The final part of the story dealing with the first villain of Gotham puts an end to the current status of Batman in the DC Universe. Given the creative team, a lot of what we're seeing here will carry over into the "New 52" Batman relaunch.

The final issue with Batman and company versus the Architect. How will the end of this miniseries affect the future of Batman in next month's relaunch?

The Good

This is the series that Gotham City and Batman fans deserved. Over the decades of Batman stories, we've never had full details over the history of the city. Elements have been added now and then whenever the story called for it but there was never any firm concrete history put in place.

The other great thing is what I've mentioned throughout the series, seeing Dick as Batman along with Tim, Damian and Cassandra deal with this threat. They have proven that Bruce is not needed to get the job done. That isn't saying he's not important but this shows that the city is safe in the hands of others. Of course, how great has it been to see Cassandra along with them? You know what I want to see? I want a Damian and Cassandra miniseries. Kyle and Scott need to be all over that. There is a comment Tim makes to Cassandra that felt like a statement towards the use and lack of Cassandra in recent stories. Either it's extremely clever or I'm just reading too much into it. I'm leaning towards clever.

Trevor McCarthy's art is great to see. There has been times over the series where it felt a little off but seeing the different places the characters have to go really changed the pace of the story and were done nicely. There is also a scene where one character has to dive into the water and actually removes his/her cape. You can't go swimming with a cape. It would totally weigh you down or wrap you up. I loved seeing this in the comic.

Does this issue mark the end of the current Bat-universe? Considering Scott Snyder and Kyle Higgins were involved and will be writing Batman and Nightwing, you would expect some closure or clues to what's next, right? I'll just say there is a scene between Dick and Bruce. Look it all over carefully.

The Bad

The Architect...I'm not sure how I feel about him. I loved the idea of a new villain and the connections to the history of Gotham. I should praise him for bringing all the characters together, including Hush's part in earlier issues. It's been said that the Bat-universe will pretty much continue in "The New 52," and I really do hope so. The history of Gotham has been great and this new villain may have been a central part in the miniseries but it's not what pulled me in issue after issue.

The Verdict

There is a lot under the surface of this comic. When I first read it, I was happy and excited. I liked it but was a little more than just okay with the overall story of the Architect. Reading it again and really dissecting scenes and dialogue is where I started rethinking everything. Originally I debated between a score of a 4 and a 5 (since we no longer give half stars in our reviews). Because this is pretty much the final issue of Batman before the September relaunch and because of those crucial scenes, my score got bumped up.

This issue, like the rest in the series, serves to show the relationship and growth between all the characters without Batman standing around brooding or directing everyone. Everyone involved had to step up to solve their part of the mission. Sure we've seen everyone on solo missions before but this showed their individual skills along with their ability to work together. Subtle hints tease us for things that could have been and still might be. I might not have been as blown away by the battle as I should have been or maybe I was just distracted but the great dialogue. This is truly an important Batman issue that does help bridge the gap between the current standing and what we can expect in September.

23 Comments

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Fhiz

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Edited By Fhiz

Great finale to the series. Little hints here and there are the best.

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CombatSpoon86

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Edited By CombatSpoon86

You sure got the hook ups with Snyder's books lol. No early American Vampire Review? 

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gmanfromheck

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Edited By gmanfromheck

@CombatSpoon86: Need...more...time!

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CombatSpoon86

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Edited By CombatSpoon86
@G-Man: Gotcha. Do you know who will do the TMNT #1 Review?
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danhimself

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Edited By danhimself

I can't wait to get MY hands on the finale of this series...it's been great...my only complaint is that I think it would have read much better as a graphic novel rather than a miniseries

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kennybaese

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Edited By kennybaese

I cannot wait to read this and The Black Mirror in trade. I've been waiting patiently after hearing so much good about all of it... I want to read! It's also making me rethink my "reading most of my stuff in trade" strategy.

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CombatSpoon86

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Edited By CombatSpoon86
@walkingcarpet:  
I've been in that dilemma as well. If there is something you know you can't wait for trade (example, Scott Snyder's Batman books) than just get it in singles. 
There are some stuff where I know I couldn't wait til trade but then there are others that just read better and trade but worth the wait.
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keith71_98

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Edited By keith71_98

Soooo great to read this. I was concerned after last issue but this sounds like they nailed the landing.
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B'Town

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Edited By B'Town

I'm going to pick this up collected. :D

Of course, how great has it been to see Cassandra along with them? You know what I want to see? I want a Damian and Cassandra miniseries.

Oh, THIS would be sooo much fun. Hahah. ha. ha.

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gmanfromheck

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Edited By gmanfromheck

@CombatSpoon86: I do know...

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CombatSpoon86

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Edited By CombatSpoon86
@G-Man: Cools, I can't wait to find out who's reviewing it. It's one of the books I've been looking forward to for the whole summer
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JonesDeini

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Edited By JonesDeini
@CombatSpoon86 said:
@walkingcarpet:  I've been in that dilemma as well. If there is something you know you can't wait for trade (example, Scott Snyder's Batman books) than just get it in singles. There are some stuff where I know I couldn't wait til trade but then there are others that just read better and trade but worth the wait.
Once you go floppy you never go back, folk!!!! :P 
 
I was gonna wait til Thursday, but I need my fix asap!!!
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Mercy_

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Edited By Mercy_

Ugh. Debating on whether to wait for the trade or not. 

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CombatSpoon86

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Edited By CombatSpoon86
@JonesDeini: When I know I can get it the day of, I'm going first thing in the morning.
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Migz13

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Edited By Migz13

Can't wait to get the collected edition. Nuff said:D

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kennybaese

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Edited By kennybaese

@CombatSpoon86: True, but since I kind of live in the boonies, there's only a Hastings and my LCS (which is super small, so most of the comics they sell are via preorders) so trying to find single issues is kind of a trick sometimes. It just sucks that DC takes so long to put out their trades. There's no reason the Gates of Gotham trade can't come out until February.

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NXH

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Edited By NXH
@Migz13: Same here.
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longbowhunter

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Edited By longbowhunter

What a killer final issue. Kinda bittersweet though, as I'm really gonna miss Dick as Batman. What was up with the little chat between Cassandra and Tim? Its mentioned here in the review, but can someone fill me in on what was "destroyed" between those two? 
 
Side note: Cassandra or.....uhhh Blackbat, looks so much better without the ratty ass cape. Lose it and the name.
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danhimself

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Edited By danhimself

So I know they've said that this sets things up for the relaunch books but what exactly did it set up?  I didn't really notice anything

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danhimself

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Edited By danhimself

so I was curious as to how this was supposed to set up the relaunch Batbooks so I asked Scott Snyder on twitter and he says that it wasn't a setup just a mini...no connection to the relaunch at all

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SevanGrim

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Edited By SevanGrim

The only question is... how long have you been wearing the Suit?
 
 i loved this villain. He was the first since Penguin to have a serious connection with the city and its past (Hush never really tapped into his Elliot name and the historical baggage who came with it). 
  i also like the twist ending.

.
 
and yeah, all the stuff with the Bat family pulling back together was swell. I really wish DC would put out a bunch of "the Future" or "Without Flashpoint" one shots that brought some closure to us readers by showing us how the rest of the heroes in the DCU would have lived and died (kind of like the last Justice League).
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entropy_aegis

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Edited By entropy_aegis

So who's the mastermind of this series,Snyder or Higgins? either way good job.

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fenixREVOLUTION

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Edited By fenixREVOLUTION

I like Dustin Nguyen's art, but I was happy to see McCarthy on the final issue, I like his art, it has a unique feel to it. That said, this was a very good issue and it felt like the proper send off for Batman, before the re(vamp)(boot)(launch). I thought it was obvious who the villain was, well, what he would be anyway, but it was handled well as always. The seeds were set in this for Dick to step down as Batman and we got some great interaction with Cass and Tim, they'd make a cute couple, I think, but one of them won't be appearing right away in the new DCU, sigh.