Posted in: Batman, Comics, DC Comics | Tagged: Batman, batman 93, dc comics, spoilers

Batman #93, Out Tomorrow, a Little Look, Semi-Spoilers…

Before a little thing called shutdown, Bleeding Cool ran some advance coverage of the then-upcoming Batman #92 and Batman #93 by James Tynion IV and Guillem March from DC Comics. We were careful not to run any major spoilers, but included a couple of teasers. Well, #93 is finally out tomorrow so maybe it's worth revisiting, reprinting and adding preview pages? We don't even have to run that cover which is causing much consternation. That scene does not appear in this comic book.

The Riddler has locked down Gotham so that no one can leave their homes or offices, as a distraction for what else was really going on with The Designer. This also gives us a look at how all his plans for the Gotham rogue gallery were meant to fit together.

The Riddler's play used as a means to an end for getting greater powers granted to those politicians and powerful figures that owed him fealty.

The lockdown grants greater and greater powers to those in charge, approved of by a public who want order over chaos, and with those in power in the news media open to being corrupted.  James Tynion, you are a remarkable forecaster. And Guillem March ain't bad either.

Bruce Wayne, Profiting in Panic?

Among all the machinations of what could have been and never was, there's a nice big sword fight, plus the confirmation that Bruce Wayne is a tax cheating offshore shell account wielding benefit scrounger. We all knew his details would be all over the DC equivalent of the Paradise Papers. But will Selina Kyle's discovery that Bruce is a bigger thief than she ever was, change their relationship for good?

In Batman #91, we learned about the original plans of The Designer, to make each of the main Batman rogue gallery to be major power players on the Gotham scene. Catwoman's instructions would have seen her wipe out Bruce Wayne's entire fortune, and become one of the richest people in Gotham. In Batman #92 and #93 we learn how each of their plans would have also served The Designer in some way, linking together in a byzantine Machiavellian fashion – that was until the Joker revealed his true colours and killed The Designer outright – or did he? Because The Designer is back, and those plans are being played out, one rogue at a time. And that includes Catwoman – now Batman's romantic and vigilante partner.

Is Bruce Wayne upfront about his finances?

But while doing so, we get the confirmation that Bruce Wayne hasn't been entirely upfront about his finances. I originally wrote that he "is a tax cheating offshore shell account wielding benefit scrounger". I then added "we all knew his details would be all over the DC equivalent of the Paradise Papers." Then concluded "but will Selina Kyle's discovery that Bruce is a bigger thief than she ever was, change their relationship for good?"

There was more of a reaction to this that I anticipated, with people asking if I was serious about Batman being a thief, or a tax cheat, as if that would morally destroy the character. I pointed out that Bruce Wayne was a man who dressed in leather and went around Gotham beating up people as a vigilante, as well as engaging in privacy-breaking surveillance and repeatedly putting children in mortal danger, with two dead Robins so far. So when it came to breaking the law, that this batship had sailed. However, some clarity was demanded, so I went back to the original text, you decide if I got it right.

Is Bruce Wayne a tax cheat?

The plan is described in Batman #93, thus, talking about Selina Kyle, "She'd hacking her way into the accounts of the wealthiest man in Gotham City. She would have learned that the Wayne Foundation is funded by off-shore accounts. With the account numbers to hand, she is able to drain their full assets and redistribute them as she sees fit. She becomes the richest woman in Gotham overnight and becomes—"

I'll stop to avoid bigger spoilers there. But Selina then picks up the thread describing the "Wayne Foundation is a front. It holds the Wayne fortune outside of all regulatory bodies in a constellation of untraceable shell companies. Which in turn own and operate Wayne Enterprises. Bruce Wayne the person doesn't own much of anything. don't think he even owns the manor. Bruce Wayne the shadowy configuration of shell corporations is one of the richest people on the planet. Nobody with that kind of money wants the world to kn0w how they spend it."

Is Bruce Wayne honest?

And if someone stole from it, that would protect the crime rather than Bruce Wayne having to expose his finances to the authorities. We know that Bruce Wayne used his money to fund his Batman operation. Keeping that money private, keeps that funding private as well. And also means that he doesn't have to pay taxes. So less of his money funds corrupt cops, politicians and judges and more funds Batman. Batmobiles, Batcycles, Batplanes, Bathelicopters, Bat-trains and the like. This is what Bruce Wayne keeps telling himself. We also discover, for the first time, just how wealthy Bruce Wayne is, putting a dollar amount on his entire, locked away, secret wealth. It's more than you thought. And clearly should be spent on the latest Batmobile rather than curing Gotham's poverty overnight.

Harley Quinn Gets to the Punchline

The Harley Quinn/Punchline fight from Batman #92 is still playing out. Punchline tells Harley Quinn 'you got closer to him than anyone but the Bat' which also confirms what we knew all along — that Batman is Joker's true love. Which has also been the plotline of the Harley Quinn TV show, pretty much.

This may be enough to give Punchline the edge against Harley – quite literally. With Catwoman accidentally giving the Joker a final edge over Batman, as the Joker makes the ultimate Judo move, with a cliffhanger that looks like it will launch The Joker War most spectacularly.

Batman #93 to Batman Secret Files

Finally, a lead into the previously-published Batman Secret Files #3, now re-purposed as a preview to the events of Dark Design – albeit it one that you will need to know the final twists of Batman #93 in order to get. And may indeed be a bit of a spoiler for Batman #93. So it's not just me who is doing it then.

Here's the solicit for Batman #93

BATMAN #93
(W) James Tynion IV (A) Guillem March (CA) Tony S. Daniel
And it's more than Punchline punching and Harley Quinn pounding back! Batman faces off with the Designer as 'Their Dark Designs' reaches its epic climax! Batman faces off with the Designer as "Their Dark Designs" reaches its epic climax! In the last year, Batman has lost more than he could have imagined, and now he faces a cost so dear it will change the course of his life. And there is worse on the horizon. In the midst of all the horror, he can feel the drumbeat of battle. "Joker War" is coming, and Gotham City will never be the same. In Shops: Apr 15, 2020 SRP: $3.99

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