Written By: Judd Winick
Illustrated By: Mark Bagley
The story ends where it begins, as the new Batman finds himself under the mercy of the dualistic Two Face. Successfully infiltrating the Batcave thanks to the powers of Nola the time jumper, the man who was Harvey Dent proceeds to "interrogate" this new Dark Knight for his identity by beating the living hell out of him. After careful observation and study of his opponent, the ex-district attorney of Gotham City knows this isn't the same Batman he's fought and respected over the years, and he's personally going to see to it that the charades are brought to an end. Bloody, beaten, and all drugged up, Dick Grayson knows he's caught between a rock and a hard place, and if he doesn't find a way to convince Dent he's the "genuine article", the legacy of his mentor, as well as his own life, will be lost forever.
The megatonic duo of Judd Winick and Mark Bagley finally wrap things up with their Batman arc, as Long Shadows deals a startling "wake up call" moment to the new Dark Knight. It's amazing that with only a few issues in, we've already seen how difficult it is for Dick Grayson to live up to Bruce Wayne's name without giving his entire rogue's gallery any suspicions that he's not the original Batman. Every issue deals with a burden or obstacle Dick must overcome to seal his place as the new heir to the Bat Legacy, and even as this issue resolves a great "pain in the ass" situation for him, things have only just begun for the former Nightwing. Greater difficulties lie in store for him, including a hidden mystery left behind by his predecessor that may reveal secrets that were deliberately kept from him. As to what that is, only time can tell.
It's apparent that Two-Face has his villainous A-game up in this entire arc, and his obsession reaches a point where he comes out as a real clever threat the new Batman has clearly underestimated. Behind that half scarred visage lies the mind of a genius who was able to see through the various inconsistencies, and the dialogue during the confrontation in the Batcave clearly shows Dent having Dick's number. Of course, the latter flat out denies everything and successfully turns the tide in his favor with luck on his side, but there's no doubt that Two Face was inches away from exposing the "Batboy" for who he was - a pretender, and nothing more. It's a pity that the writer decided to incorporate Dent's Bat Costume only as a hallucination rather as the genuine article. Then again, given the circumstances and time needed to put a batsuit together, it's a believable compromise, and Bagley works his magic with the few pages illustrating this twisted and menacing "Dual Knight". Also, circumstances later on force a change in direction for the forces of good and the forces of evil. What that is, I'm not telling. Pick up the book and find out the spoils, hehe.
Finally completing his 4 issue run with the title, readers will have to bid farewell to artist extraordinaire Mark Bagley, as Tony Daniel takes over for both art and writing duties come next issue. It was fun and pleasant to see Mark's time drawing the main Batman book, and while his youthful and energetic pencils may have detractors who prefer Bats to be kept in the dark, I'm a fan of the guy's work, and I wouldn't mind seeing him work on the book again in the future. Technically, he's still going to be drawing Dick Grayson's Batman, but this time in the pages of Justice League Of America, which he's also currently doing at the moment. It's hard to see Bagley and writer Judd Winick leave after such an interesting run, but I'm curious to see what Mr. Daniels has to offer post-Battle For The Cowl.
The curtain is drawn and "Long Shadows" is done. A new Batman has been established in his solo adventures, and there's plenty more tales to be told and to look forward to. While this story doesn't necessarily fall on the list of classics, it most certainly lived up to the reputation of being a good read that's worth investing time on, especially if you haven't followed Batman: Reborn at all. The stakes are higher and the game is deadlier. It's a good time to jump on aboard, with a new Dark Knight to read about at the same time.
Score - 9/10
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