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Batman by Chip Zdarsky
Batman, Vol. 4: Dark Prisons
No weapons, no allies...What hope does Batman have now?!
Batman's struggle against Zur, the demonic personality locked within Bruce's mind, has culminated in the activation of Failsafe, a homicidal robot Batman who now stalks the streets of Gotham doling out "real justice." Meanwhile, the real Batman is trapped within his own mind, literally and metaphorically, rallying as best he can against the traps he'd inadvertently laid for himself. But how can Batman defeat Batman? And what about his family, now left under the charge of an out-of-control robot with all of Batman's skills and none of his morals?
Batman's struggle against Zur, the demonic personality locked within Bruce's mind, has culminated in the activation of Failsafe, a homicidal robot Batman who now stalks the streets of Gotham doling out "real justice." Meanwhile, the real Batman is trapped within his own mind, literally and metaphorically, rallying as best he can against the traps he'd inadvertently laid for himself. But how can Batman defeat Batman? And what about his family, now left under the charge of an out-of-control robot with all of Batman's skills and none of his morals?
264 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2025
19 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Chip Zdarsky
862 books800 followersChip Zdarsky is a Canadian comic book artist and journalist. He was born Steve Murray but is known by his fan base as Chip Zdarsky, and occasionally Todd Diamond. He writes and illustrates an advice column called Extremely Bad Advice for the Canadian national newspaper National Post's The Ampersand, their pop culture section's online edition. He is also the creator of Prison Funnies and Monster Cops.
Source: Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 22, 2025
Finally. This has been my favourite book of this series. I will admit I was getting more and more confused with the other book as to where they were leading. This book draws the lines together.
Beaten and imprisoned physically, mentally, and emotionally surrounded by enemies, a robot based on Batman/Bruce's worst/true self on the loose, Batman does what he does rises up to the challenge. However, he does have one advantage that Failsafe does not.
This book was worth the wait for the series. I was a bit annoyed that I didn't get the whole issue 150. The backup stories are here, and Batman's mission during Absoulte Power is also here. Live the artwork and the face the story fixed do many loose ends. Lots of action, and Batman was actually winning fights. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery.
Beaten and imprisoned physically, mentally, and emotionally surrounded by enemies, a robot based on Batman/Bruce's worst/true self on the loose, Batman does what he does rises up to the challenge. However, he does have one advantage that Failsafe does not.
This book was worth the wait for the series. I was a bit annoyed that I didn't get the whole issue 150. The backup stories are here, and Batman's mission during Absoulte Power is also here. Live the artwork and the face the story fixed do many loose ends. Lots of action, and Batman was actually winning fights. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery.
August 12, 2024
Whilst the direction modern Batman has decided to take feels, at times, like a spit in the face of the 'good ol' days', there is a surprising amount to like here from a Batfamily perspective. It's those small moments between Bruce and the kids that shine amongst a lackluster story. The new lore adds nothing of note, and instead feels kinda like a backstep when considering all of the character development Bruce has been through throughout the years.
actual rating 2.5 stars
actual rating 2.5 stars
March 11, 2025
As we wait to see what Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee has in store with the upcoming “H2sh”, which will be then followed up by Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez taking over the main Batman title, there is still the matter of finishing up Chip Zdarsky’s run on the title with two remaining trades to go. Picking up where the previous volume left off, Batman defeated by the robotic Failsafe, whose body is taken over by Bruce’s evil inner persona Zur-En-Arhh, whilst the Dark Knight himself wakes up sharing a cell in Blackgate Penitentiary with the Joker.
Considering the previous volume has the Joker was a major presence, not least because there was the three-issue arc “The Joker: Year One”, but it is weird how Zdarsky has used him as he is both integral to the main narrative whilst also being sidelined. Much like Batman, the Joker was trained by Dr. Daniel Captio, a nihilist psychologist who developed techniques which allowed him to manufacture alternate personalities for specific requirements.
Through Captio’s mentoring, the Joker finds out about the Zur-En-Arhh persona and during a montage that goes through periods of his comics history, it is revealed that the Joker’s reason for all the evil stuff he has done is so that he can see Zur-En-Arhh. A recurring theme throughout Zdarsky’s run is remixing elements of Batman’s history, and considering that the Joker’s relationship with Batman is about the former pushing the latter down the deep end, the Joker’s motivation of unleashing Zur-En-Arhh is an interesting angle. But again, the Joker is not really the focus here.
Aside from the Clown Prince of Crime, there are other villains throughout this arc, starting with Zur-En-Arhh who has taken over Failsafe’s body and uses the symbol of Batman as a symbol as a vigilante to extreme measures to protect Gotham and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, you have Captio who uses his new status as Blackgate’s warden to keep Bruce Wayne in prison. And then, there’s Vandal Savage who returns from a previous arc, starting out as a Blackgate prisoner to somehow being Gotham’s Police Commissioner. Zdarsky throws a lot within these issues, leading to a climax that rushes to wrap up everything up as well as setting up future storylines such as the Absolute Power crossover event.
Given the moving parts of this arc, when it focuses Batman himself and the extended family that he founded, the book finds its beating heart. Family plays a major role and considering that certain family members have their ups and downs, especially when it comes to their relationship with Bruce, but this arc feels like the culmination where he learns the importance of his family, which is more than just a team of vigilantes. The theme of family is also explored in #149, an action-less epilogue where Bruce tries to save a rapidly aging clone of himself. While the outcome is tragic, it somewhat sets up a new status quo for Bruce in a positive light, including a greater inclusion with his family.
Concluding this volume is a two-issue arc that coincides with the aforementioned Absolute Power, in which Batman and Catwoman team up to pull a heist to rob a Mother Box that is at the hands of Amanda Waller. It is a worry when a creative team takes a break from their story to do tie-in issues for someone else’s story, but the big appeal of these issues is seeing the fun dynamic between the two former lovers, which had a rough patch during the problematic "Gotham War", and in here, we get a nice resolution that calls back to Tom King’s Batman run. Also, we get a brief appearance from Darkseid, which is tense but awesome.
With a variety of artists involved in this volume, it could be jarring, but everyone does their part extremely well. Whilst you have Jorge Jiménez delivering the action-packed spectacle as well as throwing in some awesome costume changes for the Bat-Family, Mike Hawthorne draws the tie-in issues where the Bat and Cat battle an interesting take on the Suicide Squad that includes Bizarro. And then you have Michele Bandini who delivers beautiful art when it comes to character drama, as seen in the touching #149.
Baggy with the amount of story it wants to tell, but this is the best volume of Zdarky’s run since the first one, which is both action-packed and heartfelt, when the Bat-Family are all on the same page.
Considering the previous volume has the Joker was a major presence, not least because there was the three-issue arc “The Joker: Year One”, but it is weird how Zdarsky has used him as he is both integral to the main narrative whilst also being sidelined. Much like Batman, the Joker was trained by Dr. Daniel Captio, a nihilist psychologist who developed techniques which allowed him to manufacture alternate personalities for specific requirements.
Through Captio’s mentoring, the Joker finds out about the Zur-En-Arhh persona and during a montage that goes through periods of his comics history, it is revealed that the Joker’s reason for all the evil stuff he has done is so that he can see Zur-En-Arhh. A recurring theme throughout Zdarsky’s run is remixing elements of Batman’s history, and considering that the Joker’s relationship with Batman is about the former pushing the latter down the deep end, the Joker’s motivation of unleashing Zur-En-Arhh is an interesting angle. But again, the Joker is not really the focus here.
Aside from the Clown Prince of Crime, there are other villains throughout this arc, starting with Zur-En-Arhh who has taken over Failsafe’s body and uses the symbol of Batman as a symbol as a vigilante to extreme measures to protect Gotham and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, you have Captio who uses his new status as Blackgate’s warden to keep Bruce Wayne in prison. And then, there’s Vandal Savage who returns from a previous arc, starting out as a Blackgate prisoner to somehow being Gotham’s Police Commissioner. Zdarsky throws a lot within these issues, leading to a climax that rushes to wrap up everything up as well as setting up future storylines such as the Absolute Power crossover event.
Given the moving parts of this arc, when it focuses Batman himself and the extended family that he founded, the book finds its beating heart. Family plays a major role and considering that certain family members have their ups and downs, especially when it comes to their relationship with Bruce, but this arc feels like the culmination where he learns the importance of his family, which is more than just a team of vigilantes. The theme of family is also explored in #149, an action-less epilogue where Bruce tries to save a rapidly aging clone of himself. While the outcome is tragic, it somewhat sets up a new status quo for Bruce in a positive light, including a greater inclusion with his family.
Concluding this volume is a two-issue arc that coincides with the aforementioned Absolute Power, in which Batman and Catwoman team up to pull a heist to rob a Mother Box that is at the hands of Amanda Waller. It is a worry when a creative team takes a break from their story to do tie-in issues for someone else’s story, but the big appeal of these issues is seeing the fun dynamic between the two former lovers, which had a rough patch during the problematic "Gotham War", and in here, we get a nice resolution that calls back to Tom King’s Batman run. Also, we get a brief appearance from Darkseid, which is tense but awesome.
With a variety of artists involved in this volume, it could be jarring, but everyone does their part extremely well. Whilst you have Jorge Jiménez delivering the action-packed spectacle as well as throwing in some awesome costume changes for the Bat-Family, Mike Hawthorne draws the tie-in issues where the Bat and Cat battle an interesting take on the Suicide Squad that includes Bizarro. And then you have Michele Bandini who delivers beautiful art when it comes to character drama, as seen in the touching #149.
Baggy with the amount of story it wants to tell, but this is the best volume of Zdarky’s run since the first one, which is both action-packed and heartfelt, when the Bat-Family are all on the same page.
December 25, 2024
This conclusion is quite decent, particularly considering where we're coming from and we're finally rid of Zur en Arrh, but this arc is a reflection of Zdarsky's entire run. A few good ideas drowned in a big mishmash of nonsense. It's not as pitifully bad as Wells on Amazing Spiderman but overall it's a blow to Batman.
When idols fall...
When idols fall...
July 4, 2023
A história do batman mostrou que vai ser bem massaveio mas interessante mesmo são os complementos tanto de detective como de batman que realmente completam a edição, curioso tanto pela conclusão do arco principal do batman como para onde vai a detective comics
August 28, 2024
Decent enough but I’m glad this Zur En Arrh story is over with.
April 4, 2025
Batman’s in prison because… And Zur is in Failsafe and he’s Batman because… Then Absolute Poo-er means more robots and Batman’s gotta… Yeah, so Batman the series is in shit shape. Chip Zdarsky’s run has been about as bad, if not worse, than Tynion’s, and DC needs to change things sharpish.
Dark Prisons is such a boring book. How many times do we need to see Batman escape from a prison? How many more creepy former mentors of Bruce’s are going to come out of the woodwork? How many fucking times can we possibly see Batman fight the T-1000 knockoff Failsafe??! This stinks. Zdarsky’s got not ideas and, worse, he’s fucking up others’ like Zur-En-Arrh, which was a cool throwback when Grant Morrison did it but now the character is rendered as just another cheesy Batman villain.
Even when that garbage is over, the succeeding storyline is no better. Absolute Poo-er has begun where Amanda Waller, aka the poor man’s Nick Fury, has stolen a boom tube that Bat and Cat have to take back. And Waller’s also somehow taken everyone’s superpowers and replaced them with Failsafe-esque robots. Great - more dumb robots.
The whole thing feels so uninspired and dull. Nothing about Absolute Poo-er seems interesting. The Absolute line is intriguing to me but it doesn’t need to be set up with some crummy comics - Absolute is an alternate universe. We get it. DC has been doing this shit for decades, it doesn’t require explanation.
I really hope this is it for Zdarsky’s Batman and we don’t get another crappy, bloated, endlessly trite and pointless volume. Dark Prisons is, like all of Zdarsky’s Batman books have been, utter crap. Roll on the Matt Fraction era.
Dark Prisons is such a boring book. How many times do we need to see Batman escape from a prison? How many more creepy former mentors of Bruce’s are going to come out of the woodwork? How many fucking times can we possibly see Batman fight the T-1000 knockoff Failsafe??! This stinks. Zdarsky’s got not ideas and, worse, he’s fucking up others’ like Zur-En-Arrh, which was a cool throwback when Grant Morrison did it but now the character is rendered as just another cheesy Batman villain.
Even when that garbage is over, the succeeding storyline is no better. Absolute Poo-er has begun where Amanda Waller, aka the poor man’s Nick Fury, has stolen a boom tube that Bat and Cat have to take back. And Waller’s also somehow taken everyone’s superpowers and replaced them with Failsafe-esque robots. Great - more dumb robots.
The whole thing feels so uninspired and dull. Nothing about Absolute Poo-er seems interesting. The Absolute line is intriguing to me but it doesn’t need to be set up with some crummy comics - Absolute is an alternate universe. We get it. DC has been doing this shit for decades, it doesn’t require explanation.
I really hope this is it for Zdarsky’s Batman and we don’t get another crappy, bloated, endlessly trite and pointless volume. Dark Prisons is, like all of Zdarsky’s Batman books have been, utter crap. Roll on the Matt Fraction era.
March 20, 2025
This is the penultimate volume of Batman by writer Zdarsky, and to be honest, I liked this weird collection of issues more than I did when I read them in the original single copies. For some reason, it collects Batman 145-149, 151 and 152, and a back-up story from 150, but no 150, and I can’t remember what was in that issue to exclude it from being collected in this volume. 151 and 152 are Absolute Power tie-ins, so maybe 150 will show up in the next volume, which will finish off Zdarksy’s run with issues 153-157. This volume contains the final word on Zur-En-Arrh, thank god, the partitioned part of Batman’s brain that contains an alternate personality that goes into effect if Batman ever kills someone (he didn’t). Jorge Jiménez’s art is the star of this particular book, though, and I was happy to find out he’ll be continuing his run on the character with a new number 1—written by Matt Fraction—when it relaunches after Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s Hush sequel in issues 156-161, . I am slowly figuring out—after 60 years of comic book reading—how much better these continued stories are (most of the time) when you can sit and enjoy them all together in one package.
February 26, 2025
Ah, that's better. After the roadblock of Joker: Year One, Batman's back on top form.
The Dark Prisons story itself brings Bruce and Zur face to face again (in a manner of speaking), culminating in a heartfelt epilogue issue before we head into Absolute Power as Batman and Catwoman battle the Suicide Squad. This feels like a more Batman-y book than it has in a while; I'm all for experimentation, but the last arc wasn't my favourite by any stretch.
Absolute Power doesn't seem to cause too many problems for Zdarsky's ongoing narrative, and it helps Bruce and Selina resolve some outstanding issues after the Gotham War, so that's nice, and all of the back-up stories being collected here is icing on the cake. We love a comprehensive collection, we do.
The Dark Prisons story itself brings Bruce and Zur face to face again (in a manner of speaking), culminating in a heartfelt epilogue issue before we head into Absolute Power as Batman and Catwoman battle the Suicide Squad. This feels like a more Batman-y book than it has in a while; I'm all for experimentation, but the last arc wasn't my favourite by any stretch.
Absolute Power doesn't seem to cause too many problems for Zdarsky's ongoing narrative, and it helps Bruce and Selina resolve some outstanding issues after the Gotham War, so that's nice, and all of the back-up stories being collected here is icing on the cake. We love a comprehensive collection, we do.
March 5, 2025
Batman Vol. 4 Dark Prisons collects issues 145-152 of the DC Comics series written by Chip Zdarsky, Toni Howard, and Kelly Thompson with art by Jorge Jiménez, Michele Bandini, Miguel Mendonça, Steve Lieber, Marianna Ignazzi, and Mattia De Iulis.
Bruce reconnects with the Batfamily to end the battle with Zur En Arrh and Failsafe. Fallout from the Failsafe storyline leads to tie-ins with the Absolute Power event.
After a rocky third act to the Failsafe storyline and the Catwoman/Batman War mini-event, Dark Prisons ends on a strong note which directly leads to tie-ins to Absolute Power. I really enjoyed the epilogue issues of Failsafe that saw Bruce deciding on a new home as part of his outlook on life. I’m still always blown away by Jorge Jiménez’s stunning art.
Bruce reconnects with the Batfamily to end the battle with Zur En Arrh and Failsafe. Fallout from the Failsafe storyline leads to tie-ins with the Absolute Power event.
After a rocky third act to the Failsafe storyline and the Catwoman/Batman War mini-event, Dark Prisons ends on a strong note which directly leads to tie-ins to Absolute Power. I really enjoyed the epilogue issues of Failsafe that saw Bruce deciding on a new home as part of his outlook on life. I’m still always blown away by Jorge Jiménez’s stunning art.
January 25, 2025
Great art, good idea, lame execution. But at least whatever that damn mess was in the previous volume this wasn't that much bad. This volume at least collected the events a little more to made them understandable. In fact, we learn the real reason for the failsafe attack in the first volume of Zdarsky's run.
I also believe the BatFamily shouldn't put their trust in Bruce and Selina so soon after Gotham War. Bruce just admitted to having a second evil personality and creating an evil Bat-Ultron, while Selina came up with an incredibly foolish plan to save Gotham that ended up giving Vandal a new army. It might be best for Bat Papa and Cat Mama to keep their distance for now, maybe consider some family therapy, while Dick and Babs take charge of BatFam operations lol.
Overall: 3.5/5
I also believe the BatFamily shouldn't put their trust in Bruce and Selina so soon after Gotham War. Bruce just admitted to having a second evil personality and creating an evil Bat-Ultron, while Selina came up with an incredibly foolish plan to save Gotham that ended up giving Vandal a new army. It might be best for Bat Papa and Cat Mama to keep their distance for now, maybe consider some family therapy, while Dick and Babs take charge of BatFam operations lol.
Overall: 3.5/5
August 8, 2024
I really liked Batman #149 out of this lot, and I think it could be a bold path forward for Chip to redeem himself after the first four REALLY UNEVEN VOLUMES. We'll see! Absolute Power still has to happen!
I would like to love a Chip Zdarsky Batman run, and I have not so far. Maybe that's partly because of editorial meddling, but ughhhhhhhhhh.
I would like to love a Chip Zdarsky Batman run, and I have not so far. Maybe that's partly because of editorial meddling, but ughhhhhhhhhh.
March 1, 2025
This only got 2 stars because we finally resolved the whole Zur-En-Arrh storyline. I'm sorry but that whole plot felt like every time they "turn off their humanity" on The Vampire Diaries😭.
I also didn't love that all the kids were very quick to forgive Bruce for his horrible behavior, especially Jason.
Jorge Jimenez is still amazing on the art in this, I love his character designs.
I also didn't love that all the kids were very quick to forgive Bruce for his horrible behavior, especially Jason.
Jorge Jimenez is still amazing on the art in this, I love his character designs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2024
Actual rating: 2.75
This is only for #145-149 and the first part of #150. The AP issues that are apparently collected in this are 3.5 stars for the latter half of #150 and #151, 3.75 stars for #152.
This is only for #145-149 and the first part of #150. The AP issues that are apparently collected in this are 3.5 stars for the latter half of #150 and #151, 3.75 stars for #152.
August 8, 2024
Rating: 3.25
March 11, 2025
Great follow up to last volume and seats up absolute power in a way that is good but doesn’t take away from the main Batman story.
March 11, 2025
Absolute storylines take from it a bit. I kinda hope that this is some closure on some of Bruce’s issues.
March 19, 2025
A good graphic novel.
March 20, 2025
Better than the last few volumes. Payoff wasn't worth all the boring overcomplicated nonsense that came before, but at least this one gives us Tim Drake and Jason Todd being Perfect Humans.
March 29, 2025
3.5 Stars
March 31, 2025
Finally a really good book, the lead up has been iffy but the climax is an absolute joy to read.
Loved the Batman we see across the pages, and the Batfamily are used and represented very well!
Loved the Batman we see across the pages, and the Batfamily are used and represented very well!
January 25, 2025
As if it wasn't bad enough to have a robot 'failsafe' in case you went to far, now Batman has to contend with an alternate personality that has taken control of that robot and gone on to clean up the streets of Gotham (and the world?). Going to extremes, it's drawn the attention of Amanda Waller (that can't be good) and a panicked Gotham just gets to panic more.
All the angst that Batman has had in the last few years is explained away as the alternate persona creating doubt and drama. Anything you didn't like in the last few storylines....probably could get scapegoated by this plot device.
The fact that the WHOLE Bat family and the o.g. Justice League couldn't tell the difference between an evil Batman personality and a regular Batman....is troublesome. WHY wouldn't this just become the new normal? Hell, wasn't he already possessed in Lazarus Planet? You'd think that the whole DCU would be extremely suspicious of Batman in ANY form that didn't follow their code of ethics.
=======
Bonus: When you're a notoriously suspicious 'secondary identity'
Bonus Bonus: Your "dad" says he uploaded himself into an unstoppable robot? Totally fine!
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FINAL RANT: These Absolute Power tie-ins were hot garbage. Another team up between Batman and Catwoman? Meh. Darkseid's sole cameo in Absolute Power? Birds of Prey wringing their hands? Sooooooo Meh.
All the angst that Batman has had in the last few years is explained away as the alternate persona creating doubt and drama. Anything you didn't like in the last few storylines....probably could get scapegoated by this plot device.
The fact that the WHOLE Bat family and the o.g. Justice League couldn't tell the difference between an evil Batman personality and a regular Batman....is troublesome. WHY wouldn't this just become the new normal? Hell, wasn't he already possessed in Lazarus Planet? You'd think that the whole DCU would be extremely suspicious of Batman in ANY form that didn't follow their code of ethics.
=======
Bonus: When you're a notoriously suspicious 'secondary identity'
Bonus Bonus: Your "dad" says he uploaded himself into an unstoppable robot? Totally fine!
------
FINAL RANT: These Absolute Power tie-ins were hot garbage. Another team up between Batman and Catwoman? Meh. Darkseid's sole cameo in Absolute Power? Birds of Prey wringing their hands? Sooooooo Meh.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews