Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman #125
A new era has come for DC Comics' primary Batman series, and its new writer has already unleashed the Dark Knight's greatest weapon to the max. While Bruce Wayne does not have any superpowers like Superman or the Flash, he's in peak condition as a vigilante and has perfected a variety of impressive skills over the years. However, Chip Zdarsky has truly zeroed in on Batman's true power as a superhero that goes beyond any other tool the Caped Crusader might use: fear.
Beginning with the new Batman #125, Chip Zdarsky is taking on the writing duties for DC's ongoing series starring the Dark Knight. Joining Jorge Jiménez on one of the publisher's most popular titles and characters, Zdarsky has proven himself to be well-equipped for the job with examples being Batman: The Knight, a miniseries focused on Bruce Wayne's years abroad training as well as Marvel Comics' ongoing Daredevil series (which he'll still be writing alongside Batman).
After only a single issue, Zdarksy has already managed to capture what makes Batman so captivating as a vigilante: his ability to strike fear into Gotham's criminals. While supervillains naturally pose a larger challenge, the Dark Knight is supposed to be terrifying to the common criminal, a concept that can sometimes be lost given how prominent Batman is within pop culture. However, Batman #125 features multiple instances where Batman is downright scary, speaking from the shadows before lunging at a thug who's nothing more than prey to the predator that is the Dark Knight.
Batman #125 features even more moments beyond the one above where Batman is a true embodiment of terror. Not only does he threaten to blow a horrified Clayface to pieces with an explosive he secretly introduced into the villain's system during their last encounter, but he's hardly bothered at the end of the issue after Penguin staged his death to frame the Dark Knight, making it look like Batman murdered him. According to Bruce, "If anything it's helped me. Criminals are more scared. Crime is down.". It's an insanely dark perspective to have, but one that highlights the advantages of the shocking death and how it potentially helps Batman's crusade (the only thing he's currently focused on).
Bearing all of these moments in mind, it's clear that Chip Zdarsky is the right man for the job as DC's new Bat-Writer alongside the ever-stunning art from Jiménez. It's going to be very exciting to see where the Dark Knight goes next with one of his Robins in the hospital combined with the fact that Bruce's life is no longer in balance, effectively being the Caped Crusader night and day. Having tapped into Batman's greatest weapon and using it in some incredibly intense ways, it's clear that the Dark Knight's brand new era is going to be incredibly epic.