Batman: White Knight #7
Batman White Knight barrels toward it finale and all the major players are set to deliver, what is sure to be, a bombastic ending. Jack Napier is quickly losing control of himself and the situation. Batman finally comes to his senses joins the fight. Neo Joker makes her final stand and Batman and Jack Napier have to team up to take her out.
Sean Murphy’s greatest achievement in this story continues to be his unique take on the character of Jack Napier. Jack is facing a crisis of identity both literally and figuratively. The drug that's keep Napier “sane” is slowly wearing off, causing the Joker persona to breakthrough in a Jekyl/Hyde way. Because Joker has been pretty much absent from this story his sudden emergences have a certain scare quality. Napier realizes, much to his disappoint, that he can’t completely outrun the influence of his worse half. He's had to manipulate and break laws to get what he wants, which Harley points out, is not far from Batman’s methods. There's a great moment when Neo Joker is making her demands and Napier whips around as Joker and tells her to shut up and all the bravado and confidence drains from her face.
After spending some time in Arkham, Batman finally comes to his senses and realizes that has gone entirely too far. Jack, begrudgingly, asks for Batman assistance in helping to take down Neo Joker to which he agrees, with conditions. This plot point felt a little rushed as Batman was just sent to Arkham in the previous issue. The problems that the presence Batman entails were legitimate concerns and it would have been nice see him actually reflect on his actions. There's a very brief, albeit touching, scene where Bruce talks to Batgirl and Nightwing about his regrets, but this could have been expanded a little more.
There’s not much more praise one could give the art for this series. Sean Murphy and colorist Matt Hollingsworth continue to deliver to be one of the best looking comics on the shelves. When you read it, you get a sense for all the characters’ subtle emotions from the details in their face. They also really no how to pull at the nostalgia strings; seeing Batman’s most iconic vehicles rushing off to the final battle will make the inner-child of any Bat-geek giddy.
White Knight #7 ties up loose ends as it careens into the final stretch. Certain secrets between Batman and Napier are revealed and ,with the confirmation that Murphy will be returning to the world of White Knight, it's probable that one specific secret will the main focus. There’s no telling how this story is going to end, but its, without a doubt, going to be something fans will be talking about for years to come.
