You’re Breaking My Heart: The Batman Who Laughs #3 Review

Writer: Scott Snyder / Artists: Jock, Baron / DC Comics It’s the halfway point of this miniseries, and everything is getting worse (in the best way). Batman will obviously make it out alive, but Snyder doesn’t let that certainty get in the way of genuine stakes and hurdles that need to be overcome. I honestly can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel for Bruce but seeing him find that glimmer in the abyss of darkness is gonna be incredible. This issue is completely devoid of hope. All the rules have been set up, and most of The Batman Who Laughs’ motives have been revealed. This was the issue that the Caped Crusader would put together some type of contingency plan and set it into motion, so he can take down Laughs in some penultimate moment in the last issue. Only that didn’t happen. There was a plan, but it failed. And it seemed like that was all Bruce had going for him. Without it, he’s lost. Out of all the Batman stories centered on tragedy (there are many), this defeat felt like the heaviest burden on Bruce’s shoulders. And this is only the first half of the story! This man’s soul has been tortured for years. He’s lost sidekicks, he’s had his back broken, he’s even died himself, but it’s this loss that feels the hardest. Maybe because he’s fighting himself. Literally and figuratively.

Everything about this book is tied to winning. It’s the most prevalent theme. It almost seems like that’s the only thing driving Batman at this point. He’s up against the ropes, and all he…