BATMAN: DEATH AND THE MAIDENS # 8

Some major revelations in this issue as both Batman and Nyssa finally confront Ra's Al-Ghul directly. Fortunately, Rucka isn't trying to conclude everything in the last issue of the miniseries but is revealing enough details while still leaving us with a cliffhanger ending. The depiction of Ra's in this series has been very well done. His warped idealism evokes as much horror as it does awe. The rest of the characters are also used well, their feelings and motivations depicted vividly. It is doubtful that this will truly be the last Ra's Al-Ghul story but it is the first Ra's story in years to have such lasting impact. Hopefully, Ra's will be put on the freezer for a few years to avoid diminishing the importance of this story.

Janson's art is suitably moody but he does overdo the heavy shadows sometimes. If he isn't careful, he may end up looking like a Janson-imitator instead of the real thing.