Bane is in Russia, up to his hips in bad guys, gunfire and the encroaching police (such as they are). Bane has allies, who seem ready to turn on him. And his target has henchmen, who apparently will betray their boss. And it appears there are third and fourth parties with their separate agendas. It’s like a super-villain version of Reservoir Dogs. Everyone is an enemy, and no one is to be trusted.

And then along comes Catwoman, piggy-backing on Bane’s escape route, which has gone sideways. Selina has strategies of her own, which may or may not be self-serving. Unfortunately, the only way to know is to roll the dice and hope they come up seven.

I’ve come in late to this particular story, so it’s hard for me to know who to root for.  I am uncertain as to Bane’s overall motivations, and if he’s temporarily on the side of the angels, or just the lesser devils. It’s a 12-issue limited series, so no one can expect Bane’s reformation – and I use that term loosely – to last.

The artwork is perfect. I’m a big fan of the classic DC house style, mastered and refined by artists such as Dick Giordano and José Luis Garcia Lopez. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Graham Nolan is credited as one of the co-creators of Bane, along with Chuck Dixon. Needless to say, they know what they’re doing. While others may have helped develop Bane as a character in recent years, there is no denying he is in excellent hands.