This new issue makes it clear that every Batman issue dating back to the beginning of the series is connected. Every story since "I Am Gotham" has been part of Bane's complex plan to psychologically destroy Batman. Even as Batman and Bane battle it out inside Wayne Manor, a series of narrative captions from the Thomas Wayne of the Flashpoint universe connect the dots of the previous 71 issues.
As Thomas deduces, Bane began his plot by orchestrating the creation of Gotham and Gotham Girl and arranging for the plane crash that began the series' opening story arc, "I Am Gotham." This near-death experience forced Batman to confront his own mortality and form an immediate bond with these sibling superheroes.Bane then played on Batman's need to protect the innocent, convincing the Dark Knight that the only way to save a grieving Gotham Girl was to invade Santa Prisca, battle Bane's forces and kidnap the mood-altering supervillain Pyscho-Pirate, events which formed the crux of the second major story arc, "I Am Suicide." Bane then pretended to be outraged at the violation of his sovereign borders, attacking Batman on his own home turf in "I Am Bane." This counterattack served two purposes - convincing Batman he had conquered his nemesis and allowing Bane to begin consolidating his power within the walls of Arkham Asylum.From there, Bane left Batman to his own devices for a time, knowing his enemy would play right into his hands by pursuing a deeper relationship with Catwoman. As Thomas muses, most of Batman's enemies are obsessed with trying to physically destroy a foe that can never truly be beaten. Bane's solution, instead, has been to use Batman's own psychological frailties against him. Bane's secret weapon against Batman has been happiness.
With input from the two villains who understand Batman's psychology the best, Joker and Riddler, Bane deduced that Batman would cling to Catwoman out a fierce desire to be loved and find an end to his war. Once marriage loomed, Riddler and Joker were used to sow the seeds of doubt in both Batman and Catwoman's minds. Riddler reprogrammed Skeets in "The Gift," thereby manipulating Booster Gold into showing Bruce how hellish the world would be without Batman to defend it. Then Joker attacked Catwoman in "The Best Man," reminding her that Batman can't be happy and still be Batman. This two-pronged assault was all the motivation Selina needed to leave Bruce at the altar and remove the love he so desperately craved.
Basically, showing Batman he can be happy and then stealing that happiness away has been the crux of Bane's plan. Bane's attacks have continued since the failed wedding. In recent months we've seen him manipulate Batman into nearly killing Mr. Freeze, arrange the shooting of Nightwing, turn Batman's own allies against him and subject the Dark Knight to a intense series of nightmares using Scarecrow's fear gas. But ruining the wedding was always the main goal. And to add injury to insult, Bane caps off his assault on Batman's world by once again breaking his enemy's back.At this point, the stage appears to be set for the start of "City of Bane" in Batman #75. The remainder of the current story arc, "The Fall and the Fallen," will focus on Batman being led into exile by his father, while Bane tightens his grip on Gotham and revels in his enemy's defeat.
This issue only really leaves one lingering question unanswered. How did Thomas Wayne escape the dying Flashpoint universe in "The Button"? For that matter, why is he so eager to help Bane when his stated goal has always been to convince Bruce to give up being Batman and live a normal, happy life? This distorted, alternate reality version of Batman remains the one real X-factor in the series, and that thought should probably give Bane pause in his moment of triumph. When has it ever paid off to underestimate Batman, regardless of what universe or timeline he hails from?
For more on this new issue, check out our review of Batman #72. Then check out our recent interview with writer Tom King and find out about his upcoming Batman/Catwoman series. Jesse is a mild-mannered writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.