Batman #154: A shocking betrayal could end one of comics’ longest-running partnerships.

Last month’s edition Batman — now in the final arc of Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jimenez’s run — ended on a pretty solid double cliffhanger. Gotham Mayor Nakano was fatally shot by a mysterious assassin when Bruce learned that he might have a long-lost brother (yes, another one). In this week’s Batman #154, the mystery deepens as someone confirms the possibility of a secret Wayne sibling and the identity of Nakano’s killer appears to be revealed…

Spoilers for Batman #154

The problem arises after the murder. Harvey Bullock is investigating when Batman and Jim Gordon arrive to make their own assessment. Deputy Nakano suggests several potential suspects. Unsurprisingly, the apparently reformed Edward Nygma is at the top of the list, as is Commissioner Vandal Savage. There is also the mysterious (with an ominous name) Leonid Kull. Batman interrupts Nygma and Kull’s lunch meeting and confirms his suspicion: the latter is the new leader of the Court of Owls, which Kull does not deny.

Bruce later holds a meeting regarding the claims of his apparent brother, here named William Purford. Zdarsky’s script highlights the fact that we’ve seen this storyline before, with Bruce quipping, “My ‘long-lost brother.’ I used to have people claim that they were Wayne’s secret heirs.” Indeed, with Lincoln March claiming to be Thomas Wayne Jr. in the original 2012 Court of Owls storyline, this was never resolved. This line from Bruce seems to suggest that he believes March to be an impostor, although it’s worth noting that the Court of Owls was part of the New 52 continuity, and its connection to the current era of DC… flexible.

However, Purford has serious legal support, and it turns out that his mother Tara, a nurse at Gotham General, did According to Dr. Leslie Thompkins, I know Bruce’s father. It seems Thomas and Martha Wayne were going through a rough patch a few years ago, and “something short” happened between Bruce’s surgeon father and a nurse. Thomas eventually told Martha about his indiscretion and the couple worked through it. Tompkins, a good friend of the Waynes, knew all this, but still believes that Purford’s claims are false, since the Waynes could never give up the child. However, Bruce can’t shake the possibility that he does have a lost sibling.

Batman and Gordon are later reunited. This issue is primarily built around their relationship and shows how the world’s greatest detective and the grizzled detective work together. This only makes the final pages of the issue even more shocking… As they once again investigate the scene of Nakano’s murder, Gordon takes Batman by surprise and pulls a gun on him, muttering, “I was defending myself.” Batman responds violently by punching him in the face and disarming him. “I didn’t mean to… You have to believe me…” Gordon sobs and they both fall to the floor. And this is your cliffhanger…

It’s strange, and at first it’s a little unclear what exactly is going on. The obvious implication is that Gordon killed Nakano (in self-defense, assuming he’s telling the truth). However, in the last two pages, both are acting a little out of character, and it all happens so suddenly that we wonder if there’s something else going on here. However, it’s certainly enough to have us looking forward to finding out the truth next month as it builds into a thrilling final act for Zdarsky and Jimenez’s performance.