By Michael DeLaney

This article contains SPOILERS. If you haven’t read the issue yet, proceed at your own risk!

As Batman: White Knight races towards its finale, Batman and Jack Napier come face to face with their own egos and shortcomings. After spending the majority of the series as an aggressive bully, Sean Murphy finally gives Batman the opportunity to be heroic again in Batman: White Knight 7.

Good ‘ol Bruce has softened up a bit since he was tossed into Arkham, giving him the chance to think over his rage and more importantly his family.

I suppose Murphy needed to rage up The Dark Knight a bit in order for “The White Knight” to be the hero that this book is looking for, but it’s nice to see Bats be a team player again.

Of course, our White Knight Jack Napier isn’t exactly the hero he believes himself to be, either. Both Harley and Batman remind Jack that he “reformed” and led his Gotham revolution by breaking the rules and gaming the system.

Murphy has crafted an interesting new character in Jack Napier, but as this issue proves, Jack and Joker can’t ever really be separated. The basis of Jack’s plan was sticking it to Batman — essentially getting revenge on Joker’s behalf.

Jack is gradually losing his hold over The Joker more and more — the meds he has been taking to suppress him are losing their effect. Murphy’s Joker is a mental illness that Jack will likely struggle with — or succumb to — for the rest of his life. The transformation to Joker is like a deadly virus, with Jack coughing up blood as his skin goes white and his hair green.

The plan to take down Neo Joker is almost exactly the same as the resolution of Dark Nights: Metal 7. It’s an unfortunate coincidence and unlucky timing, but nevertheless I like the team-up of Jack/Joker and Batman.

The conversation doesn’t stop there. What do you wanna talk about from this issue?