Batman Faces His Most Powerful Villain in All-Time Great Cover Art

Of the many covers for the upcoming Batman #130, one by artist Jorge Jiménez shows the Dark Knight confronting his ultimate nightmare, Failsafe.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman’s “Failsafe” arc!A breathtaking new piece of art is showing off the continuing struggle between Batman and his mad contingency, Failsafe. Batman #130 has had a number of stunning covers revealed, but Jorge Jiménez’s cover is truly a sight to behold.

Things have been pretty dire as of late for the Dark Knight. Beginning with the “Failsafe” arc of Batman from Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jiménez, Bruce has found himself pushed beyond his absolute limit. Batman has been wrongly blamed for the death of the Penguin and as a result, an android designed by Bruce’s backup personality, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, has executed its mission. Dubbed ‘Failsafe’, the android is Bruce’s ultimate contingency against himself, not only skilled and fast enough to take on Batman, but the entire Justice League as well. Faced with no other option, Bruce has run headfirst into danger and has set out to defeat his backup plan for good.

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And based on the cover for Batman #130, it seems that things are going to get worse before they get better. As part of DC’s January solicits, fans have gotten a sneak peek at the covers lined up for the upcoming issue. As usual, Batman artist Jorge Jiménez brings the heat with the issue’s standard cover that shows off a seriously injured Batman with Failsafe trailing behind him. Broken and bloody, Bruce continues his march through the snow as he prepares for his final confrontation with his rogue creation. Failsafe has already torn its way through the Justice League and nearly completed its task of eliminating Batman. But Bruce’s defiant walk shows that the Bat isn’t going to go down easy. Batman #130 will also come with covers from artists David Marquez, Laura Braga, Gabriele Dell’Otto, Stjepan Seijic and Jock.

What Will Happen Between Batman and Failsafe?

Comic covers can’t always be trusted, but Batman’s intense battle with Failsafe is superbly communicated through covers like Jiménez’s and Marquez’s. As a creation of the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, Failsafe was developed as a perfect countermeasure to all of Bruce’s abilities. His quick thinking, his martial art skills, even his proficiency with gadgets are nothing compared to Failsafe’s programming. Failsafe is exactly the sort of weapon that can take down a notoriously calculating individual like Bruce. If the cover is any indication, Batman is going to have to really think outside the box to defeat Failsafe.

Batman has tried fighting Failsafe in all Bruce’s familiar territories. The streets of Gotham, Wayne Manor, even the Batcave, and the android has wiped the floor with the hero in all of them. It seems that the only option Batman has is to take them both to an unfamiliar land, in this case a snowy plain. Perhaps putting Failsafe in a terrain it never accounted for will give Bruce the edge he needs to finally fell the automaton for good. Whatever happens, Jorge Jiménez’s cover for Batman #130 is sure to get fans excited for the arc’s powerful conclusion.

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