While this issue does little to alleviate the overall poor pacing of "City of Bane," it does at least justify the decision to pause and reflect on the Bruce/Alfred relationship in greater depth. This is exactly the kind of story we needed to see after Batman #55 and didn't get - a story where Batman mourns the loss of a pivotal ally. That this series so quickly and carelessly discarded Dick Grayson after Dick's near-fatal shooting will always be a deep stain on King's Batman run. But with Alfred, at least, the series takes the time to explore the fallout of that tragedy and allow Bruce to react as any grieving son would at the unexpected death of their father.
King and artist Mikel Janin frame this issue as a mostly silent story, where the images of a violently grief-stricken Batman are juxtaposed with text from a farewell letter Alfred wrote shortly before his death. The fact that Alfred is depicted as a man with full knowledge and acceptance of the fate awaiting him really makes all the difference here. Before, his death had a slightly hollow ring to it, as if the series needed one last tragedy to ramp up the tension before Bruce's ultimate triumph. But reading Alfred's perspective on these matters and realizing his death was less a senseless tragedy than a noble sacrifice brings much more weight to the situation.This issue also excels at bringing the series full circle and calling back to some of the key events of King's first year of Batman stories. In particular it touches on Bruce's latent death wish and his hunger for a good death. We see Bruce as only Alfred could ever understand him and come to appreciate the final piece of wisdom Alfred was trying to impart through his death. Frankly, we may not actually need Pennyworth RIP after reading Batman #83 (though it'll still be interesting to see how writers James Tynion and Peter Tomasi tackle this tragedy).
Having Janin and colorist Jordie Bellaire on board definitely helps the execution. With "City of Bane" being all over the map in terms of visual style, it's critical to have Janin return and help stabilize the series leading into the big finale. Janin and Bellaire create the perfect gloomy tone for this issue, with the art being dominated by looming shadows and a melancholy blue palette. The variety in page design also helps enhance King's script, with larger panels highlighting the few, brief spurts of action and the panels becoming more dense and claustrophobic as Bruce's rage and guilt weigh him down.