Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman #148!One of the Bat-Family’s biggest critics has finally warmed up to them. Gotham is under fire from a nearly unstoppable villain and it’s plunging the city into absolute chaos. But the Dark Knight’s closest allies are there to hold the line, earning them shocking praise from their most well-known hater.

In Batman #148 by Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jiménez, Zur-En-Arrh is on the precipice of changing Gotham by force. The twisted new Batman has blocked every entrance and exit to the city with the robots Zur-En-Arrh has been using to keep Blackgate Penitentiary under control.

Mayor Nakano discusses the situation with newly appointed Police Commissioner Vandal Savage and asks what he intends to do. Savage reveals that Batman’s allies are already on the scene fighting the Failsafe robots. Nakano admits that while they should have the team arrested, the Bat-Family is needed now more than ever.

Gotham’s Anti-Vigilante Mayor Admits the Bat-Family is Necessary

Christopher Nakano was once an officer in the Gotham City Police Department. However, things changed for Nakano during the Joker War when he was caught in an explosion that took his partner and his left eye, an event he blamed Batman for. Nakano left the GCPD and ran for Gotham City Mayor on a vehemently anti-vigilante platform. Shortly after being elected, Nakano worked with the private military organization the Magistrate to run out all of Gotham’s vigilantes. However, he wasn’t prepared for the extreme measures they used and later condemned them, though Nakano was still quite anti-vigilante.

Since Nakano assumed office, he’s seen just how badly Gotham needs its heroes. Aside from the issues with the Magistrate and Scarecrow during “Fear State”, he’s seen both Failsafe and Zur-En-Arrh take Gotham under control in a matter of days. The only thing that’s stopped all of these events has been Gotham’s vigilantes. At this point, Nakano has been in office for too long to not realize being anti-vigilante in a place like Gotham just doesn’t make sense. Perhaps this is a sign that Gotham’s mayor is finally ready to make a change and fully support the Bat-Family.

Gotham is Finally Getting a Mayor Who Can Work with Vigilantes

Gotham is a city that has a history of troublesome mayors. Despite his questionable decisions in office, Nakano wants to do good for the city, but he’s let his personal dislike for vigilantes get in the way. However, after all the crazy events he’s been through, it seems like the Mayor is finally accepting that the Bat-Family is a crucial part of keeping the city safe. Granted, he doesn’t look like he’s ready to come out in full support just yet. But the Bat-Family could have a Mayor ready to work with them soon enough.

Batman #148 is available now from DC Comics.