Batman #44 is a deceptively deep comic. On the surface, it appears to be just one more Tom King-penned comic exploring the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. Not that King and his collaborators haven’t struck gold in that area in the past, but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before on this book. It’s only when you begin picking apart the story and comparing it to the classic Batman tales it references that the true significance of this story becomes apparent.

On one hand, Batman #44 tells a basic, straightforward story about Selina feeling restless ahead of her impending wedding. Even as her fiancé sleeps, Selina hits the town in search of her ideal wedding dress. And as she ponders her choice, she reflects back on some of her past encounters with Batman and her own mercurial nature. The end result is a sparse but elegant story, one that helps move the series one step closer to the big wedding day.

Again, you really have to dig up some of the old stories King’s script references to fully appreciate what he and artists Mikel Janin and Joelle Jones have done here. The dialogue and imagery in the flashback scenes are directly lifted from old comics, dating all the way back to Catwoman’s first appearance in 1940’s Batman #1. This issue, as much as any other in King’s run to date, embodies the importance of DC Rebirth. It reflects upon and celebrates Batman’s 80-year history in a way that simply wouldn’t have been possible in the New 52.

The divide between past and present makes excellent use of Janin and Jones’ contrasting styles.

At first glance, Batman #44 comes across as a pleasant but fairly unremarkable addition to the series, one that arranges a few pieces leading up to the big wedding. It’s only by rereading this issue and directly comparing it to the classic Batman stories it references that it becomes clear how King, Janin and Jones are commenting on the evolution of these characters and superhero comics in general.