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bjoernschneider1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
unladylike's review against another edition
4.0
Ra's al Ghul has long been one of Batman's most fascinating enemies, and he occupies a unique position in that world, sometimes serving as a temporary ally, as well as a Father-in-law figure. The setup for this self-contained Batman story (which I recommend as a graphic novel over the more recent [b:Batman: Damned|44526680|Batman Damned|Brian Azzarello|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566280431l/44526680._SX50_.jpg|69105025]) is this: Since Ra's has lived for centuries by using Lazarus pits around the world, is Batman breaking his biggest rule by preventing him from continuing to do so? This is the argument Ra's uses to appeal the revered Detective. Previously, Batman/Bruce Wayne dated Ra's al Ghul's daughter Talia. But here we get to know a different member of their small family that resists mortality and sees human genocide as a means to a virtuous end.
I won't spoil the plot, but Greg Rucka makes Nyssa al Ghul a compelling and fearsome character.
For some reason, the art really suffers at the tail end of this book. Klaus Janson turns in satisfactorily quality pages (especially for early '00s comics) and then starts using panels that look like sloppy sketches and ruinous feminine anatomy in the final chapter of this saga.
I won't spoil the plot, but Greg Rucka makes Nyssa al Ghul a compelling and fearsome character.
For some reason, the art really suffers at the tail end of this book. Klaus Janson turns in satisfactorily quality pages (especially for early '00s comics) and then starts using panels that look like sloppy sketches and ruinous feminine anatomy in the final chapter of this saga.
oddmara's review against another edition
4.0
first good Ra's al Ghul story!!!! wow!! a bit too edgy in some instances, which I won't even get to, but overall, I liked Nyssa!! UNTIL SHE COMPLETELY BACKTRACKED AT THE VERY END :D did not enjoy that a lot.
I also felt a bit confused at the end?? She already failed her dad?? How?? Not sure, guess we'll see.
but overall I had fun! I liked Talia and Nyssa's relationship, as well as their general story arc, starting out as Totally Incidental Neighbours and moving on from there. I feel like the counterbalance of Nyssa might make Talia a somewhat more beatable character for me, it kind of started to feel that way.
The Bruce Meets His Parents Through Alchemy was also great! Grimm but great!! Really enjoyed it.
Also, if Ra's actually stayed dead I'd be like. So happy. You have no clue. At least Nyssa has more motivations to destroy humanity than Ra's"boo hoo I think people bad let me kill" al Ghul.
I also liked the little Clark cameo.
I also felt a bit confused at the end?? She already failed her dad?? How?? Not sure, guess we'll see.
but overall I had fun! I liked Talia and Nyssa's relationship, as well as their general story arc, starting out as Totally Incidental Neighbours and moving on from there. I feel like the counterbalance of Nyssa might make Talia a somewhat more beatable character for me, it kind of started to feel that way.
The Bruce Meets His Parents Through Alchemy was also great! Grimm but great!! Really enjoyed it.
Also, if Ra's actually stayed dead I'd be like. So happy. You have no clue. At least Nyssa has more motivations to destroy humanity than Ra's"boo hoo I think people bad let me kill" al Ghul.
I also liked the little Clark cameo.
joshua28's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rashthedoctor's review against another edition
3.0
so i saw this on my GR recommended read and i remembered reading it , i Was not particulary a big fan of this one , as the whole Nyssa broke Talia ANGLE, made a mess of things for a long time (Remember that weird Jason and Talia angle that nobody talks about anymore?) . Besides this felt less about Batman and more about Nyssa . not to forget the countless flaws i mean if Nyssa had a Lazarus pit why couldn't she just save her family members? especially since she was apparently capable of using one pit multiple times. The fact that Nyssa was forgotten in furthur future DC comics makes me feel more satisfied that her character was pretty much a Dead End . Not to forget the Red Herring angle where until the last part you can't guess whether Nyssa was a lover or daughter to Ra's still pisses me off , it's just Weird and CREEPY. Talking of CREEPY i don't even want to talk about the implications given in the conversation of Bruce with his mother .it wasn't thought out well , but oh well not like this is the worst comics or anything
psykobilliethekid's review against another edition
4.0
Greg Rucka writing a Batman story - yeah this is going to be good. I read this in one sitting and highly enjoyed the story. I can't say I liked the artwork as much. Maybe if this was done as a black and white versus color comic I would have been able to become more absorbed in the graphic flow of the story. But there were times I was too caught up in looking at strange perspective views resulting in distorted body parts being used in a 1970s color palette. So if you're looking for a good Batman story, I would recommend this - just try not to be distracted by the art too much.
hidinginstacks's review against another edition
4.0
Death & the Maidens was a very interesting read! I couldn’t put it down, finished it in less than an hour (that means I was REALLY invested in the story). I haven’t read much of anything involving Talia or her father, so this edition gave me a lot of info about their characters & a general feel for their personalities. Is Nyssa considered canon? Though I’ve never heard of her before, she certainly fits into the story well. A great read, interesting use of history. I love that Bats’ parents gave him a reality check. I liked the art!
Soooooo, I definitely recommend for a different, interesting Batman read.
Soooooo, I definitely recommend for a different, interesting Batman read.
dumblydore's review against another edition
3.0
I love Rucka's writing usually but perhaps the very premise of the story was too far-fetched to really work on paper. I still found it to be a gripping read—I think Ra's al Ghul is a formidable opponent to Batman because there really is something noble in his misguided attempts to purify the world. I always like the tension between the two. I wish there'd been more of that than this strange new daughter of the demon's head.
I am also a fan of Klaus Janson but I was surprised to be disappointed at a lot of his work here. I did enjoy the sequences with Bruce and his parents. And the pearls as a metaphor. I think he needs to revisit a lesson or two on drawing realistic human proportions though, especially the women!
I am also a fan of Klaus Janson but I was surprised to be disappointed at a lot of his work here. I did enjoy the sequences with Bruce and his parents. And the pearls as a metaphor. I think he needs to revisit a lesson or two on drawing realistic human proportions though, especially the women!