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Reviews
Batman: Eternal, Volume 3 by Kyle Higgins, Scott Snyder, Ray Fawkes, James Tynion IV, Tim Seeley
geewhizabbygee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
disniq's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I like the conclusion the cluemaster twist and batman as an ideal not just a guy but this one definitely felt dragged out. We go from vol 1 and 2 having one or two main villains to jamming every possible one in here and not in a good way. The batfam aren't really utilised even though Jason, Tim, Babs, Luke and Harper are all there while the city is falling apart and apparently doing nothing? Also I'm not sure if they just screwed up their own timeline again or if I missed a link somewhere, but where's Damian?
sherpawhale's review against another edition
4.0
Oh me, oh my!
So, disclosure, I got behind last October or November on almost all my comics, aside from Batman and Catwoman. I read all of this book pretty much in one go, and I think it was stronger for it. To be honest, there was not enough material in this series to stretch out over a year. I think it benefited from the long-running mystery of just who is the big bad (loved the reveal; it was perfect), but at the sacrifice of just wanting it to be over with. I follow a few review sites that were actually keeping up with the book on a weekly basis, and I know they were getting antsy. So the volume is the way to go.
Overall, favorite interactions in the series:
Selina and Killer Croc. It was great to see Selina step up and head off in a new direction (her new book by Genevieve Valentine is excellent, do give that a look) that really seems like a natural fit. And Killer Croc is a personal favorite underrated villain, and while I don't think he quite got his chance to shine, I think Tim Seeley did wonders with his tenous partnership with Selina.
Teen Batfamily. While I missed Dick Grayson's place in all of this, seeing Harper and Tim and Stephanie and Jason and Barbara was great. Kinda wish there was a specific book about the Batfamily, since they mostly all have their own books now.
The Spectre and Batwing. I wasn't particularly enjoying this arc, but after reading Gotham by Midnight and this last third of Eternal, I started really digging their interactions.
Julia Pennyworth was also a welcome addition/return. She adds a new dynamic to the cave and its stronger for it.
Bruce/Batman himself was kind of meh in this story, his typical surly, determined self. I could have used a bit more than the typical "drive Batman to the brink; oh, I can't touch him right now, he has to be at his peak."
Overall, I'm glad I read Eternal. I'm sure there's already something big in progress to pick up the pieces. My wish, if that's what going to happen, is that they focus on more personal stories and arcs that can be wrapped up in 5 issues or so, no more than 10 at most. Less big mystery, more ground focus. Despite that, it was pretty awesome to finally see the reveal after a year and it was someone who you would not expect. Pick up for that, if for nothing else.
So, disclosure, I got behind last October or November on almost all my comics, aside from Batman and Catwoman. I read all of this book pretty much in one go, and I think it was stronger for it. To be honest, there was not enough material in this series to stretch out over a year. I think it benefited from the long-running mystery of just who is the big bad (loved the reveal; it was perfect), but at the sacrifice of just wanting it to be over with. I follow a few review sites that were actually keeping up with the book on a weekly basis, and I know they were getting antsy. So the volume is the way to go.
Overall, favorite interactions in the series:
Selina and Killer Croc. It was great to see Selina step up and head off in a new direction (her new book by Genevieve Valentine is excellent, do give that a look) that really seems like a natural fit. And Killer Croc is a personal favorite underrated villain, and while I don't think he quite got his chance to shine, I think Tim Seeley did wonders with his tenous partnership with Selina.
Teen Batfamily. While I missed Dick Grayson's place in all of this, seeing Harper and Tim and Stephanie and Jason and Barbara was great. Kinda wish there was a specific book about the Batfamily, since they mostly all have their own books now.
The Spectre and Batwing. I wasn't particularly enjoying this arc, but after reading Gotham by Midnight and this last third of Eternal, I started really digging their interactions.
Julia Pennyworth was also a welcome addition/return. She adds a new dynamic to the cave and its stronger for it.
Bruce/Batman himself was kind of meh in this story, his typical surly, determined self. I could have used a bit more than the typical "drive Batman to the brink; oh, I can't touch him right now, he has to be at his peak."
Overall, I'm glad I read Eternal. I'm sure there's already something big in progress to pick up the pieces. My wish, if that's what going to happen, is that they focus on more personal stories and arcs that can be wrapped up in 5 issues or so, no more than 10 at most. Less big mystery, more ground focus. Despite that, it was pretty awesome to finally see the reveal after a year and it was someone who you would not expect. Pick up for that, if for nothing else.
mistled's review against another edition
2.0
Keeping this bit spoiler free. The spoiler section will be marked.
I don't even want to give this a two. I want to burn these issues because this could have been great. This rating may magically become a one once I've thought about it.
What in the world was issue #42? I would not be surprised if one of Snyder's kids is named Harper. Give her a flaw! Allow her to properly fail! Just once in this whole ☠@✴#ing series! Just once! Please!!! And Snyder decreed "No, Harper shall never fail. At anything." So it was written. So it was done.
This is entertaining if you are willing to look past some obvious "that's not how the world works", "well, of course that is going to end up badly", and "they would all be dead 5000 times over if that's all it took" type events every issue.
I can overlook it up to the point it becomes central to the plot. I'll forgive some goofiness when the goal is "we need to make the cops/city hate Batman." That's so par for the course by now that it is simply annoying. But when they go and don't even explain a major plot point, on which the whole rest of the series relies (issue 47, I'm looking at you), then I want to be able to go back in time and have not read the previous books. There had to have been another way to do that. Hell, you could have at least attempted to explain what happened. No? Ok then.
With some graphic novels, I start taking notes as I read by issue. Usually this is because I am rereading something I enjoyed and I want to be more objective about the series as a whole instead of just rating the whole thing highly because of one standout issue. Other times, like this one, I am so angry at what I am reading that I need to prevent myself from giving an automatic 1 star for a single awful event.
Below are my brief personal notes that I jotted down as I read. They spoil everything. Everything.
Issue 35 - 0 stars. Lucius just betrays Bats so Bard can murder Batman? ☠@✴# no. In what universe does a company doing something wrong mean all of the CEOs private assets get seized? Due process just bent over for this one.
36 - 3 - fine, I guess. Why the ☠@✴# is Hush in a transparent cage? Blindfold/gag him. Put him in a medically induced coma. He's obviously going to break out and almost murder everyone some stupid way.
37 - 3 - fine
38 3 - better
39 3? - what?
40 2 - batman is ☠@✴#ing stupid
41 1 - ☠@✴#ing stupid. Mind control? On everyone in two seconds? If it was that easy, they'd all be dead years ago. (also crazy art change)
42 2 - Mary ☠@✴# ☠@✴# harper ☠@✴#ing Sue. Does Snyder have a daughter named Harper?
43 2 is that supposed to be catwoman? But I liked the last artist.
44 3
45 3
46 3 "Prepare to time travel" - shut the ☠@✴# up. Time travel better not have anything to do with this.
47 1 - Why aren't they just letting some of these guys be? Who cares if that's all Bane and Clayface are doing? 0 stars for that being ☠@✴#ing obvious. Why isn't he in a medically induced coma? Why would a full remote shutdown exist for the plane? How stupid does he think his readers are? More importantly, how did the power get turned off? Equally importantly, how did that help him escape?
48 1 - "Triggered the suit emp" remotely... wtf? Then Jason's weapons just explode... remotely. That's a special kind of stupid. Neither of those would be things allowed of a remote system. ☠@✴#, the second one wouldn't even be a real thing at all. Vale is still an idiot and pathetic. She was doing so well earlier. Spoiler makes zero sense. I won't even address how there is no chance she is still free without any training while having that large a bounty on her head. She should be dead.
49 3 Uhm, the prison cells are electronic. Can they even be closed just by pulling them? Or opened locally with a key? Wouldn't even cross my mind if the series hadn't already gone off the rails.
Wait... the cage isn't broken? How the ☠@✴# did the other guy get out then? Did it open when the power went out? Did someone else let him out?
He's going to what? Innocent life suddenly not a thing we care about anymore?
50 3 Yep, that crash happened in the middle of the street and no one was hurt. Right.
What? This better be amazing.
51 So... this all could have been solved 45 issues ago if Amanda didn't want to protect the man who tried to kill her. ☠@✴#ing great.
Who the ☠@✴# is that?
52 I have zero idea who this guy is, but I was obviously supposed to recognize him. Court of Owls, maybe? It's been a long time since I read those.
I don't even want to give this a two. I want to burn these issues because this could have been great. This rating may magically become a one once I've thought about it.
What in the world was issue #42? I would not be surprised if one of Snyder's kids is named Harper. Give her a flaw! Allow her to properly fail! Just once in this whole ☠@✴#ing series! Just once! Please!!! And Snyder decreed "No, Harper shall never fail. At anything." So it was written. So it was done.
This is entertaining if you are willing to look past some obvious "that's not how the world works", "well, of course that is going to end up badly", and "they would all be dead 5000 times over if that's all it took" type events every issue.
I can overlook it up to the point it becomes central to the plot. I'll forgive some goofiness when the goal is "we need to make the cops/city hate Batman." That's so par for the course by now that it is simply annoying. But when they go and don't even explain a major plot point, on which the whole rest of the series relies (issue 47, I'm looking at you), then I want to be able to go back in time and have not read the previous books. There had to have been another way to do that. Hell, you could have at least attempted to explain what happened. No? Ok then.
With some graphic novels, I start taking notes as I read by issue. Usually this is because I am rereading something I enjoyed and I want to be more objective about the series as a whole instead of just rating the whole thing highly because of one standout issue. Other times, like this one, I am so angry at what I am reading that I need to prevent myself from giving an automatic 1 star for a single awful event.
Below are my brief personal notes that I jotted down as I read. They spoil everything. Everything.
Spoiler
Issue 35 - 0 stars. Lucius just betrays Bats so Bard can murder Batman? ☠@✴# no. In what universe does a company doing something wrong mean all of the CEOs private assets get seized? Due process just bent over for this one.
36 - 3 - fine, I guess. Why the ☠@✴# is Hush in a transparent cage? Blindfold/gag him. Put him in a medically induced coma. He's obviously going to break out and almost murder everyone some stupid way.
37 - 3 - fine
38 3 - better
39 3? - what?
40 2 - batman is ☠@✴#ing stupid
41 1 - ☠@✴#ing stupid. Mind control? On everyone in two seconds? If it was that easy, they'd all be dead years ago. (also crazy art change)
42 2 - Mary ☠@✴# ☠@✴# harper ☠@✴#ing Sue. Does Snyder have a daughter named Harper?
43 2 is that supposed to be catwoman? But I liked the last artist.
44 3
45 3
46 3 "Prepare to time travel" - shut the ☠@✴# up. Time travel better not have anything to do with this.
47 1 - Why aren't they just letting some of these guys be? Who cares if that's all Bane and Clayface are doing? 0 stars for that being ☠@✴#ing obvious. Why isn't he in a medically induced coma? Why would a full remote shutdown exist for the plane? How stupid does he think his readers are? More importantly, how did the power get turned off? Equally importantly, how did that help him escape?
48 1 - "Triggered the suit emp" remotely... wtf? Then Jason's weapons just explode... remotely. That's a special kind of stupid. Neither of those would be things allowed of a remote system. ☠@✴#, the second one wouldn't even be a real thing at all. Vale is still an idiot and pathetic. She was doing so well earlier. Spoiler makes zero sense. I won't even address how there is no chance she is still free without any training while having that large a bounty on her head. She should be dead.
49 3 Uhm, the prison cells are electronic. Can they even be closed just by pulling them? Or opened locally with a key? Wouldn't even cross my mind if the series hadn't already gone off the rails.
Wait... the cage isn't broken? How the ☠@✴# did the other guy get out then? Did it open when the power went out? Did someone else let him out?
He's going to what? Innocent life suddenly not a thing we care about anymore?
50 3 Yep, that crash happened in the middle of the street and no one was hurt. Right.
What? This better be amazing.
51 So... this all could have been solved 45 issues ago if Amanda didn't want to protect the man who tried to kill her. ☠@✴#ing great.
Who the ☠@✴# is that?
52 I have zero idea who this guy is, but I was obviously supposed to recognize him. Court of Owls, maybe? It's been a long time since I read those.
birdmanseven's review against another edition
2.0
I hit a point where I just couldn't pay attention to this story anymore.
daed_eskai's review against another edition
3.0
I must admit. I loved the ending. The idea behind "Batman Eternal" and how it was executed. It was just too damn epic (thank you Gordon).
But come on!! I had to read 51 issues of half assed stories and characters to get to this? It was too long, many of the subplots just seem pointless and boring. If this was shorter and more coherent, this could be a masterpiece. But unfortunately, it was 52 issues looooong!
But come on!! I had to read 51 issues of half assed stories and characters to get to this? It was too long, many of the subplots just seem pointless and boring. If this was shorter and more coherent, this could be a masterpiece. But unfortunately, it was 52 issues looooong!
cephalogod's review against another edition
4.0
It occurred to me while reading this arc that it's probably pretty impenetrable without a greater-than-average background of Batman lore.
That said, I really enjoy all the interconnected plots, getting to see a whole bunch of villains, and I love Harper, so there's that, too. (I also love this arc's version of Killer Croc, and anyone who knows me knows you get big points for treating my monsters right.)
That said, I really enjoy all the interconnected plots, getting to see a whole bunch of villains, and I love Harper, so there's that, too. (I also love this arc's version of Killer Croc, and anyone who knows me knows you get big points for treating my monsters right.)
civreader's review against another edition
4.0
"Let's see if we can squeeze in EVERYONE." That's usually not the kind of series I enjoy. This one started out rather complex, seemingly disjointed. But Snyder et al had a grand vision, and they pulled it off pretty well. Lots of connections to Snyder's other Batman stories. There were some side-stories that could have been jettisoned, in my opinion, but they were all well-written. Didn't see the ending coming. It was mostly very well done. (There was one final switch up that I thought blunted what would have been a superb, unexpected ending, but never mind.) I like Bluebird as a new character. Some very good stuff. Have to wade through volume one first before it gets properly going and very good.
susurrus's review against another edition
4.0
Turns out Cluemaster is a bigger problem than anyone gave him credit for. I loved the ending of this. Everyone "becomes Batman." It really brings home the idea that Batman himself is just an idea and anyone can wear the cowl.