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akar's review
4.0
Knightfall Volume 1 has 2 stories. One where "Batman" rounds up some of the most famous villains in Gotham and another where he is confronting his greatest enemy yet - Bane. This is a huge storyline and one of the most famous ones in the DC canon. The book opens with the origin of Bane and it is a fantastic story in itself. Later we see how Bane conquers Gotham and sets all the criminals free in Gotham and how Batman manages to defeat them and gets close to conquering Bane in the end. Except that the Batman in the beginning of the book is different from the one at the end.
How Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Robin and Commissioner Gordon along with other characters manage themselves and Gotham in one of the darkest periods in Gotham's history is a core part of the story. There is some iconic imagery and dialogue in this volume, the most famous one where Bane breaks Batman's back is also on the cover.
The Dialogue in the book is not a drag, it does get long but never gets boring. The Art is from the early 90s so it can feel dated but honestly, I didn't feel so. The fact that the story is so gripping you wouldn't have a problem with the art at all. The seminal moments in the comic are very well drawn.
At more than 600 pagers, its huge and pretty much a novel more than a comic.
How Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Robin and Commissioner Gordon along with other characters manage themselves and Gotham in one of the darkest periods in Gotham's history is a core part of the story. There is some iconic imagery and dialogue in this volume, the most famous one where Bane breaks Batman's back is also on the cover.
The Dialogue in the book is not a drag, it does get long but never gets boring. The Art is from the early 90s so it can feel dated but honestly, I didn't feel so. The fact that the story is so gripping you wouldn't have a problem with the art at all. The seminal moments in the comic are very well drawn.
At more than 600 pagers, its huge and pretty much a novel more than a comic.
jakekilroy's review
3.0
Bane’s a calculated villain, which is sort of like the weirdest form of insanity in Gotham. Patience isn’t so much a virtue as it is a weapon in a city that’s sort of run by supervillains that can’t sit still. So, to have one that waits for the perfect moment to strike is unnerving in its own fractured sense of focus.
Anyway, Batman is tired as hell and is run down after Bane breaks loose every unstable criminal and Batman and Robin (Tim Drake in this round) have to round them up like feverish collectors. Batman’s debilitating exhaustion seems natural towards the end, but it comes on so suddenly in the beginning. It wasn’t gradual. It was like Batman grew old in between panels. Also, you start feeling the exhaustion, as the story has way too much downtime.
Bane was created for this story arc, though he was introduced just prior to this Knightfall. I wish Bane had a better haircut, but as a costumed maniac, he’s solid. He’s solid in a really satisfying way. I always thought of him as some reactionary fighting behemoth of a man, but, the more I learn about him, he’s just devastatingly calculated. And he just got what we wanted, so we’ll see how things go in the next two parts.
Anyway, Batman is tired as hell and is run down after Bane breaks loose every unstable criminal and Batman and Robin (Tim Drake in this round) have to round them up like feverish collectors. Batman’s debilitating exhaustion seems natural towards the end, but it comes on so suddenly in the beginning. It wasn’t gradual. It was like Batman grew old in between panels. Also, you start feeling the exhaustion, as the story has way too much downtime.
Bane was created for this story arc, though he was introduced just prior to this Knightfall. I wish Bane had a better haircut, but as a costumed maniac, he’s solid. He’s solid in a really satisfying way. I always thought of him as some reactionary fighting behemoth of a man, but, the more I learn about him, he’s just devastatingly calculated. And he just got what we wanted, so we’ll see how things go in the next two parts.
ozgold's review
5.0
Breakout of Arkham Asylum leads to Batman villians everywhere. Inspiration for the Dark Knight Rises.
thiefofcamorr's review
I'm not a fan of the art style and I found the plot to be greatly lacking. I don't like to see Batman so blah.
ladydewinter's review
4.0
I'm currently rereading all the Batman books I own in chronological order. This was as hard to read as the first time around. I think at this point it's almost impossible to read this without knowing how it's going to end, but even if you didn't know - Batman's exhaustion is so palpable in here it's heartbreaking. And he keeps going on despite people telling him to stop.
He never gave up, the Mayor says at one point. The Batman. He doesn't know what it means to surrender.
It's depressing as hell, and Bruce's behavior is frustrating, to say the least, but this is an important part of canon (and the first part of the sentence is true for a lot of Batman books), so a must read for anyone interested in Batman. And all the better if you know that Prodigal comes right after this :D
He never gave up, the Mayor says at one point. The Batman. He doesn't know what it means to surrender.
It's depressing as hell, and Bruce's behavior is frustrating, to say the least, but this is an important part of canon (and the first part of the sentence is true for a lot of Batman books), so a must read for anyone interested in Batman. And all the better if you know that Prodigal comes right after this :D
ryter89's review
4.0
It was interesting to see this era of The Batman. I was familiar with the early and current stuff but not these middle events. I liked it. It was good to see Scarecrow and Joker team up.
lyrafay12's review
3.0
Batman: Knightfall vol. 1: Broken Batman by Doug Moench.
This Batman story is not everyone, actually it brings everything you love and hate by the Caped Crusader in to one volume for a two volume story.
First of all, you need to read to the lead up comics to understand it which I admit that I didn't do because most of the Batman stories I read is that you don't need to read surrounding stories to get it. However its a good read, a bit trashy and less thought provoking than other Batman stories (The Dark Knight Returns, The Long Halloween, Arkham Asylum).
The good:
Bane is an excellent Batman villain. Smart but also strong and lethal not normally a combination you would think for a Batman villain but it works. Which explains Nolan choosing him for the TDKR.
A struggling Bruce Wayne/Batman is great to see since Superheroes are often meant to look superior to everyone else but Batman is more human than super which great. You also Bruce struggle to keep his Batman weakness hidden while in his playboy disguise.
Tim Drake/Robin and Alfred: Great supporting characters and Robin doesn't come across annoying and kidlike as people would beileve he would come across. And Alfred keeps up with the saracastic humour and wit that stops the story becoming to dark.
Other Batman villains: Almost all of the Batman villains appear as either large threats or minor cameos. Seeing The Joker escape Arkham is always a due and seeing interactions between the villains is occassionally funny and self aware while being dark still. The Scarecrow/Joker team up is a highlight.
The Bad:
Bane's goons: They should be interesting (one has a Falcon and one of them is called Zombie!!)but unfortuately they suffer from being slightly stupid and annoying since Bane has to bail them out too often.
Jean-Paul Valley: The man who takes over Batman is extremely egotistic and lacks anything really interesting about him. He gets worst when you read the second volume where every part of me wanted to see him be killed by Bane in the second volume. But it wouldn't happen and he changes the suit goddamit!!
Bruce's love interest: She's boring and Bruce seems to be totally in love with her!! Of course Bruce would fall in love with his doctor but come on Batman/Bruce Wayne, Catwoman and Poison Ivy are in this story too and you tell me you're not interested!!
The art: Maybe I'm a bit pomp but the art of this story is actually boring same old comic look. The only highlight is the Scarecrow/Anarcky story which is interesting especially the use of red but its still boring.
Overall read this if you're interested in Batman's history, the fact that he's just like us and for the villain Bane but the rest could have been so much better!!
This Batman story is not everyone, actually it brings everything you love and hate by the Caped Crusader in to one volume for a two volume story.
First of all, you need to read to the lead up comics to understand it which I admit that I didn't do because most of the Batman stories I read is that you don't need to read surrounding stories to get it. However its a good read, a bit trashy and less thought provoking than other Batman stories (The Dark Knight Returns, The Long Halloween, Arkham Asylum).
The good:
Bane is an excellent Batman villain. Smart but also strong and lethal not normally a combination you would think for a Batman villain but it works. Which explains Nolan choosing him for the TDKR.
A struggling Bruce Wayne/Batman is great to see since Superheroes are often meant to look superior to everyone else but Batman is more human than super which great. You also Bruce struggle to keep his Batman weakness hidden while in his playboy disguise.
Tim Drake/Robin and Alfred: Great supporting characters and Robin doesn't come across annoying and kidlike as people would beileve he would come across. And Alfred keeps up with the saracastic humour and wit that stops the story becoming to dark.
Other Batman villains: Almost all of the Batman villains appear as either large threats or minor cameos. Seeing The Joker escape Arkham is always a due and seeing interactions between the villains is occassionally funny and self aware while being dark still. The Scarecrow/Joker team up is a highlight.
The Bad:
Bane's goons: They should be interesting (one has a Falcon and one of them is called Zombie!!)but unfortuately they suffer from being slightly stupid and annoying since Bane has to bail them out too often.
Jean-Paul Valley: The man who takes over Batman is extremely egotistic and lacks anything really interesting about him. He gets worst when you read the second volume where every part of me wanted to see him be killed by Bane in the second volume. But it wouldn't happen and he changes the suit goddamit!!
Bruce's love interest: She's boring and Bruce seems to be totally in love with her!! Of course Bruce would fall in love with his doctor but come on Batman/Bruce Wayne, Catwoman and Poison Ivy are in this story too and you tell me you're not interested!!
The art: Maybe I'm a bit pomp but the art of this story is actually boring same old comic look. The only highlight is the Scarecrow/Anarcky story which is interesting especially the use of red but its still boring.
Overall read this if you're interested in Batman's history, the fact that he's just like us and for the villain Bane but the rest could have been so much better!!
ipacho's review
5.0
One of the best Batman storylines ever. Period. My only complain is perhaps how Azrael took Bane so easyly in the end, but some good monologue compensate that.
davidareyzaga's review
4.0
The best moments of this volume are when Batman tries to cope with the loss of Jason Todd or when he tries to hide his vulnerability from Robin not to worry him (even though it was a bit foolish from him). It was also a generally interesting showcase of some of Batman's less recognizable villains as well as the classic ones.