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All-Star Batman, Volume 3: The First Ally by Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque, Jordie Bellaire
geekwayne's review against another edition
3.0
'All Star Batman, Volume 3: The First Ally' by Scott Snyder with art by Rafael Albuquerque and other fine artists continues Scott Snyder's run on the title and collects issues 10-14.
Batman tracks down a device in Miami that is being sought by a group of villains, including Hush who is impersonating Bruce Wayne. There is another Dark Knight on the trail, and his origins may have something to do with Alfred Pennyworth's tale. And pirates, for some reason.
In the backup story, Batman infiltrates a Russian mob in Russia and tries to stop an arms shipment bound for Gotham.
Sebastian Fiumara's art elevates an average story to something worth reading.
I liked the main story well enough, but felt like the lost boy, father/child theme was laid on just a bit too thick. I like the character of Alfred, and giving him a cool backstory is a great idea, but this felt heavy-handed.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Batman tracks down a device in Miami that is being sought by a group of villains, including Hush who is impersonating Bruce Wayne. There is another Dark Knight on the trail, and his origins may have something to do with Alfred Pennyworth's tale. And pirates, for some reason.
In the backup story, Batman infiltrates a Russian mob in Russia and tries to stop an arms shipment bound for Gotham.
Sebastian Fiumara's art elevates an average story to something worth reading.
I liked the main story well enough, but felt like the lost boy, father/child theme was laid on just a bit too thick. I like the character of Alfred, and giving him a cool backstory is a great idea, but this felt heavy-handed.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
unladylike's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I don't recall any of the content of All-Star Batman vols. 1-2, but I really love when good writers center Bat-stories around Alfred, and this one does exactly that. It could more accurately be titled Alfred 3000, but that would put it in league with far inferior comic titles. I loved seeing Alfred's earlier life parallel Bruce's, but in a way that he may have kept concealed all these years.
I don't recall any of the content of All-Star Batman vols. 1-2, but I really love when good writers center Bat-stories around Alfred, and this one does exactly that. It could more accurately be titled Alfred 3000, but that would put it in league with far inferior comic titles. I loved seeing Alfred's earlier life parallel Bruce's, but in a way that he may have kept concealed all these years.
daileyxplanet's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book more than the previous ones, but still feels like a letdown compared to the Snyder Capullo run or Metal.
captwinghead's review against another edition
5.0
This was just amazing!
Snyder remains my favorite Batman writer. He's the only one who's stories consistently make me enjoy Bruce as a character which is quite a feat. In his stories, I really get a compassionate understanding for Bruce's tireless pursuit to keep others from suffering the grief that he did. He's, to quote Alfred, "an absurd human being" but his goal is an admirable one. I preface this review with that because this book is very much not focused on Batman. It's focused on Alfred.
And I fucking loved it!
This was just outstanding! Every time I've read a story from Alfred's point of view, I've loved it. Robin: Year One was written that way and it's always a joy to read about Alfred's thoughts on his family. It's clear he loves them as though they were his blood and this was just a wonderful example of that. Alfred continuously refers to Bruce as his son throughout the narration and you can feel his attachment to Bruce. It's beautiful and I can't describe it well enough. It's just so incredibly heartfelt and dedicated and I love Alfred as a character so, so much.
This volume tells Alfred's story. And what an interesting one it is! It tells of Alfred's rebellious past and his attempts to get back at his father for neglecting the Pennyworth family to take care of the Waynes. It tells of how he entered the S.A.S partially out of revenge and fell in with a man called Briar. This story is all told with an interesting tie in to pirate stories. Alfred loved them as a kid: stories of rebellious children who left home and fell in with rag tag crews of pirates and looked to the pirate captain as a mentor. That mentor is later revealed to be less than the hero the young boy thought them to be and they return home before they go down with the ship. Snyder tells this story beautifully.
The irony of Alfred resenting his father's dedication to the Waynes and later become just as much, if not even more dedicated to this family goes without saying. It's one of the more beautiful aspects of the Batfamily history. Alfred loves Bruce and his grandchildren and I've never doubted that. I'm just so surprised and so, so happy that Snyder appears to be one of the only writers to understand that aspect with other writers referring to Dick as Bruce's "best friend" and Damian as Bruce's "real son". Snyder understands that the Batfamily is not about blood.
This entire volume is the contrast of Briar wanting Alfred to be the son he never had: a perfect Dark Knight with no personal attachments that can be used against him. This is contrasted with Alfred fretting that he may have been the worst thing to ever happen to Bruce. Alfred posits that the pirate stories may have been cautionary tales for parents as, the kids always come home in the end because the pirate captain tries to drag the kids down a bad path. Alfred talks of trying to lure Bruce away from his mission but Bruce ends up right back in the suit every single time.
Alfred also speaks of Bruce loving pirate tales but hating the endings.
It's also worth it to note that Alfred's love of pirate tales reminds me Dick's love for Robin Hood. I love that the batkids all have their own unique attachments to literary works.
Alfred steadfastly holds onto Bruce and tries to keep him safe in this story and Bruce does the same to Alfred. Throughout the entire arc, Alfred has this internal war within himself that is so fascinating considering the many times he's questioned Bruce's treatment of the batkids. Alfred has always wondered if he did the right thing helping create the Batman and keep him alive and even as he doubts himself, he continues to help.
So, this is a little rambly but I'm honestly just in awe at such a beautifully written, complex, wonderful story. This series has been such a gift! So many out of the box Batman stories that are unlike the other Batsy stories we're getting right now. This series tells stories that actually make me root for Batman and this one made me root for Alfred and want to give him a hug.
Alfred Pennyworth is one of the best fathers in comic book history.
Snyder remains my favorite Batman writer. He's the only one who's stories consistently make me enjoy Bruce as a character which is quite a feat. In his stories, I really get a compassionate understanding for Bruce's tireless pursuit to keep others from suffering the grief that he did. He's, to quote Alfred, "an absurd human being" but his goal is an admirable one. I preface this review with that because this book is very much not focused on Batman. It's focused on Alfred.
And I fucking loved it!
This was just outstanding! Every time I've read a story from Alfred's point of view, I've loved it. Robin: Year One was written that way and it's always a joy to read about Alfred's thoughts on his family. It's clear he loves them as though they were his blood and this was just a wonderful example of that. Alfred continuously refers to Bruce as his son throughout the narration and you can feel his attachment to Bruce. It's beautiful and I can't describe it well enough. It's just so incredibly heartfelt and dedicated and I love Alfred as a character so, so much.
"Over the years, my son has developed a bit of a flair for the theatrical. I like to think he gets it from me. But really, if I'm being honest with myself...it's something all his own. The world knows my son as a hero. And he is. Never stopping... even when I beg him to. He's an absurd human being, is the truth... bloody absurd. And I love him for it."
This volume tells Alfred's story. And what an interesting one it is! It tells of Alfred's rebellious past and his attempts to get back at his father for neglecting the Pennyworth family to take care of the Waynes. It tells of how he entered the S.A.S partially out of revenge and fell in with a man called Briar. This story is all told with an interesting tie in to pirate stories. Alfred loved them as a kid: stories of rebellious children who left home and fell in with rag tag crews of pirates and looked to the pirate captain as a mentor. That mentor is later revealed to be less than the hero the young boy thought them to be and they return home before they go down with the ship. Snyder tells this story beautifully.
The irony of Alfred resenting his father's dedication to the Waynes and later become just as much, if not even more dedicated to this family goes without saying. It's one of the more beautiful aspects of the Batfamily history. Alfred loves Bruce and his grandchildren and I've never doubted that. I'm just so surprised and so, so happy that Snyder appears to be one of the only writers to understand that aspect with other writers referring to Dick as Bruce's "best friend" and Damian as Bruce's "real son". Snyder understands that the Batfamily is not about blood.
"All I know is that I love him with everything in me."
This entire volume is the contrast of Briar wanting Alfred to be the son he never had: a perfect Dark Knight with no personal attachments that can be used against him. This is contrasted with Alfred fretting that he may have been the worst thing to ever happen to Bruce. Alfred posits that the pirate stories may have been cautionary tales for parents as, the kids always come home in the end because the pirate captain tries to drag the kids down a bad path. Alfred talks of trying to lure Bruce away from his mission but Bruce ends up right back in the suit every single time.
"Maybe I'm the bad captain, the pirate father, the one indulging him, keeping him away from shore. Prolonging a more and more painful end. Perhaps I can still become the good father. The one who walks away, forces him to come to grips.
Alfred also speaks of Bruce loving pirate tales but hating the endings.
"Bruce loved every bit of it except for the end. For the life of him, he couldn't understand why anyone would leave the island for civilization."
It's also worth it to note that Alfred's love of pirate tales reminds me Dick's love for Robin Hood. I love that the batkids all have their own unique attachments to literary works.
Alfred steadfastly holds onto Bruce and tries to keep him safe in this story and Bruce does the same to Alfred. Throughout the entire arc, Alfred has this internal war within himself that is so fascinating considering the many times he's questioned Bruce's treatment of the batkids. Alfred has always wondered if he did the right thing helping create the Batman and keep him alive and even as he doubts himself, he continues to help.
So, this is a little rambly but I'm honestly just in awe at such a beautifully written, complex, wonderful story. This series has been such a gift! So many out of the box Batman stories that are unlike the other Batsy stories we're getting right now. This series tells stories that actually make me root for Batman and this one made me root for Alfred and want to give him a hug.
Alfred Pennyworth is one of the best fathers in comic book history.
"My son. I have helped him build a pirate story all his own, complete with caves and flying ships and magic cars. I have helped him keep this story going long past the time I should have closed the book. Have I done the right thing?"
madoc_mattox's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I really enjoyed this way too much. This story is more Alfred's than Batman's. It was perfect, lovely, entertaining, tense, inspiring, it was everything.
fred_juma's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jhstack's review
3.0
I'm so used to Greg Capullo's artwork that Rafael Albuquerque's pales a bit in comparison. I do like, though, how Alfred rose to more of a central role, if just for this trade collection. The execution of the plot line, though, left me feeling a little mixed. (e-galley from NetGalley)
apageinthestacks's review
4.0
3.5/5.
Some great potential (and a great back-up story), but this one actually kinda disapointed me. If it wasn't Snyder it'd be a solid four stars, but at this point I expect more from him.
Some great potential (and a great back-up story), but this one actually kinda disapointed me. If it wasn't Snyder it'd be a solid four stars, but at this point I expect more from him.
19lindsey89's review
2.0
I liked the idea of telling stories from Alfred's point of view, but this volume fell flat for me. This volume feels too far removed from the events happening in the other Batman comics.