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minkattmossy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
roxcollector's review against another edition
4.0
Synopsis: Batman encounters a very beat up Azrael and questions him as to who did this to him. He only responds ominously with "you did." We do see Batman destroy a drone that was presumably following Azrael. Batman recruits Batwoman to be his partner in building and training a new team of vigilantes comprised of Red Robin, Spoiler, Orphan and Clayface. Meanwhile, we see an army in which all the soliders resemble Batman. Batwoman puts the new team through the ringer in something called the Mud Room, where the team fights enemies comprised of clay, similar to Clayface.
Red Robin (Tim) introduces the team to the Belfry, which is a headquarters he built, and calls the frontline of Gotham's defense. Batman and Tim visit Azrael and he tells him them that the Colony is who attacked him and that they are here in Gotham. Meanwhile, Tim and Steph (Spoiler) discuss the fact that Tim got accepted into a program at an Ivy League school that only one person a year can get into. He hasn't told Batman yet, since it seems like he hasn't made a decision. Kate (Batwoman) has a conversation with her father regarding Batman. While Batman is out alone, he is attacked by the Batmen of the Colony and taken in.
Batwoman calls the team to the Belfry since Batman has been taken and enlists the help of her father, but surprise, surprise, he's the head of the Colony. The Colony attacks the Belfry, but the team is able to escape. Batman also escapes from the lab he is being help in and questions a nerd named Ulysses. Ulysses basically explains that the Colony is an army modeled after Batman. Tim takes the team to yet another secret batcave type thing with weapons and transportation. Eventually, the team makes it to the Colony in time as Batman is being held at gunpoint. Kate's father says that he always wanted her to help him lead the Colony.
The whole team attacks the Colony and gets away, but Kane has Ulysses send out all the drones they have to target all the potential terrorists and threats in Gotham city. Once Batman's team realizes this, everyone fans out to try to save as many people as they can. Meanwhile, Tim pulls some sneaky shit and changes all the targets programmed into the drones to be him. Tim fights as long as he can, but he is eventually gunned down. Batman and Batwoman arrive too late, and Spoiler gives Batman the acceptance letter to the Ivy League school. We learn that Tim is not actually dead and instead, is being held in a prison by the same person that kidnapped Doomsday in Action Comics volume 1: Dr. Oz.
Review: This is really more of a 4.5 for me. Of the volume 1s of Batman I've read this one was by far my favorite. I don't mind reading a Batman comic where he's on his own, but I love the Batfamily so much that this book just really clicked with me. The plot itself was cool as hell and made sense considering what a tank Batman is, even though he doesn't have any powers.
I didn't include this in my synopsis because I didn't think it was necessary to the plot, but there were a couple of flashbacks to when Bruce and Kate were younger. All of my negativity around this book really does focus on Kate. I'm very close with one of my cousins, personally, and I think that's what they were getting at here, but it doesn't quite follow through. It could also be that in the comics, I just don't care for Kate as a character, which is odd because I'm a queer woman myself. It could be what I know about the future of her character, but regardless, I think she is a good choice to help Batman train the new team.
I loved the concept of the Colony. It makes sense that the army would study Batman and replicate his strategies and fight moves because Batman is nearly unstoppable; I mean, can you imagine a whole army of Batmen? And from what we see in the book, the Colony is highly successful. I like the parallel between the Colony and Batman's team as well. The army wants his abilities for purely military reasons, but Batman only trains those that he deems worthy because he knows that what he knows could be devastating if someone, like Kane, got a hold of it. It's good stuff.
The cast of characters are pretty dope, too. Tim Drake has never been my favorite Robin, but I definitely appreciated him here. He was always just like, "oh, and that other Robin" to me, but here he really showcases his skills. I didn't realize that he was genius level smart either. He might be the second best Robin (and it kills me to say that because Jason Todd is my favorite), after Dick Grayson, of course. His sacrifice at the end of the book was so sad and so heroic at the same time. Unfortunately, I don't know that it really sticks the landing because he isn't really dead - Dr. Oz just took him. Still, the effects on the Batfamily are felt.
Spoiler was probably my least favorite, mostly because I don't know much about Stephanie Brown. I think her costume is a little uninspired. It's basically just a purple ninja outfit with a cape and hood. I felt like I didn't really get a grasp on who she was, other than Tim's girlfriend. Orphan was interesting. I liked that she didn't talk much and I thought it was incredible that Batman admits that if he fought her he would lose. Now, that is impressive.
Clayface is definitely the black sheep of the group, but man I really felt for him. When they find him watching one of his old movies in the theater, I was like, ya know that really would suck to be a rising actor and then you get turned into fucking Clayface. I thought it was funny when they were in the Mud Room and Clyaface is just like "I can't do any of the shit the other can what the hell." I thought it was sweet of Tim to make him a bracelet that would allow him to retain shape.
Ulysses is a little shit and I was so thrilled to see Tim beat him at his own game.
Other than that, those are my thoughts on this volume. It's action packed, lots of Batfamily stuff and there are plenty of emotional moments. Tynion really nailed it, but then again, he usually does.
Red Robin (Tim) introduces the team to the Belfry, which is a headquarters he built, and calls the frontline of Gotham's defense. Batman and Tim visit Azrael and he tells him them that the Colony is who attacked him and that they are here in Gotham. Meanwhile, Tim and Steph (Spoiler) discuss the fact that Tim got accepted into a program at an Ivy League school that only one person a year can get into. He hasn't told Batman yet, since it seems like he hasn't made a decision. Kate (Batwoman) has a conversation with her father regarding Batman. While Batman is out alone, he is attacked by the Batmen of the Colony and taken in.
Batwoman calls the team to the Belfry since Batman has been taken and enlists the help of her father, but surprise, surprise, he's the head of the Colony. The Colony attacks the Belfry, but the team is able to escape. Batman also escapes from the lab he is being help in and questions a nerd named Ulysses. Ulysses basically explains that the Colony is an army modeled after Batman. Tim takes the team to yet another secret batcave type thing with weapons and transportation. Eventually, the team makes it to the Colony in time as Batman is being held at gunpoint. Kate's father says that he always wanted her to help him lead the Colony.
The whole team attacks the Colony and gets away, but Kane has Ulysses send out all the drones they have to target all the potential terrorists and threats in Gotham city. Once Batman's team realizes this, everyone fans out to try to save as many people as they can. Meanwhile, Tim pulls some sneaky shit and changes all the targets programmed into the drones to be him. Tim fights as long as he can, but he is eventually gunned down. Batman and Batwoman arrive too late, and Spoiler gives Batman the acceptance letter to the Ivy League school. We learn that Tim is not actually dead and instead, is being held in a prison by the same person that kidnapped Doomsday in Action Comics volume 1: Dr. Oz.
Review: This is really more of a 4.5 for me. Of the volume 1s of Batman I've read this one was by far my favorite. I don't mind reading a Batman comic where he's on his own, but I love the Batfamily so much that this book just really clicked with me. The plot itself was cool as hell and made sense considering what a tank Batman is, even though he doesn't have any powers.
I didn't include this in my synopsis because I didn't think it was necessary to the plot, but there were a couple of flashbacks to when Bruce and Kate were younger. All of my negativity around this book really does focus on Kate. I'm very close with one of my cousins, personally, and I think that's what they were getting at here, but it doesn't quite follow through. It could also be that in the comics, I just don't care for Kate as a character, which is odd because I'm a queer woman myself. It could be what I know about the future of her character, but regardless, I think she is a good choice to help Batman train the new team.
I loved the concept of the Colony. It makes sense that the army would study Batman and replicate his strategies and fight moves because Batman is nearly unstoppable; I mean, can you imagine a whole army of Batmen? And from what we see in the book, the Colony is highly successful. I like the parallel between the Colony and Batman's team as well. The army wants his abilities for purely military reasons, but Batman only trains those that he deems worthy because he knows that what he knows could be devastating if someone, like Kane, got a hold of it. It's good stuff.
The cast of characters are pretty dope, too. Tim Drake has never been my favorite Robin, but I definitely appreciated him here. He was always just like, "oh, and that other Robin" to me, but here he really showcases his skills. I didn't realize that he was genius level smart either. He might be the second best Robin (and it kills me to say that because Jason Todd is my favorite), after Dick Grayson, of course. His sacrifice at the end of the book was so sad and so heroic at the same time. Unfortunately, I don't know that it really sticks the landing because he isn't really dead - Dr. Oz just took him. Still, the effects on the Batfamily are felt.
Spoiler was probably my least favorite, mostly because I don't know much about Stephanie Brown. I think her costume is a little uninspired. It's basically just a purple ninja outfit with a cape and hood. I felt like I didn't really get a grasp on who she was, other than Tim's girlfriend. Orphan was interesting. I liked that she didn't talk much and I thought it was incredible that Batman admits that if he fought her he would lose. Now, that is impressive.
Clayface is definitely the black sheep of the group, but man I really felt for him. When they find him watching one of his old movies in the theater, I was like, ya know that really would suck to be a rising actor and then you get turned into fucking Clayface. I thought it was funny when they were in the Mud Room and Clyaface is just like "I can't do any of the shit the other can what the hell." I thought it was sweet of Tim to make him a bracelet that would allow him to retain shape.
Ulysses is a little shit and I was so thrilled to see Tim beat him at his own game.
Other than that, those are my thoughts on this volume. It's action packed, lots of Batfamily stuff and there are plenty of emotional moments. Tynion really nailed it, but then again, he usually does.
alchemypotato's review against another edition
4.5
Oh man, this was excellent. Easily the best of the Rebirth books I've read so far (and light years better than Batman Vol 1.) The art was generally fantastic, the pacing was excellent, the story was gripping with a good balance of humour, action and drama. I think the decision have Batman and Batwoman as partners leading a team is fantastic and I like that their familial relationship gives that relationship more of a connection. I think Kate was definitely the standout in this book.
Flaws? Well, I did kinda feel like Spoiler didn't get as many moments of badassery as the other characters did and in fact the main takeaway from her is that she's Tim Drake's girlfriend.
But that's a pretty minor quibble in what is otherwise a fantastic book. This is a good example how you can tell strong stories with Batman that can have depth and pathos without being grimdark borderline horror stories (or whatever the hell Batman Vol 1 was.)
Flaws? Well, I did kinda feel like Spoiler didn't get as many moments of badassery as the other characters did and in fact the main takeaway from her is that she's Tim Drake's girlfriend.
But that's a pretty minor quibble in what is otherwise a fantastic book. This is a good example how you can tell strong stories with Batman that can have depth and pathos without being grimdark borderline horror stories (or whatever the hell Batman Vol 1 was.)
nikasbooklounge's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this one. I looooved the drawing style and the whole style of the pages in general. Sooo good. Loved Batwoman in this one! Wish we would have gotten more of the Orphan. Red Robin is amazing. What I did not like was the concept of the villains. They did not really make sense. I still really enjoyed the plot and this whole comic in general.
lindick's review against another edition
4.0
Like 70% about batwoman, as all Batman stories should be. I don’t really care about tim/steph that much, but I got some feelings from this. Also, cass Cain is the most badass! I love her so much.
therudielibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know what I would think of rebirth, but Batwoman, Red Robin, Spoiler, and Orphan are an interesting team. This is a solid 4.5 star. Looking forward to carrying on with it.
rlaferney's review against another edition
5.0
Sure, the Rise of the Batmen might be flawed but I could care less. This was just an awesome story. The premise of this book is so freaking rad in all its superhero/cyberpunk glory! Batman notices drones around Gotham and decides to put a team together. He gathers Batwoman to help him lead (as well as for other reasons) and recruits the people he knows are good but need more training to work on their own. Tim (Red Robin), Cassandra, Steph, and reformed villain Clay Face. This crew is strange but somehow, James Tynion IV makes it work!
Quickly they uncover that there is an elite fighting force mimicking the Dark Knight on the streets of Gotham. Their equipment, tech, and tactics are based on Batman's, but they're far more sophisticated than anything he's ever seen. Batman needs his own army if he's going to take down this new enemy but Batwoman doesn't know that the person behind this enemy is someone dear to both her and Bruce.
This arc had intrigue, heart, and even humor. And I really enjoyed the cyberpunk aspect of the story. Tech is such a crucial element to how Batman fights crime, I believe it is integral to any Batman story.
The artwork was fantastic as well.
Read this one.
It's a great entry point into the DC Universe Rebirth series.
Quickly they uncover that there is an elite fighting force mimicking the Dark Knight on the streets of Gotham. Their equipment, tech, and tactics are based on Batman's, but they're far more sophisticated than anything he's ever seen. Batman needs his own army if he's going to take down this new enemy but Batwoman doesn't know that the person behind this enemy is someone dear to both her and Bruce.
This arc had intrigue, heart, and even humor. And I really enjoyed the cyberpunk aspect of the story. Tech is such a crucial element to how Batman fights crime, I believe it is integral to any Batman story.
The artwork was fantastic as well.
Read this one.
It's a great entry point into the DC Universe Rebirth series.
aloyokon's review against another edition
5.0
I think the folks at DC are really on to something. An enemy force plagiarizing the caped crusader's look and moves is on the loose in Gotham, and Batman has to assemble other heroic denizens of Gotham, as well as one reformed villain, and take on this mysterious Batmen Army head on. I love the twist in the story, and the characters are just brilliant! Can't wait for more!
birdmanseven's review against another edition
4.0
I always have a soft-spot for the Bat Team and I thought this volume got it really right. I liked seeing Clayface going straight and felt Batwoman was a great as team leader.
We discuss this collection and Batman as a whole in this episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-212-batman-day-2019
We discuss this collection and Batman as a whole in this episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-212-batman-day-2019
onmysoapbox's review against another edition
5.0
I am seeing a lot of hate for this volume, and I really don't understand why! Sure, it had it's flaws, but I absolutely adored every minute of it's fast paced action and emotional development of the characters. I am biased, of course, because any comic with Steph in it is a good comic in my book. I also love that Cass was in it, as Orphan! I love her too, she's such an oddball. I just wish that since Cass and Steph are such good friends, we could have seen them interact a little more with each other. However, Steph's interactions with Tim made up for it. I wasn't exactly super phased or emotional about Tim's "death" (I knew that he either wasn't dead or would come back to life) until we saw Steph and Bruce's reactions towards it. It made me cry, their hug was so filled with love and pain and ahhh it was so beautiful. I already preordered vol. 2! I just wish they would come out sooner because I really want to read it but I don't want to pay for each individual comic since it can get super pricy.