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apageinthestacks's review against another edition
4.0
Read in single issues. Loved this whole event. Really hope they come out with an Omnibus that includes everything all in one volume.
agudenburr's review against another edition
5.0
A collected trade which shows how each dark version of batman came to be. The joker batman was my favorite! A very cool twist on the classic batman story.
rikualmanci's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lukeisthename34's review
2.0
I get the idea behind it, but it still really feels like something the 13-year old I knew in school would pitch to us at the lunch table.
"And then what if Batman was EVERY member of the Justice League and then what if it was all a dream and then what if Sandman was there and then what if all the metal stuff in DC was like, important then what if...."
Too much pasta thrown against the wall.
"And then what if Batman was EVERY member of the Justice League and then what if it was all a dream and then what if Sandman was there and then what if all the metal stuff in DC was like, important then what if...."
Too much pasta thrown against the wall.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review
4.0
3 1/2 Stars.
If you’ve been following the hype behind Dark Nights then you’ve surely heard of this series by now. It gives the short version of the origin stories behind the seven most iconic Batman alternates in the series. They’re beautifully drawn, creepy, and downright corrupt.
Before I had even had a chance to read the Dark Nights: Metal story I had heard about the Batman Who Laughs. At the time I was interested, but when I finally got to reading the series I was confused. The character played an important role, to be sure, but he wasn’t nearly as big as I expected. Then I learned that there was even more to it than that one series! Here is the origin story for these Batmans, and it’s here I learned why people really were going crazy for the guy (though in truth I mostly understood it based on his design alone).
As I said above, this volume includes the origin story of seven of the alternate Batmans. These ones are the most iconic ones shown (I believe there were many more than seven shown in the original series, but I also never took the time to count and be sure of that). Included are the Batman Who Laughs (obviously; he’s been driven mad by the Joker’s final toxin), The Drowned (my personal favorite, a female Batman who has modified her body to take on the power of the Atlanteans), The Red Death (a thief who went after the Flash), The Dawnbreaker (a Green Lantern who found a way around the rules), The Murder Machine (cyborg Batman), The Merciless (Batman with the helmet of Ares; one of the versions that loved and lost Diana), and The Devastator (Doomsday/Batman blend with a special hatred for Superman).
I’m sure we all have our own favorite evil Batman character, and there’s plenty to choose from. Personally while I did like the imagery used for the Batman Who Laughs, he wasn’t my favorite. I found myself most drawn to The Drowned and her story. For one thing she’s strikingly designed. For another I simply liked her way of speech and the trials she went through.
I was also surprisingly fond of The Dawnbreaker. I think because his origin story (up until a certain point) was the most similar to our beloved Bruce Wayne’s (the one from the primary universe that is). He lost his parents the same way, but instead found himself so determined that a Green Lantern ring found him. He then used his willpower to twist the ring to do his bidding, allowing him to break all the laws that the corps abides by. In a way it’s kind of fun to theorize about whether that would have happened in any other universe as well, or just the one.
I wasn’t a big fan of the final story included in this volume, Dark Knights Rising: The Wild Hunt #1. It felt silly in comparison, which was actually really jarring considering the disturbing nature of some of the backstories (did I mention that Batman Who Laughs came last, and therefore was literally right before this one? It was weird). I probably would have liked it more if not for that juxtaposition, but it is what it is.
I think this leaves me with only one Dark Metal plot left, not counting the series that are being affected by what has happened. I’m really glad I’ve taken the time to read and understand everything that’s happening though. I’m already seeing the effects of these plots seeping into other series, like Wonder Woman. I would probably be a lot more confused otherwise.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
If you’ve been following the hype behind Dark Nights then you’ve surely heard of this series by now. It gives the short version of the origin stories behind the seven most iconic Batman alternates in the series. They’re beautifully drawn, creepy, and downright corrupt.
Before I had even had a chance to read the Dark Nights: Metal story I had heard about the Batman Who Laughs. At the time I was interested, but when I finally got to reading the series I was confused. The character played an important role, to be sure, but he wasn’t nearly as big as I expected. Then I learned that there was even more to it than that one series! Here is the origin story for these Batmans, and it’s here I learned why people really were going crazy for the guy (though in truth I mostly understood it based on his design alone).
As I said above, this volume includes the origin story of seven of the alternate Batmans. These ones are the most iconic ones shown (I believe there were many more than seven shown in the original series, but I also never took the time to count and be sure of that). Included are the Batman Who Laughs (obviously; he’s been driven mad by the Joker’s final toxin), The Drowned (my personal favorite, a female Batman who has modified her body to take on the power of the Atlanteans), The Red Death (a thief who went after the Flash), The Dawnbreaker (a Green Lantern who found a way around the rules), The Murder Machine (cyborg Batman), The Merciless (Batman with the helmet of Ares; one of the versions that loved and lost Diana), and The Devastator (Doomsday/Batman blend with a special hatred for Superman).
I’m sure we all have our own favorite evil Batman character, and there’s plenty to choose from. Personally while I did like the imagery used for the Batman Who Laughs, he wasn’t my favorite. I found myself most drawn to The Drowned and her story. For one thing she’s strikingly designed. For another I simply liked her way of speech and the trials she went through.
I was also surprisingly fond of The Dawnbreaker. I think because his origin story (up until a certain point) was the most similar to our beloved Bruce Wayne’s (the one from the primary universe that is). He lost his parents the same way, but instead found himself so determined that a Green Lantern ring found him. He then used his willpower to twist the ring to do his bidding, allowing him to break all the laws that the corps abides by. In a way it’s kind of fun to theorize about whether that would have happened in any other universe as well, or just the one.
I wasn’t a big fan of the final story included in this volume, Dark Knights Rising: The Wild Hunt #1. It felt silly in comparison, which was actually really jarring considering the disturbing nature of some of the backstories (did I mention that Batman Who Laughs came last, and therefore was literally right before this one? It was weird). I probably would have liked it more if not for that juxtaposition, but it is what it is.
I think this leaves me with only one Dark Metal plot left, not counting the series that are being affected by what has happened. I’m really glad I’ve taken the time to read and understand everything that’s happening though. I’m already seeing the effects of these plots seeping into other series, like Wonder Woman. I would probably be a lot more confused otherwise.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
blackmetalblackheart's review
3.0
These one off origins of the dark Batmen are interesting. Considering the designs are the best part of the event, it is nice to see where they came from. The last story seems like a total mess that I could not follow. Makes me wonder if re-reading Metal might be worthwhile now though.
thekarpuk's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably my favorite of the Dark Knight: Metal related books. I took an interest in the series after learning about The Batman Who Laughs, and if you're into stories of the multiverse where Bruce Wayne's life goes horribly wrong, this is absolutely the book for you.
It is, in essence, a collection of short stories about failure. Each one is about a Batman who goes horribly astray, making choices that corrupt their bodies and mind, and each finding out they exist in the Dark Multiverse, in worlds that are built to break. It's one of the more grim stories I've seen play out in a DC series, and part of what makes it compelling is it's all tragic. No one gets out of these stories intact.
If you're looking for a darker, different take on Batman, this is a must read.
It is, in essence, a collection of short stories about failure. Each one is about a Batman who goes horribly astray, making choices that corrupt their bodies and mind, and each finding out they exist in the Dark Multiverse, in worlds that are built to break. It's one of the more grim stories I've seen play out in a DC series, and part of what makes it compelling is it's all tragic. No one gets out of these stories intact.
If you're looking for a darker, different take on Batman, this is a must read.
carochacord's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Genocide, Slavery, and Grief
msmils's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5