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mkindness's review against another edition
I liked the general story, but a few bits confused me:
When the White Ghost fell into the Lazarus Pit, I thought his body became the new host for Ra's. We don't see him for quite awhile, but we do see the bandaged Ra's. Then, all of a sudden, White Ghost is back and Ra's is saying his host body was Sam Tang. Who the heck is that?
At one point Ra's says he's either going to transfer his mind into Damian or Robin, but later, Batman says any transfer would need a blood relative, so how was Robin ever a possibility?
In the last section, right before Ra's permanently transfers himself into the White Ghost, WG's hair is all of a sudden short. At first I couldn't figure out who that was. WG always had the long flowing hair.
When the White Ghost fell into the Lazarus Pit, I thought his body became the new host for Ra's. We don't see him for quite awhile, but we do see the bandaged Ra's. Then, all of a sudden, White Ghost is back and Ra's is saying his host body was Sam Tang. Who the heck is that?
At one point Ra's says he's either going to transfer his mind into Damian or Robin, but later, Batman says any transfer would need a blood relative, so how was Robin ever a possibility?
In the last section, right before Ra's permanently transfers himself into the White Ghost, WG's hair is all of a sudden short. At first I couldn't figure out who that was. WG always had the long flowing hair.
midniqhtr42's review
3.0
Holy orientalism, Batman!
Five stars for Dick Grayson, negative two stars for almost everything else.
A lot of story elements here were super interesting: Damian being raised as a future vessel for Ra’s’ soul, Tim wanting to use the Lazarus pit to resurrect his loved ones, even the three insect ladies were interesting in theory (but not execution), and Damian’s whole inferiority complex over Tim’s position as Robin.
However, there were even more dumb things that just muddled the experience of reading the story as one trade paperback. Maybe if I’d read this in its original, serialized format with weeks between each issue, I wouldn’t have minded or noticed as much, but oh boy did I notice.
I think Morrison’s writing suffers from throwing too much at the wall and not even waiting to see what sticks. Comics get convoluted, I get it, but this was just a lot for no reason.
Five stars for Dick Grayson, negative two stars for almost everything else.
A lot of story elements here were super interesting: Damian being raised as a future vessel for Ra’s’ soul, Tim wanting to use the Lazarus pit to resurrect his loved ones, even the three insect ladies were interesting in theory (but not execution), and Damian’s whole inferiority complex over Tim’s position as Robin.
However, there were even more dumb things that just muddled the experience of reading the story as one trade paperback. Maybe if I’d read this in its original, serialized format with weeks between each issue, I wouldn’t have minded or noticed as much, but oh boy did I notice.
I think Morrison’s writing suffers from throwing too much at the wall and not even waiting to see what sticks. Comics get convoluted, I get it, but this was just a lot for no reason.
nathaniel_1206's review against another edition
4.0
The story is very very good, and unlike some Morrison stories it doesn't totally use some gobbledygook meaningless nonsense to get to an ending. However, it does leave some (minor) things unanswered. The art varies in quality to very good to downright mediocre - one artist, I don't know who, doesn't exactly have a firm grasp on the human form, which is the same thing that can be said for my drawing ability (none.)
howattp's review against another edition
5.0
OK, I know I complained a bit earlier about trippiness. That turned out just fine. This was epic. It dealt with temptation, family, the Robins' relationship to Batman, coping with the harsh reality that it Damien. He's not going to go away; he must be dealt with sometime, so I've accepted it and embraced it. Ra's al-Ghul and his incredibly immortal self is examined in great detail, and its implications are terrible.
I really, greatly enjoyed this!
I really, greatly enjoyed this!
indeedithappens's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
bloodravenlib's review against another edition
4.0
I will say that I was a bit skeptical at first. I read Morrison's Batman and Son, and I was not very pleased with the convoluted mess of a plot it had. And yet, I find the character of Ra's intriguing enough to pick this up. This book is definitely an improvement. The storyline seems a bit tighter for one. There are still some small meanderings, which make me wonder if Morrison and company just have short attention spans, kind of like, "ooh, shiny sidetrack idea" kind of feeling. However, this was definitely a pleasant and entertaining read. As I said, a tighter plot for one. It was expansive, with good art to match. Good action for the fans of action in their comics. This is one I would be willing to reread, and that can serve as a good recommendation.
woodenpersonality's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
yuri_neri's review
4.0
it's a solid Batman story, all the characters were on point, the art was very good, the emotional moments landed and it was satisfyingly self-contained, it isn't anything revolutionary but it's not trying to be that, it's only trying to be a fun action-packed adventure with the bat family, and in my opinion, it definitely succeeds in that.
virginiaduan's review
3.0
Eh. It was interesting and fast-paced, chock-ful of action. However, the plotting and storyline was somewhat confusing and I kept thinking as I neared the end, "There must be another volume before this story ends." But no, instead, it wrapped up all nicely with a bow and a "deus ex machina" and finished in 10 pages or so. Lame.