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rorycb's review against another edition
3.0
A problem with American comics in the Modern Age has been an over commitment to origin stories. I can understand that this is in response to reaching new readers, or the impact on movie or television adapatations, which will themselves somewhat revise the origins for their new audience. It all gets a little tiresome.
So here we go again with this book. Granted this came out some time ago and I'm just catching up with a copy I came across while browsing the local library, but Batman is that character that suffers the origin retelling curse more than any other superhero.
I guess this is ok. There is more of a political corruption spin is given to the story, but not too much to lose readers that aren't of that inclination. Batman is a little bit useless and just manages to get away with his escapades, which is always a good take for these stories. Gordon has a surprising story arc.
Geoff Johns is a very competent writer and doesn't let you time to get bored of any one scene. Gary Frank's art should be right in my wheelhouse but I do find some of the characters expressions irritating and takes me out of the flow of the story.
So it was good enough. If I was in one of my heavy comic book buying phases when this originally come out I would've have definitely brought it and been somewhat disappointed.
So here we go again with this book. Granted this came out some time ago and I'm just catching up with a copy I came across while browsing the local library, but Batman is that character that suffers the origin retelling curse more than any other superhero.
I guess this is ok. There is more of a political corruption spin is given to the story, but not too much to lose readers that aren't of that inclination. Batman is a little bit useless and just manages to get away with his escapades, which is always a good take for these stories. Gordon has a surprising story arc.
Geoff Johns is a very competent writer and doesn't let you time to get bored of any one scene. Gary Frank's art should be right in my wheelhouse but I do find some of the characters expressions irritating and takes me out of the flow of the story.
So it was good enough. If I was in one of my heavy comic book buying phases when this originally come out I would've have definitely brought it and been somewhat disappointed.
lorien13's review against another edition
5.0
When Bullock turned out to be a smiling bit of a prick, and totally honest, it was very odd, but I knew I'd love it. Especially the different Alfred. More honest, in your face, and while very rough still the same sweetheart we all know.
I really wasn't sure what to expect only that I heard this was Batman who killed. While that isn't true, lots of things are on their heads. I enjoy the crap outta this and will be picking up the next volume as soon as I can.
I really wasn't sure what to expect only that I heard this was Batman who killed. While that isn't true, lots of things are on their heads. I enjoy the crap outta this and will be picking up the next volume as soon as I can.
matt4hire's review against another edition
3.0
So...it's not bad. Frank's art is...off, but Johns paints a realistically corrupt Gotham, in many ways a place that's more definitively worse-off than I've seen in other incarnations. The "new" versions of Alfred and Bullock are both pretty great, too, and Cobblepot's a decent enough one-off.
terezaxx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
janedoelish's review against another edition
5.0
This is a "realistic" take on Batman done right - including some "tweaks" to the familiar mythos. Taking a familiar story and making it interesting in its own right is an art that few can appreciate today, but the medium of superhero comics in particular can excel at just this.
baggednboarded's review against another edition
4.0
Just read this after reading Batman Detective Comics: Mythology. They go hand in hand I would highly recommend reading them as close together as you can.
alcame's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0