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luna_rondo's review
4.0
My only problem with this is that I've read a few issues in this comic before, from other volumes. I know that does happen, but I just wanted more new Bat and Cat.
kevinowenkelly's review
3.0
I'm conflicted about this one, and probably not for the reasons most fans are.
For me, my problem with this book is the book itself: it's two separate 3-issue stories, which, in general, OK, cool, but for something that's been built up to for 50 issues, it comes across as a little... underwhelming. King's overall run has been criticized for running too long, being too stretched out, and while there has been plenty of groundwork for this moment throughout the run itself, for it to just be three issues... eh.
The first story is OK, and does play into the calculus of what happens in the Wedding arc proper, but the way it goes about establishing its point just seems so... heavy handed. Blunt in a really bland way, to contrast to the almost poetic bluntness of King's usual call/repetitions. This one could have easily been a quick and clean two issues.
Meanwhile, unlike a lot of the fandom, I LIKED the wedding issues. I think they, and the run leading up to it, do a good job of introducing the issues that play into each character's calculus and motivating those characters to the points they're at.
There are some really great moments, like Catwoman and (of all people) Joker reminiscing about the good 'old days, in a way only they can. Bruce and Alfred have a page that brought me to the verge of tears. And the extra-sized wedding issue proper does some really cool things, like including pages from a huge list of great Batman albums, and pairing them with some of King's now-patented mirrored letter narratives the characters write to each other. You really get to see why they work together, and some of the pains and sacrifices that come with the relationship.
The book ends up being a must-read more for circumstance than actual merit, though that isn't to say that parts aren't great. But this is definitely something that could have used at least one more issue to breathe a bit more.
For me, my problem with this book is the book itself: it's two separate 3-issue stories, which, in general, OK, cool, but for something that's been built up to for 50 issues, it comes across as a little... underwhelming. King's overall run has been criticized for running too long, being too stretched out, and while there has been plenty of groundwork for this moment throughout the run itself, for it to just be three issues... eh.
The first story is OK, and does play into the calculus of what happens in the Wedding arc proper, but the way it goes about establishing its point just seems so... heavy handed. Blunt in a really bland way, to contrast to the almost poetic bluntness of King's usual call/repetitions. This one could have easily been a quick and clean two issues.
Meanwhile, unlike a lot of the fandom, I LIKED the wedding issues. I think they, and the run leading up to it, do a good job of introducing the issues that play into each character's calculus and motivating those characters to the points they're at.
There are some really great moments, like Catwoman and (of all people) Joker reminiscing about the good 'old days, in a way only they can. Bruce and Alfred have a page that brought me to the verge of tears. And the extra-sized wedding issue proper does some really cool things, like including pages from a huge list of great Batman albums, and pairing them with some of King's now-patented mirrored letter narratives the characters write to each other. You really get to see why they work together, and some of the pains and sacrifices that come with the relationship.
The book ends up being a must-read more for circumstance than actual merit, though that isn't to say that parts aren't great. But this is definitely something that could have used at least one more issue to breathe a bit more.
sailorgold_'s review
3.0
How is the joker so boring in this? I've really enjoyed this series so far, but this one was just... Meh? I had a lot of expectations for this volume and they have been shattered.
jhouses's review
3.0
Prescindiendo de la absurdo de que se casen Batman y Catwoman pero no Bruce y Selina el arco argumental tiene grandes momentos y las historias de Booster y el Joker son brutales. Lo de la boda ya pfff.
groblinthegoblin624's review against another edition
4.0
Aside from Mikel Janín’s art, which I continue to personally find doesn’t really fit Batman as a series, I actually really really liked this arc. The Booster Gold story was fun but somber and looked great, the Joker writing was maybe some of the best out of two and a half entire runs I’ve read of Batman so far, and the wedding itself was fine for knowing already that it’s not really anything
eddieboy's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
captaincymru's review
adventurous
dark
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
drewtendo64's review
2.0
If it wasn't for some of the intense artwork, particularly in the final chapter, a one-star rating would be more than generous.
Where to start? How about that ludicrous Booster storyline? The tedium of a joker storyline that goes nowhere slowly? Or how about the underwhelming mediocre conclusion?
Where to start? How about that ludicrous Booster storyline? The tedium of a joker storyline that goes nowhere slowly? Or how about the underwhelming mediocre conclusion?
joshgauthier's review
5.0
I'm arguing with myself over how to rate this, but overall I'm such a fan of King and what he's doing with this run that I'm willing to round up and rate things on the big picture. King's handling of Bat and Cat's relationship has showcased his abilities as a writer since the beginning. Even when this series hasn't been perfect, it's always had something powerful driving the narrative and characters forward. It's ambitious, complex, and proves itself able to surprise time and again.
If you've followed the unfolding drama at all, you know that there's really no discussing this volume in any detail without spoilers, so here we go:
If you've followed the unfolding drama at all, you know that there's really no discussing this volume in any detail without spoilers, so here we go:
Spoiler
I don't know anything about Booster Gold as a character. What I do know is that you never, never, never mess with the timeline. As a fairly contained episode, Booster's misadventures provide a slightly different tone to the run while being entertaining and a bit of a wacky--and ending with an emotionally dramatic finale that doesn't hold back. But as interesting as Booster's story is in itself, it ultimately also sets the stage for the drama and conflict that are to follow.Spoiler
King's Joker is always remarkable--frightening, manic, and completely unpredictable--and though we haven't seen a lot of him, his presence is always a bold addition to the pages of each volume where he does appear. Joker's menace washes over both of his sequences here, ultimately leading to one of the most stand-out scenes I've seen yet in King's run of this series.Spoiler
And finally--The Wedding. First off, I agree with the sentiment I've heard from others that the lead-up to the final issue does somewhat overshadow the conclusion--not that the final twist is bad, but that it comes and goes a bit more quickly than it should. At the same time, I'm sympathetic to the space constraints of the comic format and wonder if that played a roll in how things unfolded. Regardless, the almost-wedding is a significant moment in the Batman storyline, given additional weight by King's writing and the multitude of guest artists who offered their talents to the final issue.Spoiler
With that being said, I think the final issue of the volume does a lot of things well. It delivers some wonderful emotional moments--between Bat and Cat, between Bruce and Alfred--and it carries the arcs that these characters have been on to a dramatic next chapter that is not out of place with where they've been. I knew the ending going into the volume, and still I'm impressed with the threads of story that King has managed to weave together here. What we get is tragic, it's emotional, and it's ultimately a bold and dramatic development in King's story. Whatever flaws exist--they lie in what we didn't get, rather than what we did. I'm putting aside this volume conscious of what it might have achieved, but not disappointed in what it delivered. And I look forward to seeing how the repercussions of this volume carry on into what comes next for these characters.georgezakka's review
4.0
I reread the wedding and realized how big of a collab and how awesome it is, so mostly I didn’t care about the arcs in this but back to the issue it’s got Jim lee, lee bermejo, frank miller, Jason fabok, Amanda Conner, Greg Capullo, David finch, Tim sale and lee weeks were just some of the artists that took part in this really cool issue. Overall awesome issue don’t buy the trade get the issue.
Side note on Tom kings twitter he tweeted this
“My technique for writing is this:
Repeat something until it sounds deep
Repeat something until it sounds deep
Repeat something until it sounds deep”
Side note on Tom kings twitter he tweeted this
“My technique for writing is this:
Repeat something until it sounds deep
Repeat something until it sounds deep
Repeat something until it sounds deep”