Scan barcode
geekwayne's review
4.0
‘Batman The Imposter’ by Matson Tomlin with illustrations by Andrea Sorrentino is a graphic novel about the Dark Knight set in a world from the most recent Batman movie .
When a beat up Batman shows up on the doorstep of his psychotherapist’s house, we learn they have a relationship, although not necessarily friendly. She helps patch him up as long as he shows up by dawn. If he doesn't, she calls the cops on him. This is a Batman without Alfred. This is also a young Batman who gets beat up a lot. He has bigger problems on his hands because there's also a Batman that is murdering people. Batman has to solve this crime with very little help and prove why he wants to be the Batman.
I liked the version of Batman in the latest film, so I liked a story kind of set in that universe. He's grittier and rougher around the edges but everything that makes him Batman is still there. The art is pretty cool too. I really like the style of it with lots of shadows. This is a recommended read.
When a beat up Batman shows up on the doorstep of his psychotherapist’s house, we learn they have a relationship, although not necessarily friendly. She helps patch him up as long as he shows up by dawn. If he doesn't, she calls the cops on him. This is a Batman without Alfred. This is also a young Batman who gets beat up a lot. He has bigger problems on his hands because there's also a Batman that is murdering people. Batman has to solve this crime with very little help and prove why he wants to be the Batman.
I liked the version of Batman in the latest film, so I liked a story kind of set in that universe. He's grittier and rougher around the edges but everything that makes him Batman is still there. The art is pretty cool too. I really like the style of it with lots of shadows. This is a recommended read.
stenotts's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a brilliant realistic take on the Batman, but the commitment to realism doesn’t come at the cost of the plot or the art. A great mystery, great characters that you feel tons for and the art is mesmerising (although harder to follow in the third act). Bruce Wayne almost feels like his own new character here who I want to see more of, even though it’s very faithful to the Bruce Wayne you’ll already know. This story is ready and waiting to be adapted to film!
brandonadaniels's review
4.0
A very solid else world batman book set in a reality similar to the 2022 film. Great craftsmanship all around.
howdyellie's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A good companion read for The Batman (2022)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Death of parent
stressedspidergirl's review
4.0
It's really the art that does it for me with this. It's just so well done, and it has such a neat way of framing the action, and the emotion.
Honestly it's not generally the kind of story that I like, and rereading it all together as a graphic novel where it's just so bleak and so many things go wrong is pretty much not my kind of batman story, but I'll read it again just to look at the art and the emotions and the clever pacing and framing and storytelling .
I also love Bruce and Wong's relationship and I would have liked it if this series had been say, 6 issues not 3. As much as I say the story didn't quite do it for me, I'd like to see what happened after, or if the gang shooting really was the end of it, and I'd like to have seen more of the lead up. SO no after, and then a little more of the before, honestly.
But it is a well paced tightly written story, I just rarely find something this artistically neat and I would have liked a little more. Even if it was just 4 issues to give it ... just more. More time in this world, more time with this creative duo.
Honestly it's not generally the kind of story that I like, and rereading it all together as a graphic novel where it's just so bleak and so many things go wrong is pretty much not my kind of batman story, but I'll read it again just to look at the art and the emotions and the clever pacing and framing and storytelling .
I also love Bruce and Wong's relationship and I would have liked it if this series had been say, 6 issues not 3. As much as I say the story didn't quite do it for me, I'd like to see what happened after, or if the gang shooting really was the end of it, and I'd like to have seen more of the lead up. SO no after, and then a little more of the before, honestly.
But it is a well paced tightly written story, I just rarely find something this artistically neat and I would have liked a little more. Even if it was just 4 issues to give it ... just more. More time in this world, more time with this creative duo.
salexander7341's review
3.0
A good version of the story, but while the art style is good, it often leans into cluttered and unintelligible.
jakewritesbooks's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this one. A fresh take, helped by the fact that Batman is surrounded by characters with no history. Jim Gordon is off the force. Alfred has forsaken him (or vice versa). No Joker, no Riddler, Penguin functions as nothing more than an informant. It allowed for the story to just be itself: yet another "Is Batman objectively good?" tale. Only this one, using an impostor, does a good job of answering it: there is always a compromise to fighting crime. Also, it gives Bruce a love interest in the only non-Selena storyline I've enjoyed. Capped off with beautiful art and this one is a winner.
wesleyboy's review
4.0
Amazing artwork, and a really good interpretation of Batman’s early days. I loved Sorrentino’s art, but it was a little dark and hard to see in parts.