Scan barcode
fishfish's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
cemeterygates's review against another edition
2.0
Given my love of Vaughn's indie work, and how much I enjoyed his take on Dr Strange, this was a pretty big disappointment. All the characters felt wrong, the story didn't connect and it lacked all the I CAN'T STOP READING magic of his other comics.
tabman678's review against another edition
3.0
Batman by Brian K. Vaughn collects all the things Vaughn wrote that feature an element of Batman. It contains a three issue Matches Malone story, a one issue Mad Hater tale, and two issues of Wonder Woman where she fights Clayface.
The Clayface story is fun but has a better idea than execution. The Mad Hatter story has good art that tells the story itself but the dialogue in this story left me wanting at times, and the Matches story I like. I enjoy the exploration of identity by adding a third one to Batman and Dick trying to bring him back around is never a bad thing. My problem with the Matches story is that while it's a cool idea that's executed well both in writing, art, and continuity upkeep it's a story I don't think the Batman title ever needed to tell.
Yeah you could say that for most of comics or stories about Batman but this one feels contrived because Matches to my knowledge has always been a made up entity by Bruce and this is the one exception. That's probably because this is the best I could see a story like that being and as is this collection is worth a look especially if you like Vaughn and is interesting to look at because there are so many references to a point in continuity I'm only passingly familiar with (post No Man's land but before Morrison or Brubaker got on the title. Seriously though Nightwing went to the Police Academy at this point in time.)
Overall if anything I just said spiked your interest it's worth checking out.
3 stars.
The Clayface story is fun but has a better idea than execution. The Mad Hatter story has good art that tells the story itself but the dialogue in this story left me wanting at times, and the Matches story I like. I enjoy the exploration of identity by adding a third one to Batman and Dick trying to bring him back around is never a bad thing. My problem with the Matches story is that while it's a cool idea that's executed well both in writing, art, and continuity upkeep it's a story I don't think the Batman title ever needed to tell.
Yeah you could say that for most of comics or stories about Batman but this one feels contrived because Matches to my knowledge has always been a made up entity by Bruce and this is the one exception. That's probably because this is the best I could see a story like that being and as is this collection is worth a look especially if you like Vaughn and is interesting to look at because there are so many references to a point in continuity I'm only passingly familiar with (post No Man's land but before Morrison or Brubaker got on the title. Seriously though Nightwing went to the Police Academy at this point in time.)
Overall if anything I just said spiked your interest it's worth checking out.
3 stars.
just_fighting_censorship's review
3.0
Close Before Striking-3 stars- At first I was super psyched to see Matches Malone, because I think he is hilariously over the top, but that part of the story started to feel more like a bad soap opera. Who on earth wanted a Matches Malone origin story anyways? Ventriloquist and Scarface were also involved, which was fun as they are really underused in general. The story arch is three issues, about 1 issue too long.
Mimsy Were the Borogoves-2 stars- A Mad Hatter story that is pretty forgettable. He is one of my least favorite villains so maybe I'm biased.
A Piece of You-4 stars- The best story in the bunch and Batman doesn't even make an appearance. This 2 issue story has Wonder Woman team up with Wonder Girl to take on Clayface. The story has an interesting concept and I love when heroes take on villains normally associated with other heroes. Plus the artwork is solid. It also does a great job of introducing the reader to Wonder Girl in a quick efficient manner.
Skullduggery-4 stars-Super short and wordy, but still fun. Again, this story has no Batman. Instead we are taken through the evil plans of some of Gotham's most notorious criminals...or are they?
Mimsy Were the Borogoves-2 stars- A Mad Hatter story that is pretty forgettable. He is one of my least favorite villains so maybe I'm biased.
A Piece of You-4 stars- The best story in the bunch and Batman doesn't even make an appearance. This 2 issue story has Wonder Woman team up with Wonder Girl to take on Clayface. The story has an interesting concept and I love when heroes take on villains normally associated with other heroes. Plus the artwork is solid. It also does a great job of introducing the reader to Wonder Girl in a quick efficient manner.
Skullduggery-4 stars-Super short and wordy, but still fun. Again, this story has no Batman. Instead we are taken through the evil plans of some of Gotham's most notorious criminals...or are they?
mylibrarybooks's review against another edition
4.0
That's right, I read another Brian K. Vaughan book! I swear, I'll probably branch out soon, but I'm also trying to read as many of his as I can (did I mention Saga is on hiatus?). This collected various issues he wrote, including one that never got published and didn't finish (which might bug me for longer than it should), all of which covered identity in one form or the other, which I greatly enjoyed.
ethancf's review against another edition
3.0
A rare miss for Vaughan is still pretty good -the Wonder Woman arc is a little lacking though she's used well, and Skullduggery is awesome but ends too soon. Matches is great up until the end where its resolved too quickly.
quinnster's review
3.0
Three short and unrelated stories all centered around identity. Batman's, Bruce Wayne's, the villains and those around them. I expected a little more being Brian K. Vaughn, but it is his earlier stuff. I did feel like it was written for a younger set, especially the artwork, it had a more cartoony look to it. I guess I'm just used to the darker Batman books.
captwinghead's review
4.0
I quite enjoyed this, to be honest.
Vaughan does that thing I love (and don't see enough in the Batsy books I've read) where, instead of just telling a story, he actually delves into who Bruce is as a person. It's quite a crazy thing for someone to decide, their best course of action would be to dress up as a giant bat and fight crime. The psych major in me desperately wants to pick his brain to understand what years of that work has done to his brain.
The first story is mostly about Dick chasing Bruce who's devolved into more of Matches Malone's personality than is entirely healthy. Dick wants to make sure that he won't break his one rule and kill Scarface. It's interesting and I like seeing more of Dick worrying about his father.
There's a story about Man Bat that really just made me wonder about Bruce's philosophy on mental illness. Some writers write him with more sympathy and compassion for his enemies. Those stories are mainly Bruce trying to get them back in Arkham where they can get the help they need. Some writers write him as a bit merciless. In this one, Bruce basically admits that he doesn't have the patience and temperament that his father had. It's interesting, if a bit sad.
I didn't really like the Wonder Woman story. But, that's okay. I very much enjoyed the rest of this book.
Vaughan does that thing I love (and don't see enough in the Batsy books I've read) where, instead of just telling a story, he actually delves into who Bruce is as a person. It's quite a crazy thing for someone to decide, their best course of action would be to dress up as a giant bat and fight crime. The psych major in me desperately wants to pick his brain to understand what years of that work has done to his brain.
The first story is mostly about Dick chasing Bruce who's devolved into more of Matches Malone's personality than is entirely healthy. Dick wants to make sure that he won't break his one rule and kill Scarface. It's interesting and I like seeing more of Dick worrying about his father.
There's a story about Man Bat that really just made me wonder about Bruce's philosophy on mental illness. Some writers write him with more sympathy and compassion for his enemies. Those stories are mainly Bruce trying to get them back in Arkham where they can get the help they need. Some writers write him as a bit merciless. In this one, Bruce basically admits that he doesn't have the patience and temperament that his father had. It's interesting, if a bit sad.
I didn't really like the Wonder Woman story. But, that's okay. I very much enjoyed the rest of this book.
tin_squid's review
5.0
Some early writing from a new favorite of mine, Mr. Brian K Vaughan. So far I haven't come across anything of his that I haven't loved. It was awesome to see what he could do with Batman, Wonder Woman and some of the villains.