Scan barcode
bjoernschneider1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mimi3's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
nomadtla's review against another edition
5.0
[a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg] has a way of making everything he writes read like a piece of great literature. This story is no exception. Charged with writing the "final" Batman story Neil goes beyond the norm and shows us why we need super heroes. It's not about the struggles they face or how they die. It's about that unending heroic spirit. To stand in the face of evil or injustice and get back up when it knocks you down. "You don't get Heaven or Hell. Do you know the only reward you get for being Batman? You get to be Batman."
The art by Andy Kubert enhances the story by mimicking the way certain artists have drawn Batman and his rogues through time.
There are 4 other stories in this trade paperback written by Neil Gaiman and taking place in Gotham as well. Three are interesting takes on the origins of some of Batman's villains. The fourth ("A Black and White World") is probably the second best story next to the one for which the book is titled. It looks at these characters lives off the page. What if they were just like actors appearing for us in their set scenes (panels), but were not as good or nefarious as we make them out to be. Much like Gaiman's other works (American God's, Neverwhere) this story shows us another world that dwells just under our perception and around every corner when we're not looking. Which is always where Mr. Gaiman shines because he sees those worlds that we do not, and populates them with all the interesting characters that dart in and out of our dreams.
The art by Andy Kubert enhances the story by mimicking the way certain artists have drawn Batman and his rogues through time.
There are 4 other stories in this trade paperback written by Neil Gaiman and taking place in Gotham as well. Three are interesting takes on the origins of some of Batman's villains. The fourth ("A Black and White World") is probably the second best story next to the one for which the book is titled. It looks at these characters lives off the page. What if they were just like actors appearing for us in their set scenes (panels), but were not as good or nefarious as we make them out to be. Much like Gaiman's other works (American God's, Neverwhere) this story shows us another world that dwells just under our perception and around every corner when we're not looking. Which is always where Mr. Gaiman shines because he sees those worlds that we do not, and populates them with all the interesting characters that dart in and out of our dreams.
kaigairg's review against another edition
4.0
http://greenmanreview.com/book/book_gaiman_batman.html
zare_i's review against another edition
4.0
This was a mixed bag for me - it seems to be a collection of stories that weren't included in any other collection so they decided, hey lets put them up together here.
Main story is very interesting. As we watch the procession of villains and heroes and we listen to their accounts of the death of our hero int he background we see our hero observing the funeral and wonders what exactly is going on. Told in a way of cyclic heroic tales (birth-dead-birth) we witness one Batman going off-stage only to come back into the world ready to start its everlasting battle against evil. In this way story very much reminds of Moorcock's Eternal Champion series, hero challenged by same quests in every reincarnation. There just cannot be Gotham without Batman :)
Main story art is excellent, coloring and ink are just perfect. For the rest of this collection different artists were involved and art goes from the very 1920's style (Poison Ivy story line, reminded me heavily of early X9 stories) to Heavy-Metal/2000AD graphics in a completely crazy story where Batman and Joker are just actors that are called on scene to act through their encounter for the purpose of the comic story after which they leave the studio together. This was definitely strangest black & white Batman story I ever read and that I mean that in positive way :)
Good and interesting collection but seems like it was created as an afterthought because stories in it are not thematically linked.
Recommended to all fans of Batman.
Main story is very interesting. As we watch the procession of villains and heroes and we listen to their accounts of the death of our hero int he background we see our hero observing the funeral and wonders what exactly is going on. Told in a way of cyclic heroic tales (birth-dead-birth) we witness one Batman going off-stage only to come back into the world ready to start its everlasting battle against evil. In this way story very much reminds of Moorcock's Eternal Champion series, hero challenged by same quests in every reincarnation. There just cannot be Gotham without Batman :)
Main story art is excellent, coloring and ink are just perfect. For the rest of this collection different artists were involved and art goes from the very 1920's style (Poison Ivy story line, reminded me heavily of early X9 stories) to Heavy-Metal/2000AD graphics in a completely crazy story where Batman and Joker are just actors that are called on scene to act through their encounter for the purpose of the comic story after which they leave the studio together. This was definitely strangest black & white Batman story I ever read and that I mean that in positive way :)
Good and interesting collection but seems like it was created as an afterthought because stories in it are not thematically linked.
Recommended to all fans of Batman.
mehitabels's review against another edition
4.0
much better, and now I can stop reading Batman books . . .
huntercamp's review against another edition
5.0
I'd like to start by saying that this is probably one of my favorite Batman stories to date. It deals with the psychological aftermath of Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis by dealing with the perception of death through the eyes of the dead, or the dying in this case.
Gaiman's approach, through reasoning and logic, on Batman's allies and foes is one of the most creative that I have ever read. It kept me turning the pages and blasting through the single issues. Also, Andy Kubert's pencils throughout the book are a virtual travel through time showing us various legendary artist renditions throughout The Dark Knight's history
All in all, I'd say that this is a must read for any Batman fan, even those that just want to read a story here and there.
Gaiman's approach, through reasoning and logic, on Batman's allies and foes is one of the most creative that I have ever read. It kept me turning the pages and blasting through the single issues. Also, Andy Kubert's pencils throughout the book are a virtual travel through time showing us various legendary artist renditions throughout The Dark Knight's history
All in all, I'd say that this is a must read for any Batman fan, even those that just want to read a story here and there.
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
So I'm caving in and getting the individual issues for this. Come on, it's Neil Gaiman.
First issue:
So there's a funeral in a church in crime alley. Batman is in the casket. His friends and foes are assembled to give their respects and tell how Batman died.
The thing I've always liked about Neil Gaiman's comics are that they're about something. They have themes. They're actually pretty clever. Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader is a good example.
In the first story, Catwoman gives her tale of her relationship with Batman and how he died, bleeding to death on her couch after a freak gunshot wound. In the second, Alfred tells about Bruce going off the deep end and becoming Batman after his parents died. Since he wasn't having much luck fighting crime, Alfred hired some of his actor friends to be Batman's rogue's gallery, with Alfred himself portraying the Joker!
The best part, in my opinion, is that Adam Kubert draws the different parts of the story in the styles of artists of other time periods.
Now I have to either wait a month until the second half comes out or wait until the collection comes out. Based on the first half, I'm giving it a four for now.
Later...
The second half wasn't quite as good as the first but still very very good. More accounts of Batman's death and then Batman's alone at his own funeral. Well, not precisely alone...
I'd definitely be picking this up when it's collected.
Good night, mechanical dinosaur. Good night, giant penny.
First issue:
So there's a funeral in a church in crime alley. Batman is in the casket. His friends and foes are assembled to give their respects and tell how Batman died.
The thing I've always liked about Neil Gaiman's comics are that they're about something. They have themes. They're actually pretty clever. Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader is a good example.
In the first story, Catwoman gives her tale of her relationship with Batman and how he died, bleeding to death on her couch after a freak gunshot wound. In the second, Alfred tells about Bruce going off the deep end and becoming Batman after his parents died. Since he wasn't having much luck fighting crime, Alfred hired some of his actor friends to be Batman's rogue's gallery, with Alfred himself portraying the Joker!
The best part, in my opinion, is that Adam Kubert draws the different parts of the story in the styles of artists of other time periods.
Now I have to either wait a month until the second half comes out or wait until the collection comes out. Based on the first half, I'm giving it a four for now.
Later...
The second half wasn't quite as good as the first but still very very good. More accounts of Batman's death and then Batman's alone at his own funeral. Well, not precisely alone...
I'd definitely be picking this up when it's collected.
Good night, mechanical dinosaur. Good night, giant penny.
blairconrad's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked it. Good artwork, tonnes of humour (seriously, the car-parking bit cracked me up), and a really nice tribute to the Caped Crusader.
I don't regularly read DC, and don't have incredibly strong feelings about Batman, so there's nothing here to upset or disappoint me, like some reviewers who've gone before. On the other hand, by the same logic, I'm surprised to have found myself emotional over a few parts of the book. Well worth reading for the "main event", and the bonus features included in the deluxe edition were gravy. I really enjoyed the sketchbook.
I don't regularly read DC, and don't have incredibly strong feelings about Batman, so there's nothing here to upset or disappoint me, like some reviewers who've gone before. On the other hand, by the same logic, I'm surprised to have found myself emotional over a few parts of the book. Well worth reading for the "main event", and the bonus features included in the deluxe edition were gravy. I really enjoyed the sketchbook.