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sherpawhale's review against another edition
5.0
Honestly, this arc had a rough rawness to it that surpassed everything Snyder had done before up to the Court of Owls. Good, groundbreaking stuff.
shannonleighd's review against another edition
2.0
Batman isn't Batman, Superman's practically human, Wonder Woman is a crappy God of War, and Batgirl is a wedding planner.
Should've called this run of comics "Identity Crisis."
2.5 because this wasn't completely awful, and Bruce brought out the
Should've called this run of comics "Identity Crisis."
2.5 because this wasn't completely awful, and Bruce brought out the
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't seen them do a story like this and I think I rather enjoyed this.
Spoilers ahead:
So, after the last issue of Endgame where the Joker and Batman seem to be buried under the city, Batman is presumed dead. The story starts with Jim gordon in a robot suit looking like a Bat of some kind, but it's Iron Man. He is doing his best to protect Gotham. At first, I hated this idea. It was horrible. I don't see how they can go forward.
Now, I am ready to give this story line a chance. It turned when Bruce Wayne shows up in the story. I'm not sure exactly the theory, but it is presumed Bruce is a clone or something and so he doesn't have memories of his parent's tragic death and he doesn't have all those years of combat training. He doesn't even own Wayne Enterprises for some reason I don't get. He doesn't have the drive and motivation to be Batman.
This is where I get intrigued. I don't like the fake Batman, but it's obvious something is going to happen. I'm willing to give them one more volume before I get upset. I can't wait too long to get Bruce back in the Batsuit, butI haven't seen anything like this. It has me intrigued, for the moment.
There is also a new villain introduced - Bloom. I actually think he is a pretty cool new villain. He has no dimension yet - he seems all bad and no gray, but he's ok for now. The next volume, I won't to see these things resolve. Kudos for doing something so unique to the history of Batman.
Spoilers ahead:
So, after the last issue of Endgame where the Joker and Batman seem to be buried under the city, Batman is presumed dead. The story starts with Jim gordon in a robot suit looking like a Bat of some kind, but it's Iron Man. He is doing his best to protect Gotham. At first, I hated this idea. It was horrible. I don't see how they can go forward.
Now, I am ready to give this story line a chance. It turned when Bruce Wayne shows up in the story. I'm not sure exactly the theory, but it is presumed Bruce is a clone or something and so he doesn't have memories of his parent's tragic death and he doesn't have all those years of combat training. He doesn't even own Wayne Enterprises for some reason I don't get. He doesn't have the drive and motivation to be Batman.
This is where I get intrigued. I don't like the fake Batman, but it's obvious something is going to happen. I'm willing to give them one more volume before I get upset. I can't wait too long to get Bruce back in the Batsuit, butI haven't seen anything like this. It has me intrigued, for the moment.
There is also a new villain introduced - Bloom. I actually think he is a pretty cool new villain. He has no dimension yet - he seems all bad and no gray, but he's ok for now. The next volume, I won't to see these things resolve. Kudos for doing something so unique to the history of Batman.
puddingtaco's review against another edition
4.0
Bruce Wayne isn't feeling like himself lately, leaving Gotham without a Batman. For once the GCPD has decided that Gotham needs a Batman, so they make one of their own. Former Commissioner Jim Gordon takes up the Bat mantle. He's ripped, and constantly talks about how he was once in the Marines, which, you know, he didn't really do until it was relevant. Now he's all "Semper Fi!" Gordon as Batman is a pretty decent read. He's got a different perspective, different training, different experiences so he handles it in his own way. Also, this Batman wears a robot suit with cute "ears" reminiscent of the anime Tiger and Bunny or Chappie.
It's not the same book without Bruce Wayne's brooding and in the back of my head whilst reading all I could think of was, "So when is the REAL Batman coming back?" Which is, of course, inevitable because comics. Hoping this gimmick doesn't last too long, but not disappointed with the outcome. :)
It's not the same book without Bruce Wayne's brooding and in the back of my head whilst reading all I could think of was, "So when is the REAL Batman coming back?" Which is, of course, inevitable because comics. Hoping this gimmick doesn't last too long, but not disappointed with the outcome. :)
diamondxgirl's review against another edition
4.0
"We can all agree that Gotham City without Batman is a strange, sad, and empty place."
^That's the overarching message in this book. Gotham City isn't GC without Batman and Batman isn't Batman without his engagement with GC. Volume 8 is the perfect place to jump in on the Batman books if you don't want to read from the beginning. I did it, even though Court of Owls mocked me from my nightstand the whole time.
This book is a book that takes a look at current social issues that are pervasive in the meeting. It would be great for a book club to dissect.
Some things you'll love:
- Think bat thoughts (we should all practice this. WWBD?)
- Color changing batsuit (love the Batman 66 suit colors)
- Penguin nearly being taken down by his own peeps ;)
-THAT ENDING THOUGH.
Question to think about: If you had a chance to wipe your memory, which erases all of the bad but also parts of who you are, would you? I'm not convinced.
**Thank you to NETGALLEY and DC for the opportunity to get my feet wet with Batman in exchange for an honest review
^That's the overarching message in this book. Gotham City isn't GC without Batman and Batman isn't Batman without his engagement with GC. Volume 8 is the perfect place to jump in on the Batman books if you don't want to read from the beginning. I did it, even though Court of Owls mocked me from my nightstand the whole time.
This book is a book that takes a look at current social issues that are pervasive in the meeting. It would be great for a book club to dissect.
Some things you'll love:
- Think bat thoughts (we should all practice this. WWBD?)
- Color changing batsuit (love the Batman 66 suit colors)
- Penguin nearly being taken down by his own peeps ;)
-THAT ENDING THOUGH.
Question to think about: If you had a chance to wipe your memory, which erases all of the bad but also parts of who you are, would you? I'm not convinced.
**Thank you to NETGALLEY and DC for the opportunity to get my feet wet with Batman in exchange for an honest review
just_fighting_censorship's review against another edition
1.0
Unbearably dull.
Jim Gordon is now the new Batman...is anyone actually buying this?
So this is basically an origin story. The origin of Gordon Batman. It is painful, didn't we just go through an origin of the real Batman?
Secondly, is it just me or was this story lacking in any and all subtleties? First there is the repeated scene of children playing with Batman figures, a real one and the new and outrageously ugly Jim Gordon variant. Clever fourth wall breaking is always fun but trying to shame your reader into accepting your ridiculous plot twist is just obnoxious.
Then there was the flashback story with it's artsy illustrations. It was long and boring and trying way too hard to be meaningful. It was basically a Black Lives Matter allegory except instead of allowing for metaphor and interpretation it bitch slaps you in face.
My problem with this is that I didn't care about the boy, I couldn't. He didn't feel like a real character but rather a stand in for a political agenda. Yes, tell the story but do it in a way that allows the reader to make a connection with the character and feel at least a little bit invested. The entire flashback is confusing, boring, and feels very distant with its strange 3rd person narration. What a missed opportunity.
Thirdly, the overwhelming soap opera feel. Warning, this could be considered a spoiler....so if you are completely clueless about the plot of this book stop reading. However if you have a hunch that the caped crusader isn't actually dead...
...of course he isn't actually dead. Bruce Wayne is alive but has complete and total amnesia...
Absolutely ridiculous. Alfred explains everything to Bruce except the part where he is FRICKEN BATMAN! So instead we see Bruce working at a school and romancing some chick...who gives a shit! I mean really! Then we get the lamest Superman cameo...Clark Kent talks to Alfred. Their conversation is a complete and total info dump to catch the reader up on why Bruce is alive but NOT out fighting crime. LAME!
Overall, this was boring, melodramatic, and boring.
Jim Gordon is now the new Batman...is anyone actually buying this?
So this is basically an origin story. The origin of Gordon Batman. It is painful, didn't we just go through an origin of the real Batman?
Secondly, is it just me or was this story lacking in any and all subtleties? First there is the repeated scene of children playing with Batman figures, a real one and the new and outrageously ugly Jim Gordon variant. Clever fourth wall breaking is always fun but trying to shame your reader into accepting your ridiculous plot twist is just obnoxious.
Then there was the flashback story with it's artsy illustrations. It was long and boring and trying way too hard to be meaningful. It was basically a Black Lives Matter allegory except instead of allowing for metaphor and interpretation it bitch slaps you in face.
My problem with this is that I didn't care about the boy, I couldn't. He didn't feel like a real character but rather a stand in for a political agenda. Yes, tell the story but do it in a way that allows the reader to make a connection with the character and feel at least a little bit invested. The entire flashback is confusing, boring, and feels very distant with its strange 3rd person narration. What a missed opportunity.
Thirdly, the overwhelming soap opera feel. Warning, this could be considered a spoiler....so if you are completely clueless about the plot of this book stop reading. However if you have a hunch that the caped crusader isn't actually dead...
...of course he isn't actually dead. Bruce Wayne is alive but has complete and total amnesia...
Absolutely ridiculous. Alfred explains everything to Bruce except the part where he is FRICKEN BATMAN! So instead we see Bruce working at a school and romancing some chick...who gives a shit! I mean really! Then we get the lamest Superman cameo...Clark Kent talks to Alfred. Their conversation is a complete and total info dump to catch the reader up on why Bruce is alive but NOT out fighting crime. LAME!
Overall, this was boring, melodramatic, and boring.
sarahmcsarah's review against another edition
I love Jim Gordon, but this was weird.
judythedreamer's review against another edition
3.0
A completely new take on Batman, definitely interesting but I'll be glad to have Bruce back. On a different note, you can tell we're nearing the end of the New52.
birdmanseven's review against another edition
4.0
I had a good time with this atypical Batman run.
We discuss in more detail in the Batman Day episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-212-batman-day-2019
We discuss in more detail in the Batman Day episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-212-batman-day-2019