BB Review Group week 40 - Batman: Journey into Knight #1 (spoilers)

[Thudpucker]

the fine print is at the bottom of the post*

This week, we are reading / reviewing:

Batman: Journey into Knight #1 (DC) by Andy Helfer & Tan Eng Huat, chosen by IamLegend

Next week we will be reading: Jack Cross #1 (DC) by Warren Ellis and Gary Erskine, chosen by Boris the Blade



Our Reviewers are:

Thudpucker - 2
TIP - 3
TonyFleecs - 4
Kirby's Corpse - 7.25
neophyte -
rodnunley - MIA
Jaypee - 5
dEnny - 3.5
J. R. Scherer - 5
Criden - 7
Nathan Patton -
**anThONY_s -
Frozen Sooner -
alan - 7
Freeway2k - 3
The beggar - 5
Raydawggie - 3
Opus Croakus -
JABSEN - 4
itsdlevy - MIA
Mad Monkey - 5
DrSettleton - 2
The Saint - 5
Slingy - 3
IamLegend - 4
Boris the Blade -
joey pizza - 4
MudshovelForYou - 5
PeteL - 3
Myxomatosis - 4


Our Previous 16 weeks of reviews (scores lost during the Image Board crash)

Week 1 - 11/17/04 – Captain America #1
Week 2 - 11/24/04 – Flash #216
Week 3 - 12/01/04 – Darkness Vol. 2 #17 (av grade 3.7)
Week 4 - 12/08/04 – Demo #12
Week 5 - 12/15/04 - Plastic Man #13
Week 6 - 12/22/04 – Goon #10
Week 7 - 12/29/04 - Legion of Super Heroes #1
Week 8 - 01/05/05 – Flaming Carrot #1
Week 9 - 01/12/05 – Majestic #1
Week 10 - 01/19/05 – Human Target #18
Week 11 - 01/26/05 – Conan #12 (av grade 8.3)
Week 12 - 02/02/05 – Black Panther #1
Week 13 - 02/09/05 – Young Avengers #1
Week 14 - 02/16/05 – Ex Machina #8 (av grade 8.4)
Week 15 - 02/23/05 – X-Men #167
Week 16 - 03/02/05 – Ultimate Iron Man #1


Week 17 pick - Shining Knight #1 (Morrison & Bianchi) av grade - 7.8
Week 18 pick - Invincible #21 (Kirkman and Ottley) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=48) av grade - 6.3
Week 19 pick - Expatriate #1 (Moore and Latour) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=1314) av grade - 5.4
Week 20 pick - Temporary #2 (Hurd & Smith) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=2993) av grade - 7.4
Week 21 pick - GLA #1 (Slott and Pelletier) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=4718) av grade - 6.8
Week 22 pick - Nightwing #107 (Grayson and Hester) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=5972) av grade - 5.8
Week 23 pick - Iron Ghost #1 (Dixon and Cariello) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=7350) av grade - 4.9
Week 24 pick - City Of Tomorrow (Howard Chaykin) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=8609) av grade - 6.2
Week 25 pick - Villains United #1 (Simone and Eaglesham) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=9831) av grade - 5.7
Week 26 pick - Desolation Jones #1 (Ellis and Williams III) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=11130) av grade - 8.9
Week 27 pick - Guardian #2 (Morrison and Stewart) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=12280) av grade - 6.1
Week 28 pick - Adv. Of Superman #640 (Rucka and Kerschl) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=13393) av grade - 6.1
Week 29 pick - Son Of Vulcan #1 (Beatty and Grant) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=14435) av grade - 3.7
Week 30 pick - JLA #115 (Johns, Heinberg, Batista) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=15677) av grade - 6.9
Week 31 pick - Wildsiderz #0 (Campbell and Hartnell) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=16720) av grade - 2.9
Week 32 pick - Astro City: The Dark Age #1 (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=17822) av grade - 7.3
Week 33 pick - Albion #1 (Moore and Oakley) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=18956) av grade - 5.0
Week 34 pick - Gotham Central #33 (Rucka, Brubaker, Kano) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=20325) av grade - 8.5
Week 35 pick - Mutopia X (Hine and Medina) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=21593) av grade - 5.2
Week 36 pick - Athiest #2 (Hester and McCrea) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=22821) av grade - 6.9
Week 37 pick - JLA: Classified #10 (Ellis and Guise) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=24230) av grade - 6.9
Week 38 pick - Justice #1 (Ross, Krueger & Braithwaite) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=25471) av grade 7.9
Week 39 pick - The Winter Men #1 (Lewis and Leon) (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=26722&page=1&pp=30) av grade 5.3


Our higest average grade so far was for Desolation Jones #1 with 8.9
Our lowest average grade so for is Wildsiderz #0 with 2.9


Our Sponsors:

Isotope Comics (SF Bay area)

http://isotopecomics.com/index-1.jpg

Orbit Comics (Hillsboro, OR)

http://orbitcomics.org/logowebbannerwhite.gif

(If any other retailers would like to sponsor our reviewers in your area, I'd be happy to promote your store in the thread too )

*This review group is the 'mainstream' one now - that means we only review books from the 4 main comic Publishers: Marvel, DC, Image, and Dark Horse (and any imprints like Vertigo, Wildstorm, and Icon).

A list for what books are shipping can be found here:

http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping.asp (http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping.asp).

What we do is take turns picking and talking about a new book every week. We work our way down the list, so that everyone gets a turn chosing a title and then we all buy and read that choice. After we read it, we review it and grade it (the grading is optional, you can just talk about the book if you'd rather)

Everyone is welcome, all we ask is that you participate in some way every week. If you need to drop out for awhile, cool. You are always welcome back. If you would like to join, just PM Thudpucker or Denny and we'll get you on the list.

I will never pester people about participation, I don't like doing that. Instead I will simply put a * next to your name when you skip a week. And I take those back off again after a few weeks. If you had a reason to skip, PM me and I'll take them off.

It's just a simple reminder to please participate.

* means you skipped a week, ** means you skipped 2 weeks. at the third one, I drop your name from the list until you ask to join back up again. And anyone dropped from the list really is welcome to return when they want, please come back if you want to participate again.

[Boris the Blade]

Easy pick for me.

Jack Cross #1.

[dEnny!]

Wow, that was a particularly poorly written comic. I understand from reading it that these are Batman's early, formative years, but the dialogue is just laborious to read, it doesn't come off very real you know? The art is okay, the choreography/flow of the panels isn't there, and the story hurts it for me. I don't plan on continuing this story. The cliffhanger at the end seemed forced, as if he was trying to make it out to be this dire situation, but I don't buy it.

I also don't see a young Batman telling the crook he just captured that he's wearing Kevlar... :roll:

Story: 1
Art: 2.5

Overall: 3.5

[Gavin]

I know I'm not a reviewer for this, but I have some comments. First, I love early Batman stories, Year One, Long Halloween, etc., but I have no interest in this at all. The art looks horrible, and the story line seems really lame. I will not be buying or reading this.

[Ray G.]

Just dull. All it does is rehash some of the same themes we've seen Batman deal with for years, give us a very ugly and out-of-character portrayal of the Waynes, at least in Bruce's mind, and replay the lame "Contaigon" story from the 90's. They intend to get 12 issues out of this? 2/10

Edited because I really can't stand this book.

[Adam Witt]

Batman: Journey into Knight #1

Huh. This is a different book. I like the scene with Bruce's parents, and the dialogue, although, shall we say, a bit stilted, does the job. Everything else is very sub-par. I liked the concept of another 'formative years' title, but I don't like the way Helfer is writing it thus far. The art by Tan Eng Huat leaves a lot to be desired, but I liked the action scene, and definitely liked the scene with Bruce's parents. Okay, but it does not stand on it's own. How they're going to stretch this for 12 issues is beyond me, but if they don't have new villains throughout, I'm dropping it mid-way. I'll have to give it a 4.

I promise a better pick next time, guys.

[Freeway]

Stream of Consciousness Review!:

-Cool-looking, yet generic cover.
-What the hell's going on here? Is this current continuity, or Year One? Current Batman wouldn't get punked out like that.
-The art isn't really impressing me.

Well...I kept waiting for some kind of hook, something to impress me. All I got was a generic mystery involving drugs and a younger (Year One? They never said) Batman doing stupid things.

The art was unimpressive and the story lacked any kind of distinction.

3 outta 10

[Doug]

Easy pick for me.

Jack Cross #1.

Awsome pick (and a book I'm picking up anyway).

I pick up my books tomorrow so I'll have a Batman review probably on Friday.

[dEnny!]

Batman: Journey into Knight #1

Huh. This is a different book. I like the scene with Bruce's parents, and the dialogue, although, shall we say, a bit stilted, does the job. Everything else is very sub-par. I liked the concept of another 'formative years' title, but I don't like the way Helfer is writing it thus far. The art by Tan Eng Huat leaves a lot to be desired, but I liked the action scene, and definitely liked the scene with Bruce's parents. Okay, but it does not stand on it's own. How they're going to stretch this for 12 issues is beyond me, but if they don't have new villains throughout, I'm dropping it mid-way. I'll have to give it a 4.

I promise a better pick next time, guys.

You plan on buying the second issue...WHY???

[Adam Witt]

You plan on buying the second issue...WHY???

I'd like to see if it improves at all. I usually stick with a series all the way through, seeing as how typically I drop a book at exactly the wrong moment.

[Ray G.]

You plan on buying the second issue...WHY???

Even I'm probably dropping it, and I buy virtually everything Batman. This seems sort of out-of-continuity, though. At least it won't have any real impact, so I feel no obligation to keep buying it.

[dEnny!]

I'd like to see if it improves at all. I usually stick with a series all the way through, seeing as how typically I drop a book at exactly the wrong moment.

Yeah, but this is a 12 issue series with one of the worst opening Batman issues I've ever read.

Why not try something new with that money. You're talking another $33 retail. Go buy Blankets, Box Office Poison, Tricked, The King, some Oni Graphic Novels or trades, Capote in Kansas, Epileptic, Persepolis, American Splendor...

[Olivier E.]

Yeah, but this is a 12 issue series with one of the worst opening Batman issues I've ever read.

Why not try something new with that money. You're talking another $33 retail. Go buy Blankets, Box Office Poison, Tricked, The King, some Oni Graphic Novels or trades, Capote in Kansas, Epileptic, Persepolis, American Splendor...


Worser than AllStar Batman? :Please:

[Ray G.]

Worser than AllStar Batman? :Please:

Short answer, yes. That was just mediocre and disappointing. This is flat-out bad. I think I'm editing my score to be lower, now that I think about it.

[dEnny!]

Worser than AllStar Batman? :Please:

Haven't read All-Star Batman, but I know Jim Lee's art will blow this guy out of the water.

[PeteL]

My review's going to be a bit late. I've got a wake tonight and a funeral tomorrow. Fucked up thing is that I already did this wake/funeral thing last week also. Life is a bitch sometimes.

I was able to pick up my comics though. Right between my dry cleaing pick up and my haircut.

It'll be good to come home to a fresh bag of comics when all this is over.

[neophyte]

Story -- 4

It was a valiant attempt, but it didn't really grab me. The story itself seemed a bit forced on the reader, and I just couldn't buy into the direction.

Art -- 3

I'm really not a fan of this artist's style to begin with. And to see it become looser than his previous work (Doom Patrol, I think??), it's just hard to see.

Overall -- 3.5

Not the best piece...and really, can we stop revisiting Batman's early career for a bit??

[Olivier E.]

S
Not the best piece...and really, can we stop revisiting Batman's early career for a bit??

there's a Matt wagner mini starting in november ;)

[DrSettleton]

BATMAN: Journey into KNIGHT #1

This was Batman: Year Crap. I think before someone is allowed to write the early years of a character as well known as this, they should have a grasp on who that character is in the first place. Nobody is in character here. This is not any Batman I know. The dialogue is attrocious. The plot mediocre at best. (It sucked all kinds of ass- lame designer drug story) The scene with Bruce Wayne at the "club" made me physically ill. The art was passable, (in a different kind of book I might even enjoy this artist) but it really irritated me that Batman was drawn with the campy T.V. show eyebrows. I refuse to believe Bruce Wayne was ever an idiot. That is how he is portrayed here. And what was with him crying over that lame-ass nightmare? Let the vomiting begin.

2/10.

[St.-]

wow. I was going to pick up the first one to check it out but no one seems to like it even alittle. :-?

[JABSEN]

The art was allright.The story not so much.

umm.. 4/10

[Thudpucker]

This was not a good book.

I'm always suprised when a story this mediocre and awkward gets the green light. What are the editors thinking when they let a book like this out?

Not every writer knows what to do with a character, I understand that. They want to bring thier own voice to a book, put thier own spin on it. But the Editors should have the bigger picture in mind. They should see a script like this and say "sorry, but that's not Batman".

So what the Hell happened here? It wasn't just a bad Batman story, but also a bad story in general.

I'm going with a 2 on this one. It would have to get awfully damn good from here on to make up for such a poor start.

[dEnny!]

there's a Matt wagner mini starting in november ;)

Yeah, but that's MATT WAGNER.

[JABSEN]

Man,my last 3 reviews have been craptacular.I'll try and say something next time.

Maybe I'm bitter about Gotham Central not having it's rightful place at #1:razz:

[dEnny!]

I promise a better pick next time, guys.

Next time? Being a little optimistic aren't you...who said we're going to give you a next time? :)

[dEnny!]

BATMAN: Journey into KNIGHT #1

This was Batman: Year Crap. I think before someone is allowed to write the early years of a character as well known as this, they should have a grasp on who that character is in the first place. Nobody is in character here. This is not any Batman I know. The dialogue is attrocious. The plot mediocre at best. (It sucked all kinds of ass- lame designer drug story) The scene with Bruce Wayne at the "club" made me physically ill. The art was passable, (in a different kind of book I might even enjoy this artist) but it really irritated me that Batman was drawn with the campy T.V. show eyebrows. I refuse to believe Bruce Wayne was ever an idiot. That is how he is portrayed here. And what was with him crying over that lame-ass nightmare? Let the vomiting begin.

2/10.

Out of character? This raises an interesting issue to me. Do we sometimes place our expectations on how the character is today onto these early years adventures? In Year One Bruce Wayne was still learning the ropes and making mistakes on his road to becoming Batman, he wasn't as competent as he is today. But I agree in this he seemed bumbling, the whole kevlar thing was just lame. I would think he'd almost overcompensate the whole dark thing to cover up his lack of ability and skill in those formative years.

[Blandy vs Terrorism]

I was going to buy this tomorrow. Looks like I won't be now. :D

[Boris the Blade]

EEyuck. Even some pretty art can't save this book from the stiff writing. There's really not much to say here, aside from I'm getting a little bored with Batman: Year One type stories. There's just not much insight to be had from this story, and the execution is pretty awful, so why bother? And twelve issues? Makes me think it's going somewhere, but I'm so put off by the first issue I couldn't be bothered with another.

3/10

[Freeway]

Out of character? This raises an interesting issue to me. Do we sometimes place our expectations on how the character is today onto these early years adventures? In Year One Bruce Wayne was still learning the ropes and making mistakes on his road to becoming Batman, he wasn't as competent as he is today. But I agree in this he seemed bumbling, the whole kevlar thing was just lame. I would think he'd almost overcompensate the whole dark thing to cover up his lack of ability and skill in those formative years.

Plus, Denny, the fact that Batman was largely considered an URBAN LEGEND in Year One Gotham. Heck, I'm pretty sure he was considered an urban legend until a couple years ago in regular Gotham. Why the hell would he cheekily say "Look at me! I'm wearing kevlar!" He wouldn't! He wants the criminals to think he's invincible!!

Ugh! The more I think about this issue, the more I hate it.

[DrSettleton]

Out of character? This raises an interesting issue to me. Do we sometimes place our expectations on how the character is today onto these early years adventures? In Year One Bruce Wayne was still learning the ropes and making mistakes on his road to becoming Batman, he wasn't as competent as he is today. But I agree in this he seemed bumbling, the whole kevlar thing was just lame. I would think he'd almost overcompensate the whole dark thing to cover up his lack of ability and skill in those formative years.
In my opinion, Bruce Wayne cultivated Batman enough so that by the time he put on the costume the first time, he was Batman. Batman was a violent yet calculated answer to the violent deaths of his parents. He might have made mistakes in his early years, but his attitude and motivating characteristics shouldn't have been much different. Here we see a guy in a costume that explains his logic to strangers, allows an angry woman to pull a gun from a purse and shoot him at point blank range and reveals that he is wearing Kevlar to criminals. (That will try to shoot him in the face next time, hopefully) Learning the ropes is one thing, but being a complete tool is something else. What this early Batman is missing is Bruce Wayne's intelligence and anger. There is plenty of room in comics to write characters like this, but with Batman we've already been presented with like, a bazillion year one versions of the character. So in response to your querry, I think we have to have some expectations, especially with a character that's as huge as Batman, and especially when there are ALREADY other early versions of that character. It's hard not to. But I'm sure (on the other hand) a competent writer with a good story could make us forget our expectations. This book just didn't have that.

[Olivier E.]

Out of character? This raises an interesting issue to me. Do we sometimes place our expectations on how the character is today onto these early years adventures? In Year One Bruce Wayne was still learning the ropes and making mistakes on his road to becoming Batman, he wasn't as competent as he is today. But I agree in this he seemed bumbling, the whole kevlar thing was just lame. I would think he'd almost overcompensate the whole dark thing to cover up his lack of ability and skill in those formative years.


he made a lot of errors in his young years, actually very good seen in Lotdk, even in Year One

[RebootedCorpse]

Yet another look at Batman's formative years? Only Kenny has been killed more often than John and Martha Wayne.
Nevertheless, this is an interesting take on the image of his parents that Bruce Wayne holds in his head -- namely as perfect, saintly parents. That's not the way it usually works in rich, career-driven families. Of course, this was all in a dream so it's probably not part of the continuity.
To me, this is the most interesting part of the plot.
My score 7.25.

[Criden]

Okay, Thud, I want back in. My old space. Please? :) I was gone all summer.

As for this issue:

That was one fucked-up dream sequence for a relatively light book! But yeah, in general, the art was above average at best and the writing was just okay. The story simply isn't that interesting...sans that dream sequence. I'll give it another issue to see how much of the story is going to be devoted to that stuff with his parents, which was really on a higher class of writing than the rest of the book...which makes the rest of the book look worse than it is! Oh, Helfer....

7/10

[Thudpucker]

Okay, Thud, I want back in. My old space. Please? I was gone all summer.

You got it, welcome back :)

[Criden]

You got it, welcome back :)

Thanks, buddy :D

[neophyte]

We're certainly doing a lot of Warren Ellis books...not that I mind, but maybe we should spread the love around a little?

[Ray G.]

We're certainly doing a lot of Warren Ellis books...not that I mind, but maybe we should spread the love around a little?

When Warren Ellis kicks off a new series, it just seems kind of right to review the first issue. He can't write a new book every week, can he? ;)

[PeteL]

I was not terribly happy with this book. The story was mediocre at best, and the art was so-so. Bruce's dream sequence was interesting, and hit it right on with how young Bruce Wayne must have suffered nightmares about his parents and such, but the overall story was rather bland. Batman -vs- Narcotics. Meh. The art was okay at times, but nothing more. The issue did end with an interesting hook, but I'm not sure if I'll pick up another issue. I may read it at the shop though. I'll rate it 3/10. I though the cover art kicked ass though.

[Doug]

I'll start my review on the cover. Man it was ugly. Is it Pat Lee art? I'm not really a fan of his work. He's good at drawing robots, but his human figures leave much to be desired (to me at least).

The interior art was okay. I heard how great his art was on Doom Patrol, but this just wasn't that great or dynamic.

The story left me a little cold. I really liked the dream sequence, but most of everything else was below par. I think The Long Halloween has set the bar too high for all other year-long Batman maxi-series. Long Halloween was such a great story with a great creative team that nothing else (IMO) can be as good as that.

I'm not saying that Journey into Knight is trying to be the Long Halloween, but it is another year long story told in it's own series. Hell, Journey isn't even as good as Hush.

To end on a positive note, I kind of like the Typhoid Dude, and I'm curious as to how Bruce will get over the sickness, but not enough to buy issue 2.

I'll give this a 4.

[J. R. Scherer]

Batman - Journey Into Knight #1

I have to admit that I liked this comic a lot more than I thought I would. This is a book that I would never pick up on my own. I don't think that I've EVER enjoyed the Batman monthlies. Batman one shots, miniseries, Elseworlds, etc., I've picked up and thoroughly enjoyed, but never the monthlies. That said I found this book to be mostly a retread of ground that's been covered I don't know how many times, which I think is the very reason I don't read the regular Batman stuff. It has a very 'been-there-done-that' feel to it. The artwork has a nice Chris Sprouse-ish look that I liked, but overall, there really was nothing here to keep me coming back for more.

I rate this a 5 out of 10. It isn't a bad comic book, but it just doesn't interest me either.

[alan]

Decent story. The dialogue is off to me. I don't like thought bubbles. It's not 1970 anymore. 6/10.

Art was very nice. 8/10.

OVERALL: 7/10.

--Alan

[J. R. Scherer]

I don't like thought bubbles. It's not 1970 anymore.


Huh?

What do thought bubbles have to do with 1970?

[Seltzer Water]

Is Chris Claremont using an alias to write this crap

[Ray G.]

Is Chris Claremont using an alias to write this crap

I was betting Chuck Austen or Reginald Hudlin.

[Frozen Sooner]

THOUGHT F-ING BUBBLES?!?!?!!

Actually, not all that bad. Certainly not as bad as some of the reviews made it out to be.

Also not great.

Kind of a mish-mash on the plot. He's an evil drug lord that's also typhoid mary? Did the author fall asleep with the DVD changer playing Traffic and Outbreak?

The art wasn't great, but it wasn't awful. Batman kind of looked like a weiner.

5/10.

[J. R. Scherer]

Why do you guys have problems with thought bubbles?

[Frozen Sooner]

Because, to me, they are an intrusion into the flow of the storyline by the author and somewhat of a lazy storytellying device. A character's motivations should be apparent from the flow of the storyline and the actual dialogue.

Amazingly enough, I'm typing this as I'm watching Scrubs, which uses the equivalent of thought bubbles all the time.

[J. R. Scherer]

Because, to me, they are an intrusion into the flow of the storyline by the author and somewhat of a lazy storytellying device. A character's motivations should be apparent from the flow of the storyline and the actual dialogue.

It isn't lazy at all. It's just different, and, for the most part, unique to comics. Not every comic book should look and flow like a TV show or movie. Really, what's the difference between thought bubbles and stuff like the blue and gold captions that pop up in Superman/Batman every issue?

[Slingy]

This just in: young billionaire Bruce Wayne arrested for breaking into "Handsome Man Deliveries" store. Wayne was implicated when his fingerprints were discovered on several hundred-dollar bills left in the store and other various places around the establishment. Said Lieutenant James Gordon, "It's unfortunate that the young bourgeousie of Gotham today think that breaking the law is acceptable as long as you throw enough money at the right people. Well, not on my watch, Mr. Wayne. Not on my watch."

Also, that cover was really bad. Batman looks like he's about two seconds away from ripping out your entrails and feasting on them, and he's gonna enjoy the fuck out of it. Everybody run!

3/10.

[JayPee]

i love batman stories, and this one just didn't do anything for me. at first i thought it was just usual batman, then i realized, 'no, it's early in batman's career' but i was wrong again, because there were cell phones. so i don't get it, is this ultimate batman or what (i apologize if this was already addressed in this thread, but i prefer to write my review before reading what other folks had to say). the art was pretty good, but i've seen better batman art. the dialogue was decent.

i wasn't expecting much from this book, and that's what i got. i give it a 5.

[Frozen Sooner]

edit to delete

[Olivier E.]

I don't like the cover very much, especially because of Pat's art, I think he has a cubic style and I don't like it.

The story started really bad, I've never seen a Batman talking so much, no wonder he wasn't even able to subdue those small thiefs, that's Batman and not Spider-man.
The nightmare scene, there's nothing to be said, everyone has somtimes crazy dreams.
What I liked in the issue, was the situation in the club, between Bruce and the girl, which portrayed very well, Bruce's problem facing women, which he still has now.
I thought the cliffhanger was a bit weird, because if he would have been infected, he should have died immediately...

5

[JamesV]

What I liked:

I liked the nightmare scene and the beginning of the club scene (up until Bruce bumps into the girl to plant the tap). The art was solid.

What I didn't like:

Y'know, there reaches a point where the year one concept for Batman begins to run it's course, and that's really how I feel about the plot so far. Great, Bats is making mistakes again. He's inexperienced. It just feels like we've reached the point where this time period has been too recycled as a plot device. While reading, I couldn't help but wonder if I would have liked the idea if it was set more in Year Two or so, where you have an experienced Batman who's not yet uber-Bats.

And I can't seem to get excited about a plague in Gotham.

As for the thought balloons, I don't mind them when used sparingly/for need, but there seemed to be some overwriting in this one because of them. For instance, I thought the part where Batman purchases some new club clothes, would have worked a lot better without them.

5 out of 10. A lot of the execution isn't bad, but the idea just seems a little tired.

[joespam]

4

It's all been said. I'm glad I wasn't the only one confused by when this was supposed to take place. It should have been on the first page. All the clues were there, but it wasn't obvious until after the long dream sequence, and my reading suffered because the doubt in the 'mission' seemed very wrong for current time Bruce to have.

Overall, the story is dull so far; an imaginary drug hitting the streets of gotham - oooo, never seen that before. If you're gonna do a story set near Year One, you damn well better make it more interesting than this. Bruce meeting girls in a club while on a mission? Entering the club as himself? Infiltrating an airplane in civilian guise? There's a lot to pick apart here.

I found the art serviceable, but that's about all. But I doubt the best artist in the world would've made this one interesting.

I won't be picking up this trade should it get collected.

[TonyFleecs]

First off I'm torn. I liked the Tom & Martha portrayed as actual dysfunctional rich people this time out... Usually they're only played as saints, popping in on young bruce with little chestnuts of wisdom,telling him to just try harder next time.
On the other hand, I'm sick and tired of seing the waynes all together. What is it? some kind of editorial mandate? If you're going to write batman you must show his parents getting killed. Just incase the reader forgot last month when we had the flashback in a book, or when they saw it in all the batman movies or the cartoon or on the "Death of thomas & martha wayne" lunchbox, the bowen designs "Death of thomas & martha wayne" mini-busts.

Nobody's ever going to beat Mazuchelli's scene in Year One... Fucking stop trying. Portrait artists don't sit around painting the mona lisa over and over.

Everything beside the dysfunctional waynes was pretty un-interesting to me. I don't need to see any more of this one.

4/10

[Corey A.]

If you're going to read a 'beginning' Batman series, read Batman:Year One by Frank Miller. This feels like a rehashed idea to me. It can be done well but this version just misses the mark.

5/10

[Opus Croakus]

No review from me yet. I was out of town all last week (last vacation this summer, I swear), so I'll post something later this week.

[TIP]

Man.

Ugh.

I loved the artist on Superman: Birthright but there was something a bit off with this outing.

The story...uhm...wha?

Liked the dream sequence of the Waynes giving their darling boy Bruce the business but, after that, nothing really grabbed me...I probably rolled my eyes a bunch of times, too (plague? coal mine? dance club? bleh).

Not coming back for another one, sad to say.

3

T

[Olivier E.]

Man.

Ugh.

I loved the artist on Superman: Birthright but there was something a bit off with this outing.



T


birthright was drawn by Yu...

[ds9]

The art is really bad on this book. :-x

[TIP]

birthright was drawn by Yu...

D'oh!

Well, that explains that.

:lol:

T

[The Saint]

The first half of this is okay at best. but after the whole dream thing it just didn't interest me.

5/10