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Batman: Book of The Dead #1
Batman: The Way of Darkness
The idea of the Bat itself has been around for thousands of years and it all began with Nekhrun.
14,000 years ago, a plot to overthrow Osiris began. Set the evil God wants the world to himself and the bride of Osiris as a trophy along with the Rod of Light which holds the secretes of the universe.
14,000 years ago, a plot to overthrow Osiris began. Set the evil God wants the world to himself and the bride of Osiris as a trophy along with the Rod of Light which holds the secretes of the universe.
52 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
56 people want to read
About the author
Doug Moench
1,616 books123 followersDoug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok. Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. (He also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986.)
Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.
Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.
Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.
Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 19, 2019
For all the crap the Elseworlds imprimatur has shat upon the world, there’s actually some good crap here. Sure, it’s built on a vast swathe of pseudo-history and their corresponding fanciful speculations but at least efforts matter, right? Thankfully, for all its failures, this is not quite the ‘Book of the Dumb’ I expected.
I won’t bore you with the details but basically this comic is built off of Graham Hancock’s theory that ancient civilizations far older than what modern archaeology asserts, are the true progenitors of the Pyramids (all of which is neatly referenced in a bibliography – surely a comic first). Coolly modulated to fit the needs of the Batman mythos, the corresponding mythos of Ancient Egypt’s ruling gods (most notably the Set and Osiris murder resurrection yarn) are gleaned to decent effect. While not quite as well built or researched as say the Hyperborean backstory of the HellBoy universe (a far cry sure) with hearts in the right place, a shade of suspended disbelief can be cast fairly.
With Bruce Wayne’s own origin story grafted upon the new shit, the raison d'etre for his parents’ assassination drives him to Egypt with Egyptologist in tote. With tints and tones of clearly derived via Indiana Jones bespeckling this and that, intrigue and assassinations drive the plot forward in a relatively interesting fashion with true comic book muck greasing each and every step/tire tread of the way.
Of course, all the flaws are well on display. Alongside the previous muck, a semi-confusing backstory is played out in flashbacks that are as randomly installed as they are obviously seamed. With little in the way of thoughtful transitions, reading can be a bit of a chunky experience.
Granted, it’s a comic and a cape one to boot. As much as things can only grow as far as their laid down traditions will allow. But, if you’re willing to put yourself into the the shoes of someone who’s’ not yet been jaded by the awfulness of the world, there is still a world of wonder for one’s more youthful imaginings.
I won’t bore you with the details but basically this comic is built off of Graham Hancock’s theory that ancient civilizations far older than what modern archaeology asserts, are the true progenitors of the Pyramids (all of which is neatly referenced in a bibliography – surely a comic first). Coolly modulated to fit the needs of the Batman mythos, the corresponding mythos of Ancient Egypt’s ruling gods (most notably the Set and Osiris murder resurrection yarn) are gleaned to decent effect. While not quite as well built or researched as say the Hyperborean backstory of the HellBoy universe (a far cry sure) with hearts in the right place, a shade of suspended disbelief can be cast fairly.
With Bruce Wayne’s own origin story grafted upon the new shit, the raison d'etre for his parents’ assassination drives him to Egypt with Egyptologist in tote. With tints and tones of clearly derived via Indiana Jones bespeckling this and that, intrigue and assassinations drive the plot forward in a relatively interesting fashion with true comic book muck greasing each and every step/tire tread of the way.
Of course, all the flaws are well on display. Alongside the previous muck, a semi-confusing backstory is played out in flashbacks that are as randomly installed as they are obviously seamed. With little in the way of thoughtful transitions, reading can be a bit of a chunky experience.
Granted, it’s a comic and a cape one to boot. As much as things can only grow as far as their laid down traditions will allow. But, if you’re willing to put yourself into the the shoes of someone who’s’ not yet been jaded by the awfulness of the world, there is still a world of wonder for one’s more youthful imaginings.
April 14, 2017
A 'what if the Egyptian pyramids were built by aliens' type of story. Well drawn and quite interesting, especially if you liked the Stargate movie.
Funnily, the ending of the Mayan calendar in 2012 has a significant role in this book, but we already know how that turned out:)
If you're interested in more comics about aliens building the pyramids, I recommend checking out Stargate comics (here is the complete list).
Also, there is an old comic series by Boguslaw Polch, based on a non-fiction book 'Gods From Outer Space' by Erich Daniken (who was the one to originally present the theory that aliens visited the Earth and built the pyramids). The comic series were originally published in Poland (later re-released there as two omnibus editions, Ekspedycja 1 and Ekspedycja 2), and later released in many countries all over the Europe. Some of the Polch comics were translated to English and published by Methuen Publishing in the UK. They're long out of print, but if you can find them, they're really imaginative sci-fi with great art.
Funnily, the ending of the Mayan calendar in 2012 has a significant role in this book, but we already know how that turned out:)
If you're interested in more comics about aliens building the pyramids, I recommend checking out Stargate comics (here is the complete list).
Also, there is an old comic series by Boguslaw Polch, based on a non-fiction book 'Gods From Outer Space' by Erich Daniken (who was the one to originally present the theory that aliens visited the Earth and built the pyramids). The comic series were originally published in Poland (later re-released there as two omnibus editions, Ekspedycja 1 and Ekspedycja 2), and later released in many countries all over the Europe. Some of the Polch comics were translated to English and published by Methuen Publishing in the UK. They're long out of print, but if you can find them, they're really imaginative sci-fi with great art.
April 19, 2013
Imagine if the Egyptian gods were aliens, and there was a bat headed one. Bruce's parents discovered proof of the Bat god's existance and were murdered for it. Years later Bruce Wayne takes up archeaology to find out why his parents were murdered. A clever idea for an Elseworlds book. A good read.
November 23, 2013
2 stars for graphic
I did not like the story
I did not like the story
October 15, 2014
What do you get when you cross Batman with blended Indy Jones and Ancient Aliens?
April 12, 2021
Creo que para un fan de los cómics puede resultar molesto el que metan cosas como el 2012 o al propio Batman el la época de las pirámides, más en esta colección donde Batman igual enfrenta a Drácula, Jack el Destripador y verlo tomar clases con Freud...
Pero, a pesar de que es cansado estar leyendo una y otra vez cómo Bruce pierde a sus padres, aquí esta interpretación sencilla y que cambia solo algunas razones me gustó. La historia está enfocada como a una película de Scooby Doo contra el chupacabras... lol
Pero lo que me gustó tanto es toda la historia y teorías egipcias que metieron, desde el mito de la creación de la primera momia (que parte de la recolección de las partes de Osiris por parte de Isis) con el fatal destino de cierto personaje; el hecho de la inversión de polos; el calendario maya; el intercambio cultural precolombino; la adoración al vampiro desde hace milenios; las teorías de la construcción de pirámides y el nacimiento humano a partir de viajeros del espacio... etc.
En sí, si eres medio nerd (osea fanático, no experto) en arqueología, teorías conspirativas y la cultura egipcia; creo que al menos te saca una sonrisa al leer lo usado en la construcción de esta versión batmanesca.
Pero, a pesar de que es cansado estar leyendo una y otra vez cómo Bruce pierde a sus padres, aquí esta interpretación sencilla y que cambia solo algunas razones me gustó. La historia está enfocada como a una película de Scooby Doo contra el chupacabras... lol
Pero lo que me gustó tanto es toda la historia y teorías egipcias que metieron, desde el mito de la creación de la primera momia (que parte de la recolección de las partes de Osiris por parte de Isis) con el fatal destino de cierto personaje; el hecho de la inversión de polos; el calendario maya; el intercambio cultural precolombino; la adoración al vampiro desde hace milenios; las teorías de la construcción de pirámides y el nacimiento humano a partir de viajeros del espacio... etc.
En sí, si eres medio nerd (osea fanático, no experto) en arqueología, teorías conspirativas y la cultura egipcia; creo que al menos te saca una sonrisa al leer lo usado en la construcción de esta versión batmanesca.
June 27, 2021
So on the one hand the premise of this (Egyptian Gods as aliens! bruce's parents as archaeologists! the batsymbol is going to unlock SEKRIT KNOWLEDGE that HELPS HUMANITY!) is exactly the sort of thing I love and I'm really looking forward to the next one. and the story moves along wonderfully and the art is fun and i really liked the thomas/martha dynamic and etc etc etc....
but having a blonde white archeologist lady explain to a rich white billionaire how everything about figuring this stuff out in the present day revolves around how Ancient Egyptians couldn't POSSIBLY have had the skills to have built the Sphinx and the pyramids, for TWO PAGES, and having no Egyptian characters in the present day story whatsoever, except *possibly* the mysterious assassin but honestly he died with a full helmet mask on so who knows? .... making this very much a story about how white people are the ones who *get* Egypt which is a thing that the anglo empire has been doing to the middle east and Egypt in particular since forever? Uggggh. Your racist underlying assumptions are showing, Batman team of 1999. showing hard. in ways that I hope present day you would appreciate and revise, were you writing this now. because it really detracts from a fun story.
but having a blonde white archeologist lady explain to a rich white billionaire how everything about figuring this stuff out in the present day revolves around how Ancient Egyptians couldn't POSSIBLY have had the skills to have built the Sphinx and the pyramids, for TWO PAGES, and having no Egyptian characters in the present day story whatsoever, except *possibly* the mysterious assassin but honestly he died with a full helmet mask on so who knows? .... making this very much a story about how white people are the ones who *get* Egypt which is a thing that the anglo empire has been doing to the middle east and Egypt in particular since forever? Uggggh. Your racist underlying assumptions are showing, Batman team of 1999. showing hard. in ways that I hope present day you would appreciate and revise, were you writing this now. because it really detracts from a fun story.
October 22, 2018
Batman: The Way of Darkness is an Elseworlds imprint. Written by Doug Moench and penciled by Barry Kitson. It deals with Bruce Wayne trying to save an archaeologist from the same fate of his parents who died in trying to solve the mystery of the pyramids. It is the first part in a duology in the Batman: Book of the Dead series.
In this world, Bruce Wayne along with Shelia Ramsey set forth to uncover the secrets about the death of Set and the hidden truth of who truly did slay the beast of a man, and to show the world that the Bat God known as Nekhrun cannot be erased from history and the books.
Doug Moenuh penned the issue and for the most part, it was a rather odd story, which is par for the course for Elseworlds series. It part Batman, part Egyptian myths, part Indiana Jones, and part Stargate, but one hundred per cent odd – a tad too odd for me. Barry Kitson penciled the issue and it was wonderfully depicted and rather consistent throughout the issue.
All in all, Batman: The Way of Darkness is written and constructed mediocrity well and was somewhat successful in combing the Batman mythos with Egyptian mythology with a hint of science fiction.
In this world, Bruce Wayne along with Shelia Ramsey set forth to uncover the secrets about the death of Set and the hidden truth of who truly did slay the beast of a man, and to show the world that the Bat God known as Nekhrun cannot be erased from history and the books.
Doug Moenuh penned the issue and for the most part, it was a rather odd story, which is par for the course for Elseworlds series. It part Batman, part Egyptian myths, part Indiana Jones, and part Stargate, but one hundred per cent odd – a tad too odd for me. Barry Kitson penciled the issue and it was wonderfully depicted and rather consistent throughout the issue.
All in all, Batman: The Way of Darkness is written and constructed mediocrity well and was somewhat successful in combing the Batman mythos with Egyptian mythology with a hint of science fiction.
January 5, 2022
This is a true Elseworlds story—a story set outside DC's main continuity and ultimately on a different earth.
This is an amazing story as it connects Egyptian Mythology with Mayan Mythology for an true conspiracy theory story.
It has the heart of the original Stargate movie, and that is a great thing.
What weighs the story down is the recapitulation in exposition. We hear the same things often, as if the audience is assumed to not understand what is obvious.
The story—especially in the second half—does too much jumping around from the present to the past. The story would have worked just as well if we were given large segments of the story instead of being fed fragment by fragment.
However, this is a well thought story which is absolutely worth exploring—especially if you love aliens and mythology!
This is an amazing story as it connects Egyptian Mythology with Mayan Mythology for an true conspiracy theory story.
It has the heart of the original Stargate movie, and that is a great thing.
What weighs the story down is the recapitulation in exposition. We hear the same things often, as if the audience is assumed to not understand what is obvious.
The story—especially in the second half—does too much jumping around from the present to the past. The story would have worked just as well if we were given large segments of the story instead of being fed fragment by fragment.
However, this is a well thought story which is absolutely worth exploring—especially if you love aliens and mythology!
October 28, 2014
Love it, simply i just love it, theres no way out!
September 25, 2018
Sparked my interest in reading about ancient Egyptian history. Good read. Good concepts. There should be a series on the "Gods" as well.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews