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Batman: Book of The Dead #2
Batman: Passage to Heavens Light
Batman Elseworlds: Book of The Dead, part 2 of 2.
52 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
41 people want to read
About the author
Doug Moench
2,075 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 - 10 of 10 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.
January 18, 2012
This not actually for this book but still. I loved the real book I read because it was good and I know the person. They put alot of themselves it to it. I got to know them better from reading it!
April 19, 2013
The story about the secret the Egyption gods/aliens left continues. The authorities are trying to stop Bruce Wayne uncovering the truth. It seems to end quite quickly, like the writer suddenly realised he had completed his page count. A good read though.
October 17, 2014
Very Indy.
*slow clap*
*slow clap*
June 27, 2021
more like 2.5 stars. how many stars *should* one delete for casual racism that was 20 years ago now and a relatively minor part of the story as a whole? hard to say. maybe it should lose all the stars. but that would be dishonest since I still did enjoy the thing. *makes a face*
the good: like the first volume, the ancient conspiracy myth-being-history mumbo jumbo ridiculous alien Gods story is a lot of fun, moves quickly, kept my interest, had some good sentences about The Meaning of Being Batman.
the amusing: the success of Bruce's activities depended largely on a fancy and exciting waynetech doohickey that did stuff that ... any decent smartphone would now do seamlessly. yay we live in the future! 1999 was as long ago now as 70s comics were when I lived in the 90s! good times.
the frustrating: they added a few Egyptians to the modern day story! which would be great! except they were all dumbfucks who were actively making everything worse for Our Heroes! because they were intellectually inferior and stuck on matters of pride/national sovereignty! and some of them were also evil and manipulative! because that has no echoes with excuses for colonizing and atrocious behavior that the brits used in the victorian era and beyond AT ALLLLLLLLLLLL yayyyyyy. Not yay. Not yay AT ALL. Much ugh.
....
oh past white people, why must you always be so ridiculous.
the whole "what a great culture, clearly i'm better equipped than its actual living inheritors to Be In Charge of It" approach to being into old stuff continues to suck today. and even people who have learned to talk the talk still don't, y'know, give back the vast majority of the pillaged stuff in the european and american museums or anything. :(.
the good: like the first volume, the ancient conspiracy myth-being-history mumbo jumbo ridiculous alien Gods story is a lot of fun, moves quickly, kept my interest, had some good sentences about The Meaning of Being Batman.
the amusing: the success of Bruce's activities depended largely on a fancy and exciting waynetech doohickey that did stuff that ... any decent smartphone would now do seamlessly. yay we live in the future! 1999 was as long ago now as 70s comics were when I lived in the 90s! good times.
the frustrating: they added a few Egyptians to the modern day story! which would be great! except they were all dumbfucks who were actively making everything worse for Our Heroes! because they were intellectually inferior and stuck on matters of pride/national sovereignty! and some of them were also evil and manipulative! because that has no echoes with excuses for colonizing and atrocious behavior that the brits used in the victorian era and beyond AT ALLLLLLLLLLLL yayyyyyy. Not yay. Not yay AT ALL. Much ugh.
....
oh past white people, why must you always be so ridiculous.
the whole "what a great culture, clearly i'm better equipped than its actual living inheritors to Be In Charge of It" approach to being into old stuff continues to suck today. and even people who have learned to talk the talk still don't, y'know, give back the vast majority of the pillaged stuff in the european and american museums or anything. :(.
October 22, 2018
Batman: Passage to Heavens Light is an Elseworlds imprint. Written by Doug Moench and penciled by Barry Kitson. It continues the story set up in Batman: The Way of Darkness where Bruce Wayne and Shelia Ramsey trying to solve an ancient Egyptian mystery that has lasting effect for history and the world. It is the second 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 ancient wonder of the world and discovered that the pyramids were made from extra-terrestrial entities and left the pyramids as proof that Earth was one of their outposts.
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: Passage to Heavens Light is written and constructed mediocrity well and was somewhat successful conclusion in the Batman: Book of the Death series, albeit the ending was a tad abrupt.
In this world, Bruce Wayne along with Shelia Ramsey set forth to uncover the secrets about the ancient wonder of the world and discovered that the pyramids were made from extra-terrestrial entities and left the pyramids as proof that Earth was one of their outposts.
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: Passage to Heavens Light is written and constructed mediocrity well and was somewhat successful conclusion in the Batman: Book of the Death series, albeit the ending was a tad abrupt.
April 13, 2021
Pienso que la idea del cómic y la forma física y visual de los personajes del 14,000 bc se parecen mucho a Apocalipsis y bien podrían hacer una película de acción tipo Indiana de los 90.
Sin embargo aquí Batman apenas y sale, osea, lo que Batman realiza bien puede realizarlo Bruce sin problema. No hubo gran acción ni una confrontación final. El final queda medio abierto y cierra de forma forzada y rápida.
Igual que el volumen 1, me gustó mucho la incorporación de varias teorías hasta conspirativas sobre Egipto, la Atlántida, la destrucción del mundo y las pirámides.
Sin embargo aquí Batman apenas y sale, osea, lo que Batman realiza bien puede realizarlo Bruce sin problema. No hubo gran acción ni una confrontación final. El final queda medio abierto y cierra de forma forzada y rápida.
Igual que el volumen 1, me gustó mucho la incorporación de varias teorías hasta conspirativas sobre Egipto, la Atlántida, la destrucción del mundo y las pirámides.
November 29, 2015
sorry batman the two of them was so disappointed and short, kinda boring not like the other batman comics
October 28, 2014
Simply lovable!
November 23, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews