Batman: The Black Mirror

Batman

by Scott Snyder (Writer), Jock (Artist), Francesco Francavilla (Artist)

A NEW YORK TIMES #1 Bestseller.

In "The Black Mirror," a series of brutal murders pushes Batman's detective skills to the limit and forces him to confront one of Gotham City's oldest evils. Helpless and trapped in the deadly Mirror House, Batman must fight for his life against one of Gotham City's oldest and most powerful evils!

Then, in a second story called "Hungry City," the corpse of a killer whale shows up on the floor of one of Gotham City's foremost banks. The event begins a strange and deadly mystery that will bring Batman face-to-face with the new, terrifying faces of organized crime in Gotham.

Collects: Detective Comics #871-881.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Batman, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

288 pages, Hardcover

First published November 23, 2011

About the author

Scott Snyder is the Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer on DC Comics Batman, Swamp Thing, and his original series for Vertigo, American Vampire. He is also the author of the short story collection, Voodoo Heart, published by the Dial Press in 2006. The paperback version was published in the summer of 2007.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

(A) 86% | Extraordinary
Notes: It makes monsters from mundanities and does wonderful things with low-key moments and measured conversation.

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend Hulk-boy wants me to read this so that I will quit giving my boyfriend Batman 2 and 3 stars. I hate to see Hulk boy cry.

and Batman kept agreeing with him.



So I read it.
I liked it okay! Quit judging me!


Some Mild Spoilery may happen. Proceed at your own risk

Bruce Wayne is not Batman in this book. I had no clue there were other Batman books out there that didn't contain the main man.


Dick Grayson is the Cape Crusader in this version and Bruce Wayne is off recruiting other Batmen to be placed around the world.
The tryouts are NOT included in this book. There needs to be a book with that though. Kinda like Batman American Idol.


The Bat hero takes on several different story lines in this book. He meets up with Old Joker Boy. (who deserved a bit more of the story line)


Then we get introduced to Commission Gordon's son. James Jr.


I need more of this bad guy! He was chilling and why the hell have they not done a movie with him as the baddie? Or have I just missed it?

[Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy great reading, Batman!


This collected edition contains a storyline originally published on “Detective Comics” #871-881.


Creative Team:

Writer: Scott Snyder

Illustrators: Jock & Francesco Francavilla


MY WAY

You have to judge the situation early, clearly... ...judge it from the diving board, high above, before you’re falling… before you’re in danger.

This story is about Batman, BUT it’s Dick Grayson under the mantle.
Bruce Wayne is back, but he’s busy off shores establishing his idea of “Batman Incorporated”, a global force of Batmen, financed by Wayne Enterprises to help local police departments around the world.

Meanwhile, Dick Grayson stays on Gotham City and he is The Batman there.
Writing about Dick Grayson as Batman isn’t easy, it’s not like just doing it as if Bruce was still in the suit. Dick is different, he reacts different and he treats people different.

I liked that the creative team on this story understood that. Even when he does a jump to save himself from a dangerous situation, he does it in his own style, due his acrobacy background, which is different of how Bruce would do it. Also, Dick talks to people in a different way and his interactions with other characters is according of how Dick Grayson would do it, not Bruce’s. So, that’s definitely a good point on this storyline.

Dick Grayson isn’t alone, he counts with the support of Red Robin (Tim Drake), Alfred, Oracle (Barbara Gordon), Bullock, and this time, Jim Gordon will be too close from the case for his own comfort.


WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

…some places just have a hunger about them, son. And you either feed them what they want... ...or you stay far, far away.

Gotham City is a character on its own in Batman’s stories. Its look, its ambiance, it has a “soul” that “infects” its citizens. Batman while works in the darkness, his legacy may be the only “light” on that grim city.

Dick Grayson will sadly realizing how “lost” the people of Gotham is, how “hungry” they are for the “tools” of craziness. How much of human remains on them? Are they still human? Or they become a pack of hungry monsters?

Batman’s crusade is to save Gotham City, but is the town wanting to be saved?

And to make the things worse, a darkness from the past is back, not his own past but too close enough, and maybe that darkness will make sure that the future of Gotham City would be the maddest of all.

But not only that darkness is back again in the social circle of Dick Grayson, since he will have to deal with the aftermath of his own past, something of his childhood that he thought wouldn’t be able to return in any way, and even ironically, a bloody tool for another Robin, it may will be key to his own survival, when the hunter becomes the prey, and options are limited.


BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER

You seeing who I’m seeing, Jim?

The Black Mirror is a long storyline where multiple cases are interlaced. Sins of the past are causing death and sorrow to the present.

The artwork isn’t any great, it could be much better.

Writing is really engaging and very well done.

However, the story isn’t perfect, while it was good to see how much elements from the past of everyone was resurfacing, I think that if the storyline would have focused on the main element which makes the climax of it, the whole storyline may be shorter but more solid.

And maybe due this “contamination” in the main story, having so many sub-plots is what causes that Batman and Jim Gordon look like to be “too slow” to react to the real menace that it’s standing in front of them at plain sight.

There is a brief appearance of The Joker, and while it was good the dialogue of him with Dick Grayson (as Batman), where The Joker knew he wasn’t THE Batman and even that he was a Robin. I think that it was kinda cheap to put him there, like “Geez! If we want the fans to read this TPB, we should have The Joker there!”. Dang, I do like The Joker as one of the villains of Batman, I think that that’s possible to make an epic Batman’s story without the need of having the Clown Prince of Crime around.

But, definitely, The Black Mirror is an entertaining story and a must-read to any Batman fan, specially if you want to read about the tour-of-duty of Dick Grayson while he was having the mantle.

[Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely in my Batman Top 10, maybe Top 5. Detective story meets horror, Dick Grayson assumes the role of Batman with great aplomb. Characterization is deep and true, with some sparse comedy to break the palpable tension.



My favorite theme is the contrast between Dick and Bruce under the Cowl. Dick prefers to be in the air, like back in Haly's Circus, which serves as a great metaphor for the positivism he brings to his Batman, while Bruce is very much “rooted” in his cynicism and gloom. Interesting to see both sides of the coin, because they essentially have the same tragic origin.

Having considered what the “Black Mirror” is itself, I believe the symbol states that good and evil are reflections of one another, rooted in the same pain, intensity, conflict, and chaos. And I think Snyder may be the first writer to give a name to what Bats and Joker, or what any duo of hero and villain, may experience. That’s just brilliant theorizing.

Jock is one of my favorite illustrators, especially for Batman. His work is dark, shadowy, fluid, yet somehow sinister and violent. Francesco Francavilla’s art by contrast is more clean and traditional, yet his use of light is unusual and superbly dramatic.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I think I'm probably going to get lynched for not being as enamored with The Black Mirror as everyone else seems to have been.

*Wait! Stop hitting me! I've got small children!*

I didn't say it wasn't good. It is. I just didn't...I don't know, lovelove it. I liked it it, just not in that way. It's not you, it's me. I don't know why we didn't connect on a deeper level, but I think it's best if I leave now. I'll call tomorrow, though. Really.
*cough, cough*
shuffles feet

Or something like that.

I don't have any specific complaints about the book. Or even some glaring detail that I can point to and say, "Yes! That's the thing! I didn't like (insert random offense here)! I'm justified!". Nope. I got nothing.

Read it. I'm the only person on the earth who isn't gushing about it, so you probably want to disregard my review.

[Kemper · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Scott Snyder helped rescue vampires from the clutches of teen-age girls in his American Vampire series, and now he’s saving Batman from the muddled mess that Grant Morrison and DC had put him in. Snyder may be the biggest super-hero of them all.

Bruce Wayne is back from the dead or time travel or whatever the hell was going on, but he’s off recruiting people for his new version of an international army of crime fighters so Dick Grayson is still acting as Gotham’s Caped Crusader. Dick has to deal with things like a bunch of the weapons used by Batman’s enemies have been stolen from a police evidence locker and are now being sold on the black market. There’s a bizarre incident in which a whale is found dead in a bank with a human corpse in it’s belly and the woman in charge is the daughter of the man that killed Dick’s parents. There’s also the small matter of Jim Gordon’s son who may be a sadistic serial killer coming home. Oh, and The Joker breaks out of Arkham again.

Snyder’s stories and the artwork are remarkably good, and got me revved up about Batman for the first time since Morrison started mucking around with the character. Dick Grayson as Batman puts a fresh spin on the whole Dark Knight thing. Gotham is still a hellish sinkhole of deranged criminals, but Dick’s version of Batman is more hopeful and less severe than Bruce’s as he tries to work with his allies rather than just barking orders and expecting everyone to obey. One of the funnier parts occurs between Gordon and Batman. Gordon is saying something and turns away. When he turns back, he’s shocked that Dick is still there instead of disappearing in the middle of the conversation like Bruce does.

In addition to that, Snyder also works in nice references to past Batman stories like The Killing Joke, Year One, and A Death in the Family while still making this feel like a whole new era. Some of the best and creepiest stuff revolves around Gordon’s messed up son who may not wear a crazy outfit but definitely belongs in the ranks of Gotham’s criminally insane. The only disappointing thing was that the Joker story seemed kind of weak and short, but that’s a small complaint.

Must reading for Bat-fans.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Bruce Wayne busy setting up Batman Incorporated, Dick Grayson (the first Robin) dons the cowl and becomes Gotham's Dark Knight. But as Grayson has been finding out since he became the Batman, it's not easy being the Caped Crusader and "The Black Mirror" shows him going up against a macabre and monstrous auctioneer of Batman paraphernalia called "The Dealer", a cyborg carjacker called "Roadrunner", a blind-folded pirate called "Tyger Shark", the Joker (of course) and the double-dealing Sonia Branch aka Sonia Zucco, daughter of Tony Zucco who murdered Grayson's parents. But of all the colourful villains lining up to take down the Batman, none are more disturbing that James Gordon Jnr, who makes a murderous return to Gotham...

Having just read "American Vampire" I wasn't sure Scott Snyder had the writing chops to create a Batman series this good, but he proves in "The Black Mirror" that he is easily as talented as the more experienced Batman scribes out there and can create a menacing, taut storyline to boot. I particularly liked the nuances he gives Grayson's Batman: when meeting with Jim Gordon he doesn't suddenly disappear when Gordon turns to switch off the Bat signal, much to Gordon's surprise; Grayson's banter with fellow hero Red Robin, aka Tim Drake (the third Robin), is much more comradely and friendly as the two are really equals than teacher/student as is the way with Wayne/Grayson.

Snyder writes the James Gordon Jnr storyline brilliantly, where the suspense between whether or not he's telling the truth is kept up tightly until the right time, and the way the character is written is both chilling and captivating, like Kevin Spacey's performance as John Doe in "Se7en". His normality is what's so disarming, and the artwork by Francesco Francavilla who draws/paints this storyline adds to the creepiness. He draws James as this normal looking kid but the expression on his face is as scary as anyone you'd find in Arkham Asylum.

Jock's artwork is fantastic throughout. His covers are amazing, particularly the Joker one which was partially made up of bats, but really they were all excellent and I loved the way he draws Grayson swooping through the Gotham skyline as if he were still in a circus big top on the trapeze.

"The Black Mirror" is one of the best self-contained Batman storylines in ages. Like all the best Batman books it's focus is on crime and the evil ordinary people are capable of rather than the cartoonish villains and the overly dramatic superhero elements some other Batman books have (though there are moments of this here too). Refreshingly with Grayson as Batman, while the story is dark, Snyder focuses on hope and light making this Dark Knight book not quite so dark and bleak while maintaining its heart and soul. It's one of the best Batman books out there and is destined to become a classic - what're you waiting for? Sit back and enjoy a Gotham moment.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotham's Batman, Dick Grayson, takes on the Dealer, a man selling the weapons of supervillains stolen from the GCPD evidence room, gun runners harassing a mob bosses daughter, and possibly the greatest threat of all, Commissioner Gordon's son...

You know, when DC put Dick Grayson in the Bat-costume, we all knew it wouldn't last and while I liked the issues of Batman & Robin I read, I didn't find anything earth-shattering and thought Dick's tenure as the Caped Crusader would be pretty forgettable. I WAS WRONG!

There are epic tales of the Bruce Wayne Batman that everyone mentions: The Killing Joke, The Dark Knight, Year One, The Long Halloween, the list goes on and on. This is Dick Grayson's epic.

Scott Snyder and Jock take the reader on a dark journey, following Dick Grayson as he tries to fill Bruce Wayne's shoes. While Grant Morrison made Batman fun again when he put Dick in the costume, Scott Snyder made me believe.

Batman goes up against The Dealer, Roadrunner, Tiger Shark, and even the Joker, but the most chilling villain in the Black Mirror is James Gordon Jr, the Commissioner's son. I can't even think of another comic book villain that actually scared me but James was scary because he was so real, so plausible. And I had a batgasm when he finally got what was coming to him.

That's about all I can say without giving too much away. I know I clicked the spoilers box but I didn't spoil more than the dust jacket. If I could give this six stars, I would. Scott Snyder is the real deal and I'm going to continue buying everything of his I can find.

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Mirror was actually all kinds of wonderful, in my opinion. I've been so focused on doing all the others, the alternatives in the DC world, thinking that I knew my Supermans and Batmans from movies and tv, that I just never really considered, you know, READING them.

Silly me.

This was all sorts of creepy and fun. It's all about Grayson, too.

Now, I'll also be honest, I've also been becoming a superfan of James Gordon JR ever since I read about him in Suicide Squad, and seeing him shine in this volume was an especially good treat.

New and old villains share the spotlight, of course, and I'm always blown away by the joker who has gotten mightily creepy in his older age. Really fun stuff.

I'm thinking I might have to hunt around or ask opinions as to the best of the Batmans and Supermans now. I've avoid d them for far too long. ;)

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are several graphic novelists that I find to be brilliant writers ~~ Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Alan Moore and Fabian Nicieza; I can now add Scott Snyder to that list. Before he began his critically-acclaimed, fan-favorite run on Batman for DC in the fall of 2011, writer Scott Snyder was ... writing Batman comics for DC.



The Batman comics Snyder was writing before Batman were issues of Detective Comics (and the miniseries Batman: The Gates of Gotham, which he co-wrote with Kyle Higgins and Ryan Parrott), a series Snyder was on from issue #871 until the September 2011 reboot, at which point he and Batman writer/artist Tony Daniel swapped books. The entirety of his TEC run is collected in the relatively fat trade paperback Batman: The Black Mirror.

This is superior super-comic making.

Snyder was certainly lucky to have such high quality collaborators: The art for all 300 or so pages of the collection is drawn by either Jock or Fancesco Francavilla, two of the better artists to put pencil to paper in order to draw a man dressed like a bat in the last few years.



Now, the format of Detective Comics was, at the time, a book with a full-length lead story and a short, back-up feature (although DC called them "co-features," as "back-up" apparently sounded slightly dismissive). At the start, Jock was drawing the lead stories and Francavilla the back-ups, which starred Commissioner Gordon and turned on his personal, family life; specifically, the return of his son James Jr. to Gotham City. The younger James is popularly suspected of being a criminal, and Barbara "Still Oracle" Gordon suspected him of even being a serial killer, although there was never any proof.

The stories are collected chronologically in here, so, other than the change in artists, there's no real sense of what's a lead story and what's a back-up; Snyder, who wrote both features, did an excellent job of writing them so they would eventually read as a whole. The shift in art styles, and the shifting tones that accompany those shifts, even work out, as in essence each artist is given a different plot thread to illustrate, and the sub-plot of the Gordon family psychodrama eventually comes to the fore, as Francavilla's art eventually becomes the dominant art in the book.



This is all a very long, complicated way of saying The Black Mirror reads like a well-made graphic novel that was meant to be read like a graphic novel.

At the time of these comics' creation, Batman Bruce Wayne was still sort of dead-ish and/or traveling the globe and setting up Batman, Inc, so the title Batman is actually Dick Grayson, working with Alfred out of "the Bat Bunker" in downtown Gotham. Red Robin Tim Drake appears a few times as well.



Dick appears as both Batman and Dick Grayson. As the latter, he works with Commissioner Gordon, using a state-of-the-art, high-tech crime lab that the Wayne Foundation built for the Gotham City Police Department and filling in for Bruce Wayne at certain social and business functions. As the former, he does Batman stuff.

Snyder writes Grayson and the various Gordons so well, I'm kind of sorry to learn that this is it for them as stars, and that Snyder would get the less-faceted, less-relatable Bruce Wayne as his lead when he took over Batman. Yes, I love Dick Grayson as Batman.

One thing he does extremely well here is write colorful villains in the gangster-plus mode of the best Bat-villains, some of whom are familiar (The Joker, Man-Bat and Killer Croc variants), but many of whom are new (The Dealer of Mirror House, Roadrunner, Tiger Shark), and come up with scenarios to provide his artists with cool, fantastical, somewhat creepy and off imagery (For example, the release of an aviary of exotic birds, filling the city scape with huge, strange birds that don't belong there; Tiger Shark, meanwhile, keeps orcas with him, and the body of one murder victim is found in the belly of a dead orca, found in the lobby of a bank).

As I said, reading this, it's unclear why DC thought their universe and their comics line was so messed-up that it needed rebooting to save it, but, at the same time, it's clear why they wanted to keep Snyder around the Bat World.

At any rate, this is an outstanding Batman comic book by a brilliant writer.

[Sud666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Black Mirror collects Scott Snyder's run on Detective Comics 871-881. It is actually a series of stories encapsulating the moral and spiritual toll that Gotham collects from Dick Grayson and Jim Gordon. Gotham City and its inherent corruption is the black mirror to the souls of Dick and Jim. At least that's the underlying theme of Black Mirror.
There are several stories in this volume from the title Black Mirror to Skeleton Key and Lost Boys. But at it's heart it is about Dick's time as Batman and how he views the city of Gotham and how it might be changing into something darker and uglier than he thought. It also shows his different mindset and approach than Bruce Wayne's brooding Batman. But Jim Gordon and his super-creepy son are also a huge part of the story. Now I don't know if this was ever done before, but in Black Mirror Jim Gordon JR is a serial killer and a creepy bastard at that. The story implies he is trying to turn himself around, but in typical Gotham fashion from the Criminal-mastermind's daughter's supposed redemption to Jim Jr's new path of taking his happy pills- nothing is what it seems. I really enjoyed the ending where Jim Jr tied up the entire run from the very beginning of the Dealer and the Mirror organization all the way to his dealings with his step-sister Barbara. Well done.
This is a good Dick Grayson story and a good Jim Gordon story. His creepy serial killer son gives him a new dimension. The subtle conflicts that arise between the denizens of Gotham and Dick and Jim show that there is a miasma of crime and almost "evil" that seem to permeate Gotham and it's dealings. It does test the mettle and spiritual strength of both Jim and Dick to conquer the challenges of working in Gotham. While both seem to remark about the darkness of Gotham, the story really takes off near the end between the Joker showing up to add his particular brand of mayhem and Jim Jr. showing his master plan. As I said-he is one weird guy.

So all in all-great story. Snyder really tells a great Batman tale- even if it is Dick Grayson. Along the way you learn about Jim Gordon and his super creepy serial killer kid. A strange and disturbing story. The effects of crime fighting in Gotham are always permeating the story. As said best that Metropolis is a city populated by Gods, but in Gotham it was just a man under the cape. Sadly the artwork never measures up to this grand tale. At best, I'd call it pedestrian. There's two things that hold me back from giving this a 5 star. (1) This is a Dick Grayson/Jim Gordon tale vs Bruce Wayne Batman-I know, I know...I just like Bruce better. (2) This pedestrian art. *sigh* What a difference a better artist could have made. Ah well.

A must read for any Batman fan. But, not bad for random readers as well. Come check out a twisted and dark tale of Dick Grayson and Jim Gordon and a city where nothing is what it seems and everything seems to go bad in the end. Must be something in the water I guess ;)

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotham's Batman, Dick Grayson, takes on the Dealer, a man selling the weapons of supervillains stolen from the GCPD evidence room, gun runners harassing a mob bosses daughter, and possibly the greatest threat of all, Commissioner Gordon's son...

So I read this what seems like aeons ago and mistakenly got rid of it during a purge. I found a paperback on the cheap and decided to give it another go before shelving it. Did it hold up?

YES! As I said in the previous review, There are epic tales of the Bruce Wayne Batman that everyone mentions: The Killing Joke, The Dark Knight, Year One, The Long Halloween, the list goes on and on. This is Dick Grayson's epic.

Scott Snyder, Jock, and Francisco Francavilla knock the guano out of this one. Dick as Batman is stripped down to the essentials, much like Batman was pre-Robin way back in the day. He almost has the working man's Batman feel of Daredevil at times.

Batman goes up against The Dealer, Roadrunner, Tiger Shark, and even the Joker, but the most chilling villain in the Black Mirror is James Gordon Jr, the Commissioner's son. I can't even think of another comic book villain that actually scared me but James was scary because he was so real, so plausible.

On the second read, I have a much greater appreciation for the Francavilla issues. His moody art, mostly red and black, does a phenomenal job setting the mood and making everything feel unearthly. It's no surprise that he's since done some unbelievable work on the Archie Horror books.

For my money, Batman works best when he's not always the smartest, most prepared guy in the room. Batman: The Black Mirror exemplifies this. Five out of five batarangs.

[Dirk Grobbelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally find it difficult to write reviews for graphic novels, so I'll keep it really short.

There really is only one thing I want to say about this: it is probably one of the best Batman stories I have ever read.

Okay, maybe there is one more thing I should add: Dick Grayson is still Batman here, but even if this bothers you (and it really shouldn't), you owe it to yourself to read this if you're a fan of either the graphic medium or Batman comics.

Great story
Great art
Recommended

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first Batman (this October is full of firsts) and what a treat! I might be a Snyder fan as it turns out!

Obviously, there is a lot I didn't know - like Barbara Jr. (Gordon's daughter) having been Batgirl until Joker put her in a wheelchair. Only the Joker-and-wheelchair part was addressed here, the Batwoman part I was told by another comicbook reader. Also, I am a bit confused about Gordon's marriages and children and their age difference (Barbara seems to be from his second marriage but is older than James Jr who is from the first? and how weird is it that Gordon named his daughter after his first wife?). And then there is the fact that in this there is no Bruce Wayne. He is mentioned often, but he is no longer Batman. Instead, he has (no idea when) adopted Dick Grayson and is currently building a franchise (take a moment to appreciate that joke) while Dick has stopped being Robin and became Batman instead.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that all these things didn't put me off in the slightest because there was always enough information to keep newbies like me filled in just enough.

Over several issues we get several different crime scenes that, in the end, are all connected. The depth of each story, the personal level, as well as the mysteries are very intelligently written and there is a perfect balance with action sequences and the usual technology Batman is famous for. We even get some dry humour in between. What shines through these issues, however, is James Gordon Jr.! And the scene with Joker and Dick where the former immediately knows him not to be "his" Batman (and asking Dick to tell Bruce to come back). That was downright touching! And the pages are full of such little intricate details that make reading the single stories such a delight.

As is only to be expected, Dick is a different person than Bruce. Bruce (at least in the movies and TV episodes I've seen) has been dark and brooding whereas Dick is more optimistic. Even Joker and Gordon Jr. say so. I, personally, don't think that's a bad thing - it gives the writers the opportunity to try something new, show the readers how different it could be and explore that new territory. Gotham is still the same dark and often rainy town, but the approach of the bat is a little different and I like it. It would have been awful if Batman had always been the same no matter who donned the costume. In fact, I quite liked Dick in his role which was a surprise to me.

The art, by the way, is fantastic throughout all the issues. Dark but sharp, as full of details as the story itself and I liked the colours used (not too dark, with brighter panels in between).

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible, harrowing stuff from Snyder and Co., and no Bruce Wayne in sight throughout!

James Jr. is an all-timer Bat Villain. What a creep!

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Batman comics I have read.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Review: One of the best Batman comics ever. It actually might be my favorite ever re-reading it now. It captures Dick as Batman so well it makes me so mad we didn't get the original 4-5 year plan of Dick as Batman. He works so well here, giving us growth in such a short span of time while also giving us one of the darkest and most fucked up stories for Jim Gordon. This is a MUST read and a 5 out of 5 for me on re-read.

Original 2016 Review: Up until the last 3 issues I was in the 3.5-4 area. It was solid stuff, but then those last 3 issues happened and BOOM it shot up to a 5/5. This is now my favorite Batman story next to Hush and Court of Owls.

The story is focused on Dick taking over the Batman cowl. His story is both interesting and fun but not nearly as captivating as Jim's story. His son is back, and let's just say he ain't all that normal. The graphic novel balances the "is James (Jim's son) a killer or not?" and does it so well that it'll leave you guessing till the end.

Dick's growth as a character comes full circle here. He's in full control, feeling more like his own than ever before. Loved him having to handle most of this story by himself, save for Red Robin helping just a tad bit. He mostly goes with Jim and that's it. No other help. It reminds me of Year One but for Dick, and it's so wonderful to read.

I don't want to go into spoilers (Despite being older comic) but the last three issues left me glued to the page and heart thumping like crazy. It's one of the most exciting and well written stories I've read staring our favorite hero, the Batman!

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars!

Introduction:

Lately, I have been reading many “Batman” comics that came out during the 1980s and the 1990s, so that way I could be caught up with the “Batman” universe. But, after discovering some newer “Batman” comics, I wanted to try out some and one of the “Batman” stories that I had checked out was “Batman: The Black Mirror.” Now, after reading “Batman: Hush,” I said to myself that I wanted to read more “Batman” stories that featured Dick Grayson since I loved his character in “Batman: Hush.” Well, imagine my surprise when I discovered that “Batman: The Black Mirror” was actually Dick Grayson’s story! Well, what could I say? This was definitely one wallop of a story that would be hard to review because of so much going on in one graphic novel, but I will definitely do my best to express my intense love for this comic book!

What is this story about?

After the events of “Final Crisis,” Bruce Wayne, the real Batman, decided to create a superhero group that consists of other “Batmans” called “Batman Incorporated.” So, Dick Grayson is forced to take on the mantle as the new Batman for Gotham City, while working with Oracle (Barbara Gordon) and Red Robin (Tim Drake) on various crimes that plague the city.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE STORY HERE!

The actual story here is that Dick Grayson, now Batman, has uncovered a terrifying and strange case when he discovers that a nightmarish auction is being held where the criminals of Gotham City’s possessions are all being sold to the rich citizens of Gotham City. Little does Dick Grayson, know it seems to be a plot to trap Batman once and for all! Meanwhile, Commissioner Jim Gordon’s past catches up to him when his psychotic son, James Gordon Jr. comes to visit Gotham City and convinces his father and his step sister, Barbara Gordon, that he is a changed man and is trying to get back on the right path. But, has James Gordon Jr. really changed or is he up to no good?

What I loved about this story:

Scott Snyder’s writing: WOW! All I could say is…WOW! After reading Scott Snyder’s fantastic work on “American Vampire,” I just had to see how well Scott Snyder can write the famous dark knight! I was actually pleasantly surprised that Scott Snyder managed to write Dick Grayson extremely well as Dick Grayson might have some serious moments to his personality, but I loved the fact that Dick is much more laid-back than Bruce Wayne and that he is willing to help anyone in their time of need. It clearly shows when Dick Grayson dons the Batman costume as his personality is less menacing than Bruce Wayne’s and he makes a couple of jokes or two towards his enemies. I also loved the relationship shown between Commissioner Jim Gordon and Dick Grayson as Jim Gordon holds the same respect for Dick that he held for Bruce Wayne. But what really sold the story for me was the fact that it was focused on how the characters viewed Gotham City as being a place full of corruption and how it affected them. I really enjoyed the storyline with James Gordon Jr. as he is a new character that I had never read about before, but Scott Snyder did a brilliant job at making him extremely creepy as you do not really know his true motives and yet, he can act so innocent at the drop of a hat. If I were to list one of the creepiest characters to ever appear in a “Batman” comic, then James Gordon Jr. would definitely be on that list! I also loved the way that Scott Snyder provided an extremely dark and gritty atmosphere to this story as it may have snippets of “American Vampire” in it (well, it is written by Scott Snyder, who also written “American Vampire”), but it worked so well with the “Batman” universe and it just made the story even more interesting to read!

Jock and Francesco Francavilla’s artwork: Both Jock and Francesco Francavilla’s artwork greatly contributed to the dark atmosphere of this story. Jock’s artwork during Dick Grayson’s storylines is extremely detailed and dramatic and also, the images of the monsters are extremely disturbing to look at which really made the story even more intense. Francesco Francavilla’s artwork in Commissioner Jim Gordon’s side of the story concerning his story are always shown in dark colorings and has a slight 80s artwork vibe which really brought a classic vibe to this story.

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What made me feel uncomfortable about this story:

Out of all the “Batman” comics I had read so far, this is seriously one of the most disturbing stories I had ever read, next to Batman: The Killing Joke. Anyone who does not like reading about serial killers or disturbing psychological issues might be a bit disturbed with this story. Also, this story has many gory scenes of characters getting cut up and killed that some readers might find a bit uncomfortable to read through.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, “Batman: The Black Mirror” is easily one of the best current “Batman” stories around and anyone who is a huge fan of Dick Grayson will definitely love this comic!

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Ｆｒａｎｋｈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to level with you now: you must pick this up one of these days and read it. You'll be glad you did. I spent about a week reading and reviewing each issue included for this stellar graphic novel written by the current Batman writer for New 52, Scott Snyder, and illustrated by artists Jock and Francesco Francavilla alternatively. Comprised of ten issues from Detective Comics #871-881 from the old DC continuity, The Black Mirror is set right after Bruce Wayne's supposed death and so, in his absence, the role of Gotham's Dark Knight was filled in by no other than Dick Grayson, the first Robin. Though it's not Wayne underneath the cowl, Dick as Batman is definitely a daring and compelling one.

In Snyder's stories about him being Batman and as illustrated by Jock, Dick faces questions similar to a person who is having an identity crisis, particularly on the aspect of his roots. Though intimately familiar with Gotham's horrific landscapes and feels personally obliged to protects its people, Dick never felt that he belonged in this city of nightmares and most of his character conflict stems from the fact that he's a bird constantly trying to be imprisoned in a cage by forces which he could not always comprehend but nonetheless fights back with much vigor and resilience. In Dick, we get a Batman whose contemplative monologues are as self-centered and personal as they could get with some touch of vulnerability and self-doubt here and there, the likes of which we have never seen in Bruce Wayne before (though Snyder will go on to write Bruce in a more humanized sense in Zero Year for New 52 later on).

His issues follow him in his investigations and findings pertaining to Gotham's usual scum and criminal element yet more often than not he gets caught up in a cycle of deception and greed that forces him to re-examine the way he views Gotham and his role and participation in all of its endless stream of violence and despair. I found Dick to be remarkably admirable yet pitiful as well especially in those quiet moments when I see glimpses of the Boy Wonder who is still lurking somewhere in the more matured and fiercer fighter Dick has become after leaving the Robin persona behind. It gives his Batman a presence that lacks the hardness that Bruce placed into it but still manages to be just as formidable. Jock's art and illustrations of Dick gliding across pages or diving into places remind you that this is the Robin we all love and who is now all grown-up and yet someone who remains as an adventurous aviator who longs for freedom and can only achieve it when he's flying over the dark city he is bound to serve.

In fact, those brief moments he soars in the skies are the happiest that Dick has ever been, right until he lands back on earth and faces the evils and malevolence that is required of the Dark Knight he now has to embody.

The secondary key character for the other half of the issues is Commissioner Jim Gordon. His issues are illustrated wondrously by Francesco Francavilla whose limited color palette of dark colors (hues of orange, red, blue and purple) make the stories a chilling visual adventure as it is able to echo the depths of horrors that Snyder's writing purposefully and, at most times, masterfully brings out with atrocious clarity. In these issues, we see Gordon stumble upon an enigma he could never seem to get a hold of in solving, one whose dark nature perplex and wound him most: his own son James Jr. whose psychosis brings devastation wherever he goes. Now that he's back in Gotham, James Jr. has unleashed uncomfortable memories that his father had buried for so long. Each issue builds up to the ultimate collision and, just like with Dick, Jim Gordon needs to meet the reflection he sees in the glass and recognize that its potential for evil has gotten stronger and he may not have enough time to stop it.

The Black Mirror may as well be Snyder's audition for becoming the current writer for New 52 Batman and if that is the case, then it was rewarded graciously with much deserved praise in the end because this was such an impressive body of work, I must say. His poetic prose when describing Gotham City as a living character and not just a setting piece in his stories is something we can now read and appreciate in his The Court of Owls storyline. I would recommend this to anyone, long-time Bat-fan or novice.

This is a rather moving yet very tragic story about the inconvenient truths in people's lives and how chaos can be the most undiscriminating force of nature that often rules the choices we make; and  that the ideals we cling onto and comfort ourselves with may be more fragile than we are led to believe--much like the people we love the most can be the very ones who will have the ability to betray and destroy who we are.

RECOMMENDED: 9/10

DO READ MY BATMAN COMICS REVIEWS AT:

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good Batman story makes you pause and feel the darkness inside our world.
With the world become smaller due to the accessibility of news 24 hours a day you become desensitized from the awful truth outside in the world, which is perhaps the bane of our times to many people lose their crutches to remain standing and are in search of the truth, which is perhaps why these days there is more than one truth.

Dick Greyson is the reigning Batman and with him come a whole load of new baddies that are just as twisted as with the original Batman. But Dick is a stronger person as he gives himself credit for but is also as driven as Bruce . The Joker returns and realizes that Grayson is not his Batman.
Some interesting stories come from James Junior Gordon who is as menacing as any creeps before but with bagage from the past.

I was really what taken aback having a new Batman missed the whole storyline, but then again there are too many comics to keep up with the storyline. So I end up skipping through or keep my attention on the more ancient storylines.
However I must admit that this collection was as exciting as some of the Bruce Wayne Batman stories.

[Sandee is Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because my fascination with Dick Grayson hasn't gone down yet, I decided to read another one. Yes, another one. Sue me.

After reading Batman: Earth One, I asked recommendations for more Batman stuff, and Black Mirror was one that was recommended by almost everyone I asked. So far, I really liked Scott Snyder's other Batman stories (The Court of Owls and The City of Owls), I was almost 100% sure I was going to like this one.

He did not disappoint.

I loved this.

THINGS I LIKED

- I really liked Dick Grayson as Batman. Let me defend myself. I'm saying this, not because I have a thing for Dick Grayson. Nope. It's not that at all. I guess I was just really surprised that I would end up liking Batman, even when it's not Bruce Wayne. For me, someone who hasn't been reading the Batman comics for very long, Batman and Bruce Wayne are the same. You can't have Batman without Bruce Wayne, vice versa. Black Mirror proved me wrong. You could have another Batman, who isn't Bruce, and still like it. The way they used Dick Grayson in this book was great. I really liked how we could see how differently he thinks from Bruce Wayne. It's very refreshing.
- They didn't force Dick Grayson's character to be a Bruce Wayne clone. I liked how Dick was still his own person. The things he did and the decisions he made was because he was his own person.
- I met some villains I have never met before, like the Dealer and whatever the other guy's name was. The one who stays underground and feeds people to sharks.
- James Gordon Jr. Holy crap! This guy.



I'm not going to tell you why, but that guy... You have to find out for yourself.



- There are some pretty fucked up things that happened here. Not just things, but most of the people here were pretty fucked up to. I still don't get why the people of Gotham are attracted to evil. I'm not complaining though. It's actually one of the thingfs that make reading any Batman comic interesting. It's like Gotham, the city, has it's own personality. And it's not letting Batman win. No matter which Batman it is.
- Seeing that crowbar again...
- The Joker. I love the Joker and all his villany antics. He didn't play a big role, but I liked that he was here.
- The tone of this series was pretty dark, but I liked that Snyder was still able to insert a bit of humor to it.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE

- Story-wise, I have no issue whatsoever with this, but I would have to say, I wasn't a big fan of the illustrations. I liked how there was a dark tone to it the entire time, but I just don't feel it. Sorry.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I highly enjoyed this one. I have been reading Scott Snyder books one after the other, and so far, I have not been disappointed. Would definitely be reading more.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best Batman story I’ve read in a long time. My hat is off to Scott Snyder. The Batman here is Dick Grayson, formerly Robin and Nightwing. Upon taking the Cowl, he already has unique relationships with the members of the Batman family that are different from that of Bruce Wayne. This collection explores how Grayson, who has his own personal issues, finds his own niche in the Batman family dynamic as the new Caped Crusader.

Another family relationship that gets explored is the one between Jim Gordon and his psychopathic son, James. The conversation between the two at a diner is a highlight.

Tips on parenting you can't find in a parenting book: Commissioner, if you want to scare your eight year old son straight, the best place to put him might not be in Arkham Asylum next to the Joker. Just sayin’.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great art and great story, with a focus not on weird comic book silly villains but on the real evil real people can do, so the creepy horror is somehow more real in this story than in other Batman stories. One Batman image will stay with you, by artist Jock, a picture of Joker partly made of bats, and it is pretty amazing, but the level of the art brings it to among the best Batman stories ever, in my opinion. Creepy, powerful, disturbing in places. Great stuff.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was epic.

It starts with Dick going about his business as the new batman and investigating his enemies until he had to deal with a new enemy called the dealer and whose hooked on man-bat virus serum and then the crazy antics at Mirror house and then dealing with rival gangs in Tiger Shark and the murder of Sonia Zucco's assistant and how these stories intertwine And finally the big one the return of James Jr, Gordon's psychopath son and has he been redeemed or does he have evil intentions? And what does he have planned for his family and Gotham at large? And we discover the secrets behind his schemes.

Its a great mystery volume and lives up to its name and has Dick do a lot of detective work and I like how Barbara and Jim Gordon were involved and involving Tim was cool too and his relationship with Tim and how he approaches being Batman but the villains introduced are awesome and showing two facets to them. The Zucco twist was cool and then the revelation with James Jr's plan was so awesome and the ending leaving things open ended. Great stuff and the art is brilliant by Jock and Francavilla. One of the best Batman stories out there and perfectly captures Richard as Batman.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I've been thinking about Batman lately (assuming, as you should, that I am always thinking about Batman in some way or another) is that Batman might be over.

WAIT. Just chill out. All's I'm saying is that I've been thinking about what the DC reboot really means for all the long-running superheroes it affected last year. And while the whole of comic nerdom has been really focused on this new era of DC as the beginning of something, what's not being discussed so much is that, in a small way, this could also be considered the end of something; that is, the conclusion (however haphazard) of all the superhero stories (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman et al) that began in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

Not that this thing, this 70-year arc, was in any way planned or shaped in a narratively cohesive way -- but that in Batman's case, ultimately all of the several thousand comics strewn across the many series he's been a part of must ultimately add up to something that concludes (at least in part) with this, the very last Detective Comics story.

Of course, anyone who's anyone knows that the real shebang played out (and is still playing out) in the pages of the newest comic on the Batman block (and the last holdover from the pre-reboot era), Grant Morrison's Batman Incorporated, in which Bruce Wayne's war on crime goes global. But meanwhile, many have hailed Black Mirror as a high note for the original series to end on, in which Dick Grayson, having taken on the cape and cowl from his boss, works with Commissioner Gordon on a particularly grisly (of course) and personal (natch) set of cases that (indubitably) all turn out to be the same case, formed by a criminal mastermind from their shared past.

While it was coming out in the monthlies, Black Mirror received such high praise that I knew 1) I would have to read it and 2) there would be something wrong with it. How could there not be? Either it wouldn't live up to the hype, or it would; either way I'd be disappointed with or jealous of Scott Snyder, yet another Bat-writer I've never heard of who'd unwittingly stolen my job.

But another thing I've been thinking about is that even as my enjoyment of many different incarnations of Batman is widening to include the old '66 TV show, as well as a range of early writers and artists that I used to poo-poo as forgotten and dated, I'm also starting (just starting) to form my ideas on what I think Batman is really about, for me. I suppose my biggest fascination (and problem) with Batman stories has always been the hero's complete inability (and often, his refusal) to really conquer evil. Because he has no powers, because he won't kill, and because he exists in a fabricated universe that requires timelessness to insure its commercial survival, Batman lives in a perpetual state of almost-but-not-quite falling apart. And this is distressing, because Batman is not, in fact, an anti-hero who might be suited for this kind of unending tenuousness; he's a superhero trying to function within a noir. He's white hat/black hat kind of guy, who happens to live in an incredibly gray world.

Another way of thinking about it (as I've begun to) is that Batman is what happens when horror is mixed with hope. Some of his best (and grimmest) stories know this; when things go bad (way bad) in truly nasty classics like Arkham Asylum, The Killing Joke, or even second tier pulps such as Ten Nights of the Beast, Batman still comes through to find some sort of order, however small.

And while there are many things about Black Mirror I greatly enjoyed (the dialogue, the pacing, the color palette, the structure of stories leading up the big reveal, and especially the complete lack of any kind of serious attempt on Gordon's part to deny that he knows Batman and Robin's secret identities), I suppose that overall it just left me feeling glum, uneasy, and unresolved. Which I get, for a lot of people, is another thing that Batman is potentially really good at; he would never, by any of his fans or detractors, be called a "feel-good" kind of guy.

But as a final note, it seems pretty sour -- the bad guy is captured, sure, but not before he's suggested to the heroes the possibility that he's infected thousands of children with an untraceable, incurable disease, as though leaving the reader with thoughts of infanticide is somehow akin to the note of "is it a UFO or isn't it?" at the end of your average X-Files episode.

So maybe I'm just getting soft, but this sort of thing just seems purposelessly awful, even if it is just a comic book. It's where I think a lot of modern Batman writers have gotten it wrong, as they attempt to dream up newer and more horrible scenarios to toss the reader into, just for the sake of what they believe noir is.

But it's hope and horror that made these stories tick for the last 70 years. And I guess I'd like for it to be what will keep them going, in the years to come.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snyder and the artists do a good job of setting a subtly sinister and shadowed tone in this book, starting out with a sense of dread that seeps into the corners of the pages but does not confront us under direct gaze.

I enjoyed this book even despite the massive hype it's received. I noticed early on that the foreshadowing was just enough to let us know that even the immediate threats are just the opening gambit in a longer con on us readers - and I am completely complicit in being conned, because an artful sales pitch is a thing of beauty.

The aftertaste left behind by the first villain is nothing compared to the rest though. What's most impressive is the way that Snyder and Jock make it so easy to get in Dick's head and get lost in the near-madness of his everyday thinking & reactions. I mean, he sounds like a guy who can keep it together facing these weird and threatening situations, but that just goes to show how truly off the reservation he must be. Really quite an enjoyable ride through the fantastic scenery as we came face to face with the climax of the Black Mirror.

What's really quite fantastic about Snyder's writing (especially his dialogue) is not what's there but what's not - so much pointless exposition, all the extra details that any intelligent reader can fill in (or enjoy wondering about). It's such a pleasure to not be insulted by the writer - to get the feeling like the writer expects highly of the reader.

Here's an example of why the writing is so damned good. When you catch a conversation between Dick and Tim, it's like you're peering over the shoulders of a couple of old friends - people you can just tell immediately they've known each other too long, so there's nothing artificial or...explanatory about what they're saying. Just the good stuff, where you understand what they're saying without exactly hearing it out loud.

The extra fun in Snyder's writing is it's clear he's doing research, gathering raw details about the subjects to lend some authenticity to the narration - not just making shit up, but pulling out notions that fit into the scene.

It's actually reminiscent of Brubaker's run on Captain America (at least the early, good parts) - the writing is lyrical, and weaves the main characters' past with the present action so that you're getting a grand tale with echoes (like in our own lives - at least the constant echoes of early life experiences).

And Francavilla does as good a job at evoking feelings of foreboding and tension as Jock - Where Jock uses crazy expressive linework and splatter, Francavilla uses great colours and composition to draw you into the scene. The moods these guys set elevate this book from good to masterful without making me feel like it's forced.

[Chelsea 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

That first story, man. If it weren't for that first 3 part story, I'd be giving this 5 stars. It lagged so much for me that I considered quitting this book. I'm so, so, so glad I didn't though.

This is a complicated rating for me because I will rate something lower if I feel like the main character wasn't characterized well or there wasn't any character development. Dick Grayson is meant to be the main character here but aside from stories about the circus, there is no development for him. No progression or moments in which he has to learn new ways of seeing Gotham or the world. There were several moments where he appeared to be a secondary character. As a Dick Grayson book, I would not recommend this.

As a Batman book, this shit is awesome!

Aside from that first story, I was so invested in the plot of this book! I didn't want to put it down!

The second story gives us a lot of background on James Gordon Jr. He is a lot more formidable and scary in this book than the New 52 Batgirl series. We see his childhood and we understand why Babs never trusted him. We get a fantastic scene where he has lunch with his father and tells him about his diagnosis as a psychopath. The whole scene is drawn in such a way that you feel Gordon's tension. You feel uncomfortable reading it because Gordon is a seasoned detective and he's wary of James. I kept expecting him to do something awful.

The third story is about a collector of really rare artifacts. I'd like to note that there were moments in this book that actually made me gasp out loud. I wasn't expecting some of the more graphic art or some of the twists in these stories. Dick is meaner in this story than I expected. I really love that, in efforts to truly differentiate his Batman from Bruce's, Dick flies over the city on ziplines similar to a trapeze artist. He doesn't move the same way Bruce moves and I thought that was a really nice touch. The mastermind behind the Hungry City three part story was an excellent reveal as well.

The third story involves the Joker and James and everything comes to a head. I'll admit, it got a lot darker than I was expecting it to. Normally, I'd find that kind of violence unnecessary, as if the writer only inserted it for shock factor but it kind of fits here. The ending was satisfying, although I really felt for Babs. I did not expect the stories to tie in to each other the way they did.

Long story short, this book surprised me and if you're looking for a Dick Grayson book, read Robin Year One or Nightwing. If you're looking for a good Batman story that doesn't have a lot of Batman, this is a great book to read.

It's a recommend.

[Molly™☺ · Rating 5 out of 5]

90% | A | Amazing

"So we're both here for the long haul"

Dick Grayson has donned the mantle of Batman and is now the protector of Gotham. Like his predecessor, he has to take on the twisted and unpredictable criminals who crawl in the city's shadows, some of whom may hit closer to home than he'd like.

Perhaps it's the ex-criminology student in me, but I absolutely loved this. Essentially, this novel is made up of semi-isolated stories which are all interlinked by a greater, running narrative. The first part focuses on Grayson's Batman going up against an underground auction house which sells off villain memorabilia to the rich. Following this is the discovery of a human body inside of a killer whale that was left inside a bank, making for a story which involves the daughter of the person who killed Dick's parents. These arcs in themselves are good, but it's the final part which really made this a five star rating for me. James Gordon Jr's storyline which deals with psychopathy is the most interesting, exploring the viewpoint of the family and how they're affected by it as well as the individual themselves. As with his previous work, Snyder manages to brilliantly craft psychological horror and suspense with accompanying visuals by the talented artists that complete this experience. This Batman story gives the vibes of an episode of Criminal Minds, but with the iconic DC characters playing the roles of detective, perpetrator and victim. Stunning work which I would recommend to anyone who have an interest in crime books and Batman.

[Rory Wilding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before DC relaunched their whole line-up for the New 52 in 2011, Batman was going through an interesting period as we were right in the middle of Grant Morrison's epic seven-year-old run on the character spanning through a number of Bat-titles. At this point, Final Crisis had happened, in which Bruce Wayne was wiped from existence and so the first Robin, Dick Grayson, had to take over the mantle of Batman, whilst Bruce's son Damian becomes the new Boy Wonder. However, when Morrison resurrected Bruce for the character to headline Batman Incorporated, which basically introduced a franchise of Batmen to protect the entire globe, Dick is still Batman for Gotham City.

Prior to working on his legendary Bat-run with artist Greg Capullo, writer Scott Snyder made his Bat-debut by writing eleven issues for Detective Comics, which not only showcased Dick Grayson's finest moment as the Caped Crusader, but proved to be one of the best people to write for the Bat. Having stayed in the Wayne Tower penthouse for a year, Grayson struggles to make the identity his own. Investigating several murders involving equipment from the GCPD's super-villain evidence locker, Batman infiltrates the Mirror House that runs by a mysterious man known as the Dealer. Meanwhile, Commissioner Gordon tries to come to terms with the return of his son James Gordon Jr. after a long hiatus due to his cold psychopathic tendencies.

From its opening pages, Snyder establishes the horror-based tone with a school boy taking a mutagen that turns into a genuine monster that bites the hand of his bully. It's bloody and nasty, and sets up the grim narrative that can only be told on the streets of Gotham City. More so than any other fictional city in comics, Gotham is a character that is dark and monstrous as the humanity that inhabits it as although there is a theatricality to the super-villains, they are often defined by their own idea of psychological disturbance that could rival the evil from many of Stephen king's books.

You'll be hard pressed to find much humour in this book, but at least this Batman has more of a light touch than his predecessor. Being the first Robin, Grayson is known for his quips, but it doesn't negate his detective skills, based on his previous experience as a police officer and now runs Wayne Enterprises' state-of-the-art crime lab built for the GCPD, which has gone unused out of spite from the department. Snyder shows how Grayson is different from Wayne in subtle ways, from the interactions between Batman and Gordon doesn't end with the former disappearing during mid-conversation. As the artist drawing all the Batman stuff for this book, Jock showcases Grayson's background as a circus performer with Batman performing these graceful jumps and landings, whilst creating some stylish Bat-posing.

With Commissioner Gordon as the second lead with his own arc, it shows how Snyder is very much influenced by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli's seminal comic Year One. Although the Joker does make an appearance later on and very much depicted as a figure of horror, the story showcases brand new villains, some of which have a personal connection towards Grayson. The most notable of which is James Gordon Jr. who made his debut as a baby in Year One and was never heard from again until The Black Mirror. Very much a Hannibal Lecter-ish villain, Junior is about manipulating people as well as some gruesome killing, whilst his father, his half-sister Barbara and his former friend Dick has their own views towards James, all of which come together to a terrifying climax. Having a completely different art-style to Jock's, Francesco Francavilla is known for his pulp and retro-inspired style that applies well to Gordon's arc. Cutting back and forth to Gordon's current cold case to his children's past where James Jr shows a troubling side at an early age.

A perfect blend of detective fiction and horror set in the streets of Gotham, Scott Snyder, Jock and Francesco Francavilla creates one of the best self-contained Batman stories that evokes a lot from the past, but presents something new from what we haven't seen in the mythos.

[Jonathan Terrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a particular crowd of readers who would no doubt look at a graphic novel like this and instantly dismiss it out of hand. For them graphic novels are merely flashy comic strips for the geeks and nerds of society. In short, on a subconscious level, they are disenfranchising a group of individuals for their reading choices. And yet, like a decent blockbuster film, there is a unique art form to the graphic novel that should never be ignored, regardless of the literary snobbery one aims to achieve. To refuse to read such novels because they do not personally appeal to you is one issue, to refuse to read them because it is not a 'classy' thing to do is another. Particularly this version of Batman, which is both a stunning visual work and possesses a strong plot.

Indeed, it could be said that this graphic work, alongside Batman: Noel, prove that the modern graphic novel does possess a level of literary merit. Yet it is literary merit in a different way to say Joyce or Dickens. It is the literary merit of reflection upon the world in a format that appeals to those readers by providing them the ideas of other greats through a different mode.

That is not to say that this is not a great work in itself. It is possible that this Batman tale has one of the tightest plots seen in a recent Batman story, a plot which is reminiscent of previous story arcs such as Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1. Though this is connected the story arc featured in Batman Incorporated, Vol. 1 the story stands well on its own, with the backstory nicely introduced to the reader along the way.

One of the major appeals to this story is that it is a true Batman story. Batman, though he may be a Dark Knight and Caped Crusader is also a detective and essentially all strong Batman stories contain an element of mystery and intrigue leading up to the final reveal. And this is no exception, with several clever red herrings included in the plot as delicate distractions. Though the Batman in the novel may not be Bruce Wayne he is still the essential icon, cape and all, characterised perfectly through the writing and the artwork. Artwork, which while glossy and exquisite, slightly reminds one of the style seen in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

Batman is one of the greatest of superhero characters because unlike others he was one of the first heroes to be a true super human. He lacked powers, yet he had the heart to get back up and keep fighting. When his back was broken he rose again. When Robin was killed he kept on fighting. Because even though evil and crime seem to be an unstoppable ocean, humanity needs a hero who won't stop fighting.

What also made and makes Batman great today, is the environment in which his stories are told. Gotham City is the perfect foil for the glowing superhero archetype of Superman, with its run down, crime filled nature. As a gothic and brooding city it is also the perfect setting to remind the reader that beneath the exterior, often a darker heart can be lurking. It is the uncompromising, gritty nature of the Dark Knight and his environment that essentially appeals to the reader, forging Batman into a literary character as great as any other detective before him. And this novel is the perfect tribute to many years of great (and not so fabulous) Batman storylines.