Batman: The Ultimate Evil part 1

Batman: The Ultimate Evil #1

by Neal Barrett Jr., Denys Cowan (Illustrator)

An Adaptation of the novel by the same title by Andrew H Vachss. Weary of fighting exotic criminals, Batman has reached a crossroads. As wealthy philanthropist Bruce Wayne, traveling with a beautiful young social worker and child advocate, he begins to realize a change must occur in his life. But what? Alfred, his faithful servant, provides the answer. He reveals to Batman the secret of his parents' death. They weren't the victims of random crime, they were murdered with intent. Wayne's mother was also a crime fighter. She discovered a worldwide network of child pornographers, pedophiles, and pimps and left behind her findings with instructions to Alfred to turn them over to her son when the time was right. Batman targets child sex tourism promoted by a Southeast Asian country and, posing as a pedophile, makes the right contacts and soon finds himself battling the government.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Batman, Dc Comics

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Neal Barrett, Jr. was a writer of fantasy, science fiction, mystery/suspense, and historical fiction. His story "Ginny Sweethips' Flying Circus" was nominated for both the 1988 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and the 1989 Hugo Award for Best Novelette.

Reviews

[Kay ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read the Andrew H Vachss novel, maybe I should? I got both part 1 and 2 for $5 at a discount bin.

In this story Batman seems so shocked about all things leading to child abuse. How is he shocked about this? It seems far fetched that a vigilante would be ignorant when it comes to child abuse. I will be reading volume 2 since I have it. The artwork isn't the greatest.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The adaptation is interesting. At first it kind of jumps in and is disconnected and doesn't flow real well - like they tried to cram to much story into too short a comic (thought the book itself was fairly short as novels go). But, visually, it almost is better than the book at showing Batman/Bruce's inner turmoil.

My original review on the novel:

This is not your usual Batman story.

I've always Iiked the characterization of Batman as urban legend. Something about that resonates with me and seems in keeping with criminals being a "superstitious and cowardly lot". If Batman isn't mysterious and makes public appearances, that would take away from the fear he creates.

But this could almost read like the last Batman story. It pulls him out of the fantasy superhero world he lives in, and puts him in the real world, facing the real ugliness that exists there. And from that, I should think, there's no going back.

And I find it odd that after so many years fighting the dregs of society, he has this existential crisis and suddenly wants fight the lowest of the dregs of this society.

That being said, it's an interesting story, and well-written, though the subject matter is a bit dark. But it's probably good - more awareness always needs to be raised about child trafficking - even if it takes a Batman story to do it. And read the piece at the end, an eye-opening article about the child sex trade.

[Phillip Keeling · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Okay--we'll take Batman, and put him in a a storyline that is unnerving and rapey while still somehow way too hokey and after-school-special-esque. It'll stumble over its own dialogue, clumsily ret-con important characters, and make Batman seem like more of an idiotic Boy Scout than Frank Miller's interpretation of Superman. He'll have no idea what's going on in Gotham--he'll have no idea how the criminal mind works. You'll constantly wonder just how in the hell he's been an effective crime fighter all these years!"

"Okay, but it'll have good artwork, right?"

"Nah, bro."

[Rashe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman discovers domestic crime for the first time, which is actually plausible. Martha Wayne was specifically targeted for investigating Epstein's Island. In later stories, she's revealed to be put in a mental institution... coincidence? 🤨

[Ralph Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both volumes of this book are great, especially after just finishing the original Andrew Vachss novel.

[Kamil Henri · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10