Batman: Gotham Knight (Novelisation)

Batman

by Louise Simonson

Ushering in a summer of Batman...
The Caped Crusader returns in this prequel to the Warner Bros. blockbuster film?The Dark Knight.After Wayne Manor is burned to the ground, Bruce Wayne establishes a new base of operations, and? as Batman?refines his personal vigilante mission, encountering foes both old and new.

Genres: Batman, Dc Comics, Fiction, Superheroes, Comics, Fantasy, Mystery

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Louise Simonson (born Mary Louise Alexander and formerly credited as Louise Jones, when married to artist Jeff Jones) is an American comic book writer and editor. She is best known for her work on comic book titles such as Power Pack, X-Factor, New Mutants, Superman, and Steel. She is sometimes referred to by the nickname "Weezie".

Since 1980 she is married to comic book writer and artist Walter Simonson

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I know this was really to release the animated versions of the stories between Batman Begins and the Dark Knight, but I enjoyed this book.

The book shows the effect Batman has on the crimes in Gotham, how he ingratiates himself yo the GCPD and the new players in Gotham before the Joker in the Dark Knight. I also like how the book manages to turn the 7 stories on animated movies into a whole story.

It is a great bridging book between the first and second movies in the trilogy and a more comic book feel but also fits perfectly into the Nolan universe.

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m just not the biggest fan of this book there is lots to enjoy out of the story between Batman Begins and the Dark Knight but it doesn’t feel to exciting. The villains explored are cool for their brief moments but the dialogue is very basic and doesn’t capture the essence of the world explored in the Dark Knight Trilogy. Will watch the movie soon and see how it compares to the book.

[Tredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sympatyczna lektura. Nie spodziewałem się niczego wielkiego, ale dość przyjemnie się czytało. Taki komiks bez obrazków :)

[Szuwarek · Rating 2 out of 5]

z perspektywy 10-latka była strasznie nudna

[A.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman: Gotham Knight takes place within the current movie continuity of the Batman legend, specifically between movie one and movie two. While there are references to characters and scenes from Christopher Nolan's first film, this book has its own unique story and introduces readers to a wider vision of Gotham City and its inhabitants than Nolan's movies have time to allow. Detectives Allen and Montoya are major characters along with Lt. Jim Gordon from the GCPD. While characters like Rachel Dawes and Alfred play only small supporting roles. The most important character, Batman/Bruce Wayne, is written perfectly. The author nailed it. The Batman in this book is the Batman I think most people want to read: relentless, vigilant, cunning, scary/creepy smart, and amid all those shadows, truly a good dude who places a high value on life.

This story sets Batman after a mystery villain who cannibalizes Gotham's homeless, leaving them to wash up on shore in mutilated fashion. Along with this enigma the ever present organized crime in Gotham gets intertwined in the plot. About four fifths of the way through the book one major mystery was solved. At that point I was literally wincing during some of the descriptions of the fight scenes (which is a good thing), and then happily dove into the rest of the book. It was fun, fast, enjoyable reading.

If you like Nolan's movies, then you'll love this book. One of its strengths is that it lets you see some of the background details that aren't in the films. I particularly enjoyed reading the exchanges between Batman and Jim Gordon. Most of my exposure to Batman came when I was young through the "Batman: the Animated Series" TV show. In that show their relationship is well-established. By the time I was a teen I was avidly reading comics, but again, all of the comics I read as a teen in the '90's included an older Commissioner Gordon who had already developed a strong relationship with Batman. This book, like Nolan's movies, offered me interactions I'd not seen or read before.

This story also includes a visit into the sub-basements of Arkham Asylum which was really interesting in its own way, and a visit into the bowels, literally, of the Gotham sewer systems. I appreciated the author's time spent giving us the history of Gotham during these scenes. It made the setting feel very real.

A few other quirky things I enjoyed about this book: 1) The format - I have little time to read these days. The short chunks throughout this book made picking it up and putting it down easy. I'm sure I was able to get through it quickly just because of the format. 2) The constantly changing perspectives in the storytelling - I really enjoyed being in different character's heads. 3) The not-so-subtle homages to previous creative talents in the Batman ethos: Bill Finger, Chris Nolan, Bob Kane, to name a few...if you know them already they'll jump out at you.

I would recommend this book to anyone 14 and up who enjoys the Batman movies, crime stories, and homicide mysteries a la "Law & Order," and also general comic fans. You won't be disappointed. It's fast-paced and entertaining.

[T.M. Carper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A glimpse into what occured between "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" that touches on some well-known characters from the comics--Killer Croc, Oswald Cobblepot ("The Penguin")--and movies--Scarecrow/Dr. Crane, the Russian, Sal Maroni--and shows more about Bruce's journey to becoming the Dark Knight with the touches of dark seriousness that trademark the Nolan adaptations. There are also mentions of people who are a part of the universe such as Bob Kane, the creator (his name is on a sign during a fight between Batman and a villian named Deadshot), David S. Goyer, who wrote the screenplays, and Christopher Nolan himself is a street name.



A good novalization that delves deeper into Gotham City.

[Olga · Rating 1 out of 5]

If a month ago someone had told me that a book about BATMAN could be boring as hell, I wouldn't have believed it. Yet, here we are. It's about 250 pages and I've been reading it for over a month. I was falling asleep after few pages. I do not recommend it.

[Emilou · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was a terrible idea to take a bunch of very well done short animated segments and try to make a full story out of it. It wasn't well written and in a lot of places was very boring.

It did make me want to go watch the movie again.

[Kevin Harber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-done sequel to ‘Batman Begins’ that picks up almost immediately where the film ended.

[TONY · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me awhile from purchasing to reading this book.
Great Batman adventure
Thanks

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book fills in the gap between the Batman Begins and the Dark Knight. Or it should. It picks up nicely enough, mentioning hints of the first movie, his training with Ra's al Ghul, following the escaped Scarecrow and other things. But is there a reason the character named Montoya in the book is named Rodriguez in the movie (if indeed it is the same character?) Also there's no direct carrying on of the Joker hint of the last scene in the movie, but I guess that's just too much so leave it for TDK :)

Killer Croc and Deadshot are the villains here. Killer Croc strikes me as too much of a monster, rather than a human experiment. The fights in the tunnels are done well though. Deadshot is elusive until the very end where we get to read his background and then a chapter or two later he is captured. Still it works, because Lt. Gordon is showing his growing trust in Batman so that they can work together to capture him by setting up a trap.

A pleasant enough book. I'm a bit curious how the animated version of the stories came out.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review found at: I wasn't expecting too much after I read that back cover, but I figured why not? I like Batman, let's see what scrapes he gets into this time. I'm glad I took the chance, because it was well worth it. Lots of action and mystery. I love how everything that happened was intertwined with the other goings-on around Gotham. And what Batman fan doesn't get excited reading about Arkham Asylum? THAT should have been mentioned on the back.

Overall, a really good book, definitely worth reading. =)

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not completely certain of the provenance of this novel, it seems complex, but it's based on an animated film set in the universe of the most recent Batman movies. The cover says "Based on a story by Jordan Goldberg," and the title page says it's based on the screenplay by six people, including Josh Olson and Greg Rucka. I believe each writer must have done short pieces that were put together into a single long film, which would explain some transitions that are rather abrupt and an occasional feeling of lack of continuity. Batman has been re-booted enough times that ret-conning doesn't work anymore, but there's no Robin here and Bruce is living in a penthouse in downtown Gotham and Lucius Fox is the master gadgeteer, so that pretty well sets the stage. It's a fine, standard adventure sequence that sets up for the second Nolan film.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I LOVE Batman. I love the cheesey TV series of the '60s, I love the ridiculous films of the '90s and the more modern age Christopher Nolan films with Christian Bale. I have read a million and one comic books and graphic novels starring Batman, I'm reading the NEW 52 'Batman and Robin' and I adore it.

The things I most love about Batman (both past and present) is the ludicrous madmen villians, the action-packed fight scenes, the technology and the quick-witted remarks. The novels seem to dampen all of this and makes Batman pretty....boring.

So after reading three Batman novels, I just know I wouldn't be able to read another.

I need to stop reading these books, immediately.

[Roger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently you really can make Batman boring. Batman: Gotham Knight is set firmly in the universe of Batman Begins-in fact the action here takes place between that film and The Dark Knight. Louise Simonson is a long time comics scribe but she does not quite manage to match the Christopher Nolan films in tone or cleverness. That would have been ok if she had just written something completely original (I would have welcomed that) but this is a laboriously imitative "ode" to the film series that is constantly striking notes that are slightly off key. I'm certain Simonson produced the product she was asked to-sadly.

[Robert]

This novelization is fantastic. The author weaves all the shorts together and believably relates it to Batman Begins. A good Batman novel, not as good as Rucka though. Coincidentally, he wrote one of the shorts this book is based on.

[Jenny T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story takes place between the movies "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight." Action includes a sniper, gang wars between 2 competing crime lords, and super-villian, Killer Croc. I enjoyed Batman's gadgets - and you have to thank character, Lucius Fox, for that.

[Randy Almonte]

This book was amazing. I am a big superhero nerd and this book can seem childish but to me its not. The book is mostly about how batman got to be batman and many villains he faced. Even thought it was not a comic nook like other books it was really good and i feel that other people should read it.

[Shal'tiar · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok book. You can learn about the different areas of Gotham city. It bridges the gap between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Now I can see the movie.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad little book, but then Batman is a lot of fun.

[Brittany Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well written Batman story set after Batman Begins.

[Ronnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent Batman story. Worth the read for all fans.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book takes place in the Gotham created by Batman Begins movie, so not that great.

[Jason Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, I like Batman. Deal with it.

[Greg Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great Batman story.