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Batman: The Dark Knight Unwrapped
A sketch edition of some of comics superstar David Finch's greatest Batman stories from The Dark Knight , DC The New 52 and more!
This fantastic unwrapped collection features tales of the Dark Knight written and pencilled by David Finch. Encompassing David's work from The Dark Knight to the re-launch in the New 52, this volume features the stunning artwork and compelling stories about the supernatural and the esoteric areas of Gotham City.
Collects The Dark Knight #1-3 , The Return #1 and B The Dark Knight (Vol 2) #1-7 and 9 in black and white format.
This fantastic unwrapped collection features tales of the Dark Knight written and pencilled by David Finch. Encompassing David's work from The Dark Knight to the re-launch in the New 52, this volume features the stunning artwork and compelling stories about the supernatural and the esoteric areas of Gotham City.
Collects The Dark Knight #1-3 , The Return #1 and B The Dark Knight (Vol 2) #1-7 and 9 in black and white format.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 2015
4 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
David Finch
708 books79 followersArtist discovered by Topcow comics. Worked on various comics including Cyberforce, Witchblade, Tales of the Witchblade, Darkness and his creator own title Ascension. He also co-created Aphrodite 9. The artist then moved on to working for Marvel comics including the titles New Avengers, Ultimate X-men, Wolverine covers, and various others.
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 3, 2018
This book presents David Finch's impressively tight pencils- whoever inks them certainly doesn't have much breathing space-and a is tad bit disappointing for two main reasons:
- It doesn't collect whole runs. You'll miss 2 issues in Golden Dawn and one in Knight terrors. Sure, they're not drawn by Finch but I find it unfortunate that DC couldn't manage to find complete runs to collect.
- The copies are not amazing, very light-maybe Finch uses 3 or 4H but in that case the stats should be darkened a bit. Some pages are missing and replaced by inked versions which comparatively to the light pencils disagreeably pop up in your face.
All in all I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone but Finch's true fans.
- It doesn't collect whole runs. You'll miss 2 issues in Golden Dawn and one in Knight terrors. Sure, they're not drawn by Finch but I find it unfortunate that DC couldn't manage to find complete runs to collect.
- The copies are not amazing, very light-maybe Finch uses 3 or 4H but in that case the stats should be darkened a bit. Some pages are missing and replaced by inked versions which comparatively to the light pencils disagreeably pop up in your face.
All in all I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone but Finch's true fans.
November 7, 2020
If you want a collection of incomplete stories, this is where to go. The only thing it collects in it's entirety is two mini's which are just one issue each, I understand that this is artist focused but they could have at least given us the rest of the issues with just a blurb explaining it's another artist. Instead we get some beautiful art, with bits of stories, so no closure here. Alternately they could have given us an art book and just removed all the word bubbles and text from all the pages.
If you have this and want to read it in it's entirety, you will need to buy Batman: The Dark Knight - Golden Dawn and Batman: The Dark Knight, Vol. 1: Knight Terrors or issues Batman: The Dark Knight - Golden Dawn #4, Batman: The Dark Knight - Golden Dawn #5 & Batman: The Dark Knight #8.
Batman: The Return 4/5
This was awesome, it takes place where Batman has returned to Gotham and has started to set up Batman Incorporated. It's a great way to lead into the next story, as it's references within Golden Dawn.
Batman: The Dark Knight - Golden Dawn 3/5
This was the first disappointment for me, as this was the first time I had read this story, so find out it doesn't collect the last 2 issues was a bit of a downer. Thankfully, I had a copy of Golden Dawn in my to read pile as well so at least I could finish the story.
So I'll only review the bits of story that were contained in the graphic novel. So the story revolves around Batman searching for a missing person, call Dawn. Kind of set up the same as as Thomas Elliot was in Hush, as in no prior mention of the character before this story. I quite liked the story it was very engaging, seeing Batman take on his enemy's whilst being rush, it was an interest take on him. The story got a bit confusing when some girl stole the Batmobile and looked exactly like dawn, when you actually read it in colour you can see they're two different characters. It ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, you kind of find out what has happened to Dawn but the full explanation is in missing issues. Though when you do read them, it does take a very different tone, the story in this is very grounded whereas the final 2 issues take a more supernatural turn.
As for the art this the best in whole collection, it's just mesmerizing.
Batman: The Dark Knight, Vol. 1: Knight Terrors 2/5
Again this is an incomplete story but I honestly couldn't care less about it. The story for this one just isn't good, like Golden Dawn it's about Batman searching for something whilst taking on a bunch of his rouges but it just seems so meaningless. You have Justice League members pop up and be completely incompetent, a stupid Batman vs Superman thing as well, at least one play it out like it should be.
There is a massive disconnect with this story and Golden Dawn, in the latter. Gordan is in big trouble for mishandling the police department so someone called Forbes is posed to take over. But in this Forbes is merely a lieutenant in the department, which takes away much of the threat he posed earlier. I know between the 2 stories people the New 52 happens, but you could have easily said it takes place before the rest of the series that way it doesn't mess up the continuity of anything else, whilst still being able to bear it's teeth.
As I said it's not a good story but the art is nice, you could say it concludes the story in this but in the next issue there is another reveal. I know that because I read it back in 2012 and remember the reveal, it make sense but is so bad. There is no hint or indication what so ever, it just felt like an ass pull so to you it could conclude in this but that is completely up to you.
Batman: The Dark Knight #9 4/5
A nice way to end off this collection, this was a night of owls tie in. Even though the cover suggests it's a Tim Drake story he only appears in one panel and isn't even named. Instead we follow the life of a Talon, which was pretty interesting, it kind of dives into what happens when they fail their missions.
The book is a bit cheaply made as the felt on the black book was coming off on my hand whilst reading it, as well as having a bunch of black dots printed through the first half of the book, not sure what that was about.
As a whole I quite enjoyed reading this, it has it's problems obviously but as I only spent £10 on it, it was well worth the cost. The art was amazing throughout, I think David Finch is easily one of the best Batman artists.
If you have this and want to read it in it's entirety, you will need to buy Batman: The Dark Knight - Golden Dawn and Batman: The Dark Knight, Vol. 1: Knight Terrors or issues Batman: The Dark Knight - Golden Dawn #4, Batman: The Dark Knight - Golden Dawn #5 & Batman: The Dark Knight #8.
Batman: The Return 4/5
This was awesome, it takes place where Batman has returned to Gotham and has started to set up Batman Incorporated. It's a great way to lead into the next story, as it's references within Golden Dawn.
Batman: The Dark Knight - Golden Dawn 3/5
This was the first disappointment for me, as this was the first time I had read this story, so find out it doesn't collect the last 2 issues was a bit of a downer. Thankfully, I had a copy of Golden Dawn in my to read pile as well so at least I could finish the story.
So I'll only review the bits of story that were contained in the graphic novel. So the story revolves around Batman searching for a missing person, call Dawn. Kind of set up the same as as Thomas Elliot was in Hush, as in no prior mention of the character before this story. I quite liked the story it was very engaging, seeing Batman take on his enemy's whilst being rush, it was an interest take on him. The story got a bit confusing when some girl stole the Batmobile and looked exactly like dawn, when you actually read it in colour you can see they're two different characters. It ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, you kind of find out what has happened to Dawn but the full explanation is in missing issues. Though when you do read them, it does take a very different tone, the story in this is very grounded whereas the final 2 issues take a more supernatural turn.
As for the art this the best in whole collection, it's just mesmerizing.
Batman: The Dark Knight, Vol. 1: Knight Terrors 2/5
Again this is an incomplete story but I honestly couldn't care less about it. The story for this one just isn't good, like Golden Dawn it's about Batman searching for something whilst taking on a bunch of his rouges but it just seems so meaningless. You have Justice League members pop up and be completely incompetent, a stupid Batman vs Superman thing as well, at least one play it out like it should be.
There is a massive disconnect with this story and Golden Dawn, in the latter. Gordan is in big trouble for mishandling the police department so someone called Forbes is posed to take over. But in this Forbes is merely a lieutenant in the department, which takes away much of the threat he posed earlier. I know between the 2 stories people the New 52 happens, but you could have easily said it takes place before the rest of the series that way it doesn't mess up the continuity of anything else, whilst still being able to bear it's teeth.
As I said it's not a good story but the art is nice, you could say it concludes the story in this but in the next issue there is another reveal. I know that because I read it back in 2012 and remember the reveal, it make sense but is so bad. There is no hint or indication what so ever, it just felt like an ass pull so to you it could conclude in this but that is completely up to you.
Batman: The Dark Knight #9 4/5
A nice way to end off this collection, this was a night of owls tie in. Even though the cover suggests it's a Tim Drake story he only appears in one panel and isn't even named. Instead we follow the life of a Talon, which was pretty interesting, it kind of dives into what happens when they fail their missions.
The book is a bit cheaply made as the felt on the black book was coming off on my hand whilst reading it, as well as having a bunch of black dots printed through the first half of the book, not sure what that was about.
As a whole I quite enjoyed reading this, it has it's problems obviously but as I only spent £10 on it, it was well worth the cost. The art was amazing throughout, I think David Finch is easily one of the best Batman artists.
January 11, 2024
"Batman: The Dark Knight Unwrapped" by David Finch is a visually stunning and captivating exploration of the iconic Dark Knight's world. Finch's masterful artwork takes center stage in this collection, offering fans a unique and immersive experience as they delve into the dark and gritty corners of Gotham City.
One of the standout features of this graphic novel is Finch's extraordinary attention to detail. Each panel is a work of art, showcasing the depth of his skill in portraying the brooding atmosphere of Batman's world. The unwrapped format, which presents the original pencil artwork without inks or colors, provides readers with a rare glimpse into the artist's creative process, allowing them to appreciate the intricate linework and meticulous shading that bring the characters and settings to life.
Finch's portrayal of Batman is particularly noteworthy, capturing the essence of the character's strength and determination. The dynamic action sequences and intense facial expressions convey the emotional depth of the narrative, making it an immersive experience for fans of the Caped Crusader.
The choice of story arcs, including "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight Unwrapped," adds a nostalgic touch for longtime Batman enthusiasts while remaining accessible to new readers. The narrative, while not groundbreaking, effectively complements Finch's artwork, creating a cohesive and engaging visual storytelling experience.
However, some readers may find the absence of color and inks, while providing a unique perspective, slightly limiting in terms of overall visual impact. The lack of color can make it challenging to differentiate between certain elements in the artwork, and some may miss the vibrancy that color brings to traditional comic book storytelling.
Despite this minor drawback, "Batman: The Dark Knight Unwrapped" is a must-have for fans of David Finch's art and Batman aficionados alike. The unwrapped format adds a layer of authenticity to the collection, allowing readers to appreciate the craftsmanship behind each page. Whether you're a seasoned comic book enthusiast or a casual Batman fan, this graphic novel offers a visually stunning journey into the heart of Gotham City that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
One of the standout features of this graphic novel is Finch's extraordinary attention to detail. Each panel is a work of art, showcasing the depth of his skill in portraying the brooding atmosphere of Batman's world. The unwrapped format, which presents the original pencil artwork without inks or colors, provides readers with a rare glimpse into the artist's creative process, allowing them to appreciate the intricate linework and meticulous shading that bring the characters and settings to life.
Finch's portrayal of Batman is particularly noteworthy, capturing the essence of the character's strength and determination. The dynamic action sequences and intense facial expressions convey the emotional depth of the narrative, making it an immersive experience for fans of the Caped Crusader.
The choice of story arcs, including "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight Unwrapped," adds a nostalgic touch for longtime Batman enthusiasts while remaining accessible to new readers. The narrative, while not groundbreaking, effectively complements Finch's artwork, creating a cohesive and engaging visual storytelling experience.
However, some readers may find the absence of color and inks, while providing a unique perspective, slightly limiting in terms of overall visual impact. The lack of color can make it challenging to differentiate between certain elements in the artwork, and some may miss the vibrancy that color brings to traditional comic book storytelling.
Despite this minor drawback, "Batman: The Dark Knight Unwrapped" is a must-have for fans of David Finch's art and Batman aficionados alike. The unwrapped format adds a layer of authenticity to the collection, allowing readers to appreciate the craftsmanship behind each page. Whether you're a seasoned comic book enthusiast or a casual Batman fan, this graphic novel offers a visually stunning journey into the heart of Gotham City that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
September 2, 2024
Batman: The Dark Knight Unwrapped by David Finch
Recopilación de historias dibujadas por David Finch a lápices, gran arte pero algunas historias seleccionadas no tienen un final en esta edición.
Extraracto extraído de Amazon:
¡Una edición en boceto de algunas de las mejores historias de Batman de la superestrella de los cómics David Finch de Batman: The Dark Knight, DC Comics: The New 52 y más!
Esta fantástica colección sin envolver presenta cuentos del Caballero Oscuro escritos y escritos por David Finch. Este volumen, que abarca el trabajo de David desde Batman: The Dark Knight hasta el relanzamiento en New 52, presenta impresionantes obras de arte e historias convincentes sobre las áreas sobrenaturales y esotéricas de Gotham City.
Recoge Batman: The Dark Knight #1-3, Batman: The Return #1 y Batman: The Dark Knight (Vol 2) #1-7 y 9 en formato blanco y negro.
Recopilación de historias dibujadas por David Finch a lápices, gran arte pero algunas historias seleccionadas no tienen un final en esta edición.
Extraracto extraído de Amazon:
¡Una edición en boceto de algunas de las mejores historias de Batman de la superestrella de los cómics David Finch de Batman: The Dark Knight, DC Comics: The New 52 y más!
Esta fantástica colección sin envolver presenta cuentos del Caballero Oscuro escritos y escritos por David Finch. Este volumen, que abarca el trabajo de David desde Batman: The Dark Knight hasta el relanzamiento en New 52, presenta impresionantes obras de arte e historias convincentes sobre las áreas sobrenaturales y esotéricas de Gotham City.
Recoge Batman: The Dark Knight #1-3, Batman: The Return #1 y Batman: The Dark Knight (Vol 2) #1-7 y 9 en formato blanco y negro.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2021
I actually didn't like this volume at all, and usually I'm all about this black and white sketch art of this line. While I get that ostensibly this line is to show off the artwork by the artists and that the story is secondary to the art, the stories being fragmented and missing key parts was disappointing from a reader perspective.
Even the line art -- the actual key reason this exists -- wasn't as good as other Unwrapped volumes. The artwork was light, as if drawn in pencil? Very light pencil? And not darkened at all in the printing process. It was sometimes hard for me to discern what was going on from panel to panel. Also, some panels in particular were oddly low-res, as if the source material was blown up a ton to fit on the page.
Overall a disappointment.
Even the line art -- the actual key reason this exists -- wasn't as good as other Unwrapped volumes. The artwork was light, as if drawn in pencil? Very light pencil? And not darkened at all in the printing process. It was sometimes hard for me to discern what was going on from panel to panel. Also, some panels in particular were oddly low-res, as if the source material was blown up a ton to fit on the page.
Overall a disappointment.
October 19, 2022
Viewing the stories before the inkers and the colorists get their grubby mitts on it - I guess my response would be "Pencil me in!"
August 14, 2015
Public library copy.
Overall, a nice publishing effort of the likes I rarely see. Mostly, the reproduction transfers are excellent as the reader can witness the many tones of the scanned pencil art, but there were a few pages which looked like sore, past generations of, say, Xerox copies. I don't know if that's from the book making printer, but I assume it's how the original page scanned and maybe the artist was editing his art with a copy machine. I wouldn't recommend this book to Batman fan's or those who fancy good stories, but if you're a fan of David Finch's art, or if you're curious what his pencil art looks like, then this book is for you.
Overall, a nice publishing effort of the likes I rarely see. Mostly, the reproduction transfers are excellent as the reader can witness the many tones of the scanned pencil art, but there were a few pages which looked like sore, past generations of, say, Xerox copies. I don't know if that's from the book making printer, but I assume it's how the original page scanned and maybe the artist was editing his art with a copy machine. I wouldn't recommend this book to Batman fan's or those who fancy good stories, but if you're a fan of David Finch's art, or if you're curious what his pencil art looks like, then this book is for you.
December 8, 2016
Stellar art with a terrible plot. Reading this was sort of like seeing a beautiful statue that smells like poop.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews