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Batman (1940-2011) #686
Batman: Τι απέγινε ο σκοτεινός ιππότης;
"Είμαι νεκρός;" "Όχι ακόμα." "Τότε, πες μου τι συμβαίνει." "Είσαι ο καλύτερος ντετέκτιβ του κόσμου, Μπρους. Βρες την απάντηση." Είναι ο φύλακας άγγελος και ο Σκοτεινός Ιππότης του Gotham City. Εδώ και χρόνια δίνει έναν απελπισμένο αγώνα για να κρατήσει τους δρόμους της πόλης του ασφαλείς. Απόψε όμως σημειώθηκε η τελευταία και μεγαλύτερη απώλεια αυτού του πολέμου... Ο ίδιος ο Batman. O Σκοτεινός Ιππότης κείτεται σε ένα φέρετρο στο Στενό του Εγκλήματος, εκεί όπου γεννήθηκε ο θρύλος του. Οι καλύτεροι φίλοι του και οι μεγαλύτεροι εχθροί του έχουν συγκεντρωθεί για να τον αποχαιρετήσουν. Καθένας τους λέει και μία διαφορετική ιστορία για τον Batman που γνώρισε: για το πώς έζησε... και πώς πέθανε. Σαν μια σκιά μέσα στη νύχτα, μια μυστηριώδης φιγούρα παρακολουθεί αυτό το μακάβριο σκηνικό. Ξέρει πως οι αντιφατικές ιστορίες που διηγούνται οι διάφοροι ήρωες και εγκληματίες δεν μπορεί να είναι αληθινές. Πριν ξημερώσει η επόμενη μέρα, προτού ο Batman χαθεί για πάντα, θα πρέπει να απαντήσει σε μία κρίσιμη ερώτηση: Τι απέγινε ο Σκοτεινός Ιππότης; Αντλώντας την έμπνευσή τους από κομβικά γεγονότα των περιπετειών του Σκοτεινού Ιππότη, δύο κορυφαίοι δημιουργοί, ο βραβευμένος συγγραφέας Neil Gaiman ("The Sandman, Coraline, American Gods) και ο διάσημος εικονογράφος Andy Kubert (X-Men, Captain America, Batman) ξεδιπλώνουν το ταλέντο τους για να αναδείξουν μια διαφορετική πτυχή του μεγάλου ήρωα.
72 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,005 reviews
August 29, 2016
(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Wherein tales and dreams are shadow-truths, that endure as facts are forgot, and need not have happened to be true.
Notes: Wherein tales and dreams are shadow-truths, that endure as facts are forgot, and need not have happened to be true.
December 15, 2014
I'm not saying this is the best Neil Gaiman I've ever read. But I do think it's Neil Gaiman at his best.
For those of you, this is the story where Batman dies. Really dies. It's written in such a way that it can take place at any point in the future in the Batman storyline when he finally dies.
This book feels... loving. I can't think of how to describe it other than that. You can tell that Gaiman is approaching this character and subject with such reverence and care.
It's clever, and it's sweet, and it's playful, and it makes me cry. Every time I read it I just cry.
So yeah. Another tip of the hat to Gaiman here. If you can make me cry while reading a Batman comic, you know you've done something right.
For those of you, this is the story where Batman dies. Really dies. It's written in such a way that it can take place at any point in the future in the Batman storyline when he finally dies.
This book feels... loving. I can't think of how to describe it other than that. You can tell that Gaiman is approaching this character and subject with such reverence and care.
It's clever, and it's sweet, and it's playful, and it makes me cry. Every time I read it I just cry.
So yeah. Another tip of the hat to Gaiman here. If you can make me cry while reading a Batman comic, you know you've done something right.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2008
So I'm caving in and getting the individual issues for this. Come on, it's Neil Gaiman.
First issue:
So there's a funeral in a church in crime alley. Batman is in the casket. His friends and foes are assembled to give their respects and tell how Batman died.
The thing I've always liked about Neil Gaiman's comics are that they're about something. They have themes. They're actually pretty clever. Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader is a good example.
In the first story, Catwoman gives her tale of her relationship with Batman and how he died, bleeding to death on her couch after a freak gunshot wound. In the second, Alfred tells about Bruce going off the deep end and becoming Batman after his parents died. Since he wasn't having much luck fighting crime, Alfred hired some of his actor friends to be Batman's rogue's gallery, with Alfred himself portraying the Joker!
The best part, in my opinion, is that Adam Kubert draws the different parts of the story in the styles of artists of other time periods.
Now I have to either wait a month until the second half comes out or wait until the collection comes out. Based on the first half, I'm giving it a four for now.
Later...
The second half wasn't quite as good as the first but still very very good. More accounts of Batman's death and then Batman's alone at his own funeral. Well, not precisely alone...
I'd definitely be picking this up when it's collected.
Good night, mechanical dinosaur. Good night, giant penny.
First issue:
So there's a funeral in a church in crime alley. Batman is in the casket. His friends and foes are assembled to give their respects and tell how Batman died.
The thing I've always liked about Neil Gaiman's comics are that they're about something. They have themes. They're actually pretty clever. Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader is a good example.
In the first story, Catwoman gives her tale of her relationship with Batman and how he died, bleeding to death on her couch after a freak gunshot wound. In the second, Alfred tells about Bruce going off the deep end and becoming Batman after his parents died. Since he wasn't having much luck fighting crime, Alfred hired some of his actor friends to be Batman's rogue's gallery, with Alfred himself portraying the Joker!
The best part, in my opinion, is that Adam Kubert draws the different parts of the story in the styles of artists of other time periods.
Now I have to either wait a month until the second half comes out or wait until the collection comes out. Based on the first half, I'm giving it a four for now.
Later...
The second half wasn't quite as good as the first but still very very good. More accounts of Batman's death and then Batman's alone at his own funeral. Well, not precisely alone...
I'd definitely be picking this up when it's collected.
Good night, mechanical dinosaur. Good night, giant penny.
June 25, 2017
This was beautiful. The art, the story, simply everything. But still it's not a typical Batman story. It's much less action-y and more philosophical. It's smart and i like it foe it.
Recommend.
Recommend.
November 17, 2017
A collection of short stories in one volume. I assume Neil wrote them all. There are 5 stories in all.
I enjoy the first one where it is revealed that Alfred the butler see's how depressed and messed up Batman is so he hires all these people to play the part of villains to give Bruce something to live for. Alfred, it is revealed, is .... I thought that was the best story and such a great twist I didn't see coming.
It also shows Batman being reborn over and over again, which accounts for all the different stories told about Batman which is also interesting. There is a story about Poison Ivy. There is a story about the Riddler.
There are some great moments in these pages. The art gives throwback feel to the old characters and style previously seen in the pages of Batman. The tone is omnous.
I enjoy the first one where it is revealed that Alfred the butler see's how depressed and messed up Batman is so he hires all these people to play the part of villains to give Bruce something to live for. Alfred, it is revealed, is .... I thought that was the best story and such a great twist I didn't see coming.
It also shows Batman being reborn over and over again, which accounts for all the different stories told about Batman which is also interesting. There is a story about Poison Ivy. There is a story about the Riddler.
There are some great moments in these pages. The art gives throwback feel to the old characters and style previously seen in the pages of Batman. The tone is omnous.
November 22, 2011
The artwork was classically close to superb with some interesting focuses. The story, however, was a transition of sorts that suggested Batman died but we all know they're not going to kill Batman off. Worst case scenario is that he'll disappear for a time and then just return. That said, this is about Batman looking down on his funeral/wake as notable villains of Gotham and a few non villains give their jaded interpretation of their times with Batman. It was way too short for my tastes and vague as well. Gaiman has interesting ideas but his stories are sometimes hit or miss and this is one of them.
CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: C plus to B minus; STORY/PLOTTING: B minus; ARTWORK/ANGLES: A minus; WHEN READ: early March 2012; OVERALL GRADE: B
CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: C plus to B minus; STORY/PLOTTING: B minus; ARTWORK/ANGLES: A minus; WHEN READ: early March 2012; OVERALL GRADE: B
August 6, 2011
As the original line of Detective Comics came to an end, Neil Gaiman was asked to write the eulogy to the Dark Knight and, for better or worse, this is it. A two-issue send-off for everyone's favourite superhero, the Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader, the Batman.
Gaiman creates an ingenious setup for the final Batman story. The spirit of Batman/Bruce Wayne presides over a funeral service where all of his rogues gallery, close friends and family, show up to tell their version of how Batman died – and each version is different, to reflect the numerous stories told over the years in Detective Comics. Catwoman and Alfred both get space to tell their stories in full, but Alfred's was the best - impossible, but still brilliant and momentarily chilling. That sneaky butler…
Andy Kubert's art is fantastic and imaginatively chosen. I loved the way he alternated between the many designs for Batman’s appearance, paying tribute to the different artists' depictions of him through the decades, as well as drawing different versions of the famous villains too.
While the story has some great moments – in particular the scene when Bruce goes back to Crime Alley, the place where Batman was born, to end it – it doesn’t feel like a Batman story despite having the features of one. People read Batman for the action, adventure, the mystery and the sleuthing – none of that is part of this rather slow-moving story. So while it’s a clever idea and visually superb, it’s not the most interesting Batman book to read.
But then it was never going to go down perfectly was it? Gaiman and Kubert were given the thankless task of putting to bed a game-changing line of comics and pretend to bury the most famous superhero of all time – this book was never going to satisfy the fans because no book could. Despite this, it's not a terrible story - nor a brilliant one. It's a story. It adds to the hundreds of Batman stories that are out there, that are being written now, and that are waiting to be written.
Whatever happened to the Caped Crusader? Nothing and everything. And he keeps going.
Gaiman creates an ingenious setup for the final Batman story. The spirit of Batman/Bruce Wayne presides over a funeral service where all of his rogues gallery, close friends and family, show up to tell their version of how Batman died – and each version is different, to reflect the numerous stories told over the years in Detective Comics. Catwoman and Alfred both get space to tell their stories in full, but Alfred's was the best - impossible, but still brilliant and momentarily chilling. That sneaky butler…
Andy Kubert's art is fantastic and imaginatively chosen. I loved the way he alternated between the many designs for Batman’s appearance, paying tribute to the different artists' depictions of him through the decades, as well as drawing different versions of the famous villains too.
While the story has some great moments – in particular the scene when Bruce goes back to Crime Alley, the place where Batman was born, to end it – it doesn’t feel like a Batman story despite having the features of one. People read Batman for the action, adventure, the mystery and the sleuthing – none of that is part of this rather slow-moving story. So while it’s a clever idea and visually superb, it’s not the most interesting Batman book to read.
But then it was never going to go down perfectly was it? Gaiman and Kubert were given the thankless task of putting to bed a game-changing line of comics and pretend to bury the most famous superhero of all time – this book was never going to satisfy the fans because no book could. Despite this, it's not a terrible story - nor a brilliant one. It's a story. It adds to the hundreds of Batman stories that are out there, that are being written now, and that are waiting to be written.
Whatever happened to the Caped Crusader? Nothing and everything. And he keeps going.
December 4, 2012
I'm going to say a few words that you won't hear very often in reviews of comics. Especially comics written by comic book royalty like Neil Gaiman.
I don't get it.
Maybe it's because admitting that makes a person feel like an idiot. It's hard to hold a comic book about a man who uses a tool called a Batarang and admit that I have no earthly idea what the hell is going on, but so be it, here we are.
And you know what? I think more people should be prepared to say it. We would have a lot less of Grant Morrison's self-flagellating stuff, I'll tell you that right now.
The story, as I understand it, with parenthetical question marks placed next to elements that I'm not totally sure about:
Batman is dead(?). And watching his own funeral. As a ghost(?). His various villains approach the casket to say their pieces, and each seems to feel that he/she is responsible for Batman's death(?) and all claim different scenarios(?). Not in a way where they're scrambling to take credit for his death, more in a way where there are about 40(?) different timelines converging(?) including one where Alfred is the Joker.
Then Bruce sees his mom as a ghost. They have a brief argument that poses the theory that Batman is dead, but not dead dead. Almost dead. And this whole thing is his brain firing randomly. So basically we're watching a dream. Then his ghost mom tells him he'll get to rest for a few years, and the final pages feature the Bat Signal morphing into a pair of hands holding a baby, and then a nurse who is holding a baby and says "Mrs. Wayne? It's a boy." I don't know who this Mrs. Wayne is, nor what the time period is, but it appears that we're suggesting that Batman lives in some sort of life loop.
Just in case you got lost in the text there, I'd like to include one line again:
Then his ghost mom tells him he'll get to rest for a few years, and the final pages feature the Bat Signal morphing into a pair of hands holding a baby, and then a nurse who is holding a baby and says "Mrs. Wayne? It's a boy."
Yep, that happens.
I really have very little else to say about this other than the fact that I feel if we're just making up an alternate-universe story, there's no need to bring it all back around for next month's issue. We can just go nuts. So let's go nuts. There was potential to tell a great story here, which Neil Gaiman usually does, but somewhere along the lines we got lost in dreamland where all stories are confusing, and puzzling them out is irrelevant because you can defend any theory by saying, "Well, it's not real."
The other thing I wanted to talk about is this whole idea of putting two issues like this in trade paperback, and then including some vaguely related issues to fill it out. In this case, the two actual issues plus some other Batman comics written by Gaiman. So not issues leading up to or following this. Not something about Robin in this situation. Just some random shit from the 80's.
Listen, Comic Book Publishers, other formats don't do this. Sometimes a writer of thrillers will include a few pages from an upcoming novel, but they rarely dig back into the past. Why would you throw a couple badly dated Sue Grafton stories in with X is for Xotic Dancer Corpse (or whatever X is for)?
It's filler on every level, and nobody wants it. Today it's so easy to read a version of nearly any comic out there, so let people actually read what they are seeking and leave out the extras.
I don't get it.
Maybe it's because admitting that makes a person feel like an idiot. It's hard to hold a comic book about a man who uses a tool called a Batarang and admit that I have no earthly idea what the hell is going on, but so be it, here we are.
And you know what? I think more people should be prepared to say it. We would have a lot less of Grant Morrison's self-flagellating stuff, I'll tell you that right now.
The story, as I understand it, with parenthetical question marks placed next to elements that I'm not totally sure about:
Batman is dead(?). And watching his own funeral. As a ghost(?). His various villains approach the casket to say their pieces, and each seems to feel that he/she is responsible for Batman's death(?) and all claim different scenarios(?). Not in a way where they're scrambling to take credit for his death, more in a way where there are about 40(?) different timelines converging(?) including one where Alfred is the Joker.
Then Bruce sees his mom as a ghost. They have a brief argument that poses the theory that Batman is dead, but not dead dead. Almost dead. And this whole thing is his brain firing randomly. So basically we're watching a dream. Then his ghost mom tells him he'll get to rest for a few years, and the final pages feature the Bat Signal morphing into a pair of hands holding a baby, and then a nurse who is holding a baby and says "Mrs. Wayne? It's a boy." I don't know who this Mrs. Wayne is, nor what the time period is, but it appears that we're suggesting that Batman lives in some sort of life loop.
Just in case you got lost in the text there, I'd like to include one line again:
Then his ghost mom tells him he'll get to rest for a few years, and the final pages feature the Bat Signal morphing into a pair of hands holding a baby, and then a nurse who is holding a baby and says "Mrs. Wayne? It's a boy."
Yep, that happens.
I really have very little else to say about this other than the fact that I feel if we're just making up an alternate-universe story, there's no need to bring it all back around for next month's issue. We can just go nuts. So let's go nuts. There was potential to tell a great story here, which Neil Gaiman usually does, but somewhere along the lines we got lost in dreamland where all stories are confusing, and puzzling them out is irrelevant because you can defend any theory by saying, "Well, it's not real."
The other thing I wanted to talk about is this whole idea of putting two issues like this in trade paperback, and then including some vaguely related issues to fill it out. In this case, the two actual issues plus some other Batman comics written by Gaiman. So not issues leading up to or following this. Not something about Robin in this situation. Just some random shit from the 80's.
Listen, Comic Book Publishers, other formats don't do this. Sometimes a writer of thrillers will include a few pages from an upcoming novel, but they rarely dig back into the past. Why would you throw a couple badly dated Sue Grafton stories in with X is for Xotic Dancer Corpse (or whatever X is for)?
It's filler on every level, and nobody wants it. Today it's so easy to read a version of nearly any comic out there, so let people actually read what they are seeking and leave out the extras.
December 25, 2015
I recently started reading comics again and most written just by Neil Gaiman, so I couldn’t miss this one. I've always been a fan of Batman, since the TV series of the 60s and then the comics and the latest movies. There is an introduction at the beginning of this volume, where Gaiman himself talks about how he always saw the masked hero and how he really wanted to write what is, surely, a possible final chapter of his life. This album about Batman is a tribute from one of his loyal fans and in a way, it’s also a tribute from each of the characters who has met, friends and enemies. The story takes place in the back of the bar of Crime Alley, where all the characters pay tribute to Batman and tell their own version of his end. I don’t want to say too much, because this is an album that should be read without knowing anything, but in the end I believe that Gaiman was able to tell what Batman is for Gotham, but also for its readers. Absolutely recommended to all fans.
August 17, 2009
Neil Gaiman writing a swan song for Batman should be a monster geek out for me, but I'm so tired of the comic industry making events out of killing (and later resurrecting) major characters. See Marvel's Captain America for a recent example. Plus this somehow fits into yet another huge continuity reboot that DC is doing that I don't have the time or patience to try and understand. I'm not sure if Batman is supposed to be alive or dead at this point, but since it doesn't matter because he'll be back one way or another shortly, I really don't care.
So even though Neil Gaiman has written a surreal love letter to Batman that gives shout-outs to the various phases of the classic versions of the character we've gotten over the years, the whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe they could have just begged Gaiman to take over the book for a while and write some Batman stories that didn't involve killing him or pretending to kill him? Nah, that would have made too much sense...
So even though Neil Gaiman has written a surreal love letter to Batman that gives shout-outs to the various phases of the classic versions of the character we've gotten over the years, the whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe they could have just begged Gaiman to take over the book for a while and write some Batman stories that didn't involve killing him or pretending to kill him? Nah, that would have made too much sense...
August 30, 2015
I've had mixed results with Gaiman and this continues the trend.
As others have said, the two-issue story lacks action, but it's still interesting. It's a fantasy eulogy somewhat in the vein of Grant Morrison in the sense that it's rhetorical and highly interpretative.
My take is that Gaiman is telling us Batman is immortal. Although he's dead (wait, he's alive again!), he can never really die, much like any beloved comic book hero. It's interesting to see what his friends and enemies think of him, but ultimately unnecessary. Andy Kubert's artwork is brilliant as usual.
And the bookend stories are okay although irrelevant to the main story. A Black and White World is actually kind of funny, being the story Gaiman originally wrote way back in 1989 where Batman and Joker are talking about being comic book characters.
Diehard Gaiman fans will appreciate this. It was solidly good but not an all time classic Batman story.
As others have said, the two-issue story lacks action, but it's still interesting. It's a fantasy eulogy somewhat in the vein of Grant Morrison in the sense that it's rhetorical and highly interpretative.
My take is that Gaiman is telling us Batman is immortal. Although he's dead (wait, he's alive again!), he can never really die, much like any beloved comic book hero. It's interesting to see what his friends and enemies think of him, but ultimately unnecessary. Andy Kubert's artwork is brilliant as usual.
And the bookend stories are okay although irrelevant to the main story. A Black and White World is actually kind of funny, being the story Gaiman originally wrote way back in 1989 where Batman and Joker are talking about being comic book characters.
Diehard Gaiman fans will appreciate this. It was solidly good but not an all time classic Batman story.
September 13, 2017
Read this one a long time ago (I really should start adding all the comics to my "Read" list) Wasn't particularly impressed, I gotta admit it.
July 17, 2012
Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader is my second exposure to Neil Gaiman.
Earlier in the year, I read American Gods and while I loved the premise, the execution bugged me. I found it long winded and a little on the boring side. I was sure that when you put the mind of Gaiman into the Batman universe, you were going to get something very, very cool.
Truth be told, I found this to be pretty average. When I told my friend that gave this to me what I thought about the story, he responded with, "You have very high expectations of Batman". I thought that this was kind of unfair, actually. I’ve read some of the best Batman work that had ever been done with Batman: Year One, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: The Long Halloween and most recently, Batman: The Black Mirror, so I’ve established in my mind what makes a great Batman story.
That’s not to say that this is a bad Batman tale, I just thought I didn’t come across as anything memorable which is really unfortunate since it apparently ends two long running Batman series (Batman & Detective Comics). It gobbled up several awards and is recognized as being a fitting ending to The Dark Knight saga.
Yar, here there be spoilers!
I think I need a bit of a break from Batman graphic novels for a while – I don’t want to get burned out.
Earlier in the year, I read American Gods and while I loved the premise, the execution bugged me. I found it long winded and a little on the boring side. I was sure that when you put the mind of Gaiman into the Batman universe, you were going to get something very, very cool.
Truth be told, I found this to be pretty average. When I told my friend that gave this to me what I thought about the story, he responded with, "You have very high expectations of Batman". I thought that this was kind of unfair, actually. I’ve read some of the best Batman work that had ever been done with Batman: Year One, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: The Long Halloween and most recently, Batman: The Black Mirror, so I’ve established in my mind what makes a great Batman story.
That’s not to say that this is a bad Batman tale, I just thought I didn’t come across as anything memorable which is really unfortunate since it apparently ends two long running Batman series (Batman & Detective Comics). It gobbled up several awards and is recognized as being a fitting ending to The Dark Knight saga.
Yar, here there be spoilers!
I think I need a bit of a break from Batman graphic novels for a while – I don’t want to get burned out.
May 30, 2020
¿qué pasa con Batman cuando muere?: “No vas al Cielo o al Infierno. ¿Sabes cuál es la única recompensa que recibes por ser Batman? Ser Batman”.
Es el funeral de batman y todos están invitados . Asisten sus amigos, enemigos, inclusive el mismo...
Un viaje onírico e introspectivo del personaje como Sólo Gaiman podía llevar a cabo y con un dibujo impecable de Andy Cubert
Es el funeral de batman y todos están invitados . Asisten sus amigos, enemigos, inclusive el mismo...
Un viaje onírico e introspectivo del personaje como Sólo Gaiman podía llevar a cabo y con un dibujo impecable de Andy Cubert
July 30, 2016
2025 Review - Honestly hoped to enjoy this more but it's about the same. Filled with moments I enjoyed but as a whole, feels lackluster at points.
2016 Review - So it's a very solid 3. I'm going to talk about what I liked first.
The art is GREAT. Love the styles changing, and everything had it's own flare. I was surprised when I saw it was one artist. I also enjoyed the stories, especially Alfred's and it made me feel so sad for Bruce in those moments.
My main gripe is it's feeling is a bit shallow. I wish we got more stories from the character, make us feel the impact of losing Bruce. Instead it just felt like it wrapped up to quickly. I enjoyed the idea I believe more than the execution.
Still some great moments, wonderful art, well worth reading.
2016 Review - So it's a very solid 3. I'm going to talk about what I liked first.
The art is GREAT. Love the styles changing, and everything had it's own flare. I was surprised when I saw it was one artist. I also enjoyed the stories, especially Alfred's and it made me feel so sad for Bruce in those moments.
My main gripe is it's feeling is a bit shallow. I wish we got more stories from the character, make us feel the impact of losing Bruce. Instead it just felt like it wrapped up to quickly. I enjoyed the idea I believe more than the execution.
Still some great moments, wonderful art, well worth reading.
March 31, 2018
2/5
Well, this was pretty bad. Neil Gaiman, not even once 🙄
Well, this was pretty bad. Neil Gaiman, not even once 🙄
June 14, 2013
Wow.
Gaiman is God.
You know when you read something so good and so deep and so brilliant at the same time that it leaves you speechless? That you can't find a way to describe it except flailing your arms and opening and closing your mouth in a comical way trying to find words that would do the book justice? That you stare at the textbox in goodreads for half an hour trying to find words that would reflect how much you really loved the book, and the only word you can think of is 'Wow'?
This is one of those books.
Gaiman is God.
You know when you read something so good and so deep and so brilliant at the same time that it leaves you speechless? That you can't find a way to describe it except flailing your arms and opening and closing your mouth in a comical way trying to find words that would do the book justice? That you stare at the textbox in goodreads for half an hour trying to find words that would reflect how much you really loved the book, and the only word you can think of is 'Wow'?
This is one of those books.
July 1, 2015
Ah, wonderful! Exquisite artwork! Highly recommended to all Gaiman and Batman enthusiasts! Not a whodunit, mind you, though it seems like one initially. The challenge with these comics is that there is very little room for originality; not much remains that hasn't already been experimented with before, and yet Gaiman makes this memorable and completely fresh! Props to one of the quintessential storytellers of our time.
April 3, 2012
"Heroes get remembered, but legends live forever."
Don't view the spoilers. Just read this book. It's beautiful and meta and mythic and amazing. Of course it is, it's Neil Gaiman's homage to Batman.
Don't view the spoilers. Just read this book. It's beautiful and meta and mythic and amazing. Of course it is, it's Neil Gaiman's homage to Batman.
August 19, 2012
A love letter to the character of Batman is how Neil Gaiman opens this book. I associated with one point at that stage when Gaiman says that even after he has been reading,writing and creating comic book characters, he always has Batman as numero uno. While I have never written a word for comics nor even drawn a straight line for that matter, I follow the same principle : Batman is THE hero for me even after coming across so many other characters. This book specifically was a spinoff from the Batman mythos and I suppose this is a button that DC pressed before another reboot.
When we begin, the various characters ( friends & foes alike) come to pay their last respects to the Dark Knight. Some of the characters offer their own versions of his death while others remember him in a word or two. I was amused by Alfred's version of the tale which was a total riot ! The others are just so-so and to me as a reader was not much of an attention grabber. There is set of sketches by Andy Kubert in here which were truly excellent. Versions of Batman right from Bob Kane days to his present day avatar, rough sketches and fully pencilled versions and so on. It maybe that I am back to comics after a long time but I simply adored the artwork. There is a black & white story where Batman & Joker appear as actors waiting for their screen time in the green room. They chat amiably and even solve cross words together ! The last part with the Riddler was not much to talk about either.
In all a decent read but I for one expect more from Gaiman.
When we begin, the various characters ( friends & foes alike) come to pay their last respects to the Dark Knight. Some of the characters offer their own versions of his death while others remember him in a word or two. I was amused by Alfred's version of the tale which was a total riot ! The others are just so-so and to me as a reader was not much of an attention grabber. There is set of sketches by Andy Kubert in here which were truly excellent. Versions of Batman right from Bob Kane days to his present day avatar, rough sketches and fully pencilled versions and so on. It maybe that I am back to comics after a long time but I simply adored the artwork. There is a black & white story where Batman & Joker appear as actors waiting for their screen time in the green room. They chat amiably and even solve cross words together ! The last part with the Riddler was not much to talk about either.
In all a decent read but I for one expect more from Gaiman.
January 29, 2014
The Sandman series is the reason I got back into comic books back in 2009 and haven't left since. Granted I have been reading comics since my early teens but not as dutifully and consummately as I do now, most probably because I was too young to afford to buy copies regularly, if copies were made available to me back then which doesn't happen consistently. I have always loved superheroes and Batman foremost but back then I just viewed comic books as merely entertaining tales of larger-than-life powerful men fighting crime and evil as they struggle to win over their female love interests and keep them safe from harm. But acquainting myself with Neil Gaiman and his writing for the superb and masterful The Sandman series made me take a closer look at the medium with a newfound passion and intellectual curiosity and I began to actively pursue these feelings, only to find myself intimately more connected with Batman than I ever hoped to be.
Naturally, I was, of course, thrilled to discover that Gaiman wrote a Batman story himself and that he considers him to be his all-time favorite superhero as well. I couldn't think of a more perfect arrangement than this one and reading Gaiman's introduction where he revealed his childhood experiences about the Dark Knight has gotten me even more excited. This volume collects the sixty-paged titular story as well as four standalones penned by Gaiman himself.
If I'm going to be perfectly honest, however, Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader unexpectedly did not resonate with me in a way I hoped it will. The format of the narrative was beguiling enough and reminiscent of the tenth volume of The Sandman, The Wake. During the old continuity, Bruce Wayne was killed after the events of Final Crisis, an epic DC event. This story was supposed to serve as a way to end the reign of a celebrated fallen hero in a sense that everyone in the Bat-verse, comrades and enemies alike, gathered to give eulogies in Batman's funeral. The concept was definitely interesting and in some aspects it delivered quite a punch. However, it was a limited story and the only full-length eulogies we got to read are those of Selina Kyle's who recounts all the history he has with the Bat from the very beginning (there are many easter-egg references from the canon which will amuse any long-time fan); and Alfred's shocking and poignant confession eulogy which remains to me as the best part of the entire comic book. For this alone, it's worth the reading experience.
Nevertheless, I was strangely unsatisfied of the way Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader ended. I understood the message Gaiman tried to communicate and I suppose it did get to me but not in an unforgettable way at all which is a glaring flaw for me only because this is the writer who helped me fall in love with the comic book medium because of the earnest, fantastical and multi-layered way he writes stories, so I was expecting that his Batman piece will hold the same weight for me as The Sandman did. It didn't and I suppose I can still forgive him for that. After all, it's a matter of comparing apples and oranges and that would just defeat the purpose. I still appreciated what he had offered though even if I don't think this one belongs to other definitive and timeless classics such as Year One or The Killing Joke. To me, it just didn't offer more. That probably has something to do with the fact that this is supposed to signify the 'end of an era' for Batman but we all know Batman will live on after this anyway so the impact unavoidably gets diluted and that's not Gaiman's fault. Still, this was a fairly enjoyable story.
On the plus side, the four standalones were a treat especially the Black and White comics featuring Batman and the Joker as actors hired to act on comic book pages, and a When is a Door about the Riddler which was visually spectacular to look at and read. Overall, I still believe Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader is something you can have on your shelf on display.
RECOMMENDED: 7/10
DO READ MY BATMAN COMICS REVIEWS AT:
Naturally, I was, of course, thrilled to discover that Gaiman wrote a Batman story himself and that he considers him to be his all-time favorite superhero as well. I couldn't think of a more perfect arrangement than this one and reading Gaiman's introduction where he revealed his childhood experiences about the Dark Knight has gotten me even more excited. This volume collects the sixty-paged titular story as well as four standalones penned by Gaiman himself.
If I'm going to be perfectly honest, however, Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader unexpectedly did not resonate with me in a way I hoped it will. The format of the narrative was beguiling enough and reminiscent of the tenth volume of The Sandman, The Wake. During the old continuity, Bruce Wayne was killed after the events of Final Crisis, an epic DC event. This story was supposed to serve as a way to end the reign of a celebrated fallen hero in a sense that everyone in the Bat-verse, comrades and enemies alike, gathered to give eulogies in Batman's funeral. The concept was definitely interesting and in some aspects it delivered quite a punch. However, it was a limited story and the only full-length eulogies we got to read are those of Selina Kyle's who recounts all the history he has with the Bat from the very beginning (there are many easter-egg references from the canon which will amuse any long-time fan); and Alfred's shocking and poignant confession eulogy which remains to me as the best part of the entire comic book. For this alone, it's worth the reading experience.
Nevertheless, I was strangely unsatisfied of the way Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader ended. I understood the message Gaiman tried to communicate and I suppose it did get to me but not in an unforgettable way at all which is a glaring flaw for me only because this is the writer who helped me fall in love with the comic book medium because of the earnest, fantastical and multi-layered way he writes stories, so I was expecting that his Batman piece will hold the same weight for me as The Sandman did. It didn't and I suppose I can still forgive him for that. After all, it's a matter of comparing apples and oranges and that would just defeat the purpose. I still appreciated what he had offered though even if I don't think this one belongs to other definitive and timeless classics such as Year One or The Killing Joke. To me, it just didn't offer more. That probably has something to do with the fact that this is supposed to signify the 'end of an era' for Batman but we all know Batman will live on after this anyway so the impact unavoidably gets diluted and that's not Gaiman's fault. Still, this was a fairly enjoyable story.
On the plus side, the four standalones were a treat especially the Black and White comics featuring Batman and the Joker as actors hired to act on comic book pages, and a When is a Door about the Riddler which was visually spectacular to look at and read. Overall, I still believe Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader is something you can have on your shelf on display.
RECOMMENDED: 7/10
DO READ MY BATMAN COMICS REVIEWS AT:
January 27, 2017
Continuing the events from the canonical stories of Batman, famous writer Neil Gaiman tells a surreal and interesting story of Batman watching his own funeral happening, while immersing the whole thing in a huge Batman love letter. It isn't any kind of funeral though, this one has every single character, the good and the bad, attending. To makes matters even more intriguing, they each go on to tell their own version of Batman's death. Unfortunately, the volume doesn't cover every character's say and limits itself to a couple. Among the ones that managed to get the spotlight, Alfred's story is definitely the most stunning and sad story of them all. While it might seem insane, his story still however delivers a riveting and amazing interpretation of Batman's life and fall. I honestly wanted this volume to surprise me and blow me away, but I feel like it just lacked content, while the main idea was there. I'm pretty sure Neil Gaiman could've done an even better job if it wasn't for the whole premise he had to abide to. At least Andy Kubert's artwork did a fantastic job in putting life in every characters and portraying different versions of Batman's design throughout his legacy.
The volume also contained a couple self-contained, and absolutely unrelated, stories. While none of them really stood out for me and most of their artwork didn't have me tripping or anything, I thought Pavane (a Poison Ivy story) as well as When is a Door (a sort of Riddler origin) were quite interesting.
P.S. Full review to come
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
The volume also contained a couple self-contained, and absolutely unrelated, stories. While none of them really stood out for me and most of their artwork didn't have me tripping or anything, I thought Pavane (a Poison Ivy story) as well as When is a Door (a sort of Riddler origin) were quite interesting.
P.S. Full review to come
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
February 3, 2021
7.5/10 stars
I'm kind of torn here. Andy Kubert's art is wonderful: the wholehearted tribute to previous creators, the imagery, the expressions conveying the full range of emotions, the shadows and shapes - everything is just superb. Gaiman's main story is also interesting, a thoughtful, loving tribute to Batman and a clever rumination on the power of ideas in one. Alfred's story is by far my favorite, and shows the depth of Gaiman's consideration to the vigilante/troubled superhero genre in general - probably couldn't be any different in the post-Watchmen age. But it was also too short for what it tried to convey, limited to just a few - the most standard - perspectives.
The rest of the stories (B&W#2, Pavane, and When is a Door) was okay, but not great. I liked the tongue-in-cheek Batman and Joker as low-paid actors playing in a Lobo-directed movie, but beyond Gaiman's name there is nothing linking them to the titular story. If I were to rate only Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader, it'd get a higher score.
I'm kind of torn here. Andy Kubert's art is wonderful: the wholehearted tribute to previous creators, the imagery, the expressions conveying the full range of emotions, the shadows and shapes - everything is just superb. Gaiman's main story is also interesting, a thoughtful, loving tribute to Batman and a clever rumination on the power of ideas in one. Alfred's story is by far my favorite, and shows the depth of Gaiman's consideration to the vigilante/troubled superhero genre in general - probably couldn't be any different in the post-Watchmen age. But it was also too short for what it tried to convey, limited to just a few - the most standard - perspectives.
The rest of the stories (B&W#2, Pavane, and When is a Door) was okay, but not great. I liked the tongue-in-cheek Batman and Joker as low-paid actors playing in a Lobo-directed movie, but beyond Gaiman's name there is nothing linking them to the titular story. If I were to rate only Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader, it'd get a higher score.
August 19, 2016
Nothing special here unfortunately.
The first part of this actually dealt with Batman, and the artwork for that was good. And the plot was at least somewhat intriguing. Everything after that was pretty boring and not about Batman. And the artwork was painful.
There was a story about Batman and the Joker being aware that they are comic book characters, which was kind of cool to see. Then there was a Poison Ivy story and a story about some guy hosting a show about Gotham's criminals.
I expected more from this, but at least it wasn't very long.
The first part of this actually dealt with Batman, and the artwork for that was good. And the plot was at least somewhat intriguing. Everything after that was pretty boring and not about Batman. And the artwork was painful.
There was a story about Batman and the Joker being aware that they are comic book characters, which was kind of cool to see. Then there was a Poison Ivy story and a story about some guy hosting a show about Gotham's criminals.
I expected more from this, but at least it wasn't very long.
February 4, 2020
Блискучий концепт, реалізація якого може здаватись спірною для багатьох. Бетмен помер. На його похорони прибуває уся наволоч Ґотема, адже прощання з головним героєм має відбутись на достойному рівні. Проти кого ж злочинці будуть боротись, якщо не буде Бетмена? Однак лишається у таємниці, чому та як помер Бетмен. Відповідно, кожен починає розповідати свою версію: спочатку довгу, а потім все коротшу. Паралельно голос Бетмена (живий чи мертвий) коментує це все, створюючи своєрідний метатекст над усіми цими голосами.
Проблема цієї роботи в тім, що вона чудово починається, але дивно закінчується. Особисто мені б хотілося почути більше голосів, повноцінних і розгорнутих, які б щоразу переконували: так, саме так помер Бетмен! Натомість Ґейман пішов іншою дорогою, створюючи розлогий коментар щодо еволюції Бетмена й загалом його пригод у всесвіті, які переосмислюють у світлі його смерті. Тому це навіть не графічний роман, а швидше графічна історія, оповідь чи нарізка, яка спонукає подумати, порефлексувати й пройтись етапами життя Бетмена завдяки добротному малюнку Енді Куберта.
Усе ж, історія Ґеймана має винятковий настрій: трохи меланхолійний, трохи філософський, трохи інтелектуальний. Це такий типовий Ґейман, який окутує читача затишною історією, пробуджуючи якісь глибинні душевні струни. Помітно, наскільки Ґейман любить цього персонажа, тому для нього Бетмен - це втілення дитинства, читацького логова й, що основне, батька, бо саме той відкрив йому світ Ґотема та його головного протагоніста. До цієї історії хочеться повертатись, бо вона немає ані лінійності, ані якоїсь інтриги, а швидше є великою вдячністю Ґеймана до чи не найбільш відомого героя у світі й усього того, що з ним було й буде пов'язано.
Проблема цієї роботи в тім, що вона чудово починається, але дивно закінчується. Особисто мені б хотілося почути більше голосів, повноцінних і розгорнутих, які б щоразу переконували: так, саме так помер Бетмен! Натомість Ґейман пішов іншою дорогою, створюючи розлогий коментар щодо еволюції Бетмена й загалом його пригод у всесвіті, які переосмислюють у світлі його смерті. Тому це навіть не графічний роман, а швидше графічна історія, оповідь чи нарізка, яка спонукає подумати, порефлексувати й пройтись етапами життя Бетмена завдяки добротному малюнку Енді Куберта.
Усе ж, історія Ґеймана має винятковий настрій: трохи меланхолійний, трохи філософський, трохи інтелектуальний. Це такий типовий Ґейман, який окутує читача затишною історією, пробуджуючи якісь глибинні душевні струни. Помітно, наскільки Ґейман любить цього персонажа, тому для нього Бетмен - це втілення дитинства, читацького логова й, що основне, батька, бо саме той відкрив йому світ Ґотема та його головного протагоніста. До цієї історії хочеться повертатись, бо вона немає ані лінійності, ані якоїсь інтриги, а швидше є великою вдячністю Ґеймана до чи не найбільш відомого героя у світі й усього того, що з ним було й буде пов'язано.
August 4, 2021
Samo je jedan Gaiman ❤️
March 6, 2017
A crowd is gathering in the Dew Drop Inn. A car pulls into Crime Alley and Selina Kyle gets out and heads into the pub, she is directed to a room in the back. People are gathering for a wake and taking their seats in front of an open casket. Inside is the Caped Crusader himself. As more people arrive they tell their stories of their encounters with Batman, each one recounting how he died, but what is the truth? Can this really be the end? Why does he die a different way each time?
I have read almost all the Gaiman Sandman series, probably the graphic novel series that he is best known for, I had enjoyed them, so when I found this on the shelf in the library, thought I’d give it a go. Gaiman always manages to take what has gone before and give it those couple of extra twists that lift it from the original storyline. This is no different. I really liked the section where they show the way that the cartoon progresses from a rough pencil outline, to a detailed pencil sketch, before it is drawn and coloured for the final strip. Not a bad book overall.
I have read almost all the Gaiman Sandman series, probably the graphic novel series that he is best known for, I had enjoyed them, so when I found this on the shelf in the library, thought I’d give it a go. Gaiman always manages to take what has gone before and give it those couple of extra twists that lift it from the original storyline. This is no different. I really liked the section where they show the way that the cartoon progresses from a rough pencil outline, to a detailed pencil sketch, before it is drawn and coloured for the final strip. Not a bad book overall.
January 31, 2013
I love Neil Gaiman. He is a brilliant writer and may well be my favorite contemporary author. I was swept up in "The Sandman" series for a couple of months. This Tale of Batman could have fit nicely into the "The Sandman." In fact Death even appears here in the guise of (read the story to find out).
We find this is not the story of "our" Batman's death but instead reads more like "This is Your Life Batman!" Boiled down, the conclusion that Gaiman reaches is that, no matter how Batman lives, he lives fighting -- fighting crime, fighting his past, fighting his demons. It is the fight that enables The Bat to live on -- Gaiman's Batman is a Batman who never gave up
We find this is not the story of "our" Batman's death but instead reads more like "This is Your Life Batman!" Boiled down, the conclusion that Gaiman reaches is that, no matter how Batman lives, he lives fighting -- fighting crime, fighting his past, fighting his demons. It is the fight that enables The Bat to live on -- Gaiman's Batman is a Batman who never gave up
June 22, 2009
A very clever tying-up-of-ends, contradictory and convoluted and ultimately fitting. It's well written and well drawn and even the paper is pleasing to the touch. My only complaint is that I had expected it to be longer; there are several other Gaiman Batman stories filling out the hardcover edition I read, all of which are good but nothing to write home about.
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