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Batman One-Shots
Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat
Brotherhood of The Bat, a Batman Elseworlds.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
1 person is currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Doug Moench
2,075 books123 followersDoug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok. Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. (He also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986.)
Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.
Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.
Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.
Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 29, 2023
WHY?! Why have you come to Gotham to pervert the Batman's memory?" -- protagonist 'Tallant,' fiercely emoting a line of dialogue that inadvertently has a double meaning, page 57
In a bit of tactical bait-and-switch, the 90's graphic novel Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat does not really feature the title character that you would obviously be tuning in for at the same Bat-time, same Bat-channel. No, this is an Elseworlds narrative (taking place outside of the official DC canon), set 53 years into the future after a virus has caused worldwide havoc and ruined many a national infrastructure. Criminal warlord Ra's al Ghul intends to take over Gotham City using a platoon of Batman imposters with costumes courtesy of pillaging an abandoned Bat Cave. The city needs a hero, and into the fray steps young 'Tallant,' sporting a positively Swayzesque mullet that would look right at home in said late actor's cinematic bar bouncing opus Road House, who also suits up as the Dark Knight to slug it out with the violent doppelgangers. Other than a great but brief scene of various models of Batmobiles racing into the night and a climactic sword fight moment set amidst the Bat Cave's trophy room there was nothing particularly memorable about this volume.
In a bit of tactical bait-and-switch, the 90's graphic novel Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat does not really feature the title character that you would obviously be tuning in for at the same Bat-time, same Bat-channel. No, this is an Elseworlds narrative (taking place outside of the official DC canon), set 53 years into the future after a virus has caused worldwide havoc and ruined many a national infrastructure. Criminal warlord Ra's al Ghul intends to take over Gotham City using a platoon of Batman imposters with costumes courtesy of pillaging an abandoned Bat Cave. The city needs a hero, and into the fray steps young 'Tallant,' sporting a positively Swayzesque mullet that would look right at home in said late actor's cinematic bar bouncing opus Road House, who also suits up as the Dark Knight to slug it out with the violent doppelgangers. Other than a great but brief scene of various models of Batmobiles racing into the night and a climactic sword fight moment set amidst the Bat Cave's trophy room there was nothing particularly memorable about this volume.
August 16, 2018
An Elseworlds story that exists only so DC could use up a bunch of unused Batman costumes designs by 9 different artists.
In 2053, Ra's al Ghul releases a virus that decimates most of the world's population. Now he's come to Gotham to restore order from the gangs that are plaguing the city. He wanders the Batcave and finds Batman's diary. (It actually is sitting on Batman's desk and says "My Diary" with hearts on it.) Inside are 9 costume designs that he has the League of Assassins wear as they go around killing gang members. Then an old Talia reveals to her son, Tallant, that his dad is Batman. So he goes to stop Ra's and his Batmen.
There are so many dumb moments in the book. Jim Gordon and Barbara show up at one point, both looking the same really old age even though they are father and daughter. In the big final confrontation, Ra's walks behind a podium to change into his Demon Batman costume. Why doesn't Tallant just beat the hell out of him while he's changing?
In 2053, Ra's al Ghul releases a virus that decimates most of the world's population. Now he's come to Gotham to restore order from the gangs that are plaguing the city. He wanders the Batcave and finds Batman's diary. (It actually is sitting on Batman's desk and says "My Diary" with hearts on it.) Inside are 9 costume designs that he has the League of Assassins wear as they go around killing gang members. Then an old Talia reveals to her son, Tallant, that his dad is Batman. So he goes to stop Ra's and his Batmen.
There are so many dumb moments in the book. Jim Gordon and Barbara show up at one point, both looking the same really old age even though they are father and daughter. In the big final confrontation, Ra's walks behind a podium to change into his Demon Batman costume. Why doesn't Tallant just beat the hell out of him while he's changing?
December 10, 2013
I’ve read enough Elseworlds (standalone what if? stories) and Doug Moench Batman books (Knightfall, Prey, Unseen) to know that this Elseworlds book by Doug Moench was going to be complete garbage before I read it – and it was! I just think sometimes reading a really bad Batman comic puts in perspective the Batman comics of today because no matter how bad someone like Tony Daniel fouls up the Dark Knight, he’s head and shoulders above the likes of Moench. Plus you get a few chuckles out of Moench’s awful writing.
Set in 2053, a modified ebola virus has wiped out 97% of the world and Batman is dead. These two things don’t seem to be connected because first we see the devastation of this virus and then in another panel, without further explanation, we’re told “The Batman is dead”. Simple! Because this is a book from the mid-90s we’re treated to 80s/early 90s visions of the apocalyptic world, you know the kind – badly named gangs of idiots wearing bandanas, somehow finding windows that haven’t been smashed and smashing them.
Ra’s Al-Ghul is of course behind it all and decides that he will rebuild the world and rule over it himself. Something called the mysterious power of the earth is focused directly beneath Wayne Manor in the former Bat cave - of course! So Ra’s sets up his new base there, complete with a lazarus pit (which can apparently be created using a few barrels of chemicals and a ditch), and discovers Bruce’s designs for various Bat-suits lying in a diary on his desk.
The plot already feels idiotic as hell but here’s where things verge on the pantomime – Bruce’s diary is called “My Diary” with love hearts drawn on the cover and is lying in plain sight! This is partly an excuse to have the 9 artists – yes, 9 – who worked on this book to supply their own version of the Bat suit, and they’re uniformly terrible!
So Ra’s takes the designs and turns them into outfits for his elite assassins, the Brotherhood of the Demon, and make them into the Brotherhood of the Bat! They set about killing off Gotham’s roving gang problem. I know Ra’s wants to disgrace Bruce’s memory by having Batmen kill, but surely there’s a better way of restoring order? Relying on 8 guys to do it all? What about the rest of his organisation?
Then we’re introduced to Talia who’s living in some protected part of Gotham with her mulleted son Tallant, who ironically has none! Why did Talia leave the League of Shadows? Why doesn’t she have any henchmen? Why is she a mousy Aunt-May-like figure? No idea. Tallant is Talia and Bruce Wayne’s son and, even though he looks just like him, doesn’t realise this until his 20s!
Tallant decides to become the true Batman and bring down the Brotherhood from the inside by infiltrating it. Here’s another one of those weird moments when Tallant meets Ra’s – Ra’s stands up, goes behind his stone chair, a couple of minutes pass, and then he emerges in his demon Batman suit. So he was changing behind his chair? That’s hilarious – I think Tallant should’ve made his move then when Ra’s is down to his boxers and socks and beat him up then! I’m surprised Moench didn’t add an extra line for Ra’s – “No peeking, now!”.
Anyways, Tallant begins tediously picking off the Brotherhood one by one and even though Ra’s notices his Brotherhood thinning and even though he’s the head of a global network of assassins, he doesn’t bother replacing them. So his plan to restore order to the world was these 8 nondescript guys (we never know their names, they just wear Bat suits) and no-one else! Then another bizarre scene happens after Ra’s informs them of their depleted ranks, when he says “You may disperse now but remain in the cave to await further orders” and the Batmen run off in random directions in the cave at speed! Where are they running to?! They don’t have rooms or anywhere to hang out! It’s like they’re kids playing a game of hide and seek!
Brotherhood of the Bat is sheer madness from start to finish but in a completely half-assed way like Moench was being even lazier and stupider than usual, did one draft of the script, handed it in, then went back to his Play-Doh. This is a book where Barbara Gordon is an ancient old lady – but Jim Gordon is still alive! How old is Gordon!?! And the ending is amazing – Tallant and Ra’s sword fight until Ra’s gets tired of all the nonsense and literally walks away saying he’s bored and that he’s giving Gotham back to Mullet Man! That might be the laziest ending to a Batman story I’ve ever read, and it’s so funny!
I liked that every version of the Batmobile was used by the different Batmen and the story made me laugh a lot, which I expected it to do, but this is in no way a good Batman book on any level. Want to read a short, totally inept Batman story that makes no sense? Brotherhood of the Bat, or any Doug Moench Batman comic, is for you!
Set in 2053, a modified ebola virus has wiped out 97% of the world and Batman is dead. These two things don’t seem to be connected because first we see the devastation of this virus and then in another panel, without further explanation, we’re told “The Batman is dead”. Simple! Because this is a book from the mid-90s we’re treated to 80s/early 90s visions of the apocalyptic world, you know the kind – badly named gangs of idiots wearing bandanas, somehow finding windows that haven’t been smashed and smashing them.
Ra’s Al-Ghul is of course behind it all and decides that he will rebuild the world and rule over it himself. Something called the mysterious power of the earth is focused directly beneath Wayne Manor in the former Bat cave - of course! So Ra’s sets up his new base there, complete with a lazarus pit (which can apparently be created using a few barrels of chemicals and a ditch), and discovers Bruce’s designs for various Bat-suits lying in a diary on his desk.
The plot already feels idiotic as hell but here’s where things verge on the pantomime – Bruce’s diary is called “My Diary” with love hearts drawn on the cover and is lying in plain sight! This is partly an excuse to have the 9 artists – yes, 9 – who worked on this book to supply their own version of the Bat suit, and they’re uniformly terrible!
So Ra’s takes the designs and turns them into outfits for his elite assassins, the Brotherhood of the Demon, and make them into the Brotherhood of the Bat! They set about killing off Gotham’s roving gang problem. I know Ra’s wants to disgrace Bruce’s memory by having Batmen kill, but surely there’s a better way of restoring order? Relying on 8 guys to do it all? What about the rest of his organisation?
Then we’re introduced to Talia who’s living in some protected part of Gotham with her mulleted son Tallant, who ironically has none! Why did Talia leave the League of Shadows? Why doesn’t she have any henchmen? Why is she a mousy Aunt-May-like figure? No idea. Tallant is Talia and Bruce Wayne’s son and, even though he looks just like him, doesn’t realise this until his 20s!
Tallant decides to become the true Batman and bring down the Brotherhood from the inside by infiltrating it. Here’s another one of those weird moments when Tallant meets Ra’s – Ra’s stands up, goes behind his stone chair, a couple of minutes pass, and then he emerges in his demon Batman suit. So he was changing behind his chair? That’s hilarious – I think Tallant should’ve made his move then when Ra’s is down to his boxers and socks and beat him up then! I’m surprised Moench didn’t add an extra line for Ra’s – “No peeking, now!”.
Anyways, Tallant begins tediously picking off the Brotherhood one by one and even though Ra’s notices his Brotherhood thinning and even though he’s the head of a global network of assassins, he doesn’t bother replacing them. So his plan to restore order to the world was these 8 nondescript guys (we never know their names, they just wear Bat suits) and no-one else! Then another bizarre scene happens after Ra’s informs them of their depleted ranks, when he says “You may disperse now but remain in the cave to await further orders” and the Batmen run off in random directions in the cave at speed! Where are they running to?! They don’t have rooms or anywhere to hang out! It’s like they’re kids playing a game of hide and seek!
Brotherhood of the Bat is sheer madness from start to finish but in a completely half-assed way like Moench was being even lazier and stupider than usual, did one draft of the script, handed it in, then went back to his Play-Doh. This is a book where Barbara Gordon is an ancient old lady – but Jim Gordon is still alive! How old is Gordon!?! And the ending is amazing – Tallant and Ra’s sword fight until Ra’s gets tired of all the nonsense and literally walks away saying he’s bored and that he’s giving Gotham back to Mullet Man! That might be the laziest ending to a Batman story I’ve ever read, and it’s so funny!
I liked that every version of the Batmobile was used by the different Batmen and the story made me laugh a lot, which I expected it to do, but this is in no way a good Batman book on any level. Want to read a short, totally inept Batman story that makes no sense? Brotherhood of the Bat, or any Doug Moench Batman comic, is for you!
November 3, 2013
Set in the future, fifty-three years after a strain of the Ebola virus has wiped out 97% off the world's population, Ra's Al Ghul is still alive thanks to those convenient Lazarus pits and returns to Gotham City - to Wayne Manor, to be more precise. There he finds a book with costume designs that the original Batman - though now dead - had come up with. So Ra's then decides to have the cream of the crop of his League of Assassins each wear a Batman costume, one each for every design in the aforementioned book. So that's where the title of this Elseworld story comes in. The reason for Ra's decision? He plans to take over the world (naturally) and this Brotherhood of the Bat will purge all crime and lawlessness, starting with Gotham City.
Ra's Batmen are out kicking ass and taking names, but it soon appears that they are taking it a bit too far. We meet a young man named Tallant, the son of Talia Al Ghul. For years she has been training him physically and mentally, and in light of the recent developments, she informs him that he's Bruce Wayne's son, making him the son of the original Batman! Holy sh*t! Tallant then infiltrates Ra's Batmen and after a seemingly endless string of fights with other Batmen, he duels with his maternal grand-father, Ra's Al Ghul. The latter ends up "leaving Gotham to him", to see if he can do better.
Whatever. This was published in 1995 and it shows in so many ways. The writing style is one thing, but oh-my-goodness the art is typical 90's fare. Some ridiculous costume designs and the mullet! Few things describe the designs of the 90's better than mullets and pouches! Mercifully, the pouch factor is minimal if not totally absent from this book. Hard to believe with a 64-page book, but at times I felt like I wouldn't be able to finish it!
One thing about this book is that you'll wish you hadn't bothered reading it in the first place, being an Elseworld tale and therefore inconsequential, but amazingly there are worse things out there, and I've read some of them.
Ra's Batmen are out kicking ass and taking names, but it soon appears that they are taking it a bit too far. We meet a young man named Tallant, the son of Talia Al Ghul. For years she has been training him physically and mentally, and in light of the recent developments, she informs him that he's Bruce Wayne's son, making him the son of the original Batman! Holy sh*t! Tallant then infiltrates Ra's Batmen and after a seemingly endless string of fights with other Batmen, he duels with his maternal grand-father, Ra's Al Ghul. The latter ends up "leaving Gotham to him", to see if he can do better.
Whatever. This was published in 1995 and it shows in so many ways. The writing style is one thing, but oh-my-goodness the art is typical 90's fare. Some ridiculous costume designs and the mullet! Few things describe the designs of the 90's better than mullets and pouches! Mercifully, the pouch factor is minimal if not totally absent from this book. Hard to believe with a 64-page book, but at times I felt like I wouldn't be able to finish it!
One thing about this book is that you'll wish you hadn't bothered reading it in the first place, being an Elseworld tale and therefore inconsequential, but amazingly there are worse things out there, and I've read some of them.
November 26, 2020
Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat is a graphic novel and is written by Doug Moench and illustrated by a plethora of pencilers: Jim Aparo, Jim Balent, Bret Blevins, Norm Breyfogle, Vincent Giarrano, Tom Grummett, Mike Manley, and Graham Nolan. The story depicts a post-apocalyptic world where Ra's al Ghul takes over the remains of Gotham City, but a new Batman rises to stop him.
Following the Third World War, a deadly version of Ebola plagues the world, wiping out much of humanity, including Bruce Wayne as Batman. However, his nemesis Ra’s al Ghul gathers his surviving members of the League of Assassins to Gotham City where he launches the Brotherhood of the Bat from Wayne Manor.
Ra's al Ghul rules the city with an iron fist, creating a vaccine for the disease. His reign seems unbreakable, until his daughter Talia al Ghul, angry at her father, raises her son Tallant to be the next Batman. At first, the boy is hesitant, but when he learns Bruce Wayne is his father, he agrees to infiltrate Gotham City and take back the cape and cowl.
Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat is written and constructed moderately well. This graphic novel is an Elseworld one-shot, which means that the story is out of continuity. It is an interesting premise of a post-apocalyptic world and the fight over tyranny as grandson fights his grandfather to end his tyranny. Tallent Wayne is an interesting character, but somewhat forgettable character and needed more pages dedicated to him to flesh out his character. The artistic flow of the graphic novel was jarring and expected with so many pencillers involved.
All in all, Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat is a mediocre graphic novel about a decedent of Bruce Wayne reclaiming his birthright to become the future Batman – just wished the narrative was more fleshed out.
Following the Third World War, a deadly version of Ebola plagues the world, wiping out much of humanity, including Bruce Wayne as Batman. However, his nemesis Ra’s al Ghul gathers his surviving members of the League of Assassins to Gotham City where he launches the Brotherhood of the Bat from Wayne Manor.
Ra's al Ghul rules the city with an iron fist, creating a vaccine for the disease. His reign seems unbreakable, until his daughter Talia al Ghul, angry at her father, raises her son Tallant to be the next Batman. At first, the boy is hesitant, but when he learns Bruce Wayne is his father, he agrees to infiltrate Gotham City and take back the cape and cowl.
Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat is written and constructed moderately well. This graphic novel is an Elseworld one-shot, which means that the story is out of continuity. It is an interesting premise of a post-apocalyptic world and the fight over tyranny as grandson fights his grandfather to end his tyranny. Tallent Wayne is an interesting character, but somewhat forgettable character and needed more pages dedicated to him to flesh out his character. The artistic flow of the graphic novel was jarring and expected with so many pencillers involved.
All in all, Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat is a mediocre graphic novel about a decedent of Bruce Wayne reclaiming his birthright to become the future Batman – just wished the narrative was more fleshed out.
January 12, 2023
Tengo entendido que un Elseword es una especie de "one shot" de un posible futuro que no tendrá relevancia a futuro
Teniendo lo anterior en cuenta la historia principal es un desastre, personajes con desarrollo nulo, historia explicada a medias, un entorno y contexto que parecen una fantasía de niños de 5 años mas que una obra dedicada a un publico adolescente y un final abierto que no lleva a nada
El dibujo y la acción no fallaron, pero todo lo demás si. Lo que lo salva de que le ponga una estrella son las 38 paginas extras en donde Bruce Wayne escribe su progreso en la creación de trajes, la baticueva, etc. Un agregado coqueto e interesante que lo salva de ser malo a pasable, aun así, no la recomiendo.
Teniendo lo anterior en cuenta la historia principal es un desastre, personajes con desarrollo nulo, historia explicada a medias, un entorno y contexto que parecen una fantasía de niños de 5 años mas que una obra dedicada a un publico adolescente y un final abierto que no lleva a nada
El dibujo y la acción no fallaron, pero todo lo demás si. Lo que lo salva de que le ponga una estrella son las 38 paginas extras en donde Bruce Wayne escribe su progreso en la creación de trajes, la baticueva, etc. Un agregado coqueto e interesante que lo salva de ser malo a pasable, aun así, no la recomiendo.
May 3, 2023
A rare Elseworlds that falls flat, as it looks and feels more like a Batman toy line commercial rather than an actual story.
You get some ten league of assassins members turned evil Batman under Ra's Al Ghul (whose plan is about as addled and "believable" as the retconned Thanos' in the MCU), and Batman's son with Talia decimating them with minor effort, before Ra's becomes a softie for family.
The art is generally inconsistent and at places downright bad. Maybe not for the trash pile, but definitely nothing to brag about either.
You get some ten league of assassins members turned evil Batman under Ra's Al Ghul (whose plan is about as addled and "believable" as the retconned Thanos' in the MCU), and Batman's son with Talia decimating them with minor effort, before Ra's becomes a softie for family.
The art is generally inconsistent and at places downright bad. Maybe not for the trash pile, but definitely nothing to brag about either.
February 10, 2019
Hace 20 años vi los diseños de estos Batmans en una Cómic Preview y siempre me quedé con la intriga de cómo sería el cómic, hoy por fin lo puedo leer gracias a un amigo que lo tenía y me lo prestó... Es una alta bizarreada pero me divirtió, no buscaba nada súper profundo. Aguanten los dibujos de los 90's XD
December 10, 2022
Para tener la libertad que ofrece el concepto "Elseworlds", la historia de Doug Moench y un variado grupo de dibujantes no arriesga mucho al desplegar una Gotham post-apocalíptica donde Ra's Al Ghul inicia su jugada final en pos de cambiar el planeta... hasta encontrar un último escollo. De todos modos no carece de ritmo y de deja leer, resultando entretenida hasta su muy predecible final.
June 19, 2018
Un "elseworld" típico de los 90's: con muchos vacíos argumentales y autoconclusivo pero que genera muchas ideas para desarrollar. Lo bueno, se tomó la idea del hijo de Thalía para traer al universo DC a Demian Wayne y sacarle el jugo.
May 22, 2017
Fun Elseworlds romp. You never know what you're going to get with an Elseworlds, and it was pretty ok.
June 28, 2021
everything played out how I expected. which is satisfying sometimes.
December 25, 2021
For its concept its a nice story. But just falls short somewhere.
December 29, 2021
Rivals "Fortunate Son" for the clunkiest, most unnecessary Batman story I've ever read.
A prime example of how uneven the Elseworlds books can be. For every "Red Son" we're blessed with, we're subjected to 4 of these turds.
A prime example of how uneven the Elseworlds books can be. For every "Red Son" we're blessed with, we're subjected to 4 of these turds.
November 10, 2025
(5 November, 2025)
A pale imitation of the Demon's Head, Batmen and others , in an insipid tale of rebirth and crap and stuff.
Plague, henchmen and convenient plot twits (and turns), all bad, all boring. Nothing noteworthy here so I'll just...
A pale imitation of the Demon's Head, Batmen and others , in an insipid tale of rebirth and crap and stuff.
Plague, henchmen and convenient plot twits (and turns), all bad, all boring. Nothing noteworthy here so I'll just...
August 3, 2011
Whilst many of these Elsewords books lose their 'Batman-ness', this mostly retains that quality, and reads much like a normal Ra's Al Ghul story. The artwork is mostly of a high standard, the printing is really glossy, the story is not too crazy and the length is just about right. One of the better one-off Elseworlds TPBs.
March 10, 2011
A future story with Batman's son taking on the mantle. Could have been better.
March 28, 2019
if this would have been a half dozen issues i'd of loved it. just reads WAY to fast.
September 7, 2012
Quite a good story, but not really what I would class as an Elseworlds. This could just be set in the future, and does not have the alternative universe feel that the other graphic novels have had.
October 18, 2014
Not good, but not bad either. However, I don't think that Batmen and the end of the world mix well.
February 12, 2016
A interesting and well told alternate universe Batman story of the future. Recommended
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews