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Batman: The Arkham Saga #4.1
Batman: Arkham Knight Vol. 1
The prequel to the best-selling game BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT!
The Joker is dead. Arkham City is closed. As a new day begins, Bruce Wayne finds himself in devastating pain, recovering from his injuries and questioning whether his role as Batman is still necessary to the city's survival. But as the sun rises in Gotham City, dangerous new threats emerge from the shadows...and the Arkham Knight is just beginning. Don't miss this in-continuity prequel comic set prior to the events of the brand-new video game Batman: Arkham Knight!
Collects BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT #1-4.
The Joker is dead. Arkham City is closed. As a new day begins, Bruce Wayne finds himself in devastating pain, recovering from his injuries and questioning whether his role as Batman is still necessary to the city's survival. But as the sun rises in Gotham City, dangerous new threats emerge from the shadows...and the Arkham Knight is just beginning. Don't miss this in-continuity prequel comic set prior to the events of the brand-new video game Batman: Arkham Knight!
Collects BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT #1-4.
146 pages, ebook
First published July 14, 2015
43 people are currently reading
1447 people want to read
About the author
Peter J. Tomasi
1,387 books467 followersPeter J. Tomasi is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, such as Batman And Robin; Superman; Super Sons; Batman: Detective Comics; Green Lantern Corps; and Superman/Wonder Woman; as well as Batman: Arkham Knight; Brightest Day; Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors; Nightwing; Black Adam, and many more.
In the course of his staff career at DC Comics, Tomasi served as a group editor and ushered in new eras for Batman, Green Lantern, and the JSA, along with a host of special projects like Kingdom Come.
He is also the author of the creator-owned titles House Of Penance with artist Ian Bertram; Light Brigade with artist Peter Snejbjerg; The Mighty with Keith Champagne and Chris Samnee; and the critically acclaimed epic graphic novel The Bridge: How The Roeblings Connected Brooklyn To New York, illustrated by Sara DuVall and published by Abrams ComicArts.
In 2018 New York Times best-selling author Tomasi received the Inkpot Award for achievement in comics.
In the course of his staff career at DC Comics, Tomasi served as a group editor and ushered in new eras for Batman, Green Lantern, and the JSA, along with a host of special projects like Kingdom Come.
He is also the author of the creator-owned titles House Of Penance with artist Ian Bertram; Light Brigade with artist Peter Snejbjerg; The Mighty with Keith Champagne and Chris Samnee; and the critically acclaimed epic graphic novel The Bridge: How The Roeblings Connected Brooklyn To New York, illustrated by Sara DuVall and published by Abrams ComicArts.
In 2018 New York Times best-selling author Tomasi received the Inkpot Award for achievement in comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
August 16, 2015
Ugh. I just feel drained after reading this.
It's not the worst thing ever, and parts of it are almost passable. Also, considering it's a video game spin-off? Ehhhh. It definitely could have been even lamer than it was.But not by much.
Still, it was a snooze-fest.
Here are a few examples of some of the GREAT lines...
Batman: I'll sleep when I'm dead, Alfred.
Joker: There are no cheat codes and no extra life. It's game over.
Killer Croc: I'll find Batman and feast on his bones! But first...dinner!
Not to mention the GREAT cameo appearances...
Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum, and (newcomer!) Tweedle Die. *cough*
The Abramovici Twins! sigh
And Kid Shark! The fuck?! Kid Shark Seriously?!
Ok, I don't play these games (or any games), but I understand the basic plot. And I'm pretty sure, after watching my kids get all shrivelly and allergic to the sun over the years, that I understand how these games work.
Batman + Villains + Arkham = Hours with a Controller
From what I gather, these are pretty fun if you're a gamer. At the very least, it looks incredibly cool.
Why DC feels the need to put out these dorky companion comics is just beyond my comprehension. If someone (who has never read a comic) wants to get into Batman because they've played the game, then this is the last title you want them to dive into.
Right now, Batman titles are rocking DC's world. There is quite literally no need for this shit.
No offense to Tomasi. I'm sure he did the best he could.Not really.
Skip!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy.
Get this review and more at:
It's not the worst thing ever, and parts of it are almost passable. Also, considering it's a video game spin-off? Ehhhh. It definitely could have been even lamer than it was.
Still, it was a snooze-fest.
Here are a few examples of some of the GREAT lines...
Batman: I'll sleep when I'm dead, Alfred.
Joker: There are no cheat codes and no extra life. It's game over.
Killer Croc: I'll find Batman and feast on his bones! But first...dinner!
Not to mention the GREAT cameo appearances...
Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum, and (newcomer!) Tweedle Die. *cough*
The Abramovici Twins! sigh
And Kid Shark! The fuck?! Kid Shark Seriously?!
Ok, I don't play these games (or any games), but I understand the basic plot. And I'm pretty sure, after watching my kids get all shrivelly and allergic to the sun over the years, that I understand how these games work.
Batman + Villains + Arkham = Hours with a Controller
From what I gather, these are pretty fun if you're a gamer. At the very least, it looks incredibly cool.
Why DC feels the need to put out these dorky companion comics is just beyond my comprehension. If someone (who has never read a comic) wants to get into Batman because they've played the game, then this is the last title you want them to dive into.
Right now, Batman titles are rocking DC's world. There is quite literally no need for this shit.
No offense to Tomasi. I'm sure he did the best he could.
Skip!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy.
Get this review and more at:
June 16, 2015
The Joker is dead! But as a new day begins in Gotham City, Dangerous new threats emerge and, Bruce Wayne still recovering from his injuries after his fight with The Joker must tend to them.
This graphic novel was absolutely wonderful to read; action, one-liners, The Joker (in a way), Harley Quinn, The Penguin, great art…etc.
Batman must fight terrible villains...well some vicious villains...well these two.
The Joker shows is face in a recorded testamente, demanding his body be returned to Harley Quinn...
Harley is looked up, but Bats, breaks her out to save Gordon's life when he is poisoned.
So she promise him that, she is a changed girl and tells him where the cure is and everything of course goes to hell. Harley Quinn changed? Never!
Instead she align herself with The Penguin...
Right, feeling as nauseous as me now? I do ship odd couples, but Harley smooching The Penguin, no thank you.
Then Fox has some problem...
In Germany...
The Twins are back!
So, that is some of the stuff that went on in this graphic novel. Loved it, looking forward to reading more.
Leave you all with one of my favorite scenes from Batman: Arkham Knight Vol. 1:
I received this copy from the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review! Thank you!
Review also posted on A Bookaholic Swede and It's a Mad Mad World
This graphic novel was absolutely wonderful to read; action, one-liners, The Joker (in a way), Harley Quinn, The Penguin, great art…etc.
Batman must fight terrible villains...well some vicious villains...well these two.
The Joker shows is face in a recorded testamente, demanding his body be returned to Harley Quinn...
Harley is looked up, but Bats, breaks her out to save Gordon's life when he is poisoned.
So she promise him that, she is a changed girl and tells him where the cure is and everything of course goes to hell. Harley Quinn changed? Never!
Instead she align herself with The Penguin...
Right, feeling as nauseous as me now? I do ship odd couples, but Harley smooching The Penguin, no thank you.
Then Fox has some problem...
In Germany...
The Twins are back!
So, that is some of the stuff that went on in this graphic novel. Loved it, looking forward to reading more.
Leave you all with one of my favorite scenes from Batman: Arkham Knight Vol. 1:
I received this copy from the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review! Thank you!
Review also posted on A Bookaholic Swede and It's a Mad Mad World
October 5, 2015
I received this from Edelweiss and DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.
Review will be posted after the book is published and the review embargo is lifted on Jun 16, 2015.
UPDATE
Pretty good rendition of Batman. I'm not familiar with any of the Arkham video games, so the part of the story that ties it to the games is lost on me.
Overall, the story was good, and it had the feel of the old 60s TV Batman, especially the way the villains and bad-guys join forces against Batman, and the way said villains' plans always seem to fail because they can't work together for very long. This isn't a bad thing, and definitely works for the storyline here.
The artwork is very good, and provides a definitive separation between Gotham in the daytime and Gotham at night.
Review will be posted after the book is published and the review embargo is lifted on Jun 16, 2015.
UPDATE
Pretty good rendition of Batman. I'm not familiar with any of the Arkham video games, so the part of the story that ties it to the games is lost on me.
Overall, the story was good, and it had the feel of the old 60s TV Batman, especially the way the villains and bad-guys join forces against Batman, and the way said villains' plans always seem to fail because they can't work together for very long. This isn't a bad thing, and definitely works for the storyline here.
The artwork is very good, and provides a definitive separation between Gotham in the daytime and Gotham at night.
July 15, 2015
I received a free eARC copy of this graphic novel through NetGalley.
Well, this was a decent Batman story, and a good way to kill a couple of dead hours this afternoon. I guess it's supposed to tie in to the new Arkham Knight game, but since I don't play these things, I missed any direct references to that. Still, a Batman story. Not as good as some of the Scott Snyder penned recent Batman titles that I've read, but worth the time nonetheless.
I did struggle with some of the assumed Bat-lore knowledge one would expect from a hard core fan. But then, I'm only a passing fan of the Bat at best. Once more, Snyder handled this better in his works.
Am I interested in continuing? Probably not, unless I got another free copy.
Well, this was a decent Batman story, and a good way to kill a couple of dead hours this afternoon. I guess it's supposed to tie in to the new Arkham Knight game, but since I don't play these things, I missed any direct references to that. Still, a Batman story. Not as good as some of the Scott Snyder penned recent Batman titles that I've read, but worth the time nonetheless.
I did struggle with some of the assumed Bat-lore knowledge one would expect from a hard core fan. But then, I'm only a passing fan of the Bat at best. Once more, Snyder handled this better in his works.
Am I interested in continuing? Probably not, unless I got another free copy.
November 3, 2015
The Joker is dead creating a strange alliance between Harley Quinn and The Penguin. Amidst it all Batman must deal with Gotham tearing itself apart.
This is a tie in to the video game and I suspect it will be better remembered for its art though the story/plotting is good enough.
OVERALL GRADE: B.
This is a tie in to the video game and I suspect it will be better remembered for its art though the story/plotting is good enough.
OVERALL GRADE: B.
June 16, 2015
I don’t know how many non-gamers are likely to pick up this book as it’s tied in to the hugely popular (with good reason) Arkham games, but let’s just say spoilers anyway.
If you are a fan of the Arkham games like me, that first scene isn’t a spoiler - the Joker dying at the end of Arkham City is the finale to the story mode, and it’s where Arkham Knight picks up (I know Origins came out after City but that was a prequel).
What’s the story? Well, let’s just stop there because I love the Arkham games and Rocksteady amazingly gave us the impossible experience of being Batman in Gotham. I’d go even further and say the Arkham series are the best superhero games ever made. The combat is so much fun, I play the challenge mode in City to this day!
Asylum’s story was ok but City’s story was all over the place even though it’s still the best in the series. And that’s because the story doesn’t matter in these games. Swooping around Gotham as Batman, grappling up buildings, fighting groups of Joker/Penguin/Two-Face/Black Mask/whoever goons, saving people, battling guys like Bane, Killer Croc and Solomon Grundy - that’s what matters. It’s why I never bothered with the Arkham Unhinged books that were a spinoff from these games.
I’m sure Arkham Knight will be a brilliant finale to the series even if its spinoff comic is a snorefest. Penguin and Harley team up to steal a Wayne Enterprises tablet; Gordon is momentarily dosed with Joker toxin; Scarecrow does his “scary” thing; and Batman fights baddies while Bruce rebuilds Gotham - it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Also, how does Gordon get infected with Joker toxin but lives for 20 minutes after? Don’t most victims die within seconds?
The new bits (that are probably going to be in the game) aren’t very new either. Someone’s in a robot Batsuit (that looks a lot like Ben Affleck’s Bat-Iron-man armour in the Batman Vs Superman trailer) executing crimz, and the Tweedles get a third: Tweedle Die! Hmm. Not very inspired. And of course the Abramovici twins, Mr Hammer and Captain Sickle (awful, awful names even by superhero standards!), return. They’re great mini-bosses to fight in the game - reading about them in a comic? They’re the one-dimensional entities they’ve always been and are totally uninteresting to read about.
And that’s the only thing I liked about this comic: seeing all the stuff I’d probably get to do once the game’s released. Saving Gordon from Joker toxin, exploring New Blackgate, driving the pimped out new Batmobile, and aerial mini-boss battles? AWESOME! As a story though, it’s directionless and the least interesting in the series by far. Harley and Penguin have no plan and Batman’s just arbitrarily rushing about the place punching bad guys. Again, fun to do in a game, boring to read in a comic.
The artist, Viktor Bogdanovic, draws some of the moves Batman pulls in the game - the slide, leaping from the Batmobile - and the airdropped Batsuit from City makes a reappearance. Eh… ok. It’s a comic of a video game, alright! Bogdanovic also seems to be mimicking Greg Capullo’s style quite a bit - I guess go with what’s popular, right?
Peter J. Tomasi’s Batman & Robin series isn’t bad but his Arkham Knight is very weak. To be fair to Tomasi, he really doesn’t have a lot to work with. The appeal of the games is the gameplay and how do you communicate that in a non-interactive medium? He tries but it’s a futile effort.
I’m looking forward to Arkham Knight the game but I’d say fans can easily skip this sub-standard, unexciting spin-off comic without missing anything worthwhile.
If you are a fan of the Arkham games like me, that first scene isn’t a spoiler - the Joker dying at the end of Arkham City is the finale to the story mode, and it’s where Arkham Knight picks up (I know Origins came out after City but that was a prequel).
What’s the story? Well, let’s just stop there because I love the Arkham games and Rocksteady amazingly gave us the impossible experience of being Batman in Gotham. I’d go even further and say the Arkham series are the best superhero games ever made. The combat is so much fun, I play the challenge mode in City to this day!
Asylum’s story was ok but City’s story was all over the place even though it’s still the best in the series. And that’s because the story doesn’t matter in these games. Swooping around Gotham as Batman, grappling up buildings, fighting groups of Joker/Penguin/Two-Face/Black Mask/whoever goons, saving people, battling guys like Bane, Killer Croc and Solomon Grundy - that’s what matters. It’s why I never bothered with the Arkham Unhinged books that were a spinoff from these games.
I’m sure Arkham Knight will be a brilliant finale to the series even if its spinoff comic is a snorefest. Penguin and Harley team up to steal a Wayne Enterprises tablet; Gordon is momentarily dosed with Joker toxin; Scarecrow does his “scary” thing; and Batman fights baddies while Bruce rebuilds Gotham - it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Also, how does Gordon get infected with Joker toxin but lives for 20 minutes after? Don’t most victims die within seconds?
The new bits (that are probably going to be in the game) aren’t very new either. Someone’s in a robot Batsuit (that looks a lot like Ben Affleck’s Bat-Iron-man armour in the Batman Vs Superman trailer) executing crimz, and the Tweedles get a third: Tweedle Die! Hmm. Not very inspired. And of course the Abramovici twins, Mr Hammer and Captain Sickle (awful, awful names even by superhero standards!), return. They’re great mini-bosses to fight in the game - reading about them in a comic? They’re the one-dimensional entities they’ve always been and are totally uninteresting to read about.
And that’s the only thing I liked about this comic: seeing all the stuff I’d probably get to do once the game’s released. Saving Gordon from Joker toxin, exploring New Blackgate, driving the pimped out new Batmobile, and aerial mini-boss battles? AWESOME! As a story though, it’s directionless and the least interesting in the series by far. Harley and Penguin have no plan and Batman’s just arbitrarily rushing about the place punching bad guys. Again, fun to do in a game, boring to read in a comic.
The artist, Viktor Bogdanovic, draws some of the moves Batman pulls in the game - the slide, leaping from the Batmobile - and the airdropped Batsuit from City makes a reappearance. Eh… ok. It’s a comic of a video game, alright! Bogdanovic also seems to be mimicking Greg Capullo’s style quite a bit - I guess go with what’s popular, right?
Peter J. Tomasi’s Batman & Robin series isn’t bad but his Arkham Knight is very weak. To be fair to Tomasi, he really doesn’t have a lot to work with. The appeal of the games is the gameplay and how do you communicate that in a non-interactive medium? He tries but it’s a futile effort.
I’m looking forward to Arkham Knight the game but I’d say fans can easily skip this sub-standard, unexciting spin-off comic without missing anything worthwhile.
June 27, 2020
Pretty good for a video game tie in, but I would expect it to be good with Peter Tomasi writing it. Tomasi is one of DC's better writers and the regular writer of Batman and Robin. The book features Bruce Wayne more than most Batman comics do and I dug it. It added an extra dimension. I really enjoyed the story where Batman and Lucius Fox go to get a new Batmobile. I loved how they explained it. I didn't really care for the shadowy Arkham Knight character who'd just show up to do something insidious and then exit stage left.
May 29, 2015
This was provided from Netgalley and DC Comics as an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Review to be posted once the review embargo is lifted on the day of release.
April 18, 2023
Halfway done.
March 19, 2017
So...I don't play video games. I know this is tied to the Batman games or something, but I don't play them and know pretty much nothing about them. So, I had no context for this going in.
That being said...the Arkham Knight is who you think it is. Was it supposed to be a mystery? Other reviewers were acting like it was meant to be a mystery. To me, it's perfectly obvious and you're supposed to know who it is the whole time. At least that's how I read it. I actually found it pretty enjoyable honestly, but I can see how annoying this would be if you didn't know who the Arkham Knight is. I think all the fun in reading the portions he's in comes from knowing who he is, so not knowing makes it kinda silly...
Anyways, overall this was a fine solid Batman story, but nothing life changing. I really enjoyed Bruce and Alfred in it, though Tim seemed a bit superfluous. The plot was clear and lively enough to keep me reading, but also have some asides that seemed a bit unnecessary and probably have more relevance as a video game tie-in than to this book (*cough field trip to get a new Batmobile cough*).
Honestly, I mainly picked it up because Tomasi wrote it, and he's by far my favorite Bat-writer. But I think Tomasi shines brightest when given the opportunity to write character-driven stories, and this was not that. There were a few good interactions between characters that stood out to me, but the overall plot was pretty standard.
That being said...the Arkham Knight is who you think it is. Was it supposed to be a mystery? Other reviewers were acting like it was meant to be a mystery. To me, it's perfectly obvious and you're supposed to know who it is the whole time. At least that's how I read it. I actually found it pretty enjoyable honestly, but I can see how annoying this would be if you didn't know who the Arkham Knight is. I think all the fun in reading the portions he's in comes from knowing who he is, so not knowing makes it kinda silly...
Anyways, overall this was a fine solid Batman story, but nothing life changing. I really enjoyed Bruce and Alfred in it, though Tim seemed a bit superfluous. The plot was clear and lively enough to keep me reading, but also have some asides that seemed a bit unnecessary and probably have more relevance as a video game tie-in than to this book (*cough field trip to get a new Batmobile cough*).
Honestly, I mainly picked it up because Tomasi wrote it, and he's by far my favorite Bat-writer. But I think Tomasi shines brightest when given the opportunity to write character-driven stories, and this was not that. There were a few good interactions between characters that stood out to me, but the overall plot was pretty standard.
April 3, 2017
The Arkham series works well for the games but it's really missed for me with the tie-in comics. There is nothing necessarily wrong with this but it's just way, way, way down the list of Batman titles worth your time and money. Also, if you haven't played all the games, then definitely stay away because it assumes you know a lot about the Arkham universe going in.
June 5, 2015
Finally DC has approved my Netgalley request! Batman is my favorite, so excited :)
December 7, 2018
The Joker is dead! And while Bruce Wayne is recovering from his injuries, new dangers torment Gotham City.
This was great! Beautiful art, lots of action, great one-liners, all the villains, etc.
This was great! Beautiful art, lots of action, great one-liners, all the villains, etc.
August 28, 2015
Batman: Arkham Knight is the graphic novel prequel to the recent video game of the same name. While I had serious issues with various elements of the game's story (indeed, I was downright disappointed by some of Rocksteady Studios' creative decisions), I thoroughly enjoyed this comic tie-in.
I have not read any comics by writer Peter J. Tomasi before this, but it is clear from this book at least, that he definitely has a handle on how to write an awesome Batman story. His command of the of the tone, the lore, and the characters is nearly flawless. Even without the game, this tie-in makes an entertaining Batman story in its own right. Although, If you're not very familiar with the story and lore of the Batman: Arkham games, you may not enjoy this book as much. Fans of Batman: The Animated Series from the early 1990's will enjoy this story as well, since this comic (and the games it's based on) borrow a lot from that particular version of Batman. The artwork is also very good. It's just a solid, enjoyable comic all-around. The ending left a lot of unanswered questions that I am eager to see resolved in subsequent volumes.
I have not read any comics by writer Peter J. Tomasi before this, but it is clear from this book at least, that he definitely has a handle on how to write an awesome Batman story. His command of the of the tone, the lore, and the characters is nearly flawless. Even without the game, this tie-in makes an entertaining Batman story in its own right. Although, If you're not very familiar with the story and lore of the Batman: Arkham games, you may not enjoy this book as much. Fans of Batman: The Animated Series from the early 1990's will enjoy this story as well, since this comic (and the games it's based on) borrow a lot from that particular version of Batman. The artwork is also very good. It's just a solid, enjoyable comic all-around. The ending left a lot of unanswered questions that I am eager to see resolved in subsequent volumes.
July 30, 2015
Maybe if I had played any of the games I would have known what the Heck was going on! Fair warning, unless you're a gamer you can't just jump into this one, as it's a sequel to the video game "Arkham City." The story picks up immediately after and I was kind of lost as to what was going on/why I should even care. All I know is Batman killed the Joker, and then spent the whole comic trying to figure out and disarm the traps that the Clown Prince of Crime left behind for the Gothamites. The art wasn't horrible and I was able to get through it. Therefore it gets two stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC for review.
December 3, 2019
This probably deserves a little higher rating, but, just randomly picking this up, it didn't engage my interest enough.
I did play the first two Batman Arkham games (loved 'em) but didn't play the Arkham Knight (or Origins) games. I have read Tomasi's Batman and Robin and loved it too so I thought I would give this a try.
Not knowing what I missed in the game story, and not remembering the story from the first two games since it has been so long, didn't really help. Overall, the plot is simply about Bruce trying to make Gotham a better place (nothing new there) and get a new Batmobile, all while the Arkham Knight is slowly making their presence known in the background. Batman and Knight never meet, so this is almost like a pre-origin story for the character. The art isn't bad, it's more the story just isn't interesting.
I did play the first two Batman Arkham games (loved 'em) but didn't play the Arkham Knight (or Origins) games. I have read Tomasi's Batman and Robin and loved it too so I thought I would give this a try.
Not knowing what I missed in the game story, and not remembering the story from the first two games since it has been so long, didn't really help. Overall, the plot is simply about Bruce trying to make Gotham a better place (nothing new there) and get a new Batmobile, all while the Arkham Knight is slowly making their presence known in the background. Batman and Knight never meet, so this is almost like a pre-origin story for the character. The art isn't bad, it's more the story just isn't interesting.
March 14, 2020
There is never a dull moment in Gotham. Arkham knight (vol 1) is no different. Joker is hands down terrifying (in my opinion the ultimate maniac). Even from beyond the grave he continues to wreak havoc. The plot is interesting and leaves the reader questioning the motives of the Arkham Knight and more importantly, who is he? There's a lot to look forward to in the next volume
June 2, 2020
2.5 stars. Even though I know where this is going to end up, it’s kinda fun in its own goofy way but sometimes it’s really cheesy (like the game) - especially in the dialogue - and it gets a little too much to handle.
But still, this is fun. It’s hard to write a half entertaining story set in between two games and Tomasi is doing a terrible job. It’s just not amazing.
But still, this is fun. It’s hard to write a half entertaining story set in between two games and Tomasi is doing a terrible job. It’s just not amazing.
November 18, 2015
Reseña de David Tejera · Nota: 5,5 · Reseña en Fantífica
No nos engañemos: cualquier aficionado a la saga de videojuegos «Batman: Arkham» da por hecho que la pantalla es el único medio necesario para conocer a fondo la historia que Rocksteady Studios ha desarrollado en las tres entregas de la saga (si no contamos la precuela desarrollada por Warner Bros. Games). Ya desde el principio, un producto como este lo va a tener muy complicado para calar entre el público al que va dirigido, puesto que los lectores habituales de los cómics de Batman no verán una historia tan interesante como para comprarse el tomo. Y quienes vengan de los videojuegos pensarán lo mismo sobre los acontecimientos que tengan lugar en las páginas dibujadas por Viktor Bogdanovic, Ig Guara y Robson Rocha y guionizadas por Peter J. Tomasi. Dejemos claro desde un primer momento que este tomo de Batman: Arkham Knight, que recoge la miniserie de cuatro números que salió en Estados Unidos antes del lanzamiento del videojuego, es un producto creado con fines comerciales, para aprovechar el éxito de una de las mejores sagas de juegos de superhéroes de la última década.
La duda que se nos plantea entonces es: ¿está a la altura? ¿Merece la pena comprarlo? La respuesta rápida es un «sí» con muchas comillas, pero vamos a profundizar un poco.
La muerte del Joker y la llegada del Caballero de Arkham
Batman: Arkham Knight retoma la historia de la saga poco después de los acontecimientos de Arkham City. Tras una lucha encarnizada contra el Joker que terminó con la muerte del Príncipe Payaso, el Cruzado Enmascarado tiene que enfrentarse a las consecuencias que afronta la ciudad de Gotham, y no solo con el traje de Batman. Bruce Wayne también tiene en su mano la reconstrucción de la ciudad después del tremendo fiasco que resultó ser Arkham City, la ciudad-prisión en la que se pretendía encerrar y reunir a todos los criminales de la prisión Blackgate y los reclusos del manicomio Arkham. La historia hace hincapié en estos dos puntos de vista y también en lo que la muerte del Joker significa para el resto de villanos de la ciudad, sobre todo para los planes del Pingüino y para Harley Quinn.
También se toma su tiempo para presentarnos al nuevo villano con el que se enfrentarán los jugadores a lo largo de Batman: Arkham Knight. La figura del Caballero de Arkham se encargará de ir sembrando el caos y su peculiar justicia entre los delincuentes de la ciudad. Aunque nunca se encuentra cara a cara con Batman, el cómic sienta las bases de la historia que tanto complicará la vida del Murciélago en el futuro y da al lector una visión muy general de sus intenciones. También aparece el Espantapájaros, el villano principal que será protagonista del videojuego, pero lo cierto es que su breve aparición nos ha resultado un tanto escasa, teniendo en cuenta la que se trae entre manos. Y no podía faltar el nuevo Batmóvil: uno de los elementos más polémicos del videojuego hará su aparición por primera vez en las páginas de este cómic, donde descubriremos el origen y su transformación en poco menos que un tanque.
El dibujo no destaca demasiado, a excepción de un genial pasaje centrado en el Joker por parte de Viktor Bogdanovic al principio del segundo número. Y el guion de Peter J. Tomasi, un veterano en contar historias del Murciélago, se ve siempre limitado a ceñirse al marco de Rocksteady. Eso sí, hay guiños de todo tipo para los amantes del videojuego: el gel explosivo, la batgarra y los escenarios del manicomio de Arkham, Arkham City o la propia Gotham, que parecen sacados directamente de los bocetos utilizados por Rocksteady y es algo que los aficionados agradecerán. La edición de ECC llega en rústica con las portadas de cada uno de los números de la colección y también algunos bocetos al final del tomo, así como una traducción más que correcta que no empaña para nada la lectura del título.
Como podéis comprobar, el cómic toca muchos palos de la trama que Rocksteady Studios ha ido creando desde el lanzamiento de Batman: Arkham Asylum, pero como era de esperar no se detiene a profundizar en ninguno de ellos. Se podría decir que la historia queda limitada a una sucesión de apariciones estelares que preparan a los lectores para lo que está por venir en el videojuego, sin crear una trama propia. Insisto: era de esperar, claro. Este pequeño añadido con viñetas nunca pretendió salirse por la tangente ni ir más allá de lo que a fin de cuentas no es más que un producto relacionado. Aquellos que no estén interesados en el videojuego no deberían tener en cuenta este volumen, pero los que sí que quieran profundizar un poco más en su historia encontrarán en las páginas de este cómic precuela de Batman: Arkham Knight algunos elementos interesantes que justifican su lectura.
Sobre el videojuego también hablaremos en breve, que eso ya sí que son palabras mayores.
No nos engañemos: cualquier aficionado a la saga de videojuegos «Batman: Arkham» da por hecho que la pantalla es el único medio necesario para conocer a fondo la historia que Rocksteady Studios ha desarrollado en las tres entregas de la saga (si no contamos la precuela desarrollada por Warner Bros. Games). Ya desde el principio, un producto como este lo va a tener muy complicado para calar entre el público al que va dirigido, puesto que los lectores habituales de los cómics de Batman no verán una historia tan interesante como para comprarse el tomo. Y quienes vengan de los videojuegos pensarán lo mismo sobre los acontecimientos que tengan lugar en las páginas dibujadas por Viktor Bogdanovic, Ig Guara y Robson Rocha y guionizadas por Peter J. Tomasi. Dejemos claro desde un primer momento que este tomo de Batman: Arkham Knight, que recoge la miniserie de cuatro números que salió en Estados Unidos antes del lanzamiento del videojuego, es un producto creado con fines comerciales, para aprovechar el éxito de una de las mejores sagas de juegos de superhéroes de la última década.
La duda que se nos plantea entonces es: ¿está a la altura? ¿Merece la pena comprarlo? La respuesta rápida es un «sí» con muchas comillas, pero vamos a profundizar un poco.
La muerte del Joker y la llegada del Caballero de Arkham
Batman: Arkham Knight retoma la historia de la saga poco después de los acontecimientos de Arkham City. Tras una lucha encarnizada contra el Joker que terminó con la muerte del Príncipe Payaso, el Cruzado Enmascarado tiene que enfrentarse a las consecuencias que afronta la ciudad de Gotham, y no solo con el traje de Batman. Bruce Wayne también tiene en su mano la reconstrucción de la ciudad después del tremendo fiasco que resultó ser Arkham City, la ciudad-prisión en la que se pretendía encerrar y reunir a todos los criminales de la prisión Blackgate y los reclusos del manicomio Arkham. La historia hace hincapié en estos dos puntos de vista y también en lo que la muerte del Joker significa para el resto de villanos de la ciudad, sobre todo para los planes del Pingüino y para Harley Quinn.
También se toma su tiempo para presentarnos al nuevo villano con el que se enfrentarán los jugadores a lo largo de Batman: Arkham Knight. La figura del Caballero de Arkham se encargará de ir sembrando el caos y su peculiar justicia entre los delincuentes de la ciudad. Aunque nunca se encuentra cara a cara con Batman, el cómic sienta las bases de la historia que tanto complicará la vida del Murciélago en el futuro y da al lector una visión muy general de sus intenciones. También aparece el Espantapájaros, el villano principal que será protagonista del videojuego, pero lo cierto es que su breve aparición nos ha resultado un tanto escasa, teniendo en cuenta la que se trae entre manos. Y no podía faltar el nuevo Batmóvil: uno de los elementos más polémicos del videojuego hará su aparición por primera vez en las páginas de este cómic, donde descubriremos el origen y su transformación en poco menos que un tanque.
El dibujo no destaca demasiado, a excepción de un genial pasaje centrado en el Joker por parte de Viktor Bogdanovic al principio del segundo número. Y el guion de Peter J. Tomasi, un veterano en contar historias del Murciélago, se ve siempre limitado a ceñirse al marco de Rocksteady. Eso sí, hay guiños de todo tipo para los amantes del videojuego: el gel explosivo, la batgarra y los escenarios del manicomio de Arkham, Arkham City o la propia Gotham, que parecen sacados directamente de los bocetos utilizados por Rocksteady y es algo que los aficionados agradecerán. La edición de ECC llega en rústica con las portadas de cada uno de los números de la colección y también algunos bocetos al final del tomo, así como una traducción más que correcta que no empaña para nada la lectura del título.
Como podéis comprobar, el cómic toca muchos palos de la trama que Rocksteady Studios ha ido creando desde el lanzamiento de Batman: Arkham Asylum, pero como era de esperar no se detiene a profundizar en ninguno de ellos. Se podría decir que la historia queda limitada a una sucesión de apariciones estelares que preparan a los lectores para lo que está por venir en el videojuego, sin crear una trama propia. Insisto: era de esperar, claro. Este pequeño añadido con viñetas nunca pretendió salirse por la tangente ni ir más allá de lo que a fin de cuentas no es más que un producto relacionado. Aquellos que no estén interesados en el videojuego no deberían tener en cuenta este volumen, pero los que sí que quieran profundizar un poco más en su historia encontrarán en las páginas de este cómic precuela de Batman: Arkham Knight algunos elementos interesantes que justifican su lectura.
Sobre el videojuego también hablaremos en breve, que eso ya sí que son palabras mayores.
Want to read
August 8, 2020To read or not to read!!? Anyone?
October 9, 2024
Really unremarkable. Fun adventure in issue 4 revolving around the new Batmobile, but its role as a skippable tie-in holds this one back from being essential reading
March 31, 2019
The comic "Batman Arkham Knight" is a great comic. I mainly like it because of the adventure batman has trying to catch joker.
May 11, 2020
Where's Arkham Knight? He barely appeared!
October 2, 2015
This is an extract of the full review, previously published at If These Books Could Talk
Picking up at the very end of ‘Arkham City’, we see Gotham destroyed after recent events brought chaos to the city. Reluctant to help due to his hatred of public appearances, Bruce Wayne eventually relents, and agrees to support the campaign to rebuild the area. All the while, his alter-ego has to cope with the opportunists making the most of a situation, creating havoc while forging alliances to run Gotham’s criminal underworld and ultimately take Batman out of the picture. But a new, more intense fear of the ‘Dark Knight’ is spreading across the city, but it’s nothing to do with Bruce. There’s an imposter following him around, leaving a trial of dead bodies behind him, completely going against Batman’s ‘no killing’ policy. Just who is the mysterious ‘Arkham Knight’ and what does he want from Batman?
As a prequel, this graphic novel does exactly what it says on the tin, and very little more. Across the six issues included here, we’ve got characters from the previous games, as well as a few new ones bothering Wayne Enterprises, and their storylines interweave nicely. Unfortunately, it’s almost two whole issues in before anything really happens, and even then, none of it is overly earth-shattering. Interestingly, I found Lucius Fox the most well-written to begin with, but after a while, even he was written for laughs rather than plot or characterisation. Admittedly, the writers do have to stick to the plot line of the attached game, and therefore are restricted as to what they can divulge, but I came way from this feeling a little flat.
Art wise, the comic is okay. It’s dark and moody when the moment calls for it (and hey…it’s Batman, so that’s a lot) and the colours zing to highlight explosions etc, but like the plot, the art didn’t blow me away.
Prequels are tricky, especially when attached to something as big as ‘Batman:Arkham Knight’, and this is no exception. It struggles to find it’s own voice and identity as a graphic novel, never quite reaching the narrative heights or visual scope of the games.
Picking up at the very end of ‘Arkham City’, we see Gotham destroyed after recent events brought chaos to the city. Reluctant to help due to his hatred of public appearances, Bruce Wayne eventually relents, and agrees to support the campaign to rebuild the area. All the while, his alter-ego has to cope with the opportunists making the most of a situation, creating havoc while forging alliances to run Gotham’s criminal underworld and ultimately take Batman out of the picture. But a new, more intense fear of the ‘Dark Knight’ is spreading across the city, but it’s nothing to do with Bruce. There’s an imposter following him around, leaving a trial of dead bodies behind him, completely going against Batman’s ‘no killing’ policy. Just who is the mysterious ‘Arkham Knight’ and what does he want from Batman?
As a prequel, this graphic novel does exactly what it says on the tin, and very little more. Across the six issues included here, we’ve got characters from the previous games, as well as a few new ones bothering Wayne Enterprises, and their storylines interweave nicely. Unfortunately, it’s almost two whole issues in before anything really happens, and even then, none of it is overly earth-shattering. Interestingly, I found Lucius Fox the most well-written to begin with, but after a while, even he was written for laughs rather than plot or characterisation. Admittedly, the writers do have to stick to the plot line of the attached game, and therefore are restricted as to what they can divulge, but I came way from this feeling a little flat.
Art wise, the comic is okay. It’s dark and moody when the moment calls for it (and hey…it’s Batman, so that’s a lot) and the colours zing to highlight explosions etc, but like the plot, the art didn’t blow me away.
Prequels are tricky, especially when attached to something as big as ‘Batman:Arkham Knight’, and this is no exception. It struggles to find it’s own voice and identity as a graphic novel, never quite reaching the narrative heights or visual scope of the games.
June 21, 2015
'Batman: Arkam Knight Vol. 1' is a prequel to the game of the same name. It's a non-stop action ride as Batman and Bruce Wayne find themselves in a city in turmoil.
Arkham City was part of North Gotham and was the new incarnation of Arkham Asylum. As this story opens, that area has been shut down. The Joker is apparently dead, but even in death, he has some dangerous surprises planned. A badly injured Batman needs time to heal, as does the city of Gotham. Alfred convinces Bruce Wayne that the city needs him and not the Dark Knight. A shadowy vigilante hunts down criminals, but is also after the Batman. Harley Quinn and The Penguin sense an opportunity in the power vacuum and make their plays, but are they working together or separately. Poor Lucius Fox has a time of it in this book with various criminals hunting him and hurting him. Batman gets to say "Ich bin Fledermausmann!" while he's trying to save Lucius on a trip to Germany for a new batmobile.
It all whizzes by at a brisk pace, but it feels controlled and nothing feels too lost. There are threads left hanging, but I assume those are picked up in the game. Who is the shadowy vigilante? Will Robin learn the skills he needs to fight beside Batman? Will Bruce Wayne step up and be the leader that Gotham needs? What is the Scarecrow up to? These and others are asked, but not necessarily answered.
The art by Viktor Bogdanovic is good, but it's really Peter J. Tomasi's writing that is the focus and the star here. I really enjoyed reading this, and if there is a volume 2, I'm in.
I received a review copy of this grapic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this great graphic novel.
Arkham City was part of North Gotham and was the new incarnation of Arkham Asylum. As this story opens, that area has been shut down. The Joker is apparently dead, but even in death, he has some dangerous surprises planned. A badly injured Batman needs time to heal, as does the city of Gotham. Alfred convinces Bruce Wayne that the city needs him and not the Dark Knight. A shadowy vigilante hunts down criminals, but is also after the Batman. Harley Quinn and The Penguin sense an opportunity in the power vacuum and make their plays, but are they working together or separately. Poor Lucius Fox has a time of it in this book with various criminals hunting him and hurting him. Batman gets to say "Ich bin Fledermausmann!" while he's trying to save Lucius on a trip to Germany for a new batmobile.
It all whizzes by at a brisk pace, but it feels controlled and nothing feels too lost. There are threads left hanging, but I assume those are picked up in the game. Who is the shadowy vigilante? Will Robin learn the skills he needs to fight beside Batman? Will Bruce Wayne step up and be the leader that Gotham needs? What is the Scarecrow up to? These and others are asked, but not necessarily answered.
The art by Viktor Bogdanovic is good, but it's really Peter J. Tomasi's writing that is the focus and the star here. I really enjoyed reading this, and if there is a volume 2, I'm in.
I received a review copy of this grapic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this great graphic novel.
November 4, 2015
I have complaints aplenty and they are forthcoming. First of all, this is written in conjunction with a video game. Had I been paying attention and realized that, I never would have requested it for review. Full blame goes to me for not realizing that this is not something that I'm going to enjoy. I have zero interest in most video games and anything that is a novelized video game is just...ugh. So Arkham Knight and I got off on the wrong foot when I looked it up on a Batman wiki and learned that it's a video game novelization.
I could have forgiven it for its video game ties, however, if it had been any good. Unfortunately I didn't like the art or the writing. The art looked sloppy to me, but it's possible that it was due to the fact that I was viewing it in ebook format (although I haven't had similar issues with other DC ebooks). Even if the art wasn't an issue, the writing was just awful. Terrible one-liners abound on pretty much every page. Some of the dialogue is so bad it wouldn't be out of place in a spoof or parody. The story itself isn't that interesting and felt like it jumped all over the place - probably fun for a video game, but disconcerting in a storyline that only lasts a bit over 100 pages.
My overall recommendation to those like me who are just getting started with serialized comics is to stick with the basics. While I enjoyed Arkham Manor enough, I still went into it feeling lost and confused. And the video game spinoff is just not at all my thing. I think I need to go back to the classic collections and work my way through those before getting in over my head and starting off confused.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with copies to review.
I could have forgiven it for its video game ties, however, if it had been any good. Unfortunately I didn't like the art or the writing. The art looked sloppy to me, but it's possible that it was due to the fact that I was viewing it in ebook format (although I haven't had similar issues with other DC ebooks). Even if the art wasn't an issue, the writing was just awful. Terrible one-liners abound on pretty much every page. Some of the dialogue is so bad it wouldn't be out of place in a spoof or parody. The story itself isn't that interesting and felt like it jumped all over the place - probably fun for a video game, but disconcerting in a storyline that only lasts a bit over 100 pages.
My overall recommendation to those like me who are just getting started with serialized comics is to stick with the basics. While I enjoyed Arkham Manor enough, I still went into it feeling lost and confused. And the video game spinoff is just not at all my thing. I think I need to go back to the classic collections and work my way through those before getting in over my head and starting off confused.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with copies to review.
July 28, 2015
I'd like to get something out of the way right as I start this review: I don't play the Arkham games. I want to, I do. But I haven't yet. That said, I do love me some Batman, so I was excited to get the comic book. However, I am unable to compare the two, so this review is written only as a Batman fan in general, and not as a gamer.
I really liked this volume. It's really pleasant to look at. The illustrations are very well detailed, and have the same grittiness that I've come to expect from Batman comics. The writing is pretty standard, and I think it did a pretty good job of conveying this story in the limited amount of space that text bubbles allow for.
The best part of this volume, to me, was the old characters. There were a lot of familiar, if not friendly, faces that I was happy to recognize. While the Joker is dead, characters such as Commissioner Gordon and the Penguin make their appearance alongside Batman (of course). What I was most excited for, however, was the appearance of Harley Quinn, who is my favorite DC characters. She was my favorite part of this book and had some good one liners, and talked about her puddin'.
Overall, I think this is a decent comic and I would recommend it to fans of Batman or Harley Quinn. This is stemmed from the Arkham games but as mentioned above, I have no comparison, so gamers: take a chance and try it out.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
I really liked this volume. It's really pleasant to look at. The illustrations are very well detailed, and have the same grittiness that I've come to expect from Batman comics. The writing is pretty standard, and I think it did a pretty good job of conveying this story in the limited amount of space that text bubbles allow for.
The best part of this volume, to me, was the old characters. There were a lot of familiar, if not friendly, faces that I was happy to recognize. While the Joker is dead, characters such as Commissioner Gordon and the Penguin make their appearance alongside Batman (of course). What I was most excited for, however, was the appearance of Harley Quinn, who is my favorite DC characters. She was my favorite part of this book and had some good one liners, and talked about her puddin'.
Overall, I think this is a decent comic and I would recommend it to fans of Batman or Harley Quinn. This is stemmed from the Arkham games but as mentioned above, I have no comparison, so gamers: take a chance and try it out.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
June 17, 2015
Batman: Arkham Knight Vol.1 pulls together the first six issues of this comic and sets up the prelude to the upcoming and much anticipated Batman: Arkham Knight video game.
"...The Joker is dead. Arkham City is closed. As a new day begins, Bruce Wayne finds himself in devastating pain, recovering from his injuries and questioning whether his role as Batman is still necessary to the city's survival. But as the sun rises in Gotham City, dangerous new threats emerge from the shadows...and the Arkham Knight is just beginning..."
Though this volume is primarily a marketing tool for the upcoming game, the comic and story line alone is worth picking this one up. The booby trapped body of the Joker, and how could it be otherwise to the rambling last will and testament of the Joker that kick this comic off are totally fun and completely in line with the comic lore of the Dark Knight. Harley Quinn takes center stage for an issue or two and her growth as a character is one of the main reasons, if not the main, for the success of the Suicide Squad.
Players of the game will be picking these books up looking for clues to help them in the game, but for the rest of us; these are just really good comics. Batman is beaten down and weak and there is the new character of the Arkham Knight who is following the caped crusader and executed criminals in his wake. This leads Gotham's finest to suspect that it may be the Batman finally killing.
The books are fast paced and action packed. Terrific storytelling from DC on this one!
"...The Joker is dead. Arkham City is closed. As a new day begins, Bruce Wayne finds himself in devastating pain, recovering from his injuries and questioning whether his role as Batman is still necessary to the city's survival. But as the sun rises in Gotham City, dangerous new threats emerge from the shadows...and the Arkham Knight is just beginning..."
Though this volume is primarily a marketing tool for the upcoming game, the comic and story line alone is worth picking this one up. The booby trapped body of the Joker, and how could it be otherwise to the rambling last will and testament of the Joker that kick this comic off are totally fun and completely in line with the comic lore of the Dark Knight. Harley Quinn takes center stage for an issue or two and her growth as a character is one of the main reasons, if not the main, for the success of the Suicide Squad.
Players of the game will be picking these books up looking for clues to help them in the game, but for the rest of us; these are just really good comics. Batman is beaten down and weak and there is the new character of the Arkham Knight who is following the caped crusader and executed criminals in his wake. This leads Gotham's finest to suspect that it may be the Batman finally killing.
The books are fast paced and action packed. Terrific storytelling from DC on this one!
April 25, 2016
Not a game player, but a Batman fan for over 50 yrs +. I picked up both Vol 1 and 2, plus new issues starting after Vol 2. Love this version of Batman. Plan to pick up
as well.
as well.
June 28, 2015
Thanks to netgalley and DC for advance copy . This is a tie in to to the Arkham knight game . It sets up the game and introduces the villians . It is not really a groundbreaking story but I enjoyed it nonetheless .
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