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Batman: Knightfall #2, 2017 Omnibus Edition
Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 2: Knightquest
This classic storyline that led to the birth of a new Batman begins as the Dark Knight's greatest enemies have all simultaneously escaped from Arkham Asylum and are preying on Gotham City. With his city under siege, Batman pushes his body to its physical breaking point as he takes on the Joker, the Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, the Riddler and the Scarecrow, one after another. But things get much worse when Bane, the man behind all of this madness, confronts an exhausted Batman and cripples him by breaking his back.
Collects the entire Knightfall: Knightquest saga in a single hardcover edition including JUSTICE LEAGUE TASK FORCE #5-6, DETECTIVE COMICS #667-675, ROBIN #1, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #19-28, BATMAN #501-508 and CATWOMAN #6-7.
Collects the entire Knightfall: Knightquest saga in a single hardcover edition including JUSTICE LEAGUE TASK FORCE #5-6, DETECTIVE COMICS #667-675, ROBIN #1, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #19-28, BATMAN #501-508 and CATWOMAN #6-7.
976 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2017
5 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Dixon
3,426 books1,029 followersCharles "Chuck" Dixon is an American comic book writer, perhaps best-known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s.
His earliest comics work was writing Evangeline first for Comico Comics in 1984 (then later for First Comics, who published the on-going series), on which he worked with his then-wife, the artist Judith Hunt. His big break came one year later, when editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' The Savage Sword of Conan.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy with artist Tim Truman. Continuing to write for both Marvel and (mainly) Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He also produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989.
His Punisher OGN Kingdom Gone (August, 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal (and later, more monthly and occasional Punisher titles), and also brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Denny O'Neil, who asked him to produce a Robin mini-series. The mini proved popular enough to spawn two sequels - The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992) - which led to both an ongoing monthly series (which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics), and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644-738 through the major Batman stories KnightFall & KnightsEnd (for which he helped create the key character of Bane), DC One Million , Contagion , Legacy , Cataclysm and No Man's Land . Much of his run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman-writer in the mid-1990s (rivalled perhaps in history by Bill Finger and Dennis O'Neil) - in addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin , Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101) and Batgirl , as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey .
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics (and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover), he also found time to launch Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He also wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow , regularly having about seven titles out each and every month between the years 1993 and 1998.
In March, 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, salthough he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One. For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the out-going Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March '03), The Silken Ghost (June '03) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct '03), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He also wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November '03 and April '04, the last released shortly before CrossGen's complete collapse forced the cancellation of all of its comics, before which Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May '04). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity."
His earliest comics work was writing Evangeline first for Comico Comics in 1984 (then later for First Comics, who published the on-going series), on which he worked with his then-wife, the artist Judith Hunt. His big break came one year later, when editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' The Savage Sword of Conan.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy with artist Tim Truman. Continuing to write for both Marvel and (mainly) Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He also produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989.
His Punisher OGN Kingdom Gone (August, 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal (and later, more monthly and occasional Punisher titles), and also brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Denny O'Neil, who asked him to produce a Robin mini-series. The mini proved popular enough to spawn two sequels - The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992) - which led to both an ongoing monthly series (which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics), and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644-738 through the major Batman stories KnightFall & KnightsEnd (for which he helped create the key character of Bane), DC One Million , Contagion , Legacy , Cataclysm and No Man's Land . Much of his run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman-writer in the mid-1990s (rivalled perhaps in history by Bill Finger and Dennis O'Neil) - in addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin , Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101) and Batgirl , as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey .
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics (and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover), he also found time to launch Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He also wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow , regularly having about seven titles out each and every month between the years 1993 and 1998.
In March, 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, salthough he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One. For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the out-going Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March '03), The Silken Ghost (June '03) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct '03), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He also wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November '03 and April '04, the last released shortly before CrossGen's complete collapse forced the cancellation of all of its comics, before which Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May '04). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity."
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 13, 2023
Jean Paul Valley has fully embraced his role as the violent, no-nonsense, loner Batman to start out this omnibus. It has been made clear that this new Batman has no room for a Robin as he continually dismisses Tim Drake whenever the two are together. Beyond dismissing, things even get violent and near death in this rivalry and battle of Gotham’s protectors. Though Valley is correcting others when they call him anything other than Batman, it is clear that he isn’t Batman as he’s traditionally been. We’re clearly seeing Azrael Batman having taken over now.
Robin gets his own series at the beginning of this omnibus and I can’t help but wonder if this was due to the reception of Tim Drake at the time being so positive or due to them feeling the need to keep this new character in the spotlight still since Azrael Batman will have none of him. It is interesting to see Tim deal with things a teenager would such as getting his license and having a girlfriend.
The Tally Man arc that takes place in Shadow of the Bat seemed a bit of a filler story at first, but this one headed where I thought it was going to and ended up showing some of the extremism that Azrael Batman has been dealing. At this point in the story, Azrael is more machine than man or Batman. Azrael is violently reminding everyone that he is the weapon of the Order of St. Dumas, no matter the costume he is wearing.
Along to challenge Azrael Batman is the assassin, Mekros. I think my favorite aspect of Mekros isn’t that they were a good challenge or interesting for for Azrael physically but that Mekros was able to expose Azrael’s lack of detective ability or patience to the reader. While Azrael worked with manipulation well, he would never be able to match the true Batman’s intellect.
The issue of Detective Comics that had Mr. Freeze in it facing off against Azrael was mostly a one-off story that didn’t have any real meaning other than to sort of discredit this new Batman and I found it to be a bit odd. This story wrote Mr. Freeze like he was a crazed maniac without his suit and I’ve found the character to be most intriguing when he’s calm and collected, working toward what he seems good in the ways he deems necessary.
I had been wondering as I was reading Azrael’s story how Catwoman might handle running into him since there’s too much history between her and Bruce and we’d seen a few other relationships between this new Batman and the old Batman’s allies. The spell that Catwoman has under Azrael is interesting and had me wondering if Azrael is falling for her simply because she’s a gorgeous mystery woman or because he’s trying to again take over one more aspect of Batman’s life.
As expected Catwoman recognizes that this Batman is not the one she’s always known and their relationship could not be any more different. As the Joker comes along and tries to murder Batman in a ridiculous way, he too quickly realizes that this Batman isn’t the one he’s always danced with. More and more, Azrael is being exposed as definitely not the Batman that Gotham City has known.
Three quarters of the way through this omnibus and I’m beginning to wonder if we’ll ever see Bruce Wayne as Batman again. To be honest, Azrael feels a bit played out at this point, but they’re beginning to freshen things up by bringing new characters into the story, such as the Clayface arc, which I actually really enjoyed!
One interesting factor that comes into play with Azrael present and Bruce gone is the comparison and allowance of vigilante justice. It is often stated that Batman is still in the wrong for being a vigilante, even though he does things in a moral way. However, with Azrael doing things in an extreme way that definitely borders on psychopathic with the way he battles his own self internally, the question of allowing a vigilante to do their work is frowned upon by the GCPD, especially Gordon, much more.
Finally, near the last quarter of this omnibus, we get a glimpse of where Bruce Wayne is and see him on the hunt to find Tim’s kidnapped father in Bane’s old backyard. Batman uses different disguises to get back into things while rehabbing his body and utilizes his reputation as Batman to get some help in locating Tim’s father and Shondra, who Bruce had seemingly professed his love for her internally out of the blue. It seems his motivation for returning to Batman is one of love now. Seeing Shondra kidnapped and working her new powers is quite interesting, yet also pulled almost out of nowhere.
While this story doesn’t head in the direction I expected originally, it does play out a bit as I saw coming as I got further into the read. Especially in regard to how the last issue of this omnibus wrapped with what will inevitably be Bruce vs. Azrael, I am very much looking forward to reading this and seeing exactly how this all will play out and resolve. I do hope to see a bit more Bane though for a boost in the Bruce Wayne becoming Batman redemption arc.
Robin gets his own series at the beginning of this omnibus and I can’t help but wonder if this was due to the reception of Tim Drake at the time being so positive or due to them feeling the need to keep this new character in the spotlight still since Azrael Batman will have none of him. It is interesting to see Tim deal with things a teenager would such as getting his license and having a girlfriend.
The Tally Man arc that takes place in Shadow of the Bat seemed a bit of a filler story at first, but this one headed where I thought it was going to and ended up showing some of the extremism that Azrael Batman has been dealing. At this point in the story, Azrael is more machine than man or Batman. Azrael is violently reminding everyone that he is the weapon of the Order of St. Dumas, no matter the costume he is wearing.
Along to challenge Azrael Batman is the assassin, Mekros. I think my favorite aspect of Mekros isn’t that they were a good challenge or interesting for for Azrael physically but that Mekros was able to expose Azrael’s lack of detective ability or patience to the reader. While Azrael worked with manipulation well, he would never be able to match the true Batman’s intellect.
The issue of Detective Comics that had Mr. Freeze in it facing off against Azrael was mostly a one-off story that didn’t have any real meaning other than to sort of discredit this new Batman and I found it to be a bit odd. This story wrote Mr. Freeze like he was a crazed maniac without his suit and I’ve found the character to be most intriguing when he’s calm and collected, working toward what he seems good in the ways he deems necessary.
I had been wondering as I was reading Azrael’s story how Catwoman might handle running into him since there’s too much history between her and Bruce and we’d seen a few other relationships between this new Batman and the old Batman’s allies. The spell that Catwoman has under Azrael is interesting and had me wondering if Azrael is falling for her simply because she’s a gorgeous mystery woman or because he’s trying to again take over one more aspect of Batman’s life.
As expected Catwoman recognizes that this Batman is not the one she’s always known and their relationship could not be any more different. As the Joker comes along and tries to murder Batman in a ridiculous way, he too quickly realizes that this Batman isn’t the one he’s always danced with. More and more, Azrael is being exposed as definitely not the Batman that Gotham City has known.
Three quarters of the way through this omnibus and I’m beginning to wonder if we’ll ever see Bruce Wayne as Batman again. To be honest, Azrael feels a bit played out at this point, but they’re beginning to freshen things up by bringing new characters into the story, such as the Clayface arc, which I actually really enjoyed!
One interesting factor that comes into play with Azrael present and Bruce gone is the comparison and allowance of vigilante justice. It is often stated that Batman is still in the wrong for being a vigilante, even though he does things in a moral way. However, with Azrael doing things in an extreme way that definitely borders on psychopathic with the way he battles his own self internally, the question of allowing a vigilante to do their work is frowned upon by the GCPD, especially Gordon, much more.
Finally, near the last quarter of this omnibus, we get a glimpse of where Bruce Wayne is and see him on the hunt to find Tim’s kidnapped father in Bane’s old backyard. Batman uses different disguises to get back into things while rehabbing his body and utilizes his reputation as Batman to get some help in locating Tim’s father and Shondra, who Bruce had seemingly professed his love for her internally out of the blue. It seems his motivation for returning to Batman is one of love now. Seeing Shondra kidnapped and working her new powers is quite interesting, yet also pulled almost out of nowhere.
While this story doesn’t head in the direction I expected originally, it does play out a bit as I saw coming as I got further into the read. Especially in regard to how the last issue of this omnibus wrapped with what will inevitably be Bruce vs. Azrael, I am very much looking forward to reading this and seeing exactly how this all will play out and resolve. I do hope to see a bit more Bane though for a boost in the Bruce Wayne becoming Batman redemption arc.
February 28, 2022
(Zero spoiler review) 3.75/5
Whereas Omnibus 1 is basically Batman V Bane over the course of 40+ issues of Batman and Detectives comics, omnibus 2 draws in material from all over Gotham, with the two aforementioned titles, as well as some one shots, and small runs from secondary characters like Robin and Cat Woman. So seeing as show this is a mish mash of different creators and collaborators, the quality is a bit all over the place. There were times when I wanted to cry, times when I wanted to cringe, and times when you couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Spoiler alert, it was the Cat Woman arc.
Whilst the overall narrative is still dealing with the fallout from the end of omnibus one, it does come across a little haphazard at times, which impacted on the quality and re-readability of the book. Some of this material could easily have been omitted in place of a punchier, stronger read. That said, completionists would likely bemoan the exclusion of certain stories, so I guess its better in than out, even if I would only read about half of this if and when I got around to delving in again. But then again, the same can be said for volume one. Graeme Nolan and Mike Manley's art has really grown on me. The two are still the most prominently featured, and my gripes with their yoyoing quality from volume one are gone. I'm really digging it now, especially Nolan. But 90's Cat Woman in her purple outfit... I'll definitely be revisiting that sometime in the future. Now to decide whether I like this enough to try and find a copy of omnibus 3 on the secondary market. Have you seen those prices? Don't think I'll be finishing this anytime soon. 3.75/5
OmniBen.
Whereas Omnibus 1 is basically Batman V Bane over the course of 40+ issues of Batman and Detectives comics, omnibus 2 draws in material from all over Gotham, with the two aforementioned titles, as well as some one shots, and small runs from secondary characters like Robin and Cat Woman. So seeing as show this is a mish mash of different creators and collaborators, the quality is a bit all over the place. There were times when I wanted to cry, times when I wanted to cringe, and times when you couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Spoiler alert, it was the Cat Woman arc.
Whilst the overall narrative is still dealing with the fallout from the end of omnibus one, it does come across a little haphazard at times, which impacted on the quality and re-readability of the book. Some of this material could easily have been omitted in place of a punchier, stronger read. That said, completionists would likely bemoan the exclusion of certain stories, so I guess its better in than out, even if I would only read about half of this if and when I got around to delving in again. But then again, the same can be said for volume one. Graeme Nolan and Mike Manley's art has really grown on me. The two are still the most prominently featured, and my gripes with their yoyoing quality from volume one are gone. I'm really digging it now, especially Nolan. But 90's Cat Woman in her purple outfit... I'll definitely be revisiting that sometime in the future. Now to decide whether I like this enough to try and find a copy of omnibus 3 on the secondary market. Have you seen those prices? Don't think I'll be finishing this anytime soon. 3.75/5
OmniBen.
November 4, 2018
Batman: Knightfall is a Batman story arc that takes place over approximately six months. Bruce Wayne suffers burnout and is systematically assaulted and crippled by venom-enhanced genius named Bane. This 1993–1994 storyline has three parts in Knightfall, Knightquest, and KnightEnds. Batman: Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 2: Knightquest collects Justice League Task Force #5-6, Detective Comics #667–675, Robin #1, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #19–28, Batman #501–508 and Catwoman #6–7.
The trade paperback opens with Jean-Paul Valley having been established as Batman, while Bruce Wayne is out of the country. It follows the story of Jean-Paul Valley during his tenure as Batman. He becomes increasingly violent and mentally unbalanced. During this time, he drives Tim Drake as Robin away, because Jean-Paul Valley believes that Gotham City to be so tough that only violence could answer its criminals, leaving Robin horrified in many cases.
Furthermore, the surge of violence from Jean-Paul Valley puts pressure on Batman's relationship with James Gordon, who begins to distrust and even fear the new Batman and eventually comes to realize he is not the same man he has known.
Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth's search for Jack Drake and Shondra Kinsolving, the father of the current Robin and the physical therapist with whom Bruce Wayne had fallen in love during his rehabilitation sessions respectively. Their investigation leads them to the Caribbean and then Great Britain.
Benedict Asp, Shondra Kinsolving's adopted brother, kidnapped her to use her special powers to kill people at a distance. Benedict Asp demonstrates this new form of mass murder on a small English village. When Bruce Wayne finds Shondra Kinsolving, he finds himself caught in the middle of a telekinetic tug-of-war between them.
The battle climaxes with Shondra Kinsolving refocusing her energy to defeat Benedict Asp, as a side effect of the energy, Bruce Wayne's broken spine becomes healed. However, the drugs forced onto her by Benedict Asp, combined with the effects of the fight with him, reduce Shondora Kinsolving's mind to that of a child as her traumatized mind regresses to the past to escape her unhappy present, and Bruce Wayne reluctantly puts her into a mental institution.
With many writers, graphic artists and colorist with several titles makes it rather difficult to rate this massive anthology. For the most part, I rather enjoyed the narrative and penciling throughout this complicated story arc. Reading Jean-Paul Valley's journey to Batman and his decent into madness is rather interesting to read.
All in all, Batman Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 2: Knightquest is written and conceived rather well and is a wonderful continuation to what would be a wonderful series.
The trade paperback opens with Jean-Paul Valley having been established as Batman, while Bruce Wayne is out of the country. It follows the story of Jean-Paul Valley during his tenure as Batman. He becomes increasingly violent and mentally unbalanced. During this time, he drives Tim Drake as Robin away, because Jean-Paul Valley believes that Gotham City to be so tough that only violence could answer its criminals, leaving Robin horrified in many cases.
Furthermore, the surge of violence from Jean-Paul Valley puts pressure on Batman's relationship with James Gordon, who begins to distrust and even fear the new Batman and eventually comes to realize he is not the same man he has known.
Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth's search for Jack Drake and Shondra Kinsolving, the father of the current Robin and the physical therapist with whom Bruce Wayne had fallen in love during his rehabilitation sessions respectively. Their investigation leads them to the Caribbean and then Great Britain.
Benedict Asp, Shondra Kinsolving's adopted brother, kidnapped her to use her special powers to kill people at a distance. Benedict Asp demonstrates this new form of mass murder on a small English village. When Bruce Wayne finds Shondra Kinsolving, he finds himself caught in the middle of a telekinetic tug-of-war between them.
The battle climaxes with Shondra Kinsolving refocusing her energy to defeat Benedict Asp, as a side effect of the energy, Bruce Wayne's broken spine becomes healed. However, the drugs forced onto her by Benedict Asp, combined with the effects of the fight with him, reduce Shondora Kinsolving's mind to that of a child as her traumatized mind regresses to the past to escape her unhappy present, and Bruce Wayne reluctantly puts her into a mental institution.
With many writers, graphic artists and colorist with several titles makes it rather difficult to rate this massive anthology. For the most part, I rather enjoyed the narrative and penciling throughout this complicated story arc. Reading Jean-Paul Valley's journey to Batman and his decent into madness is rather interesting to read.
All in all, Batman Knightfall Omnibus Vol. 2: Knightquest is written and conceived rather well and is a wonderful continuation to what would be a wonderful series.
March 3, 2018
This is a massive book. Taken as a whole, it's a compelling story. Some of the chapters are damn good and others are god-awful... overall worth 4 stars for me. I enjoyed Jean-Paul Valley as Batman -- obsessed, confused, tortured, bad-ass. His newfangled bat-costume is mostly ridiculous though.
June 24, 2019
I didn't enjoy the alternate Batman. I did enjoy the Robin/Bruce Wayne portions.
August 31, 2019
The sequel to a major story-arc 'Knightfall' comes 'Knightquest' in two parts - The Crusade and The Search - and some how, what was shocking to Batman fans, Knightquest is a disappointment.
As Bruce Wayne is almost paralyze after been broken by Bane, Jean Paul (Azrael) took over the mantle of the Batman to carry on... with disastrous outcome. Jean Paul is struggling on the path of right but what he is seeing conflicts with what is right and wrong. As Batman, he is brutal, uncaring and vicious... even more fearsome than Bruce Wayne. As criminals cower over his techniques of justice, Bruce takes a journey to save Dr. Shondra and discover that he may want to lead a normal life and retire. As Gotham fallen into what was capable hands to bring justice, the world as we know of Batman maybe worst.
The Kngithquest arc is one that is either boring or unnecessary. Although it does lead to possibilities as where its headed, it is one I felt repetitive in this arc that is a bore, even though it does lead to Knightsend of a trilogy arc. Overall - not that great but not that bad.
December 16, 2025
This was a thick book! Got it from the local library, luckily.
The best issue from this collection is a "Showcase" issue, right in the middle. It's a Penguin/Gordon story. The art is excellent because of its symbolism. And the story asks the wonderful question of "Is Gordon weak if he leans so much on Batman." Gosh what a great issue.
"The Search" is the only set of stories that is really worth reading. (It's the last 100 pages or so.) I loved seeing Bruce take on a new non-Batman role as he searches for Tim's father and the Dr. His romance with the Dr is also interesting to me. This story also answers how Bruce is healed...
I also enjoyed the Robin issues, as usual. They are rather fun. Along those lines, I also enjoyed Az-Bat's relationship with Cat-woman.
The "Quest" storyline is weak, and it lasts for the first 300ish pages. I feel no sympathy for Az-Bat. I know I'm not supposed to, that's the point, but I learn nothing new about Jean-Paul's personality--probably because he doesn't have one. He only has "the program" and his confused self.
At the time, I wonder if editorial was scared to make Az-Bat a good character, scared that fans might like him?
The best issue from this collection is a "Showcase" issue, right in the middle. It's a Penguin/Gordon story. The art is excellent because of its symbolism. And the story asks the wonderful question of "Is Gordon weak if he leans so much on Batman." Gosh what a great issue.
"The Search" is the only set of stories that is really worth reading. (It's the last 100 pages or so.) I loved seeing Bruce take on a new non-Batman role as he searches for Tim's father and the Dr. His romance with the Dr is also interesting to me. This story also answers how Bruce is healed...
I also enjoyed the Robin issues, as usual. They are rather fun. Along those lines, I also enjoyed Az-Bat's relationship with Cat-woman.
The "Quest" storyline is weak, and it lasts for the first 300ish pages. I feel no sympathy for Az-Bat. I know I'm not supposed to, that's the point, but I learn nothing new about Jean-Paul's personality--probably because he doesn't have one. He only has "the program" and his confused self.
At the time, I wonder if editorial was scared to make Az-Bat a good character, scared that fans might like him?
May 28, 2022
Better than expected. I unfortunately didn’t read this as it was dropping in the 90’s, specifically 94 but…I’m sure glad I own the three volume omnibus series now.
I’ve read that people didn’t enjoy Jean Paul as Batman, for obvious reasons..he’s not Bruce Wayne however, I did enjoy the other perspective of what Batman would feel like if he didn’t live and act by his codes. With so much filth in Gotham and in the real world, would it make sense to catch these punks and then release them as they take more lives along the way? An ethical question but Azrael isn’t entirely wrong…the execution and ego is what stopped him from being a fan fav.
My only complaint is Jean Paul Valley’s bat suit. It’s a straight up poor man’s Iron Man mixed with Spawn costume. Simply ridiculous and poorly executed.
Finished the book in 2 days. Solid and necessary writing.
I’ve read that people didn’t enjoy Jean Paul as Batman, for obvious reasons..he’s not Bruce Wayne however, I did enjoy the other perspective of what Batman would feel like if he didn’t live and act by his codes. With so much filth in Gotham and in the real world, would it make sense to catch these punks and then release them as they take more lives along the way? An ethical question but Azrael isn’t entirely wrong…the execution and ego is what stopped him from being a fan fav.
My only complaint is Jean Paul Valley’s bat suit. It’s a straight up poor man’s Iron Man mixed with Spawn costume. Simply ridiculous and poorly executed.
Finished the book in 2 days. Solid and necessary writing.
July 23, 2023
Jean Paul Valley was intentionally written as an unlikeable characters, and it shows. This was a tough volume to get through. There wasn't much lead-up to him taking the mantle, and while his downfall was well developed, it was hard to be invested in such an unlikeable character.
March 3, 2025
It's the 90's, losers. Do you think Bruce Wayne is lame? We're the Batman think tank and we'll show you lame. Unfortunately the drip is immaculate.
Possibly the third best canon "What if someone else was Batman?" storyline, but still pretty fun regardless.
Possibly the third best canon "What if someone else was Batman?" storyline, but still pretty fun regardless.
January 16, 2019
3.5 really
August 4, 2025
3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. Enjoying the Knightfall saga overall, but it felt like this one went a little long unnecessarily. Looking forward to wrapping it up with the final volume.
August 9, 2025
first half 4 stars
second half 2.5 stars
second half 2.5 stars
November 12, 2020
A proper slog, but kind of fascinating for that: it’s indicative of the nineties comics mentality that has created things like Comicsgate and that modern comics constantly feel like they’re reacting against either ironically or with full conviction. The main plot is Bruce Wayne is out of action because of Bane - from the third Nolan Batman film if you aren’t aware of him - and the mantle has been taken by Jean Paul Valley who appears to be a bit insane and driven by the ghosts of his dead dad and a Knight Templar. So far that could be almost any era of comics
But what we get is a character who’s a lot less self questioning than Wayne is, and who’s frankly a bit of a bastard. This means the best writers - Chuck Dixon mostly - can use this as a stealth way of looking at the state of mainstream nineties comics and add their despair into the characters themselves. The new Batman looks ridiculous, like they got drunk one night and tried to find the most absurd and daftly edgy outfit they could (he literally has no hands but weird curved spike things) to see if they could get away with it. The best writers and artists here definitely are sending up the grotesqueries of the genre, because what else can you do if you don’t want to embrace it?
The worst writers and artists here are... kind of more fascinating because they don’t spot the absurdity or irony, or in the case of Alan Grant - whose work on Dredd pretty much defined this trait in mainstream comics - just phones it in with deliberate schlock. The stories lurch about in tone. Villains have names and designs that a 13 year old high on felt tip fumes would have come up with. There’s no logic or sense of a real world that this is reacting against or embracing. It’s incredibly silly. And it’s only those who are in on the joke - surely boggling that others really are not also in on it - that makes this as fun as it does. Really and truly: very strange
But what we get is a character who’s a lot less self questioning than Wayne is, and who’s frankly a bit of a bastard. This means the best writers - Chuck Dixon mostly - can use this as a stealth way of looking at the state of mainstream nineties comics and add their despair into the characters themselves. The new Batman looks ridiculous, like they got drunk one night and tried to find the most absurd and daftly edgy outfit they could (he literally has no hands but weird curved spike things) to see if they could get away with it. The best writers and artists here definitely are sending up the grotesqueries of the genre, because what else can you do if you don’t want to embrace it?
The worst writers and artists here are... kind of more fascinating because they don’t spot the absurdity or irony, or in the case of Alan Grant - whose work on Dredd pretty much defined this trait in mainstream comics - just phones it in with deliberate schlock. The stories lurch about in tone. Villains have names and designs that a 13 year old high on felt tip fumes would have come up with. There’s no logic or sense of a real world that this is reacting against or embracing. It’s incredibly silly. And it’s only those who are in on the joke - surely boggling that others really are not also in on it - that makes this as fun as it does. Really and truly: very strange
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