Batman: Lost #1

Dark Nights: Metal (Reading Order) #3.5

by Scott Snyder, Bengal (Illustrator), Olivier Coipel (Illustrator)

Trapped in the Dark Multiverse, Batman must face his greatest fears!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Comics Manga, Horror

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 8, 2017

About the author

Scott Snyder is the Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer on DC Comics Batman, Swamp Thing, and his original series for Vertigo, American Vampire. He is also the author of the short story collection, Voodoo Heart, published by the Dial Press in 2006. The paperback version was published in the summer of 2007.

Reviews

[Tawfek · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sleep was disrupted by a chicken that dropped in my balcony and kept making noises...
Batman lost delivered for me, this was well written, I still will never understand how the fuck 3 writers work on the same 30 pages comics, that's what boggles my mind.
I am reading more of this event because it's more fun than demon days.
If Bruce Wayne's end is to be a retired old man telling stories to his grandchildren like the beginning of this story before the little girl went bat shit crazy and walked on the ceiling, that would be a great ending.
But I feel more realistic end to superheroes is getting injured or killed or losing someone close to them that they live in misery the rest of their days after quitting.

[Jedi JC Daquis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers follow.

Simply put, Batman: Lost is a compendium of twisted versions of some of Batman's (or the Wayne family's) stories that may have happened in the Dark Multiverse. This is not a story about what happened to him after he was doused with Batmanium, it rather is a story within a story that gives a hazy explanation as to how Barbatos has "ruled" Bruce Wayne's life to become a vessel for his dark universe to penetrate the main DC world.

All these happened inside Bruce's mind as he tries to helplessly escape the tower he's been bound to. Think of this issue as a DC Metal 3.5 or a DC Metal interlude.

This issue I believe is the toughest to appreciate because of the fact that most of us are not Bat gurus that remeber everything that has happened throughout the history of Batman. So to get all the references that are shown in this issue would require some internet giving.

What I really don't buy though in this Dark Multiverse thing is that why all universes there has something to do with Batman failing? I am glad that Snyder has expanded this DC light and dark multiverses, just can't believe the notion that all dark universes are Bat-centric.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman is stuck in the dark multiverse where he is being tortured by Barbatos being forced to live out multiple lives. It’s an interesting sort of story similar to The Return of Bruce Wayne.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

This appears to be the right book, though the Goodreads credits are slightly skewed (GR doesn't like you reviewing single issue comics anyway) Bengal does the awesome cover, Snyder is surely point person. but there is a team of creators.

I picked this up because it really caught my eye. I have been picking up the Metal miniseries. I am a Marvel guy, but I can't disagree with the popular sentiment that DC is kicking the House of M's a-- right now.

This is a oneshot tie in with a great set of collaborating writers (Snyder, Tynion IV, Williamson). I loved the idea. Bruce Wayne is telling his granddaughter various old Batman stories (these of course are tie-ins to the storyline).

But he half-remembers and his granddaughter figures out that all these stories literally cannot be true. It's a fantastic setup. There's misses in logic and in personality and in timeline.

To broaden it much further out, if it's all Batman, then how do you explain the difference between Gotham Adventures Batman and Dark Knight Returns Batman, or for that matter Adam West Batman and Christian Bale Batman. They are all the same one story right? That to me makes for an interesting road to go down. (Imagine Spiderman with as many times as that story has been re-written).

So like Metal, very Morrisonesque but in all of the best ways.

I also have to say a word about the art which is also incredible. I usually don't mention art, unless it is something out of the ordinary like Frank Quietly or if it's bad. The art in this book is incredible. It is hard to explain- it's just DC art, but big thumbs up to Mahnke, Mendoza, Jiminez, and Paquette. I know a couple of those names and they are good, but I was a big fan of the art.

As it being what it is, this is a tie-in to Metal, one of several, and thus has to stand alone. It works pretty well, though by its very definition is nonessential. I did enjoy it quite a bit.

Lastly, I am not a real big fan of the idea of that there is a long line of Batmen, there will always be a Batman, etc. I realize that is central to the Metal run, and it doesn't stop my enjoyment. I am just not really a fan. I don't think the character needs it. I think the origin is enough in explaining, and I think saying Bruce Wayne's Batman is predestined is a contradiction of that. I don't have a problem with other books that do that. For Bendis's Powers, it makes sense (that monkey issue aside). I am sure someone will school me on why it's better that way, and it surely opens up a realm of possibilities. It's just not my favorite thing.

[Luke Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Não existem palavras pra definir isto.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertainingly delirious.

[Edwin Piston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vaya delirio, Bat esta un poco mal de la cabeza en ese mundo.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The self awareness in this comic, it SLAYS me!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Best way I can describe this issue is a beautiful mess... it's all over the place but that's the idea. Not exactly sure why we needed this issue... it doesn't really add much to the whole Metal event.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

*the scream painting*

[Max's Comic Reviews and Lists · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story time with Batman
Well, that was confusing. But after I read this story I deconstructed it and I think I finally get it. This is probably one of the best Metal tie-ins. Snyder and Tynion IV really put their all into this I can tell. But for me personally, I didn't love it or anything like that. With Batman trapped in the dark multiverse, he is basically living this nightmare where Barbatos reveals who he really is and how he has affected Bruce Wayne's life. This story made me realize how genius Metal really was. Bringing stories like
Detective Comics #27, Batman the Return of Bruce Wayne, and Batman The Court of Owls into the mix and placing them into the over-arching story of metal and making them fit into everything in Metal that had happened so far. Especially if you go back and read Dark Days The Forge/Casting.

The art is great (almost all the way through) I do not really have any problem with the art. This is a very pretty book. In the end, this was an interesting idea, and the execution is very good. Just for me personally, it didn't feel like it was anything amazing, unfortunately. Letter Grade: (B)

[Eladio Garro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am normally critical of Scott Snyder's run on Batman, since most of his endings are uninspired and anticlimatic; but I have to admit he has done good with the character, like this one shot, written by himself, James Tynion IV and Joshua Williamson, with artwork by Yannick Paquette, Doug Mahnke, and Jorge Jimenez.
Despite being tied to "Metal", you can read it without problem, since this one-shot is, above all, a love letter to the Dark Knight, although I can't believe the fact Barbatos had it all planned for Bruce.

[Vishualee · Rating 5 out of 5]

32 pages of awesomeness. This is how story telling should be like. Lost is a haunting experience. Each page is a doorway to a maze that have us searching for an exit through the eyes of Bruce Wayne. The puppeteer "Barbatos" is seen in the flesh, narrating to Batman about an undivine truth. The artwork and the narration create such a natural feeling of being haunted. Truly the best issue I've read till date.

[Marisa Carpico · Rating 4 out of 5]

This perfectly illustrates exactly what I dislike about the whole Metal storyline. Batman is insufferable when he's the most important person in the universe. That said, taken completely out of that larger context and seen as some sort of Elseworlds story, this is quite good. It feels a lot like Lemire's run on Moonknight, which is always a good thing.

[Vik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the rest of the Dark Nights series, also apparently this is issue #3.5 of Dark Knights: Metal. It's a story with multiple little alternate stories. I feel like this has the potential to turn out badly and confusing but for me, I had fun with this and was able to follow it. I thought it was interesting.

[David Dalton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very offbeat Batman tale. It has ties to the Dark Metal storyline via Barbatos being behind all the various versions of life that Bruce goes though. Did not really care for it and it did not really advance the whole Dark Metal storyline much (to me).

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

you are in deep shit now Bruce.

[Siona Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best one shots from Metal. I like how it shows Bruce being broken by Barbatos, and I think this could have interesting complications for his character going forward.

[Sans · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending, man. I never thought I'd see Bruce back down, get scared enough that he'd look away, say that he doesn't want to know. Jesus.

[Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reality shifts. Confusing, surreal.

[Chris Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm amazed at how dumb and how great I find this at the same time. Spectacular art too.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's what I call a quality "filler" issue. We needed to catch up to what's been going on with Bruce...and now we have.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batman Lost

[Vanessa Yeazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing comic book. I loved going into the history of Batman, and going deep into his psyche. I am so excited to continue on!

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this one is great! Scott Snyder always knows how to play with the Batman mythos!

[Isra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bizarro, pero poderoso

[Ripley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Year of the Villain Tie In

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kinda meta.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

the whole attempt to give batman a mythology feels kind of cheap. idk just my opinion.

[Fernando Bonilla]

Este cómic sí me gustó de una forma significativa, me gustó que de repente las cosas no tenían sentido, pero lo tenían dentro del Multiverso negativo. Y el final es super desesperanzador, ¿quién podrá salvarnos?