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Batman (2016)
Batman, Vol 10: Knightmares
Eisner Award winner Tom King's explosive Batman run continues as he plunges the Dark Knight's world further into a spiral of madness.
As the casualties begin to rise around him, Bruce Wayne will reflect on the recent events that have turned his world upside down. Something is wrong. Someone is systematically targeting Batman's life in and out of the cowl. As the picture begins to come into focus, Bruce Wayne will have to make one of the toughest decisions of his life - accepting a fight he knows he will lose.
Collects Batman #61-63 and 66-69
As the casualties begin to rise around him, Bruce Wayne will reflect on the recent events that have turned his world upside down. Something is wrong. Someone is systematically targeting Batman's life in and out of the cowl. As the picture begins to come into focus, Bruce Wayne will have to make one of the toughest decisions of his life - accepting a fight he knows he will lose.
Collects Batman #61-63 and 66-69
144 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
February 16, 2020
The title says it all.
Batman is asleep and having nightmares.
Which is basically just another way to say that he's been drugged by his enemies and is trying to fight his way out from under whatever they've dosed him with.
Ok, but as long as he's under, he might as well work on some of his abandonment issues, right?
And that's sort of what happens here. Not my favorite, but Tom King makes it more interesting than a stupid story like this one has any right to be. And by stupid, I just mean that nothing that happens here - none of the 'conversations', none of the action sequences - matters once he wakes up. Other than maybe helping him work out some of his pointy-eared angst, I can't see how this isn't anything but a cute little throw-away volume.
Still. It's not the worst Batman stuff I've ever read.
Batman is asleep and having nightmares.
Which is basically just another way to say that he's been drugged by his enemies and is trying to fight his way out from under whatever they've dosed him with.
Ok, but as long as he's under, he might as well work on some of his abandonment issues, right?
And that's sort of what happens here. Not my favorite, but Tom King makes it more interesting than a stupid story like this one has any right to be. And by stupid, I just mean that nothing that happens here - none of the 'conversations', none of the action sequences - matters once he wakes up. Other than maybe helping him work out some of his pointy-eared angst, I can't see how this isn't anything but a cute little throw-away volume.
Still. It's not the worst Batman stuff I've ever read.
October 12, 2019
At a glance at the overall rating for this volume, Knightmares, I can see I am going to be occupying a bit of a minority position. I'll admit I was worried when I saw that it was going to be--in the Big House way--illustrated by committee. The more artists' names on the cover, the more I guess it is a fill-in, random volume. And this is what it at a glance is, a series of issues on a related topic. But it is a topic that Tom King has become known for: The dark inner workings of Bruce Wayne's mind.
So this is the most experimental volume in the series, which I known is a risk with the action-oriented Bat community. But I say the team pulls it off, in bringing us back to the madness of Bruce that King explores in Volume Two, I Am Suicide. A few stories in this volume help us recall the love and occasional happiness and joined commitments Bat sometimes achieves with Cat, but in the end, can being with anyone or doing anything ever make him truly happy?
So the Knightmares are actually drug-induced nightmares, as Batman is being held by Scarecrow. These nightmares, one after one, contain his worst fears. And because of the dreamscape nature of the approach, this gives all the artists freedom to be differently surreal in the separate volumes, but maybe especially the visual artists. So we get horror. Gorgeous night terrors. No, I don't think this is going to be anyone's favorite volume of the series, and it's not mine, either, but I love the wedding of alt-comix with superhero comics, when it works. It reveals the depth of King's mind in understanding the depths of darkness in Bruce. You may not agree that the darkness is as deep in Batman as King claims, but I am persuaded (as I have been by others as well).
So this is the most experimental volume in the series, which I known is a risk with the action-oriented Bat community. But I say the team pulls it off, in bringing us back to the madness of Bruce that King explores in Volume Two, I Am Suicide. A few stories in this volume help us recall the love and occasional happiness and joined commitments Bat sometimes achieves with Cat, but in the end, can being with anyone or doing anything ever make him truly happy?
So the Knightmares are actually drug-induced nightmares, as Batman is being held by Scarecrow. These nightmares, one after one, contain his worst fears. And because of the dreamscape nature of the approach, this gives all the artists freedom to be differently surreal in the separate volumes, but maybe especially the visual artists. So we get horror. Gorgeous night terrors. No, I don't think this is going to be anyone's favorite volume of the series, and it's not mine, either, but I love the wedding of alt-comix with superhero comics, when it works. It reveals the depth of King's mind in understanding the depths of darkness in Bruce. You may not agree that the darkness is as deep in Batman as King claims, but I am persuaded (as I have been by others as well).
September 22, 2019
If you’ve ever asked someone to explain quantum physics in Latin while gargling mouthwash, then you’ll know how I felt trying to understand what was happening in this book.
On the plus side, there is just a murder’s row of artists killing it here. So there’s that.
Here’s hoping Vol. 11 returns to some semblance of coherence. Or at least loses the mouthwash.
On the plus side, there is just a murder’s row of artists killing it here. So there’s that.
Here’s hoping Vol. 11 returns to some semblance of coherence. Or at least loses the mouthwash.
January 29, 2020
I’m honestly disappointed to be saying this because I’ve so enjoyed his Batman run and I’ve come to view it as one of the few dependably good titles out there at the moment but Volume 10: Knightmares is Tom King’s first Bat-stinker. He’s written a coupla average books before, like The War of Jokes and Riddles and the Wedding book, but Knightmares is the first one where I couldn’t have cared less about what I was reading.
Scarecrow and Bane have drugged Batman and he hallucinates a series of disconnected, trippy, barely-coherent, and generally confusing scenarios. He’s also still mooning about Catwoman dumping him. Ugh.
It’s not just that the “Scarecrow drugs Batman with ANOTHER variation of his fear gas” trope has been done to death - released concurrently to this stretch of King’s run was a separate limited Batman series called Kings of Fear that rehashed that very same storyline! - but it’s been done better before and fairly recently in Grant Morrison’s Batman run where Batman battles the Lump in RIP, which was far more compelling to read than this meandering treatment was. I can’t help comparing the two because they’re so similar and, as a result, Knightmares suffers from the comparison.
Bruce Wayne as a kid sees his parents murdered - but Batman’s there too?! Professor Pyg is torturing Batman - but who’s really under that mask!? Catwoman DIDN’T leave Batman at the altar - but what’s John Constantine doing there?! I get it, it’s a dream/knightmare, whatevs. The weird’n’whacky scenes aren’t doing anything for me though if this is all they are.
The only positive about having such a zigzagging narrative approach is the myriad of top artistic talent that contribute pages to this book. Jorge Fornes’ art in Batman #66 blew me away for how similar it was to David Mazzucchelli’s style - I honestly thought Mazzucchelli had returned to draw Batman for a special one-off, particularly as that issue so heavily references Year One.
I also loved Fornes and Lee Weeks’ collaboration for the next, near-silent issue where Batman’s chasing a masked man across the Gotham skyline. The art is incredible and I think King was going for a Looney Tunes pastiche in this issue - not just with the relentless Roadrunner/Wile E. Coyote-style chasing, or with the “Beep Beep” at the end (I know, Roadrunner says “Meep Meep”), but also the cameo by Porky Pig, the human bartender version, from King/Weeks’ Batman/Elmer Fudd issue.
Mikel Janin and Yanick Paquette’s issues have fantastic art too and I always enjoy seeing Amanda Conner’s artwork. She draws Lois Lane and Selina Kyle’s hen night at the Fortress of Solitude where they get plastered on alien wine and watch robot Superman strippers. It’s pointless but I adore Conner’s character expressions which are never shy of perfect.
Batman, Volume 10: Knightmares is an artist’s book then! The main story stalls while the artist’s shine - boring to read, beautiful to look at. I just hope this isn’t the beginning of the end of Tom King’s quality Bat-books like the post-Zero Year books were for Scott Snyder.
Scarecrow and Bane have drugged Batman and he hallucinates a series of disconnected, trippy, barely-coherent, and generally confusing scenarios. He’s also still mooning about Catwoman dumping him. Ugh.
It’s not just that the “Scarecrow drugs Batman with ANOTHER variation of his fear gas” trope has been done to death - released concurrently to this stretch of King’s run was a separate limited Batman series called Kings of Fear that rehashed that very same storyline! - but it’s been done better before and fairly recently in Grant Morrison’s Batman run where Batman battles the Lump in RIP, which was far more compelling to read than this meandering treatment was. I can’t help comparing the two because they’re so similar and, as a result, Knightmares suffers from the comparison.
Bruce Wayne as a kid sees his parents murdered - but Batman’s there too?! Professor Pyg is torturing Batman - but who’s really under that mask!? Catwoman DIDN’T leave Batman at the altar - but what’s John Constantine doing there?! I get it, it’s a dream/knightmare, whatevs. The weird’n’whacky scenes aren’t doing anything for me though if this is all they are.
The only positive about having such a zigzagging narrative approach is the myriad of top artistic talent that contribute pages to this book. Jorge Fornes’ art in Batman #66 blew me away for how similar it was to David Mazzucchelli’s style - I honestly thought Mazzucchelli had returned to draw Batman for a special one-off, particularly as that issue so heavily references Year One.
I also loved Fornes and Lee Weeks’ collaboration for the next, near-silent issue where Batman’s chasing a masked man across the Gotham skyline. The art is incredible and I think King was going for a Looney Tunes pastiche in this issue - not just with the relentless Roadrunner/Wile E. Coyote-style chasing, or with the “Beep Beep” at the end (I know, Roadrunner says “Meep Meep”), but also the cameo by Porky Pig, the human bartender version, from King/Weeks’ Batman/Elmer Fudd issue.
Mikel Janin and Yanick Paquette’s issues have fantastic art too and I always enjoy seeing Amanda Conner’s artwork. She draws Lois Lane and Selina Kyle’s hen night at the Fortress of Solitude where they get plastered on alien wine and watch robot Superman strippers. It’s pointless but I adore Conner’s character expressions which are never shy of perfect.
Batman, Volume 10: Knightmares is an artist’s book then! The main story stalls while the artist’s shine - boring to read, beautiful to look at. I just hope this isn’t the beginning of the end of Tom King’s quality Bat-books like the post-Zero Year books were for Scott Snyder.
October 13, 2019
Each single issue is a different nightmare Batman is experiencing. Every story is tailored for the artist of that issue, some obviously working better than others. It's an interesting concept that gets better as the issues continue and you start to learn what's going on. The execution in the beginning was clunky as there didn't seem to be a point. Ultimately, I grew to enjoy it but it took getting past that issue with Professor Pyg. I hated the coloring in it. It looked like a 3D comic without the glasses. I know that was kind of the point of the nightmare but I still like to be able to comprehend the art on the page without going cross-eyed.
May 15, 2019
Knightmares is a bunch of short stories all coming together.
This is Batman going through various nightmares. Some of his worst fears, including the loss of Salina, his kid, facing off against a old villain, and more. The fears and problems range from worldwide treats to personal demons that he hasn't gotten over yet or fully accept.
While this volume various in quality it's still following something I really enjoy. The mental breakdown of Bruce is both interesting and sad. Never has Bruce been shown in this way that he's losing himself. To me it makes him most relatable. Especially the story with bachelor part. The ending leads to something exciting as well. Not every story works for me though, especially the joker one in here, felt kind of lame.
Overall a solid collection. While not as strong as the last two volumes it's still good. A 3 out of 5.
This is Batman going through various nightmares. Some of his worst fears, including the loss of Salina, his kid, facing off against a old villain, and more. The fears and problems range from worldwide treats to personal demons that he hasn't gotten over yet or fully accept.
While this volume various in quality it's still following something I really enjoy. The mental breakdown of Bruce is both interesting and sad. Never has Bruce been shown in this way that he's losing himself. To me it makes him most relatable. Especially the story with bachelor part. The ending leads to something exciting as well. Not every story works for me though, especially the joker one in here, felt kind of lame.
Overall a solid collection. While not as strong as the last two volumes it's still good. A 3 out of 5.
April 17, 2019
Not a lot of thoughts about this arc other than it was once again solid Tom King Batman stuff and I really enjoyed it, and all the different artists on each issue absolutely knocked it out of the park. Can't wait to see what's coming next.
April 15, 2022
Once again, King excels at writing Batcat and Clois. The bachelor and bachelorette parties carry this volume on their backs. There's so much chemistry between these four, and King is one of the best when it comes to penning interactions. Sadly, the rest of the volume is a letdown. It's a rather aimless attempt at a psychological thriller which feels both oddly weighted and incorrectly paced. When it's fun, it's great, but when it tries to be serious, it falls as flat as a bike tyre that's run over a box of pins.
April 18, 2020
Another placeholder volume with nothing but dream sequences, and boy do I hate dream sequences. And yet I sort of liked it anyway because of all the Easter eggs and homages King sprinkles throughout and also thanks to the fun Lois Lane/Selina Kyle bachelorette party in the Fortress of Solitude.
My local library just subscribed to Hoopla because all of us patrons are confined at home due to the coronavirus crisis. Silver lining: now I get to catch up on King's Batman run! And maybe Immortal Hulk after that. And some Garth Ennis titles. And some odd independent stuff. And -- and -- so much to read!
My local library just subscribed to Hoopla because all of us patrons are confined at home due to the coronavirus crisis. Silver lining: now I get to catch up on King's Batman run! And maybe Immortal Hulk after that. And some Garth Ennis titles. And some odd independent stuff. And -- and -- so much to read!
December 23, 2024
Back to the usual quality I expect now from Tom King. A collection of different stories while Batman is in his induced nightmare state, each issue drawn by a different artist. I'd have liked it to move the story along a bit more with Bane and Thomas Wayne, but it's still a very good read.
January 5, 2022
This was pretty okayish and took some time to read.
The initial story is about that Matt/Master bruce guy as he continues to murder people and is going insane and then we find that Batman is having nightmare since he has been tied and drugged by Thomas and Bane and well the first is with Professor Pyg and its meh but I like the struggle he shows to escape from that and then the thing with Constantine making him aware of whats happening and then rather strange nightmares he is having which I am forgetting since its so lull and boring and like of no consequence, like him chasing a man for endless pages or then finally realizing he has to overcome his fears and maybe showing what that big fear was - happiness vs vow.
Yeah that sort of bores you and makes this a boring read and even with initial issues coming out, when I was reading them it still felt a bit too extended like it should have been 2 issues max not 6 and thats why some people might not like it so there is that but the big mystery of Thomas is building up and it might lead to some great confrontation later on and also in a way it does do a good job of showing Batman and his conflict of choosing between love and his vow of war on crime and in that regard King tries to do something different with Batman and might not succeed here but the artistic talent is insanely good and this series features some of the best art in comics ever.
The initial story is about that Matt/Master bruce guy as he continues to murder people and is going insane and then we find that Batman is having nightmare since he has been tied and drugged by Thomas and Bane and well the first is with Professor Pyg and its meh but I like the struggle he shows to escape from that and then the thing with Constantine making him aware of whats happening and then rather strange nightmares he is having which I am forgetting since its so lull and boring and like of no consequence, like him chasing a man for endless pages or then finally realizing he has to overcome his fears and maybe showing what that big fear was - happiness vs vow.
Yeah that sort of bores you and makes this a boring read and even with initial issues coming out, when I was reading them it still felt a bit too extended like it should have been 2 issues max not 6 and thats why some people might not like it so there is that but the big mystery of Thomas is building up and it might lead to some great confrontation later on and also in a way it does do a good job of showing Batman and his conflict of choosing between love and his vow of war on crime and in that regard King tries to do something different with Batman and might not succeed here but the artistic talent is insanely good and this series features some of the best art in comics ever.
September 15, 2019
Trapped at the hands of an unseen assailant, Batman's mind is broken and the only way out of his Knightmares is right through them.
Each of these issues is a one-shot story that makes up the larger whole, as Batman looks back on all that has happened to him and tries to piece together his fractured mind. It's a good idea, but it wears thin and goes on far, far too long. Reading this in single issues was painful, especially with the gap in the middle for the Flash crossover, but all at once is probably a little more palatable.
The one thing that can't be faulted however is the art - each issue is pencilled by a different artist, but given the nature of this arc it makes perfect sense. And every artist is a superb choice, with Mikel Janin, Amanda Conner, Mitch Gerards, Lee Weeks, Jorge Fornes, Travis Moore, John Timms, and Yanick Paquette all in the line-up.
Knightmares could have done with a few less issues, but it's definitely a means to an end. Exploring Batman's inner psyche has always been the aim of Tom King's Batman run, and this does that in spades, it just could have done it a bit quicker >_>
Each of these issues is a one-shot story that makes up the larger whole, as Batman looks back on all that has happened to him and tries to piece together his fractured mind. It's a good idea, but it wears thin and goes on far, far too long. Reading this in single issues was painful, especially with the gap in the middle for the Flash crossover, but all at once is probably a little more palatable.
The one thing that can't be faulted however is the art - each issue is pencilled by a different artist, but given the nature of this arc it makes perfect sense. And every artist is a superb choice, with Mikel Janin, Amanda Conner, Mitch Gerards, Lee Weeks, Jorge Fornes, Travis Moore, John Timms, and Yanick Paquette all in the line-up.
Knightmares could have done with a few less issues, but it's definitely a means to an end. Exploring Batman's inner psyche has always been the aim of Tom King's Batman run, and this does that in spades, it just could have done it a bit quicker >_>
September 24, 2019
A thoughtful exploration of Batman's fears to set up the long-built-toward City of Bane. This collection of one-shots has more highs than lows, especially when it comes to the artwork.
October 6, 2019
Short stories all kind of connected together. I feel like I'm losing my love for Kings writing since Heroes
February 26, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Batman is being subjected to a potent fear gas/drug by Scarecrow (at Bane’s behest) and so is living through various dreams where he’s forced to face his deepest fears.
Tom King’s Batman run continues to impress, though I admittedly did not love this volume as much as the rest of the series. It was a bit disorienting jumping into this - readers are not given a heads up that we’re stuck in the Bat’s mind, so much of the first issue is really confusing (needlessly so, imo).
Once I wrapped my mind around what was going on, it was much easier to sit back and enjoy the ride. What I’ve loved about this Batman run is King’s writing and its focus on Batman’s psychology: what drives him, his fears and anxieties, and his subconscious contradictions. Because this volume is all conjurations of Batman’s psyche, readers get a lot of that.. King’s writing does veer into pretentious territory but I don’t care - it has a cadence and rhythm to it that I really enjoy.
The only thing that threw me off were the references to Thomas Wayne, a Batman from another DC timeline/reality or something. I don’t follow a lot of superhero comics, so things that reference other characters/crossover events go right over my head. Not a big deal though.
The art is also fantastic. Each issue is illustrated by a different artist and they’re all at their best here.
So, not my favourite volume in this stellar run, but enjoyable nonetheless. I look forward to getting back to the regular story in the next volume (hopefully).
Batman is being subjected to a potent fear gas/drug by Scarecrow (at Bane’s behest) and so is living through various dreams where he’s forced to face his deepest fears.
Tom King’s Batman run continues to impress, though I admittedly did not love this volume as much as the rest of the series. It was a bit disorienting jumping into this - readers are not given a heads up that we’re stuck in the Bat’s mind, so much of the first issue is really confusing (needlessly so, imo).
Once I wrapped my mind around what was going on, it was much easier to sit back and enjoy the ride. What I’ve loved about this Batman run is King’s writing and its focus on Batman’s psychology: what drives him, his fears and anxieties, and his subconscious contradictions. Because this volume is all conjurations of Batman’s psyche, readers get a lot of that.. King’s writing does veer into pretentious territory but I don’t care - it has a cadence and rhythm to it that I really enjoy.
The only thing that threw me off were the references to Thomas Wayne, a Batman from another DC timeline/reality or something. I don’t follow a lot of superhero comics, so things that reference other characters/crossover events go right over my head. Not a big deal though.
The art is also fantastic. Each issue is illustrated by a different artist and they’re all at their best here.
So, not my favourite volume in this stellar run, but enjoyable nonetheless. I look forward to getting back to the regular story in the next volume (hopefully).
April 17, 2019
”You let him get the knife.
You traded the blood for the knife.
Now he has the knife.
All you have is the blood.”
King and Co. swing for the fences with the most experimental arc yet, though the anthological nature of the story, mixed with the whiplash-inducing changes in tone and style, doesn’t always make for the smoothest reading experience.
November 2, 2019
A set of seven nightmares that Batman is experiencing. I was extremely hesitant on the idea, but the execution is quite good, with a thread connecting up the seven stories, and besides that a few that are superb, including Selina and Lois' bachelorette party, the story of Bat and Cat's relationship, and the intro story about the boy who would be Bruce Wayne. In fact, I'd be tempted to give this volume five stars, if not for the fact that a few of the stories drag (particularly the Pyg story).
Of course, the elephant in the room is that this halted the main storyline for another seven issues, and continues to leave us dangling on the cliffhanger found halfway through Batman, Volume 9: The Tyrant Wing, but I think by the time this ends up in beautiful omnibuses, no one will care.
Of course, the elephant in the room is that this halted the main storyline for another seven issues, and continues to leave us dangling on the cliffhanger found halfway through Batman, Volume 9: The Tyrant Wing, but I think by the time this ends up in beautiful omnibuses, no one will care.
April 7, 2021
3 stars?? but it's too much you say. okay but hear me out: it's not for the story or art or whatever the hell story is supposed to be. 3 stars solely because i have been fed a healthy dose of batcat. apparently i'm easy like that. yes, indeed, batcat is my greatest weakness.
October 11, 2019
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Following the recent announcement that Tom King will be handing over the reins of the canonical Batman comic book series to writer James Tynion IV, artist Tony S. Daniel, inker Danny Miki, and colourist Tomeu Morey, as of issue #86, the grand finale to his tumultuous run will soon come to an end and every story arc going forward will be just as important as those he has given fans so far. With the past couple of volumes, especially those that came after the tragic wedding story arc that launched Batman into a spiral of madness, have been a bit messy with short stories being collected without any sense of elaborating a coherent trade paperback. It’s now only a matter of time before Tom King finally delivers something substantial but, unfortunately, Knightmares continues down a path that is a bit alarming but hopefully rewarding in the long run.
What is Batman: Knightmares about? Collecting Batman issues #61-63 and 66-69, this story arc is a set of short stories that explores Bruce Wayne’s recent tragedies, tough decisions, and mistakes. Featuring a different artist with each issue, Tom King looks into bringing a scalpel to Batman’s mind as Gotham’s Dark Knight fights off the intangible forces at work and tries to grasp the reality he’s in. With no way to understand what he’s going through, he’s forced to live in the moment and ultimately accept the impending defeat. From encountering Pyg to confronting Constantine, this wild ride is one that he will have to embrace by asking the questions that he has never dared to bring up.
I tried really hard to appreciate the direction Tom King wanted to take this story arc but I couldn’t settle for what ended up being a story with poor execution but a good idea at its foundation. With the recent tragedies that Bruce Wayne has been through, it is a fantastic idea to slowly break the Bat after having him invest in people that he normally would never allow himself to attach himself to. With this story arc, Tom King tried to explore different nightmares that are somewhat connected to him but not sufficiently explicit for readers to understand the underlying guideline. In fact, for stories that are supposed to be the worse nightmares lived by Bruce Wayne, these felt so much more tamed, controlled and manipulated—which might have been the intent but who knows—to the point where they felt like alternate universes with a moral, whereas Bruce Wayne’s nightmare should be more in the field of horror, fear, and insanity. if you ask me. Not to mention that some of the stories (nightmares) featured here are irrelevant and superficial.
Then comes the issue with the artwork. Deep down, I saw where the intention was by bringing in different artists for each issue, as each issue depicts a different nightmare, it is reasonable to change the tone and atmosphere with each. Unfortunately, half of the visual styles employed were unimpressive and barely had any apprehension of what constructions of the mind, such as dreams and nightmares, actually were. My favourite of all of these was probably the work accomplished by artist Mitch Gerads whose style works accordingly with Tom King’s ideas and was the closest of all the nightmares to be both incomprehensible and fundamental to understanding the confusion and chaos in Bruce’s mind.
I think this story arc could only be seen as a setup to what’s to come. After all, the reason why issues #64-65 were excluded was because Tom King had to give those to Joshua Williamson for tie-in stories for his controversial Heroes in Crisis mini-series. Maybe now that he’s back from this short break, things might finally get interesting.
Batman: Knightmares is a choppy and lacunary collection of nightmares, exploring Bruce Wayne’s psyche following recent tragedies.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
October 23, 2020
Want to read Batman after volume 9’s “The Tyrant Wing?” This volume picks up after the last page of the previous volume and collects Batman comic issue 61 through 63 and also issues 66-69. It has a nice accompanying cover for this trade paperback that I enjoyed.
In talking about the stories in this volume I share some words of criticism. Like in volume 9 I mentioned how suddenly about half through the book and we are told “To be continued” and the last half of the book is collection of short stories. Something similar takes place in this book and only about halfway through do you realize why it’s the way it is. Those who don’t want any spoilers should skip the next sentence and read the next paragraph: This whole volume is largely adventures of Batman in his dream state, a parade of nightmares and disjointed events and action if you will.
The small short stories someone mimicking Bruce Wayne’s childhood but instead of fighting crime the child is out to commit crime and violence. There’s also the stories of Batman with his mindset with his marriage to Catwomen which happened a few volumes back. Those are fascinating but sometimes they feel like fillers. The exception I would say is the story called “Cat” which is Nightmares part 4. Here the artist Jorge Fornes with his dark colors and noir like mood with the writer Tom King’s narration really was high quality graphic novel exploration of the character Batman from the perspective of someone asking and almost interrogating Catwoman concerning why Batman continues on his crime fighting crusade. Longtime fans of Batman will notice the illustrative reference to past Batman comic stories specifically with the 80s version of Bruce Wayne trying to go fight crime for the first time before he took on the Batman persona; this certain early episode of a rookie Bruce Wayne is also the first encounter Catwoman has with hero Bruce Wayne. The panels for this story is also amazing with many similar panels but each one is Batman fighting a different villain with the short burst of Catwoman’s narration about Batman’s mindset; you get the sense that Batman has gone through a lot in his crusade and the visual and storytelling joined together powerfully to tell a story that is compelling but it also ends with Catwoman stop answering the last question which is appropriate stylistically since there is a sense of mystique still with our Caped Crusader.
I keep on going back and forth with giving this book either a two or a three. I really did not like the story of Catwoman’s bachelorette party, wasn’t appropriate and didn’t need to be there and DC Comics was trying too hard to do who knows what. I imagine most readers are guys that want to see adventures and action and this volume didn’t really deliver. If DC continue this with their Batman franchise I wonder whether this will hurt them in the long run.
In talking about the stories in this volume I share some words of criticism. Like in volume 9 I mentioned how suddenly about half through the book and we are told “To be continued” and the last half of the book is collection of short stories. Something similar takes place in this book and only about halfway through do you realize why it’s the way it is. Those who don’t want any spoilers should skip the next sentence and read the next paragraph: This whole volume is largely adventures of Batman in his dream state, a parade of nightmares and disjointed events and action if you will.
The small short stories someone mimicking Bruce Wayne’s childhood but instead of fighting crime the child is out to commit crime and violence. There’s also the stories of Batman with his mindset with his marriage to Catwomen which happened a few volumes back. Those are fascinating but sometimes they feel like fillers. The exception I would say is the story called “Cat” which is Nightmares part 4. Here the artist Jorge Fornes with his dark colors and noir like mood with the writer Tom King’s narration really was high quality graphic novel exploration of the character Batman from the perspective of someone asking and almost interrogating Catwoman concerning why Batman continues on his crime fighting crusade. Longtime fans of Batman will notice the illustrative reference to past Batman comic stories specifically with the 80s version of Bruce Wayne trying to go fight crime for the first time before he took on the Batman persona; this certain early episode of a rookie Bruce Wayne is also the first encounter Catwoman has with hero Bruce Wayne. The panels for this story is also amazing with many similar panels but each one is Batman fighting a different villain with the short burst of Catwoman’s narration about Batman’s mindset; you get the sense that Batman has gone through a lot in his crusade and the visual and storytelling joined together powerfully to tell a story that is compelling but it also ends with Catwoman stop answering the last question which is appropriate stylistically since there is a sense of mystique still with our Caped Crusader.
I keep on going back and forth with giving this book either a two or a three. I really did not like the story of Catwoman’s bachelorette party, wasn’t appropriate and didn’t need to be there and DC Comics was trying too hard to do who knows what. I imagine most readers are guys that want to see adventures and action and this volume didn’t really deliver. If DC continue this with their Batman franchise I wonder whether this will hurt them in the long run.
October 23, 2019
Off-topic: Why does DC keep changing the paperback format. Now the spine has no volume number at all? Why?
Ok, now onto the volume. I loved it.
Obviously I wish the plot would progress and we'd find out what the F is going on with Bane and Thomas Wayne and Selina (and Dick!) etc. etc. etc. but I'd rather Tom King pace his own story and tell it to us the way he wants to...The story will read better as a whole if we give it patience, no matter how many (mismatched, grumble) volumes there are.
Also, Tom King writing Batman is a joy to read, so I don't mind getting this "extra" bridge book.
I started Vol. 10 Knightmares totally forgetting how Batman, Volume 9: The Tyrant Wing ended and was just going with the crazy flow until Knighmares, Part 2 "Lost" when I suddenly realized it was all a dream. (Bats and I are totally on the same page.)
I know a lot of other readers disagree with me on this, but I loved that the art changed from dream to dream (issue to issue). Usually, I don't like so many artists on one volume, but this was purposeful and well done and worked really well for what the story was doing.
Obviously issue #62 "Lost" with Professor Pyg was the most upsetting cuz ...Professor Pyg. Ug.
The issue looked a neon murder scene (it was very well done) and Batman couldn't escape and I felt his panic and lines blurred ...and then we knew it was a dream; a nightmare.
#63 "Smoke and Mirrors" broke my heart, of course. Bat & Cat. <3
(I've never written this before, but I really wish it had been the real you, John Constantine. :( )
Ditto with #66 "Cat". Selina broke Batman & then ran away not giving him any closure or any way to ask "why?"
Double Ditto to #69 "The Last Dance".
#61 "Suddenly Indeed" was shocking and upsetting and trippy and very well done. A great way to start the volume!
The mostly silent, #67 "All the Way Down" was beautiful.
#68 "Solitude" was silly, but I still loved it cuz Bruce and Clark hanging out and having awkward bro-talk was hilarious.
Now I just have to be patient for Vol. 11 and some answers.
Also, should I read issues #64 & #65? They weren't included in this vol.
Ok, now onto the volume. I loved it.
Obviously I wish the plot would progress and we'd find out what the F is going on with Bane and Thomas Wayne and Selina (and Dick!) etc. etc. etc. but I'd rather Tom King pace his own story and tell it to us the way he wants to...The story will read better as a whole if we give it patience, no matter how many (mismatched, grumble) volumes there are.
Also, Tom King writing Batman is a joy to read, so I don't mind getting this "extra" bridge book.
I started Vol. 10 Knightmares totally forgetting how Batman, Volume 9: The Tyrant Wing ended and was just going with the crazy flow until Knighmares, Part 2 "Lost" when I suddenly realized it was all a dream. (Bats and I are totally on the same page.)
I know a lot of other readers disagree with me on this, but I loved that the art changed from dream to dream (issue to issue). Usually, I don't like so many artists on one volume, but this was purposeful and well done and worked really well for what the story was doing.
Obviously issue #62 "Lost" with Professor Pyg was the most upsetting cuz ...Professor Pyg. Ug.
The issue looked a neon murder scene (it was very well done) and Batman couldn't escape and I felt his panic and lines blurred ...and then we knew it was a dream; a nightmare.
#63 "Smoke and Mirrors" broke my heart, of course. Bat & Cat. <3
(I've never written this before, but I really wish it had been the real you, John Constantine. :( )
Ditto with #66 "Cat". Selina broke Batman & then ran away not giving him any closure or any way to ask "why?"
Double Ditto to #69 "The Last Dance".
#61 "Suddenly Indeed" was shocking and upsetting and trippy and very well done. A great way to start the volume!
The mostly silent, #67 "All the Way Down" was beautiful.
#68 "Solitude" was silly, but I still loved it cuz Bruce and Clark hanging out and having awkward bro-talk was hilarious.
Now I just have to be patient for Vol. 11 and some answers.
Also, should I read issues #64 & #65? They weren't included in this vol.
November 7, 2019
So of course there's the frustration of this being a bunch of short story dreams and not actually picking up at the end of the last volumes events. BUT, naked Bane wrestling evil Dad-Bat-Man was very good. Just that lunk of meat versus a deranged silver fox in tiny little vignettes between dreams, I enjoyed it!
The stories themselves are great. They're so sad, and bittersweet. My favorite thing is that we're getting another look at Morrison's theory of the man who is prepared for everything. We're doing the King version of he Zurr En Arrh RIP stuff, and it would be pretty stupid to not enjoy. King's take on Bruce is unlike anyone else's, and his Batman has been wholly unique and captivating. This volume is all character building, exploring Bruce's relationships, bias and fears within the confines of his own mind. I loved it.
The stories themselves are great. They're so sad, and bittersweet. My favorite thing is that we're getting another look at Morrison's theory of the man who is prepared for everything. We're doing the King version of he Zurr En Arrh RIP stuff, and it would be pretty stupid to not enjoy. King's take on Bruce is unlike anyone else's, and his Batman has been wholly unique and captivating. This volume is all character building, exploring Bruce's relationships, bias and fears within the confines of his own mind. I loved it.
January 29, 2020
I'm not sure how I feel about this volume. First off, it's a bold choice to do an entire volume's worth of stories that are essentially hallucinations and the main character dealing with his emotions, and I respect that. There's a spectacular range of talented artists, and the writing in each issue is tailored to that artist. Most of the individual issues are quite strong, well-written and and timely explorations of where Batman stands now. On the other hand, it's essentially the same story every time: Batman has a hallucination that leads him to examine the current state of his relationships. That's only a problem if you don't love every single one of the individual issues, but really, how many people will love every issue? So it's a bold idea, executed well, just maybe too much of a good thing.
March 24, 2020
As seven issues that are each basically separate dreams or nightmares of Bruce Wayne's as the Batman is drugged and captured, this collection is more of a mood than a story, each with it's own artist, feel and intensity. King uses these issues to give us insight into how the Dark Knight sees himself and the world around him and a continue to be amazed that King can continue to find original stories about the Bat.
April 12, 2019
Another knockout arc from King and a troupe of impossibly good artists. I really enjoyed the "Knightmare" issues - so trippy, so fun. I always look forward to reading this title.
November 14, 2019
This is one of the most unique and interesting Batman Volumes I've read. The entirety of the Volume takes place as Batman is trapped in his own nightmares. Fighting against the Scarecrow toxins being pumped into his system (or at least that's what he thinks, it is not confirmed yet), he is forced to confront his fears.
- Dealing with the loss of his parents from a psychotic vengeful place, young "Master Bruce" kills his parents' murderer and continues his killing spree, taking out people "who killed his parents"...
- Fighting against Professor Pyg, we are treated to a comic that primarily features all inner monologue from Bruce (example: "He's talking again.. they always like to talk." LOL). The nightmare? Being mindless against his enemies and attacking without provocation (at least I think)
- John Constantine shows up in his dreams while he is trying to have happy situations with Selena. Constantine warns him that he needs to clear things up with Selena before she dies. Bruce is terrified of Selena dying before he gets the answers he needs.
- Posing as "The Question", Bruce interrogates Selena, but gets nowhere when she realizes she is only part of his dreamscape.
- An issue with little dialogue and much action has Bruce chasing a faceless assassin... only to find out it is The Joker
- In a hilarious turn, we get to see what Bruce imagines as his Bachelor party and Selena's Bachelorette party. He has a somewhat boring time with Clark, while Selena goes with Lois to the Fortress of Solitude, gets drunk and watches multiple Clark-bot strippers. Though we as readers laugh through the issue, at the end Clark remarks that this nightmare is not what really happened, but how Bruce sees himself (introverted, boring and awkward) versus how he sees Selina (extroverted, fun, and carefree). Overall, a enlightening yet negative ending to a funny issue...
- In the final issue (and supposedly final nightmare) Bruce confronts his worst fear of all: Asking Selena why she really left him at the altar AND confronting truths about himself that validates her reason...
So meta, so odd... but one of the best Volumes in a while. High recommend, though you absolutely have to have read the Volume before, at the very least.
- Dealing with the loss of his parents from a psychotic vengeful place, young "Master Bruce" kills his parents' murderer and continues his killing spree, taking out people "who killed his parents"...
- Fighting against Professor Pyg, we are treated to a comic that primarily features all inner monologue from Bruce (example: "He's talking again.. they always like to talk." LOL). The nightmare? Being mindless against his enemies and attacking without provocation (at least I think)
- John Constantine shows up in his dreams while he is trying to have happy situations with Selena. Constantine warns him that he needs to clear things up with Selena before she dies. Bruce is terrified of Selena dying before he gets the answers he needs.
- Posing as "The Question", Bruce interrogates Selena, but gets nowhere when she realizes she is only part of his dreamscape.
- An issue with little dialogue and much action has Bruce chasing a faceless assassin... only to find out it is The Joker
- In a hilarious turn, we get to see what Bruce imagines as his Bachelor party and Selena's Bachelorette party. He has a somewhat boring time with Clark, while Selena goes with Lois to the Fortress of Solitude, gets drunk and watches multiple Clark-bot strippers. Though we as readers laugh through the issue, at the end Clark remarks that this nightmare is not what really happened, but how Bruce sees himself (introverted, boring and awkward) versus how he sees Selina (extroverted, fun, and carefree). Overall, a enlightening yet negative ending to a funny issue...
- In the final issue (and supposedly final nightmare) Bruce confronts his worst fear of all: Asking Selena why she really left him at the altar AND confronting truths about himself that validates her reason...
So meta, so odd... but one of the best Volumes in a while. High recommend, though you absolutely have to have read the Volume before, at the very least.
September 28, 2019
King has built up a lot of credit with me through his run on this book, his stellar two volume Vision series and the incredible Mister Miracle. Still, he spent a lot of capital with this volume.
Let me say up front that the art is strong, the character (or at least King's take on Bruce, with which I have fundamental differences of the agree-to-disagree type) is solid and this volumes spends all its time on character, all of it.
Bruce is--we eventually learn--being held by Scarecrow and the entire volume consists of nightmares he's having as he tries to find the mental wherewithal to break Scarecrow's hold on him. He, of course, has to become aware of this over-and-over again as he's seeming transported to random places for little to no reason, and that adds to the surreality that King and co. make good use of in this volume. The idea seems to be that Bruce--real Bruce--has become aware enough to decide that if he can find some real, deep-seated fear to use to block Scarecrow's fake stuff, he'll be able to escape the trap he's fallen into. So we go on an internal dream-journey with Batman in search of his deepest fear. Its great character exploration, but it drags on long enough (this is a FAT volume) that it comes to feel a bit self-indulgent by the end, at least to this reader.
Further, the final fear Bruce confronts (the volume ends without telling us if/how it worked in the attempt to escape outside this dreamscape) goes directly back to my fundamental difference of opinion with Mr. King. I won't detail that here without a warning because it involves spoilering the point of the volume.
Let me say up front that the art is strong, the character (or at least King's take on Bruce, with which I have fundamental differences of the agree-to-disagree type) is solid and this volumes spends all its time on character, all of it.
Bruce is--we eventually learn--being held by Scarecrow and the entire volume consists of nightmares he's having as he tries to find the mental wherewithal to break Scarecrow's hold on him. He, of course, has to become aware of this over-and-over again as he's seeming transported to random places for little to no reason, and that adds to the surreality that King and co. make good use of in this volume. The idea seems to be that Bruce--real Bruce--has become aware enough to decide that if he can find some real, deep-seated fear to use to block Scarecrow's fake stuff, he'll be able to escape the trap he's fallen into. So we go on an internal dream-journey with Batman in search of his deepest fear. Its great character exploration, but it drags on long enough (this is a FAT volume) that it comes to feel a bit self-indulgent by the end, at least to this reader.
Further, the final fear Bruce confronts (the volume ends without telling us if/how it worked in the attempt to escape outside this dreamscape) goes directly back to my fundamental difference of opinion with Mr. King. I won't detail that here without a warning because it involves spoilering the point of the volume.
January 13, 2022
King sempre ammaliante nei suoi dialoghi, ma temo che si prenda troppo tempo per dire quel che vuole raccontare. Per fortuna che ho letto quest’arco in una serata, non oso immaginare la frustrazione di leggerlo a cadenza quindicinale…
Per contro i numerosi disegnatori fanno tanto per prendere bellissimo anche questo passaggio. Però, caro King, cerchiamo di stringere, eh.
Per contro i numerosi disegnatori fanno tanto per prendere bellissimo anche questo passaggio. Però, caro King, cerchiamo di stringere, eh.
June 27, 2019
[Read in single issues]
Confusing to read as it's coming out but as a trade, it comes together beautifully.
Confusing to read as it's coming out but as a trade, it comes together beautifully.
June 29, 2020
5 🌟
Bruce has nightmares while exposed to Scarecrow's fear gas.
Bruce has nightmares while exposed to Scarecrow's fear gas.
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