Batman: Full Circle

Batman One-Shots

by Mike W. Barr (Script), Alan Davis, Mark Farmer (Inker)

The Reaper's Back...the fiendish zealot first introduced in the best-selling BATMAN: YEAR TWO has returned from the grave to spread menace and madness throughout Gotham City. To halt the spread of the Reaper's terror, Batman must confront the secret of his parents' murders - at the risk of his own sanity...

This one-shot is a sequel to the storyline BATMAN: YEAR TWO.

Originally published as Batman Special Edition #2.

Genres: Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Superheroes

64 pages, Comic

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Mike W. Barr is an American writer of comic books, and mystery, and science fiction novels. Barr's debut as a comics professional came in DC Comics' Detective Comics #444 (Dec. 1974-Jan. 1975), for which he wrote an 8-page back-up mystery feature starring the Elongated Man. Another Elongated Man story followed in Detective Comics #453 (November 1975). He wrote text articles and editorial replies in letter columns for the next few years. By mid-1980 he was writing regularly for both DC and Marvel, including stories for Marvel Team-Up, Mystery in Space, Green Lantern, and various Batman titles.

Legion of Super-Heroes #277 (July 1981) saw him take on editorial duties at DC, while writing issues of DC's Star Trek comic, for whom he created the native American character Ensign Bearclaw and a pacifist Klingon named Konom. In December 1982, he and artist Brian Bolland began Camelot 3000, a 12 issue limited series that was one of DC Comics' first direct market projects. In August 1983, Barr created what may well be his most enduring work, the monthly title Batman and the Outsiders with art by Jim Aparo. Barr wrote every issue of the original series, and its Baxter paper spinoff, The Outsiders.

His other comics work includes Mantra and Maze Agency as well as the 1987 OGN hardcover book Batman: Son of the Demon (with art by Jerry Bingham), proceeds from which reputedly "restored DC Comics to first place in sales after fifteen years." This title, and Barr's work on Batman with artist Alan Davis have been cited by Grant Morrison as key inspirations for his recent (2006) run on the Batman title.

In 2007, he wrote a two-part story for the pages of DC's JLA: Classified (#47-48, Jan-Feb 2008), returned to the Outsiders with Outsiders: Five of a Kind—Katana/Shazam #1 (Oct 2007), contributed to Tokyopop's Star Trek: The Manga, and relaunched Maze Agency at IDW Publishing. He has also scripted many of Bongo Comics' Simpsons titles, including a Christmas story for 2010.

In May 2010, the Invisible College Press published Barr's science fiction/fantasy novel, Majician/51, about the discoveries of a scientist working at Area 51.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storyline : 3 stars
Artwork : 5 stars
The sequel of "Batman: year two" is far better than the original one.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storia appena appena sufficiente, ma disegni superlativi. Un Alan Davis in forma splendida

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leído dentro del primer coleccionable de Planeta, aunque no recuerdo si alguna vez lo tuve de esta misma edición de Zinco también.

[Scott Waldyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a quick one-shot, and it's full of heart. The generational trauma, the bond between Batman and Robin - it's terrific. Plus, The Reaper, even if it's not the original, is always a fun villain.

[Rizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Reaper saga (Year Two, Full Circle, and Retroactive special) is not good and has never been good, yet I find myself unable to shit on them. The mystery is lame, Batman is out of character, the continuity makes no sense, and the title makes even less. Yet I enjoy something about these stories and this stupid villain even though none of it works. Who knows, maybe it's just nostalgia? You can skip it without missing a single thing, but why not join the fun?

[cauldronofevil · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Full Circle” starts with a stowaway on a bus being confronted by Miranda, a street walker and her friend. The boy asks for directions to the Mason place. they give him that and some cash.

Soon she approaches a car, but the Reaper gets out and slices up both her and her friend. Some cops at a nearby doughnut shop hear the screams and come quickly. They both wind up dead. Later Gordon has to call their families.

Elsewhere Batman & Robin are busting a cocaine smuggling ring.

Rarely is anyone as successful as Alan Davis in showing just how much fun Robin is having and just how a kid can be so successful at it!

Even with the bat signal in the sky Batman calls it a night because Robin charged in headfirst. He tells Robin he won’t go on another mission until he’s ‘Fit’.

Later Commissioner Gordon tries to convince Batman that the Reaper is back - not a copycat but the original even though Batman saw him fall 40 stories.

The news contacts Rachel Caspian, the Reaper’s daughter - who became a nun.

Marcia Duncan gets home to her Park Row townhouse and the Reaper is waiting inside. But they are friends. He’s not the original Reaper. The stowaway boy shows up at the door - he’s Joseph’s son! Joseph took the Reapers body, and the costume, knowing the effect it had on Batman. Joseph and Marcia are brother and sister.

Joseph tells his son a story. A story about stumbling on the Batman as he came across Batman and Joe Chill arguing.

At Wayne Manor Alfred tries to feed Dick Grayson, but he’s worried that the Batman is already placing a want add for his replacement.

Alfred and Bruce talk about not being able to find the nun. Bruce has a guess and gets ready to go.

I’ve seen videos wondering there is a changing room in the Batcave. This story proves that there is not and that Batman just changes clothes right in front of Alfred.

Bruce goes to Leslie Thompson’s clinic where Rachel is. Bruce tries to confess his love, but Rachel is content being a nun. That’s more than most people have. She turns him away. He changes clothes.

Batman awash in memories of the night his parents died goes to McSurley’s bar. The boss lady was the one who’s girls died. She tells Batman she knows nothing about the Reaper who killed them.

Batman figure the new Reaper may be using Joe Chills’ gun - which Batman thought he had buried in the Wayne Foundation building’s foundation - against him.

Rachel goes for a walk late at night to the Wayne Foundation building where she meets the Reaper and Batman. Batman Reaper fight. Batman tells him to stop pretending to be the original Reaper.

Rachel tries to stop Batman beating up on her father. Batman tries to tell her that he isn’t her father. He carries her away and sprays her with knockout gas.

Reaper blows up part of the foundation to get the pistol buried there.

Back at Leslie Thompson’s clinic Rachel dresses up as a hooker thinking she’ll find her father the Reaper, since he’s killing hookers. Then she can talk to him. Leslie tells her that’s too dangerous. The Reaper then busts in at Leslie Thompson’s clinic.

Batman is at McSurley’s handing out rape whistles. He then gets a call that Leslie’s clinic has been attacked. He goes to Leslie. She tells him Rachel’s been taken.

Reaper and Marcia have Rachel held captive waiting for Batman. Batman shows up, spreads gas around to make the Reaper woozy. But Marcia shoots Batman with tranquilizer darts.

They take off Batman’ mask but it is no one they recognize (nor to do I). They put Batman in a death trap where he has a noose around his neck and is on a pillar over a pit of acid.

How do you buy that much acid? Where do you keep it?

They’ve also shot Batman full of psychoactive drugs to torture him.

Figuring Batman is in trouble, Robin takes off in the Batmobile despite Alfred’s objections. Luckily Robin figures out where Batman must be being held and takes the 1950’s Batmobile there!

When Reaper says he’ll kill the Batman, Maria turns on him - knowing the Batman is more valuable to sell to Morgan Jones (whoever that is). Reaper kills her.

Robin appears and Reaper chases him. Robin yells for Batman which shakes him out of his pity party. He escapes his bonds and fights the Reaper. They fight. It’s a good fight, the art really well done here. Batman wins.

Batman is about to throw Reaper into a pit of acid at Robin’s suggestion when Chills’ son falls through the ceiling.

This was a really good. I can see what they were going for here. It’s still a little convoluted but it is successful. And of course, the art is amazing! I’ll give it 4 stars.

[Nacho Pena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novela gráfica que sirve de epílogo a 'Batman: Año dos', revisión sobre el segundo año como justiciero de Bruce Wayne, con dos de sus autores originales: Mike W. Barr al guion y Alan Davis al dibujo.

Barr, que había escrito al personaje con buen tino en su breve etapa al frente de la cabecera 'Detective Comics', ofreció un 'Año dos' un trabajo algo cuestionable, con varios personajes caracterizados de forma desacertada. No ayudó que Davis, en ese momento en la cúspide de su carrera, abandonase la miniserie tras el primer número por diferencias creativas y fuese sustituido por Todd McFarlane, otro dibujante igualmente importante, pero que no ofreció su mejor trabajo.

En 'Batman: Círculo cerrado', que data de 1991, Barr y Davis vuelven a trabajar juntos para tratar de remendar algunos de estos errores y mostrar a un Bruce Wayne que aquí si toma las decisiones correctas en torno a su pasado, a la vez que recuperan al personaje del Segador. Su diseño sigue sin ser especialmente atractivo, pero la historia es disfrutable y se hace fácil de leer... al menos mucho más que 'Año dos'.

[Christopher Matthias · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book that was a part of a lot that I picked up on eBay for the other items. I read it and there’s nothing wrong with it, but it also doesn’t have anything especially “wow” about it.

I’d put this one in the category of “true average.” It’s the likes of books like this that we can tell what is terrible and what is exceptional.

[Fernando · Rating 1 out of 5]

Novela gráfica "One Shot" que recoge la herencia de la saga "Batman: año dos" desperdiciando con un guion extremadamente pobre y deficiente un dibujo extraordinario de un Batman que, por aquel entonces, se notaba que estaba pidiendo un cambio en su perspectiva de la serie regular. La mayor parte de situaciones son altamente aburridas, incluso las escenas de acción con un Robin chapado a la antigua. No lo salva ni el "sense of wonder" ni el atuendo extraordinario del villano.

[Pietro Bellini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disegni bellissimi (Alan Davis rulla!!!), storia sufficientemente all'altezza.

[Cyril · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a forced sequel with Joe chills son (as the reaper) and his grandson...
2.75 stars

[Victoria Hawco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something something the cycle of violence self perpetuates.

[Ribrarian Not · Rating 3 out of 5]

Libro de historietas con ISBN propio. Anexo a Año Dos, luego republicado con el resto de la obra.

[Sara Macca · Rating 3 out of 5]

liked the art better in this one (the sequel)

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well-done Batman yarn but revisiting the death of Bruce Wayne's parents is a little old.

[Tommy D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow up to ‘Batman Year Two’ and I have the same issues & praise for this comic as I did the first.

[Dan Prestwich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely an improvement on Year Two; by his own admission, the author was a lot more interested in telling Batman AND Robin stories, and it shows. Still, it's an unnecessary follow up to a bad story that doesn't redeem it or make enough sense on its own terms.

C-

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm. The story was so-so, but I loved Batman here - and this one has modern age wee!Dick, which is one of my favourite things. So it's more like 3 1/2 stars than 3.

I loved Bruce and Dick here - Bruce being all protective and Dick, well, just Dick. The only thing that had me going "huh?!" was near the end when Dick suggested to drop a villain into a giant bowl filled with acid, but I'm going to pretend it was because Dick was mad because the villain was trying to kill Batman. Other than that, a good, fun read with a Dark Knight who is visibly brightened by Dick's friendship.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old enemy is back. This time he is not what he appears to be and has links to Batman's past. It's a nice idea that father's actions can have impact on their sons, and this is a character led plot. A good read.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading.

[Kamil Henri · Rating 2 out of 5]

3.5/10

[Juan Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than Year Two!