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Batman: Gotham Knights (Collected Editions)
Batman: Gotham Knights: Transference
Gotham Knights made history as the very first ongoing Batman series to be launched by a woman, and now this popular series will be collected together for the first time ever!
When a little boy in Gotham loses his parents to a horrible gun crime, Batman is forced to revisit the ghosts of his past. The dead begin to walk and talk. Psychological warfare is declared upon Batman by the sinister, manipulative Hugo Strange, a war in which Nightwing, Robin, and Oracle might be the true casualties.
This book, collecting Gotham Knights #1-12 explores the personal lives of not just Batman, but the family he surrounds himself with. Written by DEVIN K. GRAYSON ( Catwoman, Nightwing, Batman Chronicles ) and masterfully illustrated by ROGER ROBINSON ( Agent of the Bat, Batgirl ) and DALE EAGLESHAM ( Green Lantern, Justice Society of America ), this is a collection not to be missed!
When a little boy in Gotham loses his parents to a horrible gun crime, Batman is forced to revisit the ghosts of his past. The dead begin to walk and talk. Psychological warfare is declared upon Batman by the sinister, manipulative Hugo Strange, a war in which Nightwing, Robin, and Oracle might be the true casualties.
This book, collecting Gotham Knights #1-12 explores the personal lives of not just Batman, but the family he surrounds himself with. Written by DEVIN K. GRAYSON ( Catwoman, Nightwing, Batman Chronicles ) and masterfully illustrated by ROGER ROBINSON ( Agent of the Bat, Batgirl ) and DALE EAGLESHAM ( Green Lantern, Justice Society of America ), this is a collection not to be missed!
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2020
16 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Devin Grayson
509 books116 followersDevin Grayson is an avid gamer, former acting student, and enthusiastic reader fortunate enough to have turned a lifelong obsession with fictional characters into a dynamic writing career. She has a B.A. from Bard College, where she studied creative writing with novelist Mona Simpson. Best known for her work on the Batman titles for DC Comics, Devin has been a regular writer on Catwoman, Nightwing, and The Titans, and contributed to the award-winning No Man’s Land story arc. With the publication of Batman: Gotham Knights in March of 2000, she became the first (and, sadly, only as of 2020) female to create, launch and write an ongoing Batman title.
Additional career highlights include the launch of the critically acclaimed series Omni for Humanoids, Doctor Strange: The Fate of Dreams, an original novel featuring Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, and USER—a highly personal three-part, creator-owned miniseries about gender identity and online role-playing, originally published by Vertigo and newly available as a collected edition hardcover through Image. Devin is also the creator of Yelena Belova, a Marvel character staring in the upcoming MCU Black Widow movie (played by Florence Pugh), Damien Darhk, a DC character now appearing regularly in CW’s Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow (played by Neal McDonough), and Catalina Flores, a DC character recently featured as the super-villain Tarantula in The Lego Batman Movie.
Frequently cited for compelling character development and nuanced exploration of complex themes, Devin’s work has been showcased in mainstream media such as USA Today and Working Woman as well as in alternative press such as The Village Voice, The Advocate, and Curve magazine. Over the years, she has written in several different media and genres, from comic books and novels to video game scripts and short essays. She is currently working on an original graphic novel for Berger Books.
Devin lives in Northern California with her husband, step-son, devoted Early Alert Canines Diabetic Alert Dog, and somewhat less devoted cat. Openly bisexual, she is a passionate advocate for the GLBTQ community, as well as being a committed environmentalist, and a public speaker for T1 Diabetes awareness and Diabetic Alert Dogs. She is always happy to take on a new challenge, especially if it involves making some new fictional friends.
Additional career highlights include the launch of the critically acclaimed series Omni for Humanoids, Doctor Strange: The Fate of Dreams, an original novel featuring Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, and USER—a highly personal three-part, creator-owned miniseries about gender identity and online role-playing, originally published by Vertigo and newly available as a collected edition hardcover through Image. Devin is also the creator of Yelena Belova, a Marvel character staring in the upcoming MCU Black Widow movie (played by Florence Pugh), Damien Darhk, a DC character now appearing regularly in CW’s Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow (played by Neal McDonough), and Catalina Flores, a DC character recently featured as the super-villain Tarantula in The Lego Batman Movie.
Frequently cited for compelling character development and nuanced exploration of complex themes, Devin’s work has been showcased in mainstream media such as USA Today and Working Woman as well as in alternative press such as The Village Voice, The Advocate, and Curve magazine. Over the years, she has written in several different media and genres, from comic books and novels to video game scripts and short essays. She is currently working on an original graphic novel for Berger Books.
Devin lives in Northern California with her husband, step-son, devoted Early Alert Canines Diabetic Alert Dog, and somewhat less devoted cat. Openly bisexual, she is a passionate advocate for the GLBTQ community, as well as being a committed environmentalist, and a public speaker for T1 Diabetes awareness and Diabetic Alert Dogs. She is always happy to take on a new challenge, especially if it involves making some new fictional friends.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 12, 2021
This is such a strange book in the sense it goes into a deep look into the mind of Bruce and what he views his Batfamily as.
So if you're expecting some flashy villains taking over the world, or a army coming after Batman, and so on that is NOT what you'll get. In place of that are small, unique missions, that focus on Bruce and one or two of his comrades at once. In doing so we get to know the inner thinking of Batman while also learning more about his family.
And that's when the book works best. The focus on his children and his Bat-Family. Taking a deep look into what they are, who they are, how they're different, and how they help him achieve what he must to keep Gotham safe. It's a great insider view to it all and some solid dialogue and art to help push that further.
We eventually do get to Transference which is a story about Hugo and it's actually pretty solid. I mean you can guess the twist but the way Dick takes charge is interesting and fun. I also really enjoyed particular issues with Cassandra, Dick, and Tim. The weakest was probably Babs.
But overall, a little slow at points but a pretty interesting book with ideas I wish I'd see more in main Batman titles. A 3.5 out of 5 but I'll bump it to a 4.
So if you're expecting some flashy villains taking over the world, or a army coming after Batman, and so on that is NOT what you'll get. In place of that are small, unique missions, that focus on Bruce and one or two of his comrades at once. In doing so we get to know the inner thinking of Batman while also learning more about his family.
And that's when the book works best. The focus on his children and his Bat-Family. Taking a deep look into what they are, who they are, how they're different, and how they help him achieve what he must to keep Gotham safe. It's a great insider view to it all and some solid dialogue and art to help push that further.
We eventually do get to Transference which is a story about Hugo and it's actually pretty solid. I mean you can guess the twist but the way Dick takes charge is interesting and fun. I also really enjoyed particular issues with Cassandra, Dick, and Tim. The weakest was probably Babs.
But overall, a little slow at points but a pretty interesting book with ideas I wish I'd see more in main Batman titles. A 3.5 out of 5 but I'll bump it to a 4.
May 29, 2020
The stories in this were a slog to get through. Grayson tries to examine Batman's relationships with his sidekicks. Unfortunately, there's very little villains or action to make this interesting. It speaks volumes when Hugo Strange is the only rogue in this book. The only reason I can see this is in print now is to a DC initiative to reprint all Batman comics from the 90s.
January 27, 2020
This teeters precariously between really good and really boring. It's a thoughtful collection that really looks into the emotions, psyche, etc of not only Batman, but also those around him, with solid looks at Leslie Thompkins, Alfred, Babs (as Oracle), etc. But in spite of its good qualities, it was still a slog to get through and I found my attention veering every few pages.
The title story, Transference, is the final four issues of the collection, and it's a solid enough Hugo Strange story.
The title story, Transference, is the final four issues of the collection, and it's a solid enough Hugo Strange story.
May 6, 2020
The premise of this book is: Proof that Batman does not, and has never worked alone. As a fan of the batfam, this worked well for me. The writing was pretty good and the interactions were great. My immature brain was weirded out my the romantic scenes with Alfred but it was still a great read!
December 19, 2021
I loved this book. Way more than some other reviewers here.
Maybe it's because I read Transference first in Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange and knew what this book was about (Bruce's deep psychoanalysis of Batman and the Batfamily) & wanted more. Or maybe it's that I generally love all the Batman/Batfamily introspection... But whatever it was (the prep going in, or that it's just my style of story), I think Devin Grayson is a great Batman character writer & I thought this volume was A+.
The book opens with Constants (File 0001). A little boy's parents are murdered and Batman takes the case. Both Robin and Nightwing are worried about how personally Batman is taking it, and how he may be blinded to the evidence ... Constants is such a great Batman story & a great opener to this book.
The next story is Down With The Ship about Batgirl, Cas, who I *love*.
From Bruce's/Batman's File 0002: In addition to not being able to SPEAK, she repeatedly demonstrates a willingness to lay down her life... The Detective is AWARE of all this --has been especially mindful of it since he took on the GIRL.
Batman to Batgirl: "This is not how it works! You do not push me to safety!"
From file 0002: He knows ALL of his partners, sometimes better than he knows himself.
Batman to Batgirl: "You keep assuming we're on suicide missions. That's not how I work. It's not effective."
From file 0002: He knows, for instance, that if Dick-Nightwing- has disobeyed his order to come back to the ship, it would have been because of his need to be USEFUL and because of his unabating desire to demonstrate his filial LOYALTY.
Batman to Batgirl: "Where is your grapple? You left it behind somewhere?"
From file 0002: He knows that if Tim -Robin- had come back, it would have been because of his EMPATHY, his inability to leave someone else in harm's way.
Batman to Batgirl: "The portal! It's the exit! I always leave an exit! I knew I could climb to it with my grapple when the boat listed again, but you don't have your grapple!"
From file 0002: Jason, the one he LOST -he was HEADSTRONG and disregarded orders as a matter of rebellious INDIVIDUATION.
Batman to Batgirl: "You're in a death trap and there's no reason for it!"
From file 0002: Batman doesn't want to lose ANOTHER one, which is why he wishes he DIDN'T understand what brings THIS one back.
Batman to Batgirl: "Unacceptable. You do not quit. You fight your way to that exit. I know. I know what it's like to hate yourself. I know what it's like to view every fight as a potential excuse to go out in a blaze of glory. But that's no way to win."
Oof. <3
File 0003 is Samsara: Batman's impossible fight to be everywhere and save everyone at the same time.
From file 0003: The Dark Knight is not insane. He knows he cannot prevent every single tragedy, accident, or crime to befall Gotham City --but he always knows he can't stop trying to.
Samsara starts with Batman fighting Killer Croc on a roof of a 7/11 type convenience store while the store is being held up at gunpoint and the owner is shot to death right under Batman's feet. The two page spread of that imagery is so striking.
Alfred to Batman: "...My objection is more in line with your utter refusal to acknowledge that you did some good tonight in addition to --"
Batman: "--Failing. A man is dead, Alfred. I wasn't even aware that there was a crime in progress until I heard the gunshots."
Alfred: "Which is a tragedy, no doubt. But do not let your renewed fervor for protecting Gotham city blind you to what you've accomplished. "Killer Croc" was apprehended before he could hurt anyone, and you did stop the perpetrator in--"
Batman: "It's not enough!"
Alfred: "Will it ever be enough Master Bruce?"
From there, the story gets creepy/very morbid real fast.
Dead bodies in Gotham are rising against Batman. They are being possessed by "Sam" and attacking Batman, blaming him for letting them die. (There's a creepy scene at the morgue with flies. Yuck!)
The reveal is really sad , but Batman tries and that's really the whole point.
From file 0003: Maybe his constant doubting of himself is finally the best indication that the Dark Knight is sane. Maybe we don't have to be able to make sense of the world in order to choose our reactions to it.
Batman: "I do try, Sam. I know you're mad that I can't be everywhere at once, but I do try."
From file 0003: One could make the argument, I suppose, that Batman is stuck in a kind of karmic loop. That he has in some essential way sacrificed the possibility of his own personal growth by so ardently committing himself to a seemingly endless and repetitive crusade. He doesn't even necessarily know how to stop anymore, should he ever decide he wanted to. It will have to be enough that he occasionally knows to rest.
Locked (File 0005) was interesting. (Where is File 0004 though?)
Locked is about The Key. The Key's whole thing is that can escape anything/nothing can hold him. He injects Batman with some narcotic that unlocks (get it?) his rage/inhibitions to not kill. Batman then goes on a violent punishing spree that almost kills everyone he fights... Because The Key wants Batman to kill him. Kind of an interesting take...The Key thinks if Batman kills him it will give him notoriety/The Key thinks death will be the ultimate "escape" opportunity.
Batman is about to kill The Key when a doctor gets in his way. There's a great side-by-side where the doctor is talking, but Batman sees his father talking to him.
Dr. Thomas Wayne: "...Listen to me, son, this is important --taking another life is never an option --killing is always wrong.
Batman disappoints The Key by not killing him, but then cleverly gives him a new goal to fixate on...
Batman to The Key: "This routine is getting tired, Key. You're an escape artist and you escape. That's supposed to impress me? The only person alive who could impress me right now is the person who could actually find a way to contain you."
Brilliant! The last page of the story is The Key having himself strapped into a chair ready to be welded into a metal box...
Personal Effects (File 0006) is an Oracle story . Barbra and Batman have a great argument about family and biological blood. There are two funny lines in this one.
Batman calls up Alfred after finding the ransacked safety deposit box that belonged to Barbra.
Batman: "Alfred, what could Barbra have hidden away in a safety deposit box that she wouldn't want found?"
Alfred: "By you, Sir? Perhaps a copy of the latest Cosmopolitan quiz on "How to tell whether or not your boss truly trusts you and appreciates your loyalty"?" LOL! Alfred with the sass!
The other line is less funny ha-ha, and more funny, interesting.
Barbra is about to share the secret of the letter that Batman had recovered for her (which had been stolen from the broken-into safety deposit box), and Batman says "Barbra. Jim's my best friend. I'm not sure I want--", and I just thought that was wild! Batman considers James Gordon to be his best friend? I know Batman respects Gordon very much and that they are partners in a way, but best friends? Huh!
Anyway, the ending here is very sweet.
Batman to Barbra: "You're wrong. You're wrong to think you'd lose him by telling him the truth. And you're wrong to think he's all you have."
And Batman kisses Barbra on the back of the head. <3 <3
Oblation (File 0007) is on Alfred and Dr. Leslie Thompkins. <3
It's the backstory of their (almost-romantic) relationship, but also their relationship with (/intense loyalty to) Bruce.
From file 0007: The more that I examine his allies, the more I come to think of Batman as being as much of an enterprise as a single entity. Though I maintain that he could operate alone out of either necessity or choice -- I confess to being increasingly...impressed with both the loyalty and utility of his friends. He would never ask anyone to sacrifice anything for his cause and yet, many around him, of their own will and volition, appear to have renounced a great deal.
Transference (File 0008) is, not surprisingly, my favorite of the volume.
Part 1 starts off with Catwoman interrupting a burglary-in-progress by a fake Catwoman, which is then crashed by a fake Batman!
Lo and behold the Batman is actually Hugo Strange, and he and Catwoman have a whole exchange about Batman & the Batfamily.
Catwoman: "So you wanna be Batman, hu? You talk to the alcolyts about that?"
Strange: "The who?"
Catwoman: "Batman doesn't work alone, freak job. If you want to inherit the cowl, you'd better get in line."
Strange: "What?! What are you talking about? Batman is a loner! A solitary nocturnal avenger! He's an archetype of dark self-assurance!"
Catwoman: "Maybe. But try to take him out and you'll have more masked minions on you than ticks on a junkyard dog!"
Strange: "They must be parasites. Hangers-on. The Batman would never allow his power to be siphoned! Never!"
Catwoman: "Sorry to disappoint you, but unlike me, they're card-carrying members of the pointy-eared calvary. Hand-picked and trained, I'd imagine, if not actually born and bred."
I thought the writing by Grayson here was so sharp!
After Catwoman, Strange goes after Bruce, himself. He knows he's Batman, but Bruce does not break character, not even with a gun pointed at him. Kudos, Bruce!
Batman shows up on-scene, of course, and he and Strange duke it out on top of Wayne Tower (while Dick -who is eating popcorn- and Tim watch from below). Batman kicks Strange's butt, ties him up, and then jumps into the Batmobile which then explodes(!!). And OMG, the look on Dick's face... oof, heartsqueezy. :(
I loved that Dick immediately goes after Strange; Nightwing priorities (even though Strange somehow escapes). And the next scene (first page of Part 3) is also a heatsqueezy one. Tim brings Dick back to Wayne Manor and runs to get Alfred... (Tim: "Alfred, come quick! There was this explosion, and B-Bruce was in the car, and he didn't come out, and-- and Dick can't even breath he's so scared --I had to drag him all the way here, and I don't know what to do, I've never seen this drill before, it's like maybe he's really --maybe Bruce is really--")
And actually, some of my favorite lines come from Part 3:
From file 0008: Your students come with their own motivations for wanting to learn, so you do not teach them to acquire your wounds, you teach them what you did once you began to heal.
Because of who he was -because, perhaps, of who Batman was to him -the Mission, as embodied by Dick Grayson, looked different. At it's center, Batman's fight is rooted in anguish and -let's admit it- an almost childish determination to spare anyone else his grief. But those he's trained, at their centers, they fight from a place of gratitude, devotion and hope.
I totally loved these stories, even though these files are a *cold* inspection of his Batfamily, I think it's all very Batman IMO. He also wrote his own *cold* introspection, so, it's kinda fair, right?
The last story in this volume is Damages by Jen Van Meter. It's not part of Gotham Knights (and Bruce's files), but it's a good Barbra & Alfred team-up.
4.5 stars for the whole volume. Can't wait to read the next one!
Maybe it's because I read Transference first in Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange and knew what this book was about (Bruce's deep psychoanalysis of Batman and the Batfamily) & wanted more. Or maybe it's that I generally love all the Batman/Batfamily introspection... But whatever it was (the prep going in, or that it's just my style of story), I think Devin Grayson is a great Batman character writer & I thought this volume was A+.
The book opens with Constants (File 0001). A little boy's parents are murdered and Batman takes the case. Both Robin and Nightwing are worried about how personally Batman is taking it, and how he may be blinded to the evidence ... Constants is such a great Batman story & a great opener to this book.
The next story is Down With The Ship about Batgirl, Cas, who I *love*.
From Bruce's/Batman's File 0002: In addition to not being able to SPEAK, she repeatedly demonstrates a willingness to lay down her life... The Detective is AWARE of all this --has been especially mindful of it since he took on the GIRL.
Batman to Batgirl: "This is not how it works! You do not push me to safety!"
From file 0002: He knows ALL of his partners, sometimes better than he knows himself.
Batman to Batgirl: "You keep assuming we're on suicide missions. That's not how I work. It's not effective."
From file 0002: He knows, for instance, that if Dick-Nightwing- has disobeyed his order to come back to the ship, it would have been because of his need to be USEFUL and because of his unabating desire to demonstrate his filial LOYALTY.
Batman to Batgirl: "Where is your grapple? You left it behind somewhere?"
From file 0002: He knows that if Tim -Robin- had come back, it would have been because of his EMPATHY, his inability to leave someone else in harm's way.
Batman to Batgirl: "The portal! It's the exit! I always leave an exit! I knew I could climb to it with my grapple when the boat listed again, but you don't have your grapple!"
From file 0002: Jason, the one he LOST -he was HEADSTRONG and disregarded orders as a matter of rebellious INDIVIDUATION.
Batman to Batgirl: "You're in a death trap and there's no reason for it!"
From file 0002: Batman doesn't want to lose ANOTHER one, which is why he wishes he DIDN'T understand what brings THIS one back.
Batman to Batgirl: "Unacceptable. You do not quit. You fight your way to that exit. I know. I know what it's like to hate yourself. I know what it's like to view every fight as a potential excuse to go out in a blaze of glory. But that's no way to win."
Oof. <3
File 0003 is Samsara: Batman's impossible fight to be everywhere and save everyone at the same time.
From file 0003: The Dark Knight is not insane. He knows he cannot prevent every single tragedy, accident, or crime to befall Gotham City --but he always knows he can't stop trying to.
Samsara starts with Batman fighting Killer Croc on a roof of a 7/11 type convenience store while the store is being held up at gunpoint and the owner is shot to death right under Batman's feet. The two page spread of that imagery is so striking.
Alfred to Batman: "...My objection is more in line with your utter refusal to acknowledge that you did some good tonight in addition to --"
Batman: "--Failing. A man is dead, Alfred. I wasn't even aware that there was a crime in progress until I heard the gunshots."
Alfred: "Which is a tragedy, no doubt. But do not let your renewed fervor for protecting Gotham city blind you to what you've accomplished. "Killer Croc" was apprehended before he could hurt anyone, and you did stop the perpetrator in--"
Batman: "It's not enough!"
Alfred: "Will it ever be enough Master Bruce?"
From there, the story gets creepy/very morbid real fast.
Dead bodies in Gotham are rising against Batman. They are being possessed by "Sam" and attacking Batman, blaming him for letting them die. (There's a creepy scene at the morgue with flies. Yuck!)
The reveal is really sad , but Batman tries and that's really the whole point.
From file 0003: Maybe his constant doubting of himself is finally the best indication that the Dark Knight is sane. Maybe we don't have to be able to make sense of the world in order to choose our reactions to it.
Batman: "I do try, Sam. I know you're mad that I can't be everywhere at once, but I do try."
From file 0003: One could make the argument, I suppose, that Batman is stuck in a kind of karmic loop. That he has in some essential way sacrificed the possibility of his own personal growth by so ardently committing himself to a seemingly endless and repetitive crusade. He doesn't even necessarily know how to stop anymore, should he ever decide he wanted to. It will have to be enough that he occasionally knows to rest.
Locked (File 0005) was interesting. (Where is File 0004 though?)
Locked is about The Key. The Key's whole thing is that can escape anything/nothing can hold him. He injects Batman with some narcotic that unlocks (get it?) his rage/inhibitions to not kill. Batman then goes on a violent punishing spree that almost kills everyone he fights... Because The Key wants Batman to kill him. Kind of an interesting take...The Key thinks if Batman kills him it will give him notoriety/The Key thinks death will be the ultimate "escape" opportunity.
Batman is about to kill The Key when a doctor gets in his way. There's a great side-by-side where the doctor is talking, but Batman sees his father talking to him.
Dr. Thomas Wayne: "...Listen to me, son, this is important --taking another life is never an option --killing is always wrong.
Batman disappoints The Key by not killing him, but then cleverly gives him a new goal to fixate on...
Batman to The Key: "This routine is getting tired, Key. You're an escape artist and you escape. That's supposed to impress me? The only person alive who could impress me right now is the person who could actually find a way to contain you."
Brilliant! The last page of the story is The Key having himself strapped into a chair ready to be welded into a metal box...
Personal Effects (File 0006) is an Oracle story . Barbra and Batman have a great argument about family and biological blood. There are two funny lines in this one.
Batman calls up Alfred after finding the ransacked safety deposit box that belonged to Barbra.
Batman: "Alfred, what could Barbra have hidden away in a safety deposit box that she wouldn't want found?"
Alfred: "By you, Sir? Perhaps a copy of the latest Cosmopolitan quiz on "How to tell whether or not your boss truly trusts you and appreciates your loyalty"?" LOL! Alfred with the sass!
The other line is less funny ha-ha, and more funny, interesting.
Barbra is about to share the secret of the letter that Batman had recovered for her (which had been stolen from the broken-into safety deposit box), and Batman says "Barbra. Jim's my best friend. I'm not sure I want--", and I just thought that was wild! Batman considers James Gordon to be his best friend? I know Batman respects Gordon very much and that they are partners in a way, but best friends? Huh!
Anyway, the ending here is very sweet.
Batman to Barbra: "You're wrong. You're wrong to think you'd lose him by telling him the truth. And you're wrong to think he's all you have."
And Batman kisses Barbra on the back of the head. <3 <3
Oblation (File 0007) is on Alfred and Dr. Leslie Thompkins. <3
It's the backstory of their (almost-romantic) relationship, but also their relationship with (/intense loyalty to) Bruce.
From file 0007: The more that I examine his allies, the more I come to think of Batman as being as much of an enterprise as a single entity. Though I maintain that he could operate alone out of either necessity or choice -- I confess to being increasingly...impressed with both the loyalty and utility of his friends. He would never ask anyone to sacrifice anything for his cause and yet, many around him, of their own will and volition, appear to have renounced a great deal.
Transference (File 0008) is, not surprisingly, my favorite of the volume.
Part 1 starts off with Catwoman interrupting a burglary-in-progress by a fake Catwoman, which is then crashed by a fake Batman!
Lo and behold the Batman is actually Hugo Strange, and he and Catwoman have a whole exchange about Batman & the Batfamily.
Catwoman: "So you wanna be Batman, hu? You talk to the alcolyts about that?"
Strange: "The who?"
Catwoman: "Batman doesn't work alone, freak job. If you want to inherit the cowl, you'd better get in line."
Strange: "What?! What are you talking about? Batman is a loner! A solitary nocturnal avenger! He's an archetype of dark self-assurance!"
Catwoman: "Maybe. But try to take him out and you'll have more masked minions on you than ticks on a junkyard dog!"
Strange: "They must be parasites. Hangers-on. The Batman would never allow his power to be siphoned! Never!"
Catwoman: "Sorry to disappoint you, but unlike me, they're card-carrying members of the pointy-eared calvary. Hand-picked and trained, I'd imagine, if not actually born and bred."
I thought the writing by Grayson here was so sharp!
After Catwoman, Strange goes after Bruce, himself. He knows he's Batman, but Bruce does not break character, not even with a gun pointed at him. Kudos, Bruce!
Batman shows up on-scene, of course, and he and Strange duke it out on top of Wayne Tower (while Dick -who is eating popcorn- and Tim watch from below). Batman kicks Strange's butt, ties him up, and then jumps into the Batmobile which then explodes(!!). And OMG, the look on Dick's face... oof, heartsqueezy. :(
I loved that Dick immediately goes after Strange; Nightwing priorities (even though Strange somehow escapes). And the next scene (first page of Part 3) is also a heatsqueezy one. Tim brings Dick back to Wayne Manor and runs to get Alfred... (Tim: "Alfred, come quick! There was this explosion, and B-Bruce was in the car, and he didn't come out, and-- and Dick can't even breath he's so scared --I had to drag him all the way here, and I don't know what to do, I've never seen this drill before, it's like maybe he's really --maybe Bruce is really--")
And actually, some of my favorite lines come from Part 3:
From file 0008: Your students come with their own motivations for wanting to learn, so you do not teach them to acquire your wounds, you teach them what you did once you began to heal.
Because of who he was -because, perhaps, of who Batman was to him -the Mission, as embodied by Dick Grayson, looked different. At it's center, Batman's fight is rooted in anguish and -let's admit it- an almost childish determination to spare anyone else his grief. But those he's trained, at their centers, they fight from a place of gratitude, devotion and hope.
I totally loved these stories, even though these files are a *cold* inspection of his Batfamily, I think it's all very Batman IMO. He also wrote his own *cold* introspection, so, it's kinda fair, right?
The last story in this volume is Damages by Jen Van Meter. It's not part of Gotham Knights (and Bruce's files), but it's a good Barbra & Alfred team-up.
4.5 stars for the whole volume. Can't wait to read the next one!
March 25, 2020
Devin Grayson is one of my favorite Batman writers, and I was over the moon when I discovered Transference was being collected into a paperback. Her intelligent and nuanced focus on the characters and in particular the relationships that comprise the "Bat-family" is always such a refreshing break from America's Next Top Convoluted Villain Scheme (though I will say that the Scheme in Transference is... buck wild). Transference is a page-turning mystery in which every member of Bruce Wayne's inner circle gets a chance to shine, and we get an intimate look at what each of them means to him as we delve deep into the Dark Knight's psyche. The art is great, the dialogue is tight and engaging, and though Grayson, like any good mystery or suspense writer, is always one step ahead of the reader, she always makes sure you have more than enough to follow her by. I'd recommend this collected edition to anyone who likes a good Bat-yarn!
October 2, 2025
Batman: Die Daddy Issues Teil II! (oder besser gesagt Teil I, da es chronologisch vor "Under the Red Hood" rausgekommen ist...)
What a wild ride.
Eine sehr psychologisch dichte Studie, die sich mit der essentiellen Frage beschäftigt - wer ist echt und wer ist die Maske - Bruce Wayne oder Batman? Devin Grayson landet definitiv im Camp "Batman ist real und Bruce Wayne ist nur Fassade" und analysiert genau das.
Villain Hugo Strange versucht Batman psychologisch zu knacken und zu verstehen wie er tickt um ihn leichter zu brechen. Dabei stößt er auf den Fakt, dass der finstere Einzelgänger Batman gar kein finsterer Einzelgänger ist, sondern... Freunde und Familie hat. (Besondere Gaststars in diesem Band: Nightwing und Robin (Tim Drake)).
Das wirklich interessante an dieser Ausgabe ist aber Bruces Akte über Dick. Die INTERESSANT IST. Und natürlich Hugo Stranges Versuch Dick's Psyche zu knacken indem er die unfassbar schmerzhaft intensive und komplizierte Kiste zwischen ihm und Batman aufmacht. Und heall yeah.... Freud hätte seine reine Freude damit.
"It's better than I thought, isn't it? Much more complicated...sticky and hot... He isn't your father, I was wrong about that. But you NEED him to be, don't you? You need him to fill that horrible sucking wound in your soul. He thinks you've adjusted so well, but you need him like you've never needed anything before or since...."
*Hust* habe ich erwähnt wie unglaublich ich HIER BIN für die schmerzhaften komplizierten Kisten zwischen Bruce und seinen Robins? Have I? Because I'm SO HERE FOR IT.
Und Bruce und Dick haben mit Abstand die längste und abgefuckteste und intensivste Kiste.
Also... Chef's kiss. Danke Devin Grayson for going there and REALLY GOING there.
I enjoyed it a lot.
What a wild ride.
Eine sehr psychologisch dichte Studie, die sich mit der essentiellen Frage beschäftigt - wer ist echt und wer ist die Maske - Bruce Wayne oder Batman? Devin Grayson landet definitiv im Camp "Batman ist real und Bruce Wayne ist nur Fassade" und analysiert genau das.
Villain Hugo Strange versucht Batman psychologisch zu knacken und zu verstehen wie er tickt um ihn leichter zu brechen. Dabei stößt er auf den Fakt, dass der finstere Einzelgänger Batman gar kein finsterer Einzelgänger ist, sondern... Freunde und Familie hat. (Besondere Gaststars in diesem Band: Nightwing und Robin (Tim Drake)).
Das wirklich interessante an dieser Ausgabe ist aber Bruces Akte über Dick. Die INTERESSANT IST. Und natürlich Hugo Stranges Versuch Dick's Psyche zu knacken indem er die unfassbar schmerzhaft intensive und komplizierte Kiste zwischen ihm und Batman aufmacht. Und heall yeah.... Freud hätte seine reine Freude damit.
"It's better than I thought, isn't it? Much more complicated...sticky and hot... He isn't your father, I was wrong about that. But you NEED him to be, don't you? You need him to fill that horrible sucking wound in your soul. He thinks you've adjusted so well, but you need him like you've never needed anything before or since...."
*Hust* habe ich erwähnt wie unglaublich ich HIER BIN für die schmerzhaften komplizierten Kisten zwischen Bruce und seinen Robins? Have I? Because I'm SO HERE FOR IT.
Und Bruce und Dick haben mit Abstand die längste und abgefuckteste und intensivste Kiste.
Also... Chef's kiss. Danke Devin Grayson for going there and REALLY GOING there.
I enjoyed it a lot.
January 26, 2023
It’s a struggle to understand how I feel about this book. It’s a bit all over the place, which sometimes happens with collections. It’s like they wanted to weave a narrative, but hadn’t thought it through.
The majority of the book has this super annoying, grating narrator that sounds unhinged and pedantic. When you learn who the narrator is… it makes you worry that the person is unhinged and pedantic. I wouldn’t go near that person with a barge pole after reading those files.
The book tries to go in-depth into the psyche of Batman, but, as mentioned, with a narrative voice like that, you don’t get far. I also think it depends on when you read the book. In 2023, the psychology of Batman has been done to death, and we still haven’t unlocked it.
The stories themselves were, again, all over the place. The one with the dead corpses was interesting, but I was annoyed that there was a prolonged scene of a naked corpse fighting Batman, but of course, the corpse was of a shapely woman. It’s frustrating to be constantly reminded of the misogyny in comics.
What was even happening with the Key story? It was so irritating to read the Key’s dialogue.
The Hugo Strange section was just chaos. By this point I realized that the writer had a very pedantic way of writing dialogue so no one spoke like a normal human being, not even Dick and Tim. I question the motivations of all the villains, because there was no build up.
The book dragged along and had no sense of pace. There were lots of shock value moments with tedious denouements. Even the Babs story, which had better writing and really made you feel for what she had been through, wrapped up way too quickly.
Let’s not start with the art. Bruce and Dick looked alike—I know Batman collects boys who mirror him, but they’re not duplicates. I couldn’t tell them apart for most of the book. Most of the characters had exaggerated expressions and the flow from panel to panel wasn’t always precise.
I didn’t hate this book, I just felt it was much too frenetic and chaotic. It lacked suspense and rhythm. And, for a book that’s supposed to be a character study, it doesn’t really shed light on the characters much.
The majority of the book has this super annoying, grating narrator that sounds unhinged and pedantic. When you learn who the narrator is… it makes you worry that the person is unhinged and pedantic. I wouldn’t go near that person with a barge pole after reading those files.
The book tries to go in-depth into the psyche of Batman, but, as mentioned, with a narrative voice like that, you don’t get far. I also think it depends on when you read the book. In 2023, the psychology of Batman has been done to death, and we still haven’t unlocked it.
The stories themselves were, again, all over the place. The one with the dead corpses was interesting, but I was annoyed that there was a prolonged scene of a naked corpse fighting Batman, but of course, the corpse was of a shapely woman. It’s frustrating to be constantly reminded of the misogyny in comics.
What was even happening with the Key story? It was so irritating to read the Key’s dialogue.
The Hugo Strange section was just chaos. By this point I realized that the writer had a very pedantic way of writing dialogue so no one spoke like a normal human being, not even Dick and Tim. I question the motivations of all the villains, because there was no build up.
The book dragged along and had no sense of pace. There were lots of shock value moments with tedious denouements. Even the Babs story, which had better writing and really made you feel for what she had been through, wrapped up way too quickly.
Let’s not start with the art. Bruce and Dick looked alike—I know Batman collects boys who mirror him, but they’re not duplicates. I couldn’t tell them apart for most of the book. Most of the characters had exaggerated expressions and the flow from panel to panel wasn’t always precise.
I didn’t hate this book, I just felt it was much too frenetic and chaotic. It lacked suspense and rhythm. And, for a book that’s supposed to be a character study, it doesn’t really shed light on the characters much.
Read
April 15, 2025absolutely excellent examination of these characters + their dynamics--the plots themselves are mostly just in service of that exploration, which is fine because the character work is just that good
July 24, 2020
I’ve enjoyed all of the Batman books of Devin Grayson that I’ve read so far and this is no exception. This book collects the start of the Gotham Knights title and boy did it start off well. It’s not your typical action-packed Batman story but it is just as enjoyable as Grayson analyzes Batman’s psyche and his relationship with members of the Bat Family. Grayson answers the age-old question, “does Batman really prefer to work alone?”
I liked the big villain that she chose for the book, , as he’s the perfect villain for this type of book. I’ve always liked him and felt that he was underused. This, for me, is the best story. As for the art, I really love Roger Robinson and Dale Eaglesham’s art. I hope DC tries to collect the entire Gotham Knight’s run.
I liked the big villain that she chose for the book, , as he’s the perfect villain for this type of book. I’ve always liked him and felt that he was underused. This, for me, is the best story. As for the art, I really love Roger Robinson and Dale Eaglesham’s art. I hope DC tries to collect the entire Gotham Knight’s run.
February 10, 2023
Really liked the insight into Batman’s allies, specifically the Alfred and Barbara story arcs. Although yes, some of the stories (particularly the Batgirl ones) dragged and the art looks kind of funky at times (some of the shots of the boys in Transference looks… rough) I thoroughly enjoyed this.
June 1, 2020
*I have read WAY more books than I've actually reviewed, so this is a knee-jerk reaction. Too many books to read and review... so little time!*
Loved that this was such an introspective look into, not only Batman, but also all of his allies as well. (Wondering still how I feel about Batman being the one doing the psychoanalyzing... Might be a bit creepy, but... it also seems like a very Batman thing to do: Trying to understand himself from an outsider's perspective so that he can grow and become better.)
I hadn't read any Cassandra Cain as Batgirl, so I enjoyed seeing her in that role.
There were some nice moments with Nightwing and Robin (Tim Drake). I got a chuckle when they were snacking in the Bat Cave and Tim used his cape as a napkin only to get a death glare from Alfred.
That first issue was a punch to the gut, and a particularly interesting look into what motivates Batman. A young boy killing his own parents is something that Bruce Wayne can't begin to remotely understand. It is the opposite of everything he stands for--and why, despite how dark he might be, he is ultimately a hero.
The Hugo Strange parts (with Bruce Wayne "forgetting" that he was Batman) were very interesting. Seeing Bruce panic in dangerous situations was a novelty. Similarly, seeing Robin and Nightwing teaming up to save him (both from Hugo and himself) was also very engaging.
My favorite issue was the one examining Alfred and Leslie. They are an indispensable part of the Batman story. Seeing their parental concern towards Bruce was both heartwarming and heartbreaking: They're caring for someone who, they know, will most likely perish in his mission. But they can't stop themselves from helping because of their love for him. An interesting dynamic that is well-examined here.
Loved that this was such an introspective look into, not only Batman, but also all of his allies as well. (Wondering still how I feel about Batman being the one doing the psychoanalyzing... Might be a bit creepy, but... it also seems like a very Batman thing to do: Trying to understand himself from an outsider's perspective so that he can grow and become better.)
I hadn't read any Cassandra Cain as Batgirl, so I enjoyed seeing her in that role.
There were some nice moments with Nightwing and Robin (Tim Drake). I got a chuckle when they were snacking in the Bat Cave and Tim used his cape as a napkin only to get a death glare from Alfred.
That first issue was a punch to the gut, and a particularly interesting look into what motivates Batman. A young boy killing his own parents is something that Bruce Wayne can't begin to remotely understand. It is the opposite of everything he stands for--and why, despite how dark he might be, he is ultimately a hero.
The Hugo Strange parts (with Bruce Wayne "forgetting" that he was Batman) were very interesting. Seeing Bruce panic in dangerous situations was a novelty. Similarly, seeing Robin and Nightwing teaming up to save him (both from Hugo and himself) was also very engaging.
My favorite issue was the one examining Alfred and Leslie. They are an indispensable part of the Batman story. Seeing their parental concern towards Bruce was both heartwarming and heartbreaking: They're caring for someone who, they know, will most likely perish in his mission. But they can't stop themselves from helping because of their love for him. An interesting dynamic that is well-examined here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2025
🌟3,5🌟
É um bom encadernado para conhecer os relacionamentos do Batman com a Batfamily, bem como o Alfred e a Leslie, no período pos crise, pois cada história é composta por uma narração de fundo, como uma espécie de diário do Bruce comentando a respeito de cada membro de sua família.
Eu achei interessante no que tange ser fã do personagem e querer saber mais sobre como o Batman vê a Batfamily e porque ele os ajuda/treina. Além disso, essas narrações servem bastante como um guia e explicações sobre diante a psique do Batman.
Como o encadernado vai das edições 1 a 12 da revista Gotham Knights, é complicado falar sobre cada história, mas gostaria de destacar a primeira história chamada "constantes", a qual o Batman precisa investigar um assassinato de um casal que foi morto na frente do filho. Isso remete muito ao passado de Bruce, tornando o caso bem pessoal para o Batman, deixando o Dick e o Tim preocupados em como o Batman iria lidar com a investigação.
Ademais, destaco a participação da Cassandra em algumas histórias, pois é minha Batgirl favorita, então adoro quando ela aparece nas histórias.
É um bom encadernado para conhecer os relacionamentos do Batman com a Batfamily, bem como o Alfred e a Leslie, no período pos crise, pois cada história é composta por uma narração de fundo, como uma espécie de diário do Bruce comentando a respeito de cada membro de sua família.
Eu achei interessante no que tange ser fã do personagem e querer saber mais sobre como o Batman vê a Batfamily e porque ele os ajuda/treina. Além disso, essas narrações servem bastante como um guia e explicações sobre diante a psique do Batman.
Como o encadernado vai das edições 1 a 12 da revista Gotham Knights, é complicado falar sobre cada história, mas gostaria de destacar a primeira história chamada "constantes", a qual o Batman precisa investigar um assassinato de um casal que foi morto na frente do filho. Isso remete muito ao passado de Bruce, tornando o caso bem pessoal para o Batman, deixando o Dick e o Tim preocupados em como o Batman iria lidar com a investigação.
Ademais, destaco a participação da Cassandra em algumas histórias, pois é minha Batgirl favorita, então adoro quando ela aparece nas histórias.
September 7, 2022
I really wanted to love this as a huge Batman fan, but for the most part a lot of these stories bored me. I found it kind of becoming a chore to get through. The title story Transference is the only major standout here. Some of the stories were even downright confusing especially the one with the reality alterting villain. Maybe I'm just dumb I don't know. I also didn't much care for the narration commenting going on in many of the panels. I get that was kind of the point of the overall Gotham Knights storyline I guess, but to me it was hard to balance that with the actual dialogue. The artwork is really awesome though and by far the highlight of this entire book. I have the next compilation of this checked out from the library, but honestly think I am going to put it back for now. I just have so many other things I want to read right now including other Batman stories. The main reason I read this one in the first place was because of the Gotham Knights game coming, but apparently it will not really follow these comics anyways I recently found out.
May 4, 2022
Some solid tales with the Dark Knight and his associates. The use of Batman's files as a narration device is an effective tool at delivering commentary and context to the stories at play. There's an amazing Cassandra Cain Batgirl story about being a hero with a deathwish, a touching story about a complex Oracle secret, and a duo focused series of issues where Nightwing and Robin must deal with Hugo Strange attempting to prove that Bruce Wayne is Batman. There's even an issue about the history between Alfred and Leslie Thomkins and their bond over Bruce's recklessness. They are all engaging stories, but the series is intriguing due to its focus on Batman's bond with his crimefighting family. Their variety in personality, motivation, and connection with Bruce is fun to explore. It acts as both a celebration and an evaluation of Batman's supporting cast, and the roles they play in making him such a facinating character.
February 13, 2022
Besides Li'l Gotham and Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, this is so far the closest I have seen to the comics showing the family aspect in the Bat Family. It also gave me more canonical evidence that Bruce Wayne/Batman is a Hufflepuff, which is a whole other discussion that doesn't belong here. While I love Li'l Gotham and Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, this is an actual comic series that I wouldn't mind reading more, because it has those familial relationships as well as crime fighting. It is not exactly what I wanted. The ratio of family and friend relationships to crime fighting is not on the money in this for me, but it is close. So far, the best ratio I have seen of this is in a fanfiction called Wayne's Boys: Family Ties. With that said, it is pretty good.
March 13, 2023
I mostly enjoyed Devin Grayson's run on Nightwing, so I liked going back to these earlier stories to see her take on Batman. This takes place in a post-No Man's Land Gotham City and focuses on a few individual story arcs.
The main story mostly revolves around Bruce and his relationship with his extended bat-family. Parts of this worked for me, but overall it felt a bit out of place. I think it's because there are other stories that examine his relationships more succesfully, but I do like the idea behind it.
I've always been a sucker for this post-crisis continuity and I'll be forever sad that it's been rebooted at least twice since then.
The main story mostly revolves around Bruce and his relationship with his extended bat-family. Parts of this worked for me, but overall it felt a bit out of place. I think it's because there are other stories that examine his relationships more succesfully, but I do like the idea behind it.
I've always been a sucker for this post-crisis continuity and I'll be forever sad that it's been rebooted at least twice since then.
October 20, 2022
Not sure why I tried this one. I somehow got intrigued by the story behind how Robin became Nightwing, and his relationship with Bruce Wayne, and thought this might have some substance. Unfortunately the first story is very dark, and I stopped there.
I get that maybe Gotham is supposed to be a moral vacuum, but there is no sign that there will be any hope or virtue that emerges through a grave story that is a very real reflection of the moral troubles of modern day America.
I get that maybe Gotham is supposed to be a moral vacuum, but there is no sign that there will be any hope or virtue that emerges through a grave story that is a very real reflection of the moral troubles of modern day America.
August 26, 2020
It isn't a terrible story; it's just really quite tough to get through, being very verbose and rather unexciting. There was a lot of buildup to the main arc, which was shorter than the buildup, so it did feel unbalanced in that sense.
September 14, 2025
Not bad stories just some weird origin for stuff. The best story was the two issue about the dead bodies being possessed. And the Hugo strange stuff just doesn’t click with me. Maybe I just don’t them as a villain.
September 17, 2023
Quite fun, decent characterization and art (aside from The Shot of Nightwing- oof), and overall enjoyable. Nothing exceptional, but nothing overly wanting.
August 2, 2024
I liked the opening story and the Hugo Strange tale but there's nothing in here I'd make my friend Nic read.
October 15, 2024
Maybe 2.5. I didn’t find these too interesting except for the last 5 and mainly the 4 parter.
August 16, 2025
3.5 stars
July 24, 2025
Presented in the form of individual case files, we’re introduced to an unnamed, seemingly omniscient narrator who’s performing a deep psychoanalysis of Batman and the members of the Batfam. The mystery of the narrator’s identity was fun to piece together.
The actual stories themselves aren’t what’s important here, it’s the insight into Batman and his family that made this a compelling read.
The first issue deals with the Batfam working a murder case that has a pretty dark and grim conclusion. The unknown narrator muses at length on why Batman chooses to work with others. The next issue focuses even more on that, while also getting into the new Batgirl’s motivations. The next arc, “Samsara,” is pretty heartbreaking, but really delves into Batman’s psyche. The Transference story arc is excellent. I’m a total sucker for anything that really explores Bruce/Dick’s relationship, love when Bruce is a proud dad.
As someone who really enjoys reading character studies on Batman and the rest of the Batfam, overall I really enjoyed this TPB.
Bonus: We get a great sassy Alfred moment. Who doesn’t love a good sassy Alfred moment?
The actual stories themselves aren’t what’s important here, it’s the insight into Batman and his family that made this a compelling read.
The first issue deals with the Batfam working a murder case that has a pretty dark and grim conclusion. The unknown narrator muses at length on why Batman chooses to work with others. The next issue focuses even more on that, while also getting into the new Batgirl’s motivations. The next arc, “Samsara,” is pretty heartbreaking, but really delves into Batman’s psyche. The Transference story arc is excellent. I’m a total sucker for anything that really explores Bruce/Dick’s relationship, love when Bruce is a proud dad.
As someone who really enjoys reading character studies on Batman and the rest of the Batfam, overall I really enjoyed this TPB.
Bonus: We get a great sassy Alfred moment. Who doesn’t love a good sassy Alfred moment?
B: Alfred, what could Barbara have hidden away in a safety deposit box that she wouldn’t want found?
A: By you, sir? Perhaps a copy of the latest Cosmopolitan quiz on “How to Tell Whether or Not Your Boss Truly Trusts You and Appreciates Your Loyalty”?
Read
January 17, 2025This series is such a classic. Stories that foreground the interpersonal conflicts of Batman’s supporting cast is EXACTLY what I want from a DC comic, and what has been absent from its bloated lineup since this book ended. Devin Grayson isn’t always the best, but this series highlights her sense of humor and eye for complicated relationship dynamics.
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