What do you think?
Rate this book
Batman: The Chalice
In this book about faith and duty, Batman learns that not only does his nobility extend deep within his ancestry but also that some things beyond the laws of science. When a mysterious package arrives at Wayne Manor, the Dark Knight Detective discovers that he is a descendant of a Grail Knight from King Arthur's court. Now possessing the Holy Grail itself, Batman must come to terms with the ramifications of its existence while safeguarding the artifact from the denizens of attackers. Featuring the Penguin, Two-Face, Catwoman, and Ra's al Ghul, this book adds an interesting and provocative chapter to the Batman legend.
Collects Batman: The Chalice and Batman: The Ankh #1-2
Collects Batman: The Chalice and Batman: The Ankh #1-2
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2021
2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Dixon
3,443 books1,060 followersCharles "Chuck" Dixon is an American comic book writer, perhaps best-known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s.
His earliest comics work was writing Evangeline first for Comico Comics in 1984 (then later for First Comics, who published the on-going series), on which he worked with his then-wife, the artist Judith Hunt. His big break came one year later, when editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' The Savage Sword of Conan.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy with artist Tim Truman. Continuing to write for both Marvel and (mainly) Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He also produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989.
His Punisher OGN Kingdom Gone (August, 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal (and later, more monthly and occasional Punisher titles), and also brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Denny O'Neil, who asked him to produce a Robin mini-series. The mini proved popular enough to spawn two sequels - The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992) - which led to both an ongoing monthly series (which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics), and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644-738 through the major Batman stories KnightFall & KnightsEnd (for which he helped create the key character of Bane), DC One Million , Contagion , Legacy , Cataclysm and No Man's Land . Much of his run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman-writer in the mid-1990s (rivalled perhaps in history by Bill Finger and Dennis O'Neil) - in addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin , Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101) and Batgirl , as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey .
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics (and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover), he also found time to launch Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He also wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow , regularly having about seven titles out each and every month between the years 1993 and 1998.
In March, 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, salthough he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One. For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the out-going Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March '03), The Silken Ghost (June '03) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct '03), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He also wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November '03 and April '04, the last released shortly before CrossGen's complete collapse forced the cancellation of all of its comics, before which Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May '04). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity."
His earliest comics work was writing Evangeline first for Comico Comics in 1984 (then later for First Comics, who published the on-going series), on which he worked with his then-wife, the artist Judith Hunt. His big break came one year later, when editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' The Savage Sword of Conan.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy with artist Tim Truman. Continuing to write for both Marvel and (mainly) Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He also produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989.
His Punisher OGN Kingdom Gone (August, 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal (and later, more monthly and occasional Punisher titles), and also brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Denny O'Neil, who asked him to produce a Robin mini-series. The mini proved popular enough to spawn two sequels - The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992) - which led to both an ongoing monthly series (which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics), and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644-738 through the major Batman stories KnightFall & KnightsEnd (for which he helped create the key character of Bane), DC One Million , Contagion , Legacy , Cataclysm and No Man's Land . Much of his run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman-writer in the mid-1990s (rivalled perhaps in history by Bill Finger and Dennis O'Neil) - in addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin , Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101) and Batgirl , as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey .
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics (and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover), he also found time to launch Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He also wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow , regularly having about seven titles out each and every month between the years 1993 and 1998.
In March, 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, salthough he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One. For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the out-going Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March '03), The Silken Ghost (June '03) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct '03), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He also wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November '03 and April '04, the last released shortly before CrossGen's complete collapse forced the cancellation of all of its comics, before which Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May '04). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 31, 2021
This actually collects two different Batman comics, Batman: The Chalice, which was previously collected years ago and Batman: The Ankh. Both are written by Chuck Dixon and painted by John Van Fleet.
Batman: The Chalice
Bruce Wayne inherits the Holy Grail from one of his ancestors because the Wayne family is now descended from one of Knights of the Round Table. So dumb. Of course, even though it's stayed hidden for 2,000 years, everyone knows he has it. Enter Ra's al Ghul, Catwoman, Penguin, and the Merovingians, who from lore are descended from Christ to all try and take it. There's an abrupt rushed ending as Dixon runs out of pages.
Batman: The Ankh
An immortal Egyptian woman comes to Gotham and stirs up trouble. It's an OK read.
John Van Fleet seems to only paint with black. The art is so dark and blocky, I couldn't tell what was happening at times. The art is very static, almost posed. Other reviews suggest he is painting over photographs which I could see being the case.
Batman: The Chalice
Bruce Wayne inherits the Holy Grail from one of his ancestors because the Wayne family is now descended from one of Knights of the Round Table. So dumb. Of course, even though it's stayed hidden for 2,000 years, everyone knows he has it. Enter Ra's al Ghul, Catwoman, Penguin, and the Merovingians, who from lore are descended from Christ to all try and take it. There's an abrupt rushed ending as Dixon runs out of pages.
Batman: The Ankh
An immortal Egyptian woman comes to Gotham and stirs up trouble. It's an OK read.
John Van Fleet seems to only paint with black. The art is so dark and blocky, I couldn't tell what was happening at times. The art is very static, almost posed. Other reviews suggest he is painting over photographs which I could see being the case.
September 14, 2021
Batman gets the holy grail or rather is supposed to guard it and he does and faces off against many villains like Two face and there is a big story about the legend of it and he has to face off against Ra's Al Ghul and also Talia is there and we learn of other parties looking for it and then it ends in a weird manner and stuff happens like Catwoman and Alfred team up and nothing more? Its honestly a weird story with great plot but no coherent story and such an abrupt ending.
Then the second story is about this woman Khatera whose immortal and her story is like 30 pages long which seems so much of exposition and her becoming immortal, coming to Gotham and facing off against Batman after she abducts Tim and well hires Croc as her own guard and does more things. And well the weirdest and such a boring ending and no proper face off.
This was like one of the worst Batman stories I have read and it has cool ideas but the face off with villains and the actual story itself is horrible with no plot and well the worst art. Like the art is so bad and will make you puke sometimes and no inking and the colors are jaded and have no life plus the lack lustre story doesn't help. Skip this. Ugh its worse than bad, its boring.
Then the second story is about this woman Khatera whose immortal and her story is like 30 pages long which seems so much of exposition and her becoming immortal, coming to Gotham and facing off against Batman after she abducts Tim and well hires Croc as her own guard and does more things. And well the weirdest and such a boring ending and no proper face off.
This was like one of the worst Batman stories I have read and it has cool ideas but the face off with villains and the actual story itself is horrible with no plot and well the worst art. Like the art is so bad and will make you puke sometimes and no inking and the colors are jaded and have no life plus the lack lustre story doesn't help. Skip this. Ugh its worse than bad, its boring.
October 14, 2022
"The Chalice" is actually two stories. The first is "The Chalice" and the second is "The Ankh". Both are written by Chuck Dixon. The first story revolves around the Holy Grail. It is a story of how the protectors of the Grail get it into the hands of Batman and he has to protect it from Ra's Al-Ghul.
The second story revolves around an ancient Egyptian text and the immortal being looking for them.
Both stories are good, the second better than the first. But the art? Oh woe is me..it's not good. John Vanfleet's art is very hard to decipher. It lacks details and makes action scenes confusing. What a shame, since the stories were rather good, that the art is borderline atrocious.
Interesting story, bad art combine to make a 3 story volume.
The second story revolves around an ancient Egyptian text and the immortal being looking for them.
Both stories are good, the second better than the first. But the art? Oh woe is me..it's not good. John Vanfleet's art is very hard to decipher. It lacks details and makes action scenes confusing. What a shame, since the stories were rather good, that the art is borderline atrocious.
Interesting story, bad art combine to make a 3 story volume.
October 4, 2024
I actually enjoyed the second story collected here, The Ankh, more than the titular one. I just felt it was more focused and Khatera's story was more compelling whereas the Holy Grail story was just littered with cameos that gave the artists ample opportunity to display their versions of well-known Bat-characters but ultimately detracted from the story, I felt.
Definitely cooler than King Tut.
Definitely cooler than King Tut.
February 2, 2022
15% | E+ | Awful
"You butlers sure know how to party"
I saw the reviews. However, I saw the book in my library and thought 'how bad can it really be...' Sadly, really bad. The chalice story isn't terrible. The premise is actually quite good, but it severely lacks when it comes to execution with neither the art nor the writing impressing me. It's a story which could have been interesting had it been done right. Now, the second story is where the real issues arise for me. It's absolutely, mind-numbingly boring. There's a lot of backstory and exposition to set up a chatacter called Khatera who, despite the billion pages of 'character development' she gets, remains uninteresting. The same art style is carried over and it's just one massive misfire. From the bottom of my heart, don't read this one.
"You butlers sure know how to party"
The titular story sees Bruce being given a chalice / Holy Grail which holds divine powers. Naturally, there are a whole host of people after it, and it's up to Batman to keep it safe
I saw the reviews. However, I saw the book in my library and thought 'how bad can it really be...' Sadly, really bad. The chalice story isn't terrible. The premise is actually quite good, but it severely lacks when it comes to execution with neither the art nor the writing impressing me. It's a story which could have been interesting had it been done right. Now, the second story is where the real issues arise for me. It's absolutely, mind-numbingly boring. There's a lot of backstory and exposition to set up a chatacter called Khatera who, despite the billion pages of 'character development' she gets, remains uninteresting. The same art style is carried over and it's just one massive misfire. From the bottom of my heart, don't read this one.
April 22, 2022
Contains two books, two unrelated stories, with words and art by the same team.
I'll start with what I liked -- the art. It's pretty good! The style is different from the norm, and interesting. There's a blocky character to the figures, almost like stained glass. The backgrounds lean impressionistic, definitely moody, with a steampunk vibe. The color palette is dark, leaning into grime, mud, illness, and it suits the books, although it's too dark and muddy sometimes. Some backgrounds seem like processed photos, or photos that are sketched and inked over -- that part I like less. And the artist chose to include blur in some parts to indicate motion or depth of field. That didn't work for me at all, it was very out-of-phase with the rest of the art. And in the second story, I didn't like the design for Killer Croc. The head looks more like a type of troll, and not very menacing. (Although, I don't really like the character anyway, so...)
The writing was not for me. Ok, more directly -- it was bad. The first story, "The Chalice", was muddled and confusing. And there were some scenes that I decidedly disliked. In particular the scene where Bruce Wayne pours a liquid into the supposed 'holy grail' then from there onto a bullet wound in his leg whereupon he declares that he is fully healed. Alfred says there's no longer any sign of the bullet! And Bruce proclaims, "the cup is genuine". Ughhhh. Lame.
The second story, "The Ankh", had this awful sentence near the beginning: "[The Pharoh] asked of his servant a great boon. He begged and pleaded for his vizier to open the gate betwixt life and death." Bleh! But, in fairness, the writing improved after that. The story was more interesting, and the dialog improved. I appreciated this self-aware line from Batman, observing some approaching mummy baddies: "Another theme criminal committing pattern crimes."
If not for the art this would have been a 1-star did-not-finish.
I'll start with what I liked -- the art. It's pretty good! The style is different from the norm, and interesting. There's a blocky character to the figures, almost like stained glass. The backgrounds lean impressionistic, definitely moody, with a steampunk vibe. The color palette is dark, leaning into grime, mud, illness, and it suits the books, although it's too dark and muddy sometimes. Some backgrounds seem like processed photos, or photos that are sketched and inked over -- that part I like less. And the artist chose to include blur in some parts to indicate motion or depth of field. That didn't work for me at all, it was very out-of-phase with the rest of the art. And in the second story, I didn't like the design for Killer Croc. The head looks more like a type of troll, and not very menacing. (Although, I don't really like the character anyway, so...)
The writing was not for me. Ok, more directly -- it was bad. The first story, "The Chalice", was muddled and confusing. And there were some scenes that I decidedly disliked. In particular the scene where Bruce Wayne pours a liquid into the supposed 'holy grail' then from there onto a bullet wound in his leg whereupon he declares that he is fully healed. Alfred says there's no longer any sign of the bullet! And Bruce proclaims, "the cup is genuine". Ughhhh. Lame.
The second story, "The Ankh", had this awful sentence near the beginning: "[The Pharoh] asked of his servant a great boon. He begged and pleaded for his vizier to open the gate betwixt life and death." Bleh! But, in fairness, the writing improved after that. The story was more interesting, and the dialog improved. I appreciated this self-aware line from Batman, observing some approaching mummy baddies: "Another theme criminal committing pattern crimes."
If not for the art this would have been a 1-star did-not-finish.
January 12, 2025
More like a solid 2.5, but I don't feel too bad rounding it up, as it was not bad for a past-time. I am very familiar with John van Fleet's work, especially in the Vampire: the Masquerade covers, and it has to be said, he is not the best choice for doing comics, at least with too much action and physicality. Still, the art is rich and with a lot of character, giving you the artist's feel for Gotham.
As for the stories (it includes two, "The Chalice" and "The Ankh"), it seems most people like the first one best, but to me, it is merely a McGuffin quest. There's all these people running around, vying for the Chalice (the Holy Grail), Batman being challenged by facing clear-cut evidence of the supernatural, but in the end, it doesn't matter, as the most notable villain (Ra's al Ghul) wants it for a moot purpose that is negated as soon as anyone bothers to talk to one another, and obviously, the only safe place for the Chalice is Superman's Fortress of Solitude. Zero-sum plot, not to mention, I find the idea that Batman struggles with the existence of the supernatural absolutely ludicrous since the '80s. Still, the scenes with Catwoman and Alfred were fun.
Now, the second story is more interesting and more suited to van Fleet's style, as half of it is an archaeological mystery in the vein of movies like Indiana Jones and The Mummy. There is nothing too surprising about the story, although there is at least one notable twist and a well-written premise, with an ending that seems inspired by such books as inspired League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
As for the stories (it includes two, "The Chalice" and "The Ankh"), it seems most people like the first one best, but to me, it is merely a McGuffin quest. There's all these people running around, vying for the Chalice (the Holy Grail), Batman being challenged by facing clear-cut evidence of the supernatural, but in the end, it doesn't matter, as the most notable villain (Ra's al Ghul) wants it for a moot purpose that is negated as soon as anyone bothers to talk to one another, and obviously, the only safe place for the Chalice is Superman's Fortress of Solitude. Zero-sum plot, not to mention, I find the idea that Batman struggles with the existence of the supernatural absolutely ludicrous since the '80s. Still, the scenes with Catwoman and Alfred were fun.
Now, the second story is more interesting and more suited to van Fleet's style, as half of it is an archaeological mystery in the vein of movies like Indiana Jones and The Mummy. There is nothing too surprising about the story, although there is at least one notable twist and a well-written premise, with an ending that seems inspired by such books as inspired League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
September 7, 2023
This book contains two stories: "The Chalice" and "The Ankh." I liked it (admittedly I liked "The Chalice" better though). I don't know why a lot of reviews are saying it's not good. Could it have been better? Probably. Could it be worse? Yes. I will say that the art style is...a choice. I've seen worse (*cough*Batman: Arkham Asylum - A Serious House on Serious Earth*cough*).
The Chalice
The Holy Grail (aka the cup Jesus Christ used at the Last Supper and Joseph of Arimathea used to catch Christ's blood at the crucifixion) was found by one of Bruce Wayne's ancestors, a Knight of the Holy Grail. It has been hidden away for centuries, but now Bruce has been tasked with protecting it. It seems everyone--Ras al Ghoul, Catwoman, the Penguin, and the Merovingians--is after it.
The Ankh
In Ancient Egypt, the daughter of the grand vizier becomes immortal. What does she have to do with missing billionaires and stolen artifacts?
The Chalice
The Holy Grail (aka the cup Jesus Christ used at the Last Supper and Joseph of Arimathea used to catch Christ's blood at the crucifixion) was found by one of Bruce Wayne's ancestors, a Knight of the Holy Grail. It has been hidden away for centuries, but now Bruce has been tasked with protecting it. It seems everyone--Ras al Ghoul, Catwoman, the Penguin, and the Merovingians--is after it.
The Ankh
In Ancient Egypt, the daughter of the grand vizier becomes immortal. What does she have to do with missing billionaires and stolen artifacts?
September 12, 2021
The first part (the Chalice proper) was very interesting in concept and could have been brilliant if it had been well thought, even as the art left a lot to be desired. The idiocy of Bruce Wayne being a descendent of sir Gawain was just as phony as it sounds.
The second part (the ankh) is a waste of space, with equally uninteresting art…
The second part (the ankh) is a waste of space, with equally uninteresting art…
January 5, 2022
The artwork is darkly beautiful but I was disappointed in the abrupt resolution to The Chalice, which was the primary interest in this volume. The Ankh is a more complete narrative and has a somewhat satisfying resolution. However, said resolution relies on a sudden change of heart that is a bit too convenient.
January 1, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up. A decent couple of Batman stories with distinct and macabre artwork that some people will no doubt love but which did little for me personally. Decent, yes, but joyless and ultimately forgettable.
January 20, 2022
I did not enjoy this. I felt that the writing was poor and the art was bad. It gave me mid 2000s DeviantArt vibes, max Payne comic panel feelings. I realize that making comics is hard but it feels like the artist just traced over cosplay photos. Not for me.
November 17, 2022
Van Fleet was the name that drew me, and his art is beautiful and even breath-taking at times. But imo a Batman comic, with plenty of action, does not play to his strengths. The plot is ok, but I really wanted to enjoy this book more.
April 19, 2023
3.5
Two rushed stories. The first one should be recommended reading for all those who keep comparing Batman and Superman, so that they can understand that there are some things even Bats cannot handle on his own. The second story was intriguing, but fizzled out towards the end.
Two rushed stories. The first one should be recommended reading for all those who keep comparing Batman and Superman, so that they can understand that there are some things even Bats cannot handle on his own. The second story was intriguing, but fizzled out towards the end.
June 17, 2021
Great storytelling!
August 6, 2021
A little dissapointing. All batman books are usually brilliant. This one is meh
June 4, 2024
Joyless, with wayward art style.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews