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Batman
Batman Absolution
Batman undergoes a mental and physical journey that has him questioning the principles upon which he has based his crime fighting career.
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2003
2 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
J.M. DeMatteis
1,908 books230 followersAlso Credited As:
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally
Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.
Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.
Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally
Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.
Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.
Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 2, 2017
A terrorist bombs one of Bruce Wayne’s buildings and goes on the run. Batman chases her for years, eventually catching up to her in India where she’s trying to make up for her crimes by helping poor people. Cliché? Yup. Garbage comic? You betcha!
Batman: Absolution asks “Can someone really change?” which might make for a good story but not in JM DeMatteis’ hands. What we get instead is plodding tedium where Batman is unconvincingly led by the nose around the world by a nobody who’s somehow always outsmarting him.
Rather than Batman’s usual colourful rogues, the villain this time is just a woman whose ordinariness is meant to emphasise the real-world seriousness of the story but all it does is make it that much more boring. She’s too uninteresting; so much so that even when she’s monologuing about her motivations, Batman’s internally thinking to himself, and I’m paraphrasing, “Can you believe this shit? She had a crappy childhood so innocent people had to die when she grew up? Fuck this loser!” - couldn’t agree more, Bats!
I’m amazed this flimsy, laughable, wannabe-philosophical/spiritual wankfest on the nature of guilt got made into a full-length book - it’d feel long as a short story/subplot in a larger story! Brian Ashmore’s painted art is skilful but it did nothing for me, especially as DeMatteis’ script took away any possible enjoyment from this reading experience. It’s easy to see why Absolution is out of print - this comic is beyond redemption!
Batman: Absolution asks “Can someone really change?” which might make for a good story but not in JM DeMatteis’ hands. What we get instead is plodding tedium where Batman is unconvincingly led by the nose around the world by a nobody who’s somehow always outsmarting him.
Rather than Batman’s usual colourful rogues, the villain this time is just a woman whose ordinariness is meant to emphasise the real-world seriousness of the story but all it does is make it that much more boring. She’s too uninteresting; so much so that even when she’s monologuing about her motivations, Batman’s internally thinking to himself, and I’m paraphrasing, “Can you believe this shit? She had a crappy childhood so innocent people had to die when she grew up? Fuck this loser!” - couldn’t agree more, Bats!
I’m amazed this flimsy, laughable, wannabe-philosophical/spiritual wankfest on the nature of guilt got made into a full-length book - it’d feel long as a short story/subplot in a larger story! Brian Ashmore’s painted art is skilful but it did nothing for me, especially as DeMatteis’ script took away any possible enjoyment from this reading experience. It’s easy to see why Absolution is out of print - this comic is beyond redemption!
January 26, 2021
Well this was a hidden gem. I ran across this at the comic book store and picked it up due to the cover. Glancing through the volume, I was impressed by the quality of the art and decided to buy it. I am glad I did.
DeMatteis pens a great Batman tale. First, let's talk the art- each panel is painted by Brian Ashmore. Thus the artwork gives the story an eerie feeling that sits well with the spiritual setting of India. Though, just a quick aside, not sure why the artist thought you could just drive up to the gates leading to the Taj Mahal. You can't. That's idiotic. The Taj is a mausoleum on beautifully designed gardens-it's an entire complex. There IS a gate, the Main Gate, that leads to a great view (there's also a Western and Eastern gate-though smaller) but you walk to the gate..since um the parking lots, streets, cars, you know modern things are far outside the gates. Duh. So no-you can't Uber right to the steps of the Taj-it's not the Ritz Carlton. Same way you can't drive up on the grounds of Versailles or Schönbrunn Palace.
Anyways..the art is really cool. The story? Surprisingly even better. It's a Batman as Detective story. I also liked the Batsuit style, reminded me of the 90's Batman animated Series Batsuit. So, a decade in the past a leftist terrorist named Jennifer Blake blew up one of Wayne's companies and killed some employees, then she fled. Batman has been tracking her down to bring her to justice (a big theme in this story-from Batman's point of view). Jennifer, however, has been on a journey to find absolution for her sins (the other big theme-but from Jennifer's point of view).
Therein is the tale. It is not terribly exciting, but if you like a deeper meaning behind your stories then you will appreciate the prose and the ideas driving this story. It is a look at Batman and his thinking. His views on justice, religion, God, and even absolution. I'd have to say, honestly, I'm with Batman's viewpoint.
Still it is a study in contrasts. Jennifer's path takes her to India where she seeks to find absolution, Batman's quest for justice and his inner demons have him follow. It is a very different tale. I enjoyed it. Combined with the painted art-this one is a really top notch volume. Well done DeMatteis. I think any Batman fan, who is interested in Bruce's own manias and outlooks, will really appreciate this story. Those you like art will also find much to like. However this is not an exciting tale, more of a story about what drives two different, but similar, people.
A different kind of story. Highly Recommended.
DeMatteis pens a great Batman tale. First, let's talk the art- each panel is painted by Brian Ashmore. Thus the artwork gives the story an eerie feeling that sits well with the spiritual setting of India. Though, just a quick aside, not sure why the artist thought you could just drive up to the gates leading to the Taj Mahal. You can't. That's idiotic. The Taj is a mausoleum on beautifully designed gardens-it's an entire complex. There IS a gate, the Main Gate, that leads to a great view (there's also a Western and Eastern gate-though smaller) but you walk to the gate..since um the parking lots, streets, cars, you know modern things are far outside the gates. Duh. So no-you can't Uber right to the steps of the Taj-it's not the Ritz Carlton. Same way you can't drive up on the grounds of Versailles or Schönbrunn Palace.
Anyways..the art is really cool. The story? Surprisingly even better. It's a Batman as Detective story. I also liked the Batsuit style, reminded me of the 90's Batman animated Series Batsuit. So, a decade in the past a leftist terrorist named Jennifer Blake blew up one of Wayne's companies and killed some employees, then she fled. Batman has been tracking her down to bring her to justice (a big theme in this story-from Batman's point of view). Jennifer, however, has been on a journey to find absolution for her sins (the other big theme-but from Jennifer's point of view).
Therein is the tale. It is not terribly exciting, but if you like a deeper meaning behind your stories then you will appreciate the prose and the ideas driving this story. It is a look at Batman and his thinking. His views on justice, religion, God, and even absolution. I'd have to say, honestly, I'm with Batman's viewpoint.
Still it is a study in contrasts. Jennifer's path takes her to India where she seeks to find absolution, Batman's quest for justice and his inner demons have him follow. It is a very different tale. I enjoyed it. Combined with the painted art-this one is a really top notch volume. Well done DeMatteis. I think any Batman fan, who is interested in Bruce's own manias and outlooks, will really appreciate this story. Those you like art will also find much to like. However this is not an exciting tale, more of a story about what drives two different, but similar, people.
A different kind of story. Highly Recommended.
December 24, 2014
*Sigh*, this Batman graphic novel started out with such high hopes for me, but ultimately fizzled... no, shall I say "crashed and burned" towards the end.
Let's just say some of the positives: I really liked the artwork in this graphic novel (for the most part) and I did enjoy a lot of Batman's introspective internal dialogue where he explores themes of justice, hiding behind a "mask" (who is doing so more, Batman or Bruce Wayne?) etc.
This graphic novel was obviously largely inspired by the events of 9/11/2001, and tries to make sense of the kind of mindset that would perpetrate such acts. And although the perpetrators of 9/11 were more of a conservative/reactionary mindset (with regards to their own culture, religion and worldview), the author of this Batman graphic novel chose to create a despicable left-wing leaning, "champion of the common people" Patty Hearst kind of character to be the main villain in this morality tale.
So after years of chasing this lefty terrorist who blew up part of Wayne Enterprises, Batman finally finds this woman living a life of charity in which she has renounced her past and has dedicated her life to the alleviating of suffering, and instead of capturing her, she captures him and rescues him back to health. When Batman regains his health captures her and is ready to turn her in to the criminal justice system, which she obliges if Batman will only listen to her story.
From there on she tells a sob story of a tragic life tale and how she has adjusted to what life has thrown at her, for better or for worse. At the end of every page Batman gives his commentary about people making excuses for their criminal acts, not taking full responsibility for their situations, "justifying" themselves with "Dickensian melodrama" and ultimately controlled by "narcissism", etc.
And while I agree (to a degree) with some of the sentiments expressed here, at this point the graphic novel begins to sound like a libertarian douche-bag expressing himself through the character of Batman. Now, I'm the type of reader that can appreciate some political commentary (even different from my own) creatively entered into a story, but this just felt outright preachy.
Afterwords, the story devolves into silly violence much like a Hollywood film. Lots of explosions and Batman's personal reckonings and so forth, lots of melodrama. What started out with something that could have been great ends with a whimper, and just another Batman story to add to the PASS shelf.
Let's just say some of the positives: I really liked the artwork in this graphic novel (for the most part) and I did enjoy a lot of Batman's introspective internal dialogue where he explores themes of justice, hiding behind a "mask" (who is doing so more, Batman or Bruce Wayne?) etc.
This graphic novel was obviously largely inspired by the events of 9/11/2001, and tries to make sense of the kind of mindset that would perpetrate such acts. And although the perpetrators of 9/11 were more of a conservative/reactionary mindset (with regards to their own culture, religion and worldview), the author of this Batman graphic novel chose to create a despicable left-wing leaning, "champion of the common people" Patty Hearst kind of character to be the main villain in this morality tale.
So after years of chasing this lefty terrorist who blew up part of Wayne Enterprises, Batman finally finds this woman living a life of charity in which she has renounced her past and has dedicated her life to the alleviating of suffering, and instead of capturing her, she captures him and rescues him back to health. When Batman regains his health captures her and is ready to turn her in to the criminal justice system, which she obliges if Batman will only listen to her story.
From there on she tells a sob story of a tragic life tale and how she has adjusted to what life has thrown at her, for better or for worse. At the end of every page Batman gives his commentary about people making excuses for their criminal acts, not taking full responsibility for their situations, "justifying" themselves with "Dickensian melodrama" and ultimately controlled by "narcissism", etc.
And while I agree (to a degree) with some of the sentiments expressed here, at this point the graphic novel begins to sound like a libertarian douche-bag expressing himself through the character of Batman. Now, I'm the type of reader that can appreciate some political commentary (even different from my own) creatively entered into a story, but this just felt outright preachy.
Afterwords, the story devolves into silly violence much like a Hollywood film. Lots of explosions and Batman's personal reckonings and so forth, lots of melodrama. What started out with something that could have been great ends with a whimper, and just another Batman story to add to the PASS shelf.
July 7, 2017
Most of J.M. DeMatteis I find cerebral, examining the psyche of characters, which I really appreciate in comics. In this story, he looks at absolution, whether a criminal can achieve it and more importantly, can Batman, a warrior of justice, allow it? This is an excellent example of Batman's determination and detective skills. The painted art is nice, looks very much like Alex Ross' work although a little rougher around the edges.
May 20, 2022
Well written psychologically speaking delving well into the motivations akin to hell.
November 26, 2012
In this intricately painted tale, Batman undergoes a mental and physical journey that has him questioning the principles upon which he has based his crime-fighting career. Ten years after a deadly attack on Wayne Enterprises, Batman has tracked down to India the terrorist behind the assault. Enduring a mentally vigorous quest, Batman attempts to bring the murderer to justice as he travels across the ancient land from the Taj Mahal to a forgotten sacred temple. But when the Dark Knight finally captures his prey, he finds himself at a cross roads of his own making, forced to reevaluate his concepts of retribution and absolution.
The face you saw... that's the mask! Tell the world who I am... I don't care! It will just free me -- to be who I truly am."
A terrorist bombing kills a number of workers at Wayne Enterprises. The domestic terrorist, Jennifer Blake, flees the country and over the next decade, Batman hunts for her. For 10 years he searches, coming close, but finding Blake more elusive than any other criminal he's ever chased. This isn't a story about Batman versus a random bad guy. Absolution is about masks. The one Batman wears and the one Blake hides behind.
DeMatteis dares to make the Batman unlikable. He gets you to side with the villain, who's responsible for the deaths of at least a dozen people. By the end of Absolution, we see how Batman's obsession for justice/vengeance can cloud his judgment. The mask he wears sometimes obscures his vision. Sometimes, Batman is wrong.
The face you saw... that's the mask! Tell the world who I am... I don't care! It will just free me -- to be who I truly am."
A terrorist bombing kills a number of workers at Wayne Enterprises. The domestic terrorist, Jennifer Blake, flees the country and over the next decade, Batman hunts for her. For 10 years he searches, coming close, but finding Blake more elusive than any other criminal he's ever chased. This isn't a story about Batman versus a random bad guy. Absolution is about masks. The one Batman wears and the one Blake hides behind.
DeMatteis dares to make the Batman unlikable. He gets you to side with the villain, who's responsible for the deaths of at least a dozen people. By the end of Absolution, we see how Batman's obsession for justice/vengeance can cloud his judgment. The mask he wears sometimes obscures his vision. Sometimes, Batman is wrong.
February 23, 2014
Batman: Absolution treats readers to a vengeful Dark Knight on the trail of an elusive terrorist across the globe. A decade ago, Wayne Enterprises became the latest corporation to be hit by a terror cell called the Children of Maya. Tracking down their current leader, Jennifer Blake, Batman fails to apprehend her due to preventing a greater loss of life at her hands. Since then, a game of cat-and-mouse has erupted between Blake and Batman, whereby the guerrilla tactics of the former has allowed her to continually escape capture. Finally tracing her whereabouts to a holy site in India, the Dark Knight is faced with a woman who seems to be atoning for her past crimes through healing. AS the true backers of the Children of Maya come to light, Batman must determine whether his thirst for vengeance overrides his sense of justice and forgiveness. J.M. DeMatteis has a real gem of an idea - can Batman ever look past his own thirst for his mission? The arena of this tale fails to fully deliver the weight of this premise by turning Jennifer Blake into a Carmen Sandiego-esque character. Her ability to always slip Batman's grasp becomes an event worthy of the Looney Tunes Roadrunner, while both the global search and decade-long long hunt feel hard to swallow. The painterly art from Brian Ashmore feels like a pale imitation of Alex Ross, lacking the finesse and color palette of the master. It does not help that the tiny font size makes the curvy text hard to read. Absolution has a fantastic germ of a plot, but too many literary sins to allow it to be forgiven.
June 30, 2024
(19 April, 2023)
Some human trash kills a few hundred people and then looks for redemption? Are you fucking kidding me?
After her mother dies, Jennifer Blake is left with a horrible aunt and uncle, one beats her, the other molests her. Then, she takes the coward's way out when explaining her actions. She holds them responsible for her actions. If this reasoning holds (it doesn't), than she should realise they are not responsible for their actions - it's their own parents fault, they're to blame! It's an infinite regress after that, the logic of this conclusion is inescapable. But maybe the blame should be on the first Homo Erectus? Or the first RNA based lifeform? Gimme a break!
Jen is a good antagonist as we are supposed to empathise with her on some level, something Batman never does though. The ambiguity of her change of heart gives this story some mystery. Batman has too many reasons for thinking it's all a sham. Ironically, DeMatteis makes her much more than a comic book villain. She could have been more cerebral but 'Absolution' is very well written nonetheless.
Batman's thoughts at the end are wonderful, they're reasonable, logical and rational.
Some human trash kills a few hundred people and then looks for redemption? Are you fucking kidding me?
After her mother dies, Jennifer Blake is left with a horrible aunt and uncle, one beats her, the other molests her. Then, she takes the coward's way out when explaining her actions. She holds them responsible for her actions. If this reasoning holds (it doesn't), than she should realise they are not responsible for their actions - it's their own parents fault, they're to blame! It's an infinite regress after that, the logic of this conclusion is inescapable. But maybe the blame should be on the first Homo Erectus? Or the first RNA based lifeform? Gimme a break!
Jen is a good antagonist as we are supposed to empathise with her on some level, something Batman never does though. The ambiguity of her change of heart gives this story some mystery. Batman has too many reasons for thinking it's all a sham. Ironically, DeMatteis makes her much more than a comic book villain. She could have been more cerebral but 'Absolution' is very well written nonetheless.
Batman's thoughts at the end are wonderful, they're reasonable, logical and rational.
October 27, 2014
Batman Absolution
I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, I just really didn't care for it. It didn't feel like Batman a lot of times. The art was beautiful. I didn't like the lettering. It was kind of hard to read at times. There were just a lot of things off in this book.
I don't recommend it, there are enough other Batman stories for people to read.
I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, I just really didn't care for it. It didn't feel like Batman a lot of times. The art was beautiful. I didn't like the lettering. It was kind of hard to read at times. There were just a lot of things off in this book.
I don't recommend it, there are enough other Batman stories for people to read.
March 2, 2018
J. M. De Matteis é um autor veterano dos quadrinhos, que já passou por diversas editoras americanas tanto mainstream quanto independentes. Do início do século XXI para cá, ele tem insistido em temas religiosos na maioria da sua história. Isso, claro, não é diferente em Batman: Absolvição, em que colabora com o artista Brian Ashmore. Absolvição revolve sobre fuga, culpa, paranoia, máscaras, redenção e o questionamento de que será que "bandido bom é bandido morto"? Batman está a procura de John Small e Jennifer Blacke, dois criminosos que promoveram um genocídio em Gotham City. Ele persegue os dois por anos, enquanto não tem notícias de John, sempre encontra Jennifer fugindo em busca de absolvição por seus crimes. Mas ele nunca acredita nela. Batman reflete: "Nenhum milagre. Nenhuma piedade. Nenhuma redenção. Nenhum céu. Nenhum inferno. Nenhum poder superior. Apenas vida. Apenas... nós". Batman não acredita que bandidos possam se regenerar. Mas mesmo assim não os mata. Será que existe nele alguma esperança de redenção, senão para os bandidos, para si mesmo? Ele questiona: "Quando foi que me torneia a própria ilusão?", quando afirma que Batman é sua verdadeira face e Bruce Wayne uma máscara? Bruce é quase convencido da inocência de Blake, ao ver que ela havia se tornado uma irmã hinduísta, mas sempre duvidando de suas boas ações. Mas um ataque do seu ex-parceiro John Small, o leva para outro caminho e todo santuário pega fogo. Batman e Jennifer Blake tentam salvar as irmãs e as crianças, mas o fogo os separa, Blake acaba salvando uma criança deixando Batman na dúvida se ela realmente se regenerou. Imagino que a mensagem que a história quer passar seja a de que não existe bandido bom ou bandido mal, mas a forma como a gente encara eles. Não existe absolvição ou redenção, a não ser que a gente se permita ser perdoado e redimido, bem como perdoar e redimir os outros. Isso não é uma questão apenas de religião, mas de moral e ética e, claro de empatia e de humanidade. Algo que, a meu ver, falta no Batman.
March 5, 2024
I started out reading this comic honestly and earnestly. There was a flood of “don’t” hitting my head after the very first page. The zoom in on the eyes. I’m sure it was meant to be serious, yet it turned out so very comical. As did the following explosion not even a page later. It’s like- I don’t – Bleehhhh.
I’d like to read Kingdom Come once more. The still-life paintings were gorgeous to me, it was something different and new. Seeing the same style here in Batman Absolution I’m curious if I’d feel the same way. It simply does not translate. It’s even stiffer than Vader in his Star Wars comics. It’s bad. It’s real bad. That’s apparent from page 2, 3 and on.
Is the artistry that bad? No. It just doesn’t work in a comic, specifically this Batman comic.
And I agree with what I see a lot of others have noted. The story just doesn’t work for the message. The message fights the story. It’s like author forgot he was writing a comic. And that is not to say that this could not work. The delivery, execution…Hell, everything needs a facelift!
All of this is completely evident when the medium is defeated, and we are given loads of text with the art as a background. That’s what this whole comic plays out like. A teleprompter with some cool Myspace backgrounds.
I’d like to read Kingdom Come once more. The still-life paintings were gorgeous to me, it was something different and new. Seeing the same style here in Batman Absolution I’m curious if I’d feel the same way. It simply does not translate. It’s even stiffer than Vader in his Star Wars comics. It’s bad. It’s real bad. That’s apparent from page 2, 3 and on.
Is the artistry that bad? No. It just doesn’t work in a comic, specifically this Batman comic.
And I agree with what I see a lot of others have noted. The story just doesn’t work for the message. The message fights the story. It’s like author forgot he was writing a comic. And that is not to say that this could not work. The delivery, execution…Hell, everything needs a facelift!
All of this is completely evident when the medium is defeated, and we are given loads of text with the art as a background. That’s what this whole comic plays out like. A teleprompter with some cool Myspace backgrounds.
July 16, 2024
Прочитав графічний роман "Batman Absolution" від сценариста Джей. М. ДеМатеїса та художника Браяна Ашмора, який вийшов у 2003 році.
Сюжет крутиться навколо того як Бетмен шукає терористку, яка десять років тому здійснила теракт у Ґотемі в результаті якого загинули працівники Вейн Індастріз.
Головною темою історії є те чи може людина з часом змінитися на краще і чи варто її карати за минулі гріхи. І от тут, як на мене ДеМатеїс втратив можливість зробити щось дуже оригінальне. Суть у тому, що протягом усього коміксу Бетмен твердо налаштований заарештувати Дженіфер Блейк і коли її знаходить просто не вірить в те, що вона могла якось змінитися. Моїм найулюбленішим моментом тут як раз таки є сцена коли Дженіфер розповідає йому історію свого життя, а він подумки розносить її холодними фактами. Як на мене, ДеМатеїс міг реально зробити так що Дженіфер справді виявилася поганицею яка ніяк не змінилася або так щоб Бетмен у кінці все одно заарештував її. Натомість ми отримуємо досить прямолінійну історію з неочікуваним поворотом у вигляді справжнього лідера організації з яким колись співпрацювала Блейк. Взагалі, початково я хотів розкритикувати сцени у першій половині історії в яких Брюс зіштовхується з найманцями організації, оскільки, як на мене, вони були не дуже потрібними й затягували оповідь, але враховуючи твіст то плюс мінус зрозуміло чому вони тут, нехай я все ще не у захваті від них.
Однак, що для мене стало справжнім відкриттям у цій серії так це малюнок Браяна Ешмора. Мені дуже сподобався його стиль й загалом як мінімум заради нього впринципі можу порадити ознайомитися з цим коміксом.
Сюжет крутиться навколо того як Бетмен шукає терористку, яка десять років тому здійснила теракт у Ґотемі в результаті якого загинули працівники Вейн Індастріз.
Головною темою історії є те чи може людина з часом змінитися на краще і чи варто її карати за минулі гріхи. І от тут, як на мене ДеМатеїс втратив можливість зробити щось дуже оригінальне. Суть у тому, що протягом усього коміксу Бетмен твердо налаштований заарештувати Дженіфер Блейк і коли її знаходить просто не вірить в те, що вона могла якось змінитися. Моїм найулюбленішим моментом тут як раз таки є сцена коли Дженіфер розповідає йому історію свого життя, а він подумки розносить її холодними фактами. Як на мене, ДеМатеїс міг реально зробити так що Дженіфер справді виявилася поганицею яка ніяк не змінилася або так щоб Бетмен у кінці все одно заарештував її. Натомість ми отримуємо досить прямолінійну історію з неочікуваним поворотом у вигляді справжнього лідера організації з яким колись співпрацювала Блейк. Взагалі, початково я хотів розкритикувати сцени у першій половині історії в яких Брюс зіштовхується з найманцями організації, оскільки, як на мене, вони були не дуже потрібними й затягували оповідь, але враховуючи твіст то плюс мінус зрозуміло чому вони тут, нехай я все ще не у захваті від них.
Однак, що для мене стало справжнім відкриттям у цій серії так це малюнок Браяна Ешмора. Мені дуже сподобався його стиль й загалом як мінімум заради нього впринципі можу порадити ознайомитися з цим коміксом.
August 19, 2017
The artwork here is definitely the best part. I will say the style of art isn't my favorite for a comic but it is beautiful and I found it a nice change. The story itself is often more preachy than profound. I also had a hard time believing that the villain of the piece was able to outsmart Batman for so long. There are so many amazing Batman stories out there so it makes it easy to add this one to your skip pile.
January 2, 2019
A stand alone gem of a character study steeped in philosophic questions.
October 9, 2019
Nice artwork, but not much substance to this one. Seen it all before...
January 14, 2025
Incredible, fun artwork but not a great read at all.
July 24, 2014
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
I've never been steeped in the Batman mythology and universe - I was just looking for an interesting afternoon read when I picked this up. It was a quick read - taking around an hour to get from one end of the book to the other.
The plot device of searching for a killer was all a maguffin to explore existential/religious implications of modern society. Much of the story is a series of stream of conscious thought balloons that honestly we've seen before (e.g., Batman pondering Bruce Wayne and saying that Bruce is the masked character and the Batman is his true self, etc.).
This is the third Batman in the last month that I've picked up and has been over the top pretentious about philosophy. I admit I'm not really interested in Batman's musings on the Catholic church, budhism, etc. It introduces an ambivalence and grounds a fantastical character into a grim (yet unbelievable) reality.
The modern Dark Knight Batman aimed for adults can really be done well (The Miller books, for example, brought a brittle humanity to the characters that hasn't been matched). Or it can be done as this book and feel both unbelievable/illogical yet too grounded in reality.
The artwork is fine - thought the Batman is the old grey tights type. I wonder if putting a more modern spin on the art of the Batman character himself might have been more appropriate.
April 30, 2013
As a newbie to the Batman comic mythos, I was not the hugest fan of this volume. The art was incredible but the story didn't grab me as much as I would have liked.
Even though I appreciated the philosophical tone, Batman came across as cheesily preachy, even verbose at times (which I would never have expected from a graphic novel)
But, BATMAN.
Even though I appreciated the philosophical tone, Batman came across as cheesily preachy, even verbose at times (which I would never have expected from a graphic novel)
But, BATMAN.
August 20, 2009
Batman is always more enjoyable when he is a dark character, and in this story, he definitely is.
April 25, 2012
The artwork excels far and beyond the story...
August 15, 2012
The artwork is well done but the story digs far too deep into religion. It's incredibly boring and lacking in action.
October 29, 2012
Not a bad read. Redemption always has a price. What I didn't like was the script attempt of writing.
September 2, 2014
The artwork is good, but I find it very hard to believe that Batman was unable to find Jennifer Blake in the ten years during which he had supposedly been searching for her.
September 29, 2014
I swear to god if I have to read one more variation on the tired old:
There's no justice,
there's just us.
One more time? I will push a cliche off a cliff.
There's no justice,
there's just us.
One more time? I will push a cliche off a cliff.
August 6, 2013
Incredible artwork, extremely lacking and detrimental storyline
February 9, 2018
The artwork is excellent. The story is okay.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews