What do you think?
Rate this book
Batman by James Tynion IV
Batman, Vol. 3: Ghost Stories
A new day dawns in Gotham, and the horrors of "The Joker War" are just being realized.
A bold new direction for Batman begins as Bruce Wayne's circumstances are forever changed. How did The Joker's rampage affect the citizens of the city?
Bruce Wayne and the city he loves have changed dramatically following the events of "The Joker War," but Batman and his mission are eternal. The mysterious vigilante known as Ghost-Maker has known Bruce since they were teenagers, and he's made his decision. It's time Gotham City had a new hero.
Batman and Ghost-Maker go toe-to-toe to decide which of them will remain Gotham City's hero. Yet the city is changing faster than ever after "The Joker War," and with this change comes increasing dangers.
Also, in honor of Batman's first appearance in Detective Comics #27, this collection features the biggest names in comics as they chronicle the most epic Batman adventures Gotham City and the DC Universe have ever seen!
Collects Batman #101-105, a story from Detective Comics #1027, and Batman Annual #5.
A bold new direction for Batman begins as Bruce Wayne's circumstances are forever changed. How did The Joker's rampage affect the citizens of the city?
Bruce Wayne and the city he loves have changed dramatically following the events of "The Joker War," but Batman and his mission are eternal. The mysterious vigilante known as Ghost-Maker has known Bruce since they were teenagers, and he's made his decision. It's time Gotham City had a new hero.
Batman and Ghost-Maker go toe-to-toe to decide which of them will remain Gotham City's hero. Yet the city is changing faster than ever after "The Joker War," and with this change comes increasing dangers.
Also, in honor of Batman's first appearance in Detective Comics #27, this collection features the biggest names in comics as they chronicle the most epic Batman adventures Gotham City and the DC Universe have ever seen!
Collects Batman #101-105, a story from Detective Comics #1027, and Batman Annual #5.
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2021
106 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
James Tynion IV
1,643 books1,988 followersPrior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
August 1, 2021
Hmmm.
No.
The writing itself isn't bad, but I thought the story was wonky as hell.
Spoilers Below.
So the gist is that there's a new bad guy. And I'm totally on board with that because it's high time to give Joker a break. I'm here for this, my friend. Bring on someone new!
The villain is a psycho calling himself Ghost Maker because he has this ghost tech and likes to kill the fuck out of people with it.
He's innnnnnnvisible!
He and Bruce trained together when they were younger but Ghostfucker feels like emotions get in the way of being the bestest crime-stopper ever. <--which is his goal for no discernible reason whatsoever.
He hates that Bruce cares, is determined to teach him that his way is better, and proceeds to stab his way through Gotham. He targets that Clownhunter kid, who is now targeting Harley, and tries to get him to chop her head off while she and Batman are tied up in an elaborate Doctor Evilesque trap.
Why? So Ghostbuster can then pop out of the wall and kill Clownhunter in front of a shirtless Batman - this will break him of his delusions that people can change for the better.
???
EXCEPT instead of Clownkid killing her, they have this being hug-fest where they all cry and talk about their feelings. So. Yeah, it didn't work out like he hoped.
In a stunning turn of events (she said sarcastically), Batman breaks up with Catwoman to protect her from his enemies. Because of course he does.
I say break up, but not really. They do that thing where she says she'll give him a year to get his shit together, and then they'll regroup and decide how to move forward.
As in, she will be expecting an ethically sourced diamond on her finger in 365 days, and after a little goodbye hanky-panky, they're both on the road to solo adventures.
Oh goodie. The Bat/Cat relationship was the only thing making this run palatable, so let's just toss that out. Fan-fucking-tastic.
Oh, hang on. I forgot Batman is poor now. Yeah. Lucius has all of his money due to the shit that happened in the Joker War and he's got to hang onto it for safekeeping. <--there are reasons for this, but they're boring.
Bottom line? Batman is going to have to sew his own buttons on the Batsuit and learn how to change the oil in the Batmobile.
Don't worry, I'm sure Great Value Batman will taste just as good as Billionaire Batman.
Let the Bathobo adventures begin!
And what happens with Bat's new villain, Ghostwanker?
They hug it out over a cup of cocoa and braid each other's hair. And now Ghostfart is Batman's new sidekick!
If this sounds like the story you were hoping for, then volume 3 of Batman is the comic for you!
No.
The writing itself isn't bad, but I thought the story was wonky as hell.
Spoilers Below.
So the gist is that there's a new bad guy. And I'm totally on board with that because it's high time to give Joker a break. I'm here for this, my friend. Bring on someone new!
The villain is a psycho calling himself Ghost Maker because he has this ghost tech and likes to kill the fuck out of people with it.
He's innnnnnnvisible!
He and Bruce trained together when they were younger but Ghostfucker feels like emotions get in the way of being the bestest crime-stopper ever. <--which is his goal for no discernible reason whatsoever.
He hates that Bruce cares, is determined to teach him that his way is better, and proceeds to stab his way through Gotham. He targets that Clownhunter kid, who is now targeting Harley, and tries to get him to chop her head off while she and Batman are tied up in an elaborate Doctor Evilesque trap.
Why? So Ghostbuster can then pop out of the wall and kill Clownhunter in front of a shirtless Batman - this will break him of his delusions that people can change for the better.
???
EXCEPT instead of Clownkid killing her, they have this being hug-fest where they all cry and talk about their feelings. So. Yeah, it didn't work out like he hoped.
In a stunning turn of events (she said sarcastically), Batman breaks up with Catwoman to protect her from his enemies. Because of course he does.
I say break up, but not really. They do that thing where she says she'll give him a year to get his shit together, and then they'll regroup and decide how to move forward.
As in, she will be expecting an ethically sourced diamond on her finger in 365 days, and after a little goodbye hanky-panky, they're both on the road to solo adventures.
Oh goodie. The Bat/Cat relationship was the only thing making this run palatable, so let's just toss that out. Fan-fucking-tastic.
Oh, hang on. I forgot Batman is poor now. Yeah. Lucius has all of his money due to the shit that happened in the Joker War and he's got to hang onto it for safekeeping. <--there are reasons for this, but they're boring.
Bottom line? Batman is going to have to sew his own buttons on the Batsuit and learn how to change the oil in the Batmobile.
Don't worry, I'm sure Great Value Batman will taste just as good as Billionaire Batman.
Let the Bathobo adventures begin!
And what happens with Bat's new villain, Ghostwanker?
They hug it out over a cup of cocoa and braid each other's hair. And now Ghostfart is Batman's new sidekick!
If this sounds like the story you were hoping for, then volume 3 of Batman is the comic for you!
June 19, 2021
Batman almost goes down, but not on Catwoman.
January 24, 2022
A good transitional story. Great artwork and a good story but was a bit of over promise and under delivering. I wanted to give it 3.5 stars but it definitely deserves a round up instead of down.
The reason I think it under delivers is says it is the battle for the soul of Gotham but really it is still Batman making decisions about his new direction and circumstances as well as dealing with the fall out of the Joker War. An old friend/enemy has appeared to let Batman know his method is not working.
Though the book is action packed on of the things I hate is indecisive outcomes to the fights. Batman and Ghost Maker start a number of fights but we are never shown the winner. This is a personal annoyance to me.
The annual contains the origin of the Clownhunter and his new direction. Then the Dectective Comics #1027 contains an old ghost story guest staring Deadman. The cover gallery at the end contains the varient covers of the Batman # 101 - 105. This book is more picking the new direction with new players than the actual action stage.
The reason I think it under delivers is says it is the battle for the soul of Gotham but really it is still Batman making decisions about his new direction and circumstances as well as dealing with the fall out of the Joker War. An old friend/enemy has appeared to let Batman know his method is not working.
Though the book is action packed on of the things I hate is indecisive outcomes to the fights. Batman and Ghost Maker start a number of fights but we are never shown the winner. This is a personal annoyance to me.
The annual contains the origin of the Clownhunter and his new direction. Then the Dectective Comics #1027 contains an old ghost story guest staring Deadman. The cover gallery at the end contains the varient covers of the Batman # 101 - 105. This book is more picking the new direction with new players than the actual action stage.
July 1, 2021
Batman is in transition. He's lost most of his fortune. He can no longer afford to 3D print new Batmobiles each week. At the same time, along comes Ghost-Maker, a Batman without emotions. I liked the dynamic between the two. I also really liked how Tynion is treating Harley Quinn, bringing her in as a character trying to make amends. It's a good transition for her. The art in these issues are fine although there are a lot of artists in these 5 issues and they don't all mesh the best.
Clownhunter looks like he may be become Batman's next sidekick. His origins are revealed in the Annual. I hated James Stokoe's art in this. It made me feel like I was reading the Bat-Manga and way too cartoonish for a serious story.
A team-up with Deadman from Detective Comics #1027 is also included. Unfortunately, it was drawn by Riley Rossmo so it looks like a toddler drew it in crayon.
Clownhunter looks like he may be become Batman's next sidekick. His origins are revealed in the Annual. I hated James Stokoe's art in this. It made me feel like I was reading the Bat-Manga and way too cartoonish for a serious story.
A team-up with Deadman from Detective Comics #1027 is also included. Unfortunately, it was drawn by Riley Rossmo so it looks like a toddler drew it in crayon.
April 8, 2022
This was a fun read!
We have Batman fighting off against Ghost maker here and we get to see this foe's origin and I love the way he operates and challenges Batman and yep its another trops of friend from the past but oh well I liked how its used here to show the parallel to Batman and like his mission and well I love the way they sort of disagree on almost everything and then the big fight plus whatever Clownhunter is going through and him in the middle and then the part with Harley and how the heroic side of the character comes and then the face off and then a good twist in the end, I love hw it wraps up! The dynamic of the two is fun, the banter back and forth too, this felt like a good chill in the middle after Joker war and before Fear state!
There was a issue with Catwoman and that felt like continuity cleanser and I like it, the way it happens is great and then a story of Clownhunter and his origins and therapy with Leslie and you really feel for this character and I loved it! The art was gorgeous there and I am interested in seeing where the character goes from here. And finally a dead man story with batman which was meh.
So overall a good collection of stories and it feels like great things are coming ahead, Batman gains some new allies and the city presenting a big threat soon!
We have Batman fighting off against Ghost maker here and we get to see this foe's origin and I love the way he operates and challenges Batman and yep its another trops of friend from the past but oh well I liked how its used here to show the parallel to Batman and like his mission and well I love the way they sort of disagree on almost everything and then the big fight plus whatever Clownhunter is going through and him in the middle and then the part with Harley and how the heroic side of the character comes and then the face off and then a good twist in the end, I love hw it wraps up! The dynamic of the two is fun, the banter back and forth too, this felt like a good chill in the middle after Joker war and before Fear state!
There was a issue with Catwoman and that felt like continuity cleanser and I like it, the way it happens is great and then a story of Clownhunter and his origins and therapy with Leslie and you really feel for this character and I loved it! The art was gorgeous there and I am interested in seeing where the character goes from here. And finally a dead man story with batman which was meh.
So overall a good collection of stories and it feels like great things are coming ahead, Batman gains some new allies and the city presenting a big threat soon!
June 21, 2021
I really enjoyed Snyder/King's run on Batman. I feel they gave two very different Bruce's but also a great look at their overall viewpoint. They even introduced some cool villains to the mix. But I feel what James is doing is actually building up GOTHAM. Giving us the city itself almost as a character and letting new/old characters grow from it.
This time we get Ghost Maker. Yes, don't worry, everyone makes fun of the name including Bruce. But this guy is not to be fucked around. While the similar beat you've seen before, an old friend of Bruce comes back, it could have easily been played into the whole "revenge" or "I hate you" shit they always do. But instead this character gives a truly interesting look into the "hero" gig. Almost a Punisher like character tossed into Bruce's world, which makes for an interesting change.
I think this is actually the first time I've liked Bruce as a character as much as I do. Maybe because he basically has to start from scratch and fix issues in his own family/city that make it interesting for me. There's no "big" villain this arc. Just people, broken people, who need to learn to deal with their past and go in a new direction. I appreciate we didn't get a huge villain reveal this arc and especially changed the storyline of what I'm so used to in these big superhero books.
So yeah, safe to say I am really digging this run. Besides one or two nitpicks here (Didn't we just say in the last arc he would use help from his Batfamily? And then first few pages he tells catwoman he's doing this alone? What?) I really enjoyed it. Also the art is fantastic as always.
A 4 out of 5.
This time we get Ghost Maker. Yes, don't worry, everyone makes fun of the name including Bruce. But this guy is not to be fucked around. While the similar beat you've seen before, an old friend of Bruce comes back, it could have easily been played into the whole "revenge" or "I hate you" shit they always do. But instead this character gives a truly interesting look into the "hero" gig. Almost a Punisher like character tossed into Bruce's world, which makes for an interesting change.
I think this is actually the first time I've liked Bruce as a character as much as I do. Maybe because he basically has to start from scratch and fix issues in his own family/city that make it interesting for me. There's no "big" villain this arc. Just people, broken people, who need to learn to deal with their past and go in a new direction. I appreciate we didn't get a huge villain reveal this arc and especially changed the storyline of what I'm so used to in these big superhero books.
So yeah, safe to say I am really digging this run. Besides one or two nitpicks here (Didn't we just say in the last arc he would use help from his Batfamily? And then first few pages he tells catwoman he's doing this alone? What?) I really enjoyed it. Also the art is fantastic as always.
A 4 out of 5.
October 18, 2022
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Change is easy to imagine. Hard to bring about. Tragedy often begets change in hope of a better future but change requires more than just a thought. Without the proper means, the right convictions, or the necessary people, change is an uphill battle. For Batman, change has always been his driving force, something that he has always hoped to achieve for Gotham City, whether it's through Bruce Wayne and his enterprises’ projects or through Batman and his crime-fighting routine. Unfortunately, there is always a handful of individuals who continuously stand in his way. However, this time, he doesn’t have much of a choice if he’s to help the people of Gotham find the light at the end of this dark tunnel. The latest volume in the Batman comic book series collects Batman #101-105, a story from Detective Comics #1027, and Batman Annual #5.
What is Batman: Ghost Stories? Following the devastating Joker War, Bruce Wayne must adapt to change and find new ways to protect Gotham City from terror and madness. Without the same resources or the allies, as he once had, he must look elsewhere for means to overcome this latest challenge. Although he must now venture into uncharted territories, he and his mission are eternal. Meanwhile, Clownhunter is still running loose in the city looking for the two killers of his parents, especially Harley Quinn who inadvertently lend a hand in their fate. Additionally, a new threat known as Ghost-Maker surges from the shadows, greatly disappointed in Batman for failing his mission. This new face seeks to instore a new agenda for Gotham, one that will make him its hero, a hero that will do everything that Batman wouldn’t to get things done.
It’s difficult to blame them for giving us a story arc that serves as a transition right after the highly anticipated Joker War event. Luckily, this volume has a narrative thread that ties it all together cleanly. Unluckily, the story falls flat. What readers get is a sort of exhaustive introduction to Ghost-Maker. It explores his crime-fighting methodology, his understanding of crime and punishment, and his relationship to Batman. His arrival also ties in with the newly introduced kid Clownhunter who is now Ghost-Maker’s primary target. The Batman Annual issue also dives into Clownhunter’s origin story, exploring his conflicted emotional state following his encounter with Batman during the Joker War.
The overall story is an average action drama where the only mystery lies in Ghost-Maker’s history with Batman, which is quickly addressed anyway. While a lot of his character’s raison d’être remains vague, a new face is always welcome in Batman’s lore. The chain of events is also quite rushed, trying to tackle multiple character development arcs simultaneously, whether it’s Harley Quinn, Clownhunter, or Batman, giving them all had a moment to reflect on their behaviours and what they needed to change going forward. Where it truly hurt is in the finale where a supposedly epic battle is brought to an end in the most stupidly stupendous fashion. As if the dullness of the story wasn’t enough, that ending made sure to give this volume no chance of being anything more than a superficial and inconsequential introduction to new faces.
Nonetheless, Ghost-Maker’s character design is quite awesome; although he does remind me of a cross between Moon Knight and Deadpool. He’s mostly brilliantly drawn by Jorge Jiminez on the different cover art but the artists in this volume did a decent job in giving him a threatening, a bit questionable too, design. The overall artwork does suffer at times from being shared with several artists, some succeeding in capturing a vibrant and sinister Gotham City more than others. The same can’t be said about the Batman Annual issue drawn by James Stokoe, whose particular style wasn’t as adapted to the story as one could hope for. That being said, the artwork channels the same kind of energy as the story: mundane and forgettable.
Batman: Ghost Stories is an introduction to Ghost-Maker and Clownhunter in a forgettable story of change and reparation.
June 5, 2021
In a post-Joker War Gotham, Batman finds that he still has no end of problems. A new vigilante named Clownhunter is systematically murdering all of the Joker's associates, and he has his sights set on Harley Quinn! Then, a face from the past called the Ghost-Maker arrives and turns the town upside down once more. Plus, what about that pesky engagement to Catwoman?
Ghost Stories is a surprisingly great follow-up to the Joker War. The aftermath issue 101 sets up the new status quo for Bruce and Gotham really well, whilst also giving us a good reason as to why he and Selina are out of each other's orbits for a while.
Then Ghost Stories itself packs in a hell of a lot of story beats, before an ending that you think is going to zig, and then actually zags a complete 180 degrees on you. Ghost-Maker and Clownhunter may have some silly names, but they're great additions to the Bat-Canon. I also really appreciate what Tynion IV is trying to do with Harley Quinn; DC's direction for Harley lately has really been impressing me. The artwork's mostly shared between Guillem March and Carlo Pagulayan, so Batman remains one of DC's best looking books on the stands.
There's also an annual included here which expands on Clownhunter's origins. This is probably the weakest issue of the bunch, but it's still pretty good - James Stokoe's zany artwork doesn't always hit the mark for me, but it does work pretty well here.
If you thought Joker War was the end of what Tynion IV had in store for Bruce, Ghost Stories shows that he's really just getting started, and I can't wait to see what he's got in store.
Ghost Stories is a surprisingly great follow-up to the Joker War. The aftermath issue 101 sets up the new status quo for Bruce and Gotham really well, whilst also giving us a good reason as to why he and Selina are out of each other's orbits for a while.
Then Ghost Stories itself packs in a hell of a lot of story beats, before an ending that you think is going to zig, and then actually zags a complete 180 degrees on you. Ghost-Maker and Clownhunter may have some silly names, but they're great additions to the Bat-Canon. I also really appreciate what Tynion IV is trying to do with Harley Quinn; DC's direction for Harley lately has really been impressing me. The artwork's mostly shared between Guillem March and Carlo Pagulayan, so Batman remains one of DC's best looking books on the stands.
There's also an annual included here which expands on Clownhunter's origins. This is probably the weakest issue of the bunch, but it's still pretty good - James Stokoe's zany artwork doesn't always hit the mark for me, but it does work pretty well here.
If you thought Joker War was the end of what Tynion IV had in store for Bruce, Ghost Stories shows that he's really just getting started, and I can't wait to see what he's got in store.
March 25, 2021
So scoring this book one star is kind of unfair because Harley Quinn is a major character in it, and everything she does in the book feels like it was written by a different person who knows what they're doing. The rest of the book undoes a few minor interesting twists from the previous storyline, the really-named-by-an-adult Joker War, and then things go ᔕ𝄩ᗜጠᓬᗆ⤙ᔕ because there's a new villain from Batman's past, which is approximately the nineteenth "new villain from Batman's past" since Tynion took over on writing duties.
And like, I don't want to spoil anything for you, but the book ends with the new bad guy being like "TO THE DEATH" and Batman being like "Or...not?" and the villain going "Fiiiiine, LET'S GET SMOOTHIES" and you think I am kidding, but someday you'll be at your dumb friend's house and they'll have a copy of this book somewhere and you'll flip to the end and you'll be like "holy shit that dude on the internet was right about the smoothies."
Like okay, not literally smoothies?
But basically, smoothies.
And like, I don't want to spoil anything for you, but the book ends with the new bad guy being like "TO THE DEATH" and Batman being like "Or...not?" and the villain going "Fiiiiine, LET'S GET SMOOTHIES" and you think I am kidding, but someday you'll be at your dumb friend's house and they'll have a copy of this book somewhere and you'll flip to the end and you'll be like "holy shit that dude on the internet was right about the smoothies."
Like okay, not literally smoothies?
But basically, smoothies.
January 28, 2023
This was a letdown after Joker War. We still are dealing with some of the Joker War aftermath, specifically with Clownhunter and Harley Quinn. Then we meet Ghostmaker, a friend and rival from Batman's early days.
Not bad, just not up to the level of the previous volume.
Not bad, just not up to the level of the previous volume.
July 12, 2021
Batman’s shonen rival ghostmaker
June 21, 2021
Read as single issue.
While I like James Tynions work on Batman, this is where we part ways; "Future State" seems like a natural jumping off point. This is mostly a factor of the increasing price-points for floppy comics, coupled with back-up stories I have no interest in, though the complex continuity and increased focus on Batman titles in general are also a factor.
I'm now only reading "Nightwing", "Green Lantern" and "Catwoman" from DC. (Yes, Both "Nightwing" and "Catwoman" are in the Batman family, but are more self-contained and mostly divorced from the larger picture lately.)
As an aside, if you haven't yet, read "The Woods", "Wynd" and (of course) "Something is Killing the Children", all from Tynion. :)
While I like James Tynions work on Batman, this is where we part ways; "Future State" seems like a natural jumping off point. This is mostly a factor of the increasing price-points for floppy comics, coupled with back-up stories I have no interest in, though the complex continuity and increased focus on Batman titles in general are also a factor.
I'm now only reading "Nightwing", "Green Lantern" and "Catwoman" from DC. (Yes, Both "Nightwing" and "Catwoman" are in the Batman family, but are more self-contained and mostly divorced from the larger picture lately.)
As an aside, if you haven't yet, read "The Woods", "Wynd" and (of course) "Something is Killing the Children", all from Tynion. :)
July 1, 2021
Weird volume, not sure I care about Clownhunter or Ghostmaker at all. You can’t keep things full throttle all the time, but this was a big downshift and the first dry spell for Tynion since taking over for Tom King. I’ll be interested to see what comes of the next arc now that the creative team has had some time to get things up to speed, and since they are launching all new titles that coincide with the next books.
Also, I really dislike Stokoe’s art in the Annual. One of the other issues swapped artists for when Oracle talked to Grayson and I don’t think it really fits with the dark look the books before this had.
Also, I really dislike Stokoe’s art in the Annual. One of the other issues swapped artists for when Oracle talked to Grayson and I don’t think it really fits with the dark look the books before this had.
June 10, 2021
I am really digging Tynion's run on Batman, almost as much as I did his stint on Detective comics.
It has quality art and keeps surprising me with where it goes. It delivers on all the things you expect of Batman but does other things too. Like Ghost Maker didn't turn out nearly how I thought he was and I'm excited to see more of him AND I'm digging what is being done with Harley Quinn here.
And the annual was just a delight as was the story from Detective 1027.
Solid continuation and I think it is just going to get better from here.
It has quality art and keeps surprising me with where it goes. It delivers on all the things you expect of Batman but does other things too. Like Ghost Maker didn't turn out nearly how I thought he was and I'm excited to see more of him AND I'm digging what is being done with Harley Quinn here.
And the annual was just a delight as was the story from Detective 1027.
Solid continuation and I think it is just going to get better from here.
February 1, 2021
I'm not one of those readers who is going to get all caught up in the arguments about canon, and that longer serial storytelling allows for the development of more complex mythology and characterization. That writing for trade (or a specific number of season in television) will be the ruin of storytelling. People and things evolve, get over it.
End of rant (for this review of an upcoming TPB read as digital floppies).
Personally I think this title has been blessed with some very good writing and story lines in the past few years (Snyder's Owls arc, King and now Tynion). Here Tynion take some threads from Batman's past and weaves a fast paced, which works here, story about Batman's equal (and maybe his better).
Ghost Maker is Bruce's peer. They trained with the same masters, gained almost, if not, the exact same skills.
Then they had a falling out. Then came the agreement. Ghost Maker stays out of of Gotham, Batman stays out of any city where Ghost Maker sets up shop and god about really bringing down crime and corruption (Ghost Maker might be better at this Batman based off of some inferences given in the story).
Add to this some nice character work on Harley Quinn and Clownhunter and I have two things on my mind upon completion of this story...
1) Where will Tynion take the threads of this story, more Ghost-Maker Batman "defunded"?
2) Can Tynion turn in creator owned work tat will ne as much fun as this?
End of rant (for this review of an upcoming TPB read as digital floppies).
Personally I think this title has been blessed with some very good writing and story lines in the past few years (Snyder's Owls arc, King and now Tynion). Here Tynion take some threads from Batman's past and weaves a fast paced, which works here, story about Batman's equal (and maybe his better).
Ghost Maker is Bruce's peer. They trained with the same masters, gained almost, if not, the exact same skills.
Then they had a falling out. Then came the agreement. Ghost Maker stays out of of Gotham, Batman stays out of any city where Ghost Maker sets up shop and god about really bringing down crime and corruption (Ghost Maker might be better at this Batman based off of some inferences given in the story).
Add to this some nice character work on Harley Quinn and Clownhunter and I have two things on my mind upon completion of this story...
1) Where will Tynion take the threads of this story, more Ghost-Maker Batman "defunded"?
2) Can Tynion turn in creator owned work tat will ne as much fun as this?
July 4, 2021
A decent but very transitional story that doesn’t stand out on its own and presumably sets up more interesting stories later on, with art that’s all over the place; worse than vol2 of Tynion’s Batman run but still better than vol1.
The first issue suggests big interesting changes to Batman’s methodology post-Joker War, now that he’s (relatively) broke, but then that plot thread gets suspended for the remaining four issues so yet another new antihero can be introduced to Tynion’s run. Ghostmaker has a sleek design but otherwise seems like another “more ethically pragmatic” Batman variant. I also found his “we’ve known each other forever, I’ve just never talked about him” backstory with Bruce silly, but maybe the next arc will benefit from the questionable awkwardness of it here.
The Annual issue at the end is a deep dive into Clownhunter’s origin, illustrated in James Stokoe’s divisive, manically-hatched style. I usually enjoy anytime DC brings in indie artists with weirdo styles for Batman stories, and I loved this one. The cover art on the main series issues is great too, but the internal art is mostly done by Guillem March again, and I’m just not a fan of the hyper-objectified way he draws everyone’s bodies. The fill-in artists have less obnoxious styles, but also seem much less technically impressive or interesting. It looks like March isn’t drawing the next arc, so I’ll look forward to that.
The first issue suggests big interesting changes to Batman’s methodology post-Joker War, now that he’s (relatively) broke, but then that plot thread gets suspended for the remaining four issues so yet another new antihero can be introduced to Tynion’s run. Ghostmaker has a sleek design but otherwise seems like another “more ethically pragmatic” Batman variant. I also found his “we’ve known each other forever, I’ve just never talked about him” backstory with Bruce silly, but maybe the next arc will benefit from the questionable awkwardness of it here.
The Annual issue at the end is a deep dive into Clownhunter’s origin, illustrated in James Stokoe’s divisive, manically-hatched style. I usually enjoy anytime DC brings in indie artists with weirdo styles for Batman stories, and I loved this one. The cover art on the main series issues is great too, but the internal art is mostly done by Guillem March again, and I’m just not a fan of the hyper-objectified way he draws everyone’s bodies. The fill-in artists have less obnoxious styles, but also seem much less technically impressive or interesting. It looks like March isn’t drawing the next arc, so I’ll look forward to that.
June 10, 2021
Basic Plot: Batman starts to find his footing in the aftermath of the Joker War.
Bats is no longer a multibillionaire, and is going to have to make some adjustments to how he operates. He's starting to figure that all out here. We are also introduced to a figure from Batman's training days- Ghostmaker. He has a different ethos from Bats, so I don't see this ending well, but it ought to be an interesting ride, nonetheless. Clownhunter is also a factor here, and I suspect he is going to be an ongoing side character. Overall, a solid book. Good art, good story, good emotional notes. I am not the biggest fan of the art style used for the annual (the full backstory of Clownhunter), but it did serve its seemingly purpose of setting a different tone and showing a different perspective. I can definitely appreciate that.
Bats is no longer a multibillionaire, and is going to have to make some adjustments to how he operates. He's starting to figure that all out here. We are also introduced to a figure from Batman's training days- Ghostmaker. He has a different ethos from Bats, so I don't see this ending well, but it ought to be an interesting ride, nonetheless. Clownhunter is also a factor here, and I suspect he is going to be an ongoing side character. Overall, a solid book. Good art, good story, good emotional notes. I am not the biggest fan of the art style used for the annual (the full backstory of Clownhunter), but it did serve its seemingly purpose of setting a different tone and showing a different perspective. I can definitely appreciate that.
May 29, 2022
I liked this more than the last few trades. We got more of Clownhunter, tho his origin isn't terribly new. It's still fun when someone doubts Batman's methods. I also liked Ghost Maker, but again, mysterious person from Bruce Wayne's past ... Been done. His costume is a bit too MoonKnight.... And the 'lez b friends" ending was sickly sweet ... Overall art keep my attention, especially the Deadman story
October 20, 2022
A much needed palette cleanser after the insanity of Joker War. It was nice to focus on Batman, while also learning more about Clownhunter and Ghost-Maker. The new reality for Bruce being, I guess… not as rich? Less rich? i dunno. Still kinda rich… but whatever, it’s interesting and leads to a cooler, more bare bones Batman. Furthermore, Guillem March is a kickass artist and makes everything rule.
Good book, good run!
Good book, good run!
October 22, 2022
Introducing a new ninja type character with a dumb name trying to break Batman of his delusions of fighting crime and caring for people for some mucky reasons.
Clownhunter-that’s another dumb name-would like nothing more than to chop Harley now-I’ll-do-good-for-rest-of-my-life Quinn’s head off.
Everybody hugs at the end.
No constant artist to boot so art seesaws from good to mediocre.
This new start just doesn’t start well.
Clownhunter-that’s another dumb name-would like nothing more than to chop Harley now-I’ll-do-good-for-rest-of-my-life Quinn’s head off.
Everybody hugs at the end.
No constant artist to boot so art seesaws from good to mediocre.
This new start just doesn’t start well.
July 31, 2021
After the Joker took Bruce's money its goodbye to hi tech Batman he is down to paying for hot dogs. The clown killer is looking for Harly and an 'old friend' returns to give Bat's a good bashing.
This after the Joker is dead but crime goes on. Great art but I don't like green writing on white difficult to read. That's why it's 4 star not a five.
This after the Joker is dead but crime goes on. Great art but I don't like green writing on white difficult to read. That's why it's 4 star not a five.
June 20, 2021
Batman: Ghost Stories picks up where the previous volume left off and collecting the next seventh issues (Batman #101–105) of the 2016 on-going series, a story from Detective Comics #1027, and Batman Annual #5 and covers four stories.
"After the Laughter" is a one-issue storyline (Batman #101) that has reestablished a new reality after the events of The Joker War. Lucius Fox is now in charge of the Wayne fortune and plans to merge FoxTech into Wayne Enterprises, but still provide money for Batman's vigilantism, but at a conservative level. Meanwhile, there is a foreshadowing of the two new characters to come.
"Ghost Stories" is a four-issue storyline (Batman #102–105) that has Bruce Wayne as Batman teaming up with Harley Quinn as they take on Ghost-Maker, a contemporary of Batman – just as good as him from his past and a new teenager vigilante in Bao Pham as Clownhunter, who is on a mission to kill all of Joker's associates – including the reformed Harley Quinn. The untitled story from Batman Annual #5 shows the origin story of Bao Pham as Clownhunter.
"Ghost Story" is a short story form Detective Comics #1027 has Bruce Wayne as Batman and Dick Grayson as Robin teaming up with Boston Brand as Deadman to take on The Spectre Collector and his minions – basically it is Batman and Robin fighting ghosts.
James Tynion IV penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part it was written rather well. Tynion has created a new normal after the event of the Joker War and the response of Gotham City towards Bruce Wayne and Batman is rather bleak. His creation of two new characters in Ghost-Maker and Clownhunter is introduced rather well. While, creating yet another contemporary of Bruce Wayne seems overdone, but was done well as Bruce Wayne met this undisclosed vigilante while training to be Batman. Likewise, Bao Pham as Clownhunter is an interesting character, whose fate as hero, anti-hero, or villain is still to be revealed.
Guillem March (Batman #101, 103–105), Carlo Pagulayan (Batman #102–103, 105), Danny Miki (Batman #103–105), Carlos D'anda (Batman #102), Ryan Benjamin, Bengal (Batman #103), Álvaro Martínez Bueno (Batman #104), Riley Rossmo (Detective Comics #1027), and James Stokoe (Batman Annual #5) penned this trade paperback. For the most part the pencilers have distinct penciling styles and suffer from too many cooks in the kitchen, as some pencillers are better than others, and it is up to the individual taste, the artistic flow suffers greatly. Personally, the artistic styles of Rossmo and Stokoe didn't mess well with me and I tend not to like multiple pencilers doing a storyline – or in this case one issue.
All in all, Batman: Ghost Stories is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
"After the Laughter" is a one-issue storyline (Batman #101) that has reestablished a new reality after the events of The Joker War. Lucius Fox is now in charge of the Wayne fortune and plans to merge FoxTech into Wayne Enterprises, but still provide money for Batman's vigilantism, but at a conservative level. Meanwhile, there is a foreshadowing of the two new characters to come.
"Ghost Stories" is a four-issue storyline (Batman #102–105) that has Bruce Wayne as Batman teaming up with Harley Quinn as they take on Ghost-Maker, a contemporary of Batman – just as good as him from his past and a new teenager vigilante in Bao Pham as Clownhunter, who is on a mission to kill all of Joker's associates – including the reformed Harley Quinn. The untitled story from Batman Annual #5 shows the origin story of Bao Pham as Clownhunter.
"Ghost Story" is a short story form Detective Comics #1027 has Bruce Wayne as Batman and Dick Grayson as Robin teaming up with Boston Brand as Deadman to take on The Spectre Collector and his minions – basically it is Batman and Robin fighting ghosts.
James Tynion IV penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part it was written rather well. Tynion has created a new normal after the event of the Joker War and the response of Gotham City towards Bruce Wayne and Batman is rather bleak. His creation of two new characters in Ghost-Maker and Clownhunter is introduced rather well. While, creating yet another contemporary of Bruce Wayne seems overdone, but was done well as Bruce Wayne met this undisclosed vigilante while training to be Batman. Likewise, Bao Pham as Clownhunter is an interesting character, whose fate as hero, anti-hero, or villain is still to be revealed.
Guillem March (Batman #101, 103–105), Carlo Pagulayan (Batman #102–103, 105), Danny Miki (Batman #103–105), Carlos D'anda (Batman #102), Ryan Benjamin, Bengal (Batman #103), Álvaro Martínez Bueno (Batman #104), Riley Rossmo (Detective Comics #1027), and James Stokoe (Batman Annual #5) penned this trade paperback. For the most part the pencilers have distinct penciling styles and suffer from too many cooks in the kitchen, as some pencillers are better than others, and it is up to the individual taste, the artistic flow suffers greatly. Personally, the artistic styles of Rossmo and Stokoe didn't mess well with me and I tend not to like multiple pencilers doing a storyline – or in this case one issue.
All in all, Batman: Ghost Stories is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
June 28, 2021
Time will tell how I feel about Ghost-Maker. I was initially hesitant at the idea of introducing a "historical" character after 82 years. It's a fairly bold move to do this. Why hasn't he come up in nearly a century? I liked the idea of his opposition to revenge and the desire to train just for the pure art of it, but his petty remonstrances toward Bruce seem just as fueled by revenge. Considering how much I usually enjoy Tynion's work, this is just sloppy. He could still end up to be a good character, but it was a first misstep.
The Annual was the best part of the collection. I enjoyed the artwork immensely, and the story was a classic.
Side note: I'm getting a little annoyed with the continued repetition of bits and pieces from Detective #1027. I've paid for pieces of it repeatedly. Knock it off, DC. It's not "added value."
Last thing: Clownhunter, Ghost-Maker. Can we stop with the noun-verb combos to create characters? If this were the pattern in the past, we'd have the Smile-Killer, the Arctic-Waddler, the Riddle-poser, and the Crow-Scarer. C'mon, people. We can do better.
The Annual was the best part of the collection. I enjoyed the artwork immensely, and the story was a classic.
Side note: I'm getting a little annoyed with the continued repetition of bits and pieces from Detective #1027. I've paid for pieces of it repeatedly. Knock it off, DC. It's not "added value."
Last thing: Clownhunter, Ghost-Maker. Can we stop with the noun-verb combos to create characters? If this were the pattern in the past, we'd have the Smile-Killer, the Arctic-Waddler, the Riddle-poser, and the Crow-Scarer. C'mon, people. We can do better.
May 12, 2024
This was okay if you don't think about it too much or try to make it fit in very closely with what you've been told before. There's a new bad guy but he's been around for a long time, but he's never been talked about, but they all sit down and become buddies so maybe he's not all bad. Bruce isn't ultra rich anymore, so he has to retcon and rethink himself and break up with Catwoman some more. Harley is the best character in the book; Clownkiller kid pays her a visit and they all sit down and become buddies so maybe she's not what we thought. It was interesting for the most part, it had some good lines and moments, but I can't imagine wanting to ever reread it. The whole thing is all part of the post-Joker war reset. The art is mostly pretty good, if a bit on the bright and brash side.
November 2, 2022
The uninspired stories just keep coming from James Tynion IV on his Batman run. This time, we once again have an antagonist that is brutal and at odds with Batman’s no-kill policy and the way it just maintains a cycle of violence and crime rather than ending it permanently. It’s all been done a few times before, but I did appreciate the connection to his past and enjoyed getting a little bit more insight into his training. We also get more of the teenage vigilante, ClownHunter, and that was fun.
July 19, 2021
I've tried Batman many times over the years, and although I've enjoyed many stories I havent found a run I can consistently enjoy. I dig Tynion's delivery, and the art is off the charts. This book has a fairly DC look with the colouring etc. but like I said I seldom read DC and find it refreshing as hell. Looking to expand out into the universe from here :)
June 27, 2021
The weakest Tynion volume so far. The Ghost-Maker is a pretty embarrassing character. All of the art switches mid-issue were terrible. But the Stokoe story was fantastic.
October 7, 2021
The Joker War is over, thank god, meaning that Ghost Stories can offer a more interesting foe than "the Joker, but rich!" Here, we get Ghost-Maker, a former training partner of pre-Batman Bruce who is similarly anti-crime, but in a much more brutal way. Naturally, Batman and Ghost-Maker spar over who has the better method of crime-fighting. It's a relatively silly plotline, but it works in its simplicity. Ghost Stories is good "villain of the week" Batman.
Ghost Stories also offers an annual that lends more backstory to the Clownhunter character (who plays a large role in the main narrative as well). It's a welcome dose of realism, particularly in comparing Batman and Clownhunter's origins. Harley Quinn's revival also continues in Ghost Stories. I like where James Tynion is taking her - perhaps a spin-off series in the making?
The art in Ghost Stories isn't quite up to the usual high level of the Batman series. Guillem March does a great job, but the fill-in artists drop the ball. James Stokoe's art in the annual is...interesting. He's much better suited to fantasy art. Shades of Paul Pope's Batman: Year 100, so make of that what you will.
Ghost Stories also offers an annual that lends more backstory to the Clownhunter character (who plays a large role in the main narrative as well). It's a welcome dose of realism, particularly in comparing Batman and Clownhunter's origins. Harley Quinn's revival also continues in Ghost Stories. I like where James Tynion is taking her - perhaps a spin-off series in the making?
The art in Ghost Stories isn't quite up to the usual high level of the Batman series. Guillem March does a great job, but the fill-in artists drop the ball. James Stokoe's art in the annual is...interesting. He's much better suited to fantasy art. Shades of Paul Pope's Batman: Year 100, so make of that what you will.
December 11, 2021
Batman Vol. 3 Ghost Stories collects issues 101-105 and Batman Annual 3 written by James Tynion IV with art by Guillem March, James Stokoe, and others.
In the aftermath of the Joker War, Batman is forced to defend Gotham without his bounty of money, tech, and gadgets when the Ghost-Maker, a mysterious person from Bruce's past, arrives in Githam to teach Batman a lesson.
I'm enjoying a lot of the new characters that Tynion has created for Batman, especially Clownhunter who is shaping up to be Batman's next protégé. I also enjoyed how Harley Quinn was written as someone who is trying to redeem her past. Really looking forward to the next volume.
In the aftermath of the Joker War, Batman is forced to defend Gotham without his bounty of money, tech, and gadgets when the Ghost-Maker, a mysterious person from Bruce's past, arrives in Githam to teach Batman a lesson.
I'm enjoying a lot of the new characters that Tynion has created for Batman, especially Clownhunter who is shaping up to be Batman's next protégé. I also enjoyed how Harley Quinn was written as someone who is trying to redeem her past. Really looking forward to the next volume.
December 20, 2021
I'm not in love with the core story line. Another important figure retconned in from Bruce's past is so Hush and them wanting to make a darker, grimmer attack on crime is so '90s.
But that storyline is mainly in service to some great characterization. Issue #101 is a nice coda to Cat and Bat, trying to repair some of the damage done by DC Editorial Mandate. We then get Clownhunter made into a real character that we care about and some great interactions with Harley. Who doesn't love the villain learning to become a hero, especially an abused villain like Harley?
So, despite the mediocre plotline, a good volume.
But that storyline is mainly in service to some great characterization. Issue #101 is a nice coda to Cat and Bat, trying to repair some of the damage done by DC Editorial Mandate. We then get Clownhunter made into a real character that we care about and some great interactions with Harley. Who doesn't love the villain learning to become a hero, especially an abused villain like Harley?
So, despite the mediocre plotline, a good volume.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews