Batman: Fortress

by Gary Whitta, Darick Robertson (Illustrator)

Can DC's Dark Knight stop an invasion of Earth?

When an unknown alien ship enters Earth’s atmosphere, disrupting global power and communications and plunging the planet into chaos, the world is left wondering…where is Superman when he is needed most? In the mysterious absence of the Last Son of Krypton, Batman must rally the rest of the Justice League to counter the alien threat…but first, he must quell a crime wave on the blacked-out streets of Gotham!

Gary Whitta (Rogue A Star Wars Story) and Darick Robertson (The Boys) have joined forces to tell a brutal and shocking adventure that will turn everything you think you know about Superman upside down!

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

208 pages, Hardcover

Published June 6, 2023

About the author

Gary Whitta is an award-winning screenwriter best known for The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington. He also co-wrote the Will Smith sci-fi movie After Earth, and was writer and story consultant on Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead. He is co-writer of the upcoming Star Wars movie Rogue One as well as the animated series Star Wars Rebels.

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are the kind of Batman stories I like. Batman follows the clues and punching bad guys in the face along the way. He is willing yo make compromises, but when it gets to a line, he will not cross. No matter the odds or how out gunned he is, he will not back down.

The lights are our in Gotham, but they have Batman and a police department hee hee. However, this might be an even bigger global threat. Where is Superman? With most of the heavy hitters away or "taken care of," Batman is forced to compromise and take what help he can get to find a solution.

If there is a negative thing I could say about this book, it is the artwork. It is not my favourite, but that is easily overlooked, especially with the Alfred and commissioner Gordon being back on the story. I really hope there is a follow-up to this book. That is another story that needs to be told. The book finishes with a varient cover gallery.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman: Fortress collects issues 1-8 of the DC Comics series written by Gary Whittaker with art by Darrick Robertson

Set in an alternate timeline, Earth’s communication and power grids are shut down by a mysterious alien presence. With Superman nowhere to be found, Batman leads the Justice League into battle. The alien’s superior technology makes quick work of the JL leading Batman to put together a rag tag group of individuals to break into the Fortress of Solitude in order to confiscate Kryptonian weaponry for Earth’s defense.

This was an okay yet entertaining story that is basically a modern days Elseworlds book. Some of the character personalities are a bit off, but it can all be chalked up to the alternate timeline. The story takes some leaps at times to get to where it wants to be, but still manages to keep the action and humor at appropriate levels. The art was also good throughout. While I wouldn’t go out of my way to read this book, it’s worth a read at a good price.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

DC takes some big swings with this self-contained miniseries in its own bottle universe (or "Elseworld", to use the correct parlance) but mostly whiffs on them as the bonkers plot and tone bounce all over the place.


Incredibly this is nowhere near the dankest thing to occur in this GN.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off pretty good. There is an alien threat that pulls up on earth and causes all kinds of havoc with our power grids and communication. However, the person best suited to handle this, Superman, is nowhere to be found. Then as the remaining Justice League attacks, the heavy hitters like Wonder Woman, Water Man and Cyborg get taken off the board. This leaves Batman to try and figure this one out on his own. It was cool seeing Bats put together a random team and crazy plan in action. The book had some solid art and an interesting mystery brewing but the ending didn’t do it for me. When I found out where Superman was and why he was there I was like what?? Awe man the was weak as hell.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A title like Batman: Fortress and cover art showing Batman in his Batcave suggests that the story will revolve around a locked down Batman solving crimes from deep within his lair. Boy was I wrong! The titular "fortress" is actually Superman's Fortress of Solitude, which Batman needs to access because Superman is AWOL and aliens have caused an Earth-wide blackout in their search for the Man of Steel.

Suffice it to say, Batman: Fortress is a much stranger, goofier read than I expected. But it's also expertly paced with amusing dialogue and a central mystery that's surprisingly crunchy. Batman teams up with some very unlikely heroes (the Justice League is quickly put out of commission by the aliens), leading to numerous unexpected scenarios with surprising outcomes. Occasionally, the story is too goofy (Darick Robertson's atrocious art doesn't help there), but it's overall a way more satisfying read than I expected.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

When blackouts begin to affect not only Gotham City, but the rest of the world, Batman steps up and tries to find out what is going on. Verdict: 3 aliens have come to Earth looking for the last remnant of Krypton, Kal-El, for revenge against what the Kryptonians did to their planet years ago. Superman is nowhere to be found.
... and most of the Justice League just got sucked into the spacecraft and taken prisoner... who will join Batman in the search for Kal?

A very interesting and action packed Elseworlds story with a very interesting latter third and a really fun ending. A good read, but not a quick one.
Recommend.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how much I'd like this one when I started it. The art isn't bad but definitely isn't my cup of tea.

After I got the gist of what was going on and how Batman was being portrayed, I was in. I like the supporting cast of characters used on the mission. I also appreciate the unexpected twists the story takes.

I don't love the ending. It seems a bit "power fantasy" to me. However it wasn't enough to bring down the book as a whole. Some unique angles were taking in rolling out the story and I appreciate that.

[Jiro Dreams of Suchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this a lot more than I thought- I expected a somewhat cheesy Batman vs aliens story but what I got was a war crime tribunal hunting down Superman for the atrocities that Krypton had committed - a really interesting story that has a great Luthor and Batman dynamic. I’d recommend this for a dedicated Batman fan BUT some corny lines from Aqualad (what a name) and questionable humor but still pretty good.

[Johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m very proud of most of my former editors and what they’ve accomplished, but Gary Whitta was a rival editor—editor-in-chief of PC Gamer at the very time that my publisher was cutting back the circulation on Computer Gaming World. We obviously didn’t see eye-to-eye on everything, but I’m proud to have known him and thrilled with what he has accomplished during the years since then. To co-write a Star Wars screenplay and envision a marvelous graphic novel like Batman: Fortress is different than my route into becoming a publisher, serving on boards, teaching at a major university, and pastoring ethnic churches. I like my little Dungeons & Dragons novel, but it isn’t near the accomplishment of Batman: Fortress. [Gary: Does that make up for that win at Liar’s Dice?]

The eponymous “Fortress” in Batman: Fortress is, of course, the most famous fortress in the DC universe. Naturally, it is the Fortress of Solitude built by Superman. But it isn’t where one thinks it is, and you would be amazed at the teammates Batman chooses to infiltrate that fortress. It takes a while to get to the fortress. Even though Superman is missing in the midst of an exoterrestrial threat (I like that term much better than extraterrestrial), Batman assembles a super team that is destined to fail. They are up against such a sophisticated technology that it seems like only Kryptonian technology could neutralize it. Hence, the need to break in.

But the Justice League partners upon whom Batman would normally depend aren’t available, so the “adventuring party” he assembles is not the cast of good guys one would normally imagine. That alone is worth reading this graphic novel, but even more than that, the infiltration of the fortress is like a good Starfinder adventure (speaking of one of my former editors of whom I’m very proud, Erik Mona) that could be easily mapped out and gamed.

I’m not going to spoil this mini-review by writing about my favorite moment, but let me say that I was thrilled with the climax and denouement. It absolutely seemed right in every way. If you had asked me back in the ‘90s if I would ever give a 5-star review to Gary Whitta’s writing, I would have asked what illegal substances you might be taking. Now, I assure you I’m not on anything, but I think this is a five-star storyline.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for a good Elseworlds Batman story and this one went beyond good. It was great! I loved this story. We get to see Batman work with the Justice League, assemble his own team of much lesser known heroes, put his detective skills to work on a really intriguing case, and ultimately save the world. The way this was written was a little campy at times, but not in any seriously distracting way. The art was very well done and the pacing was perfect for an 8-issue series. Ridiculously fun and great Batman story.

[Nick Pratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killer elseworlds tale. Couldn’t put it down!

[O.H.M, a.k.a., One Happy Monk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly surprising book/mini-series that I checked out just because and continued my streak as a reader, of the non-core DC comics being better than anything in their main universe.

Now to start with, let me be clear - I was not expecting what this comic became as it went beyond issue #1.
It seemed like a storyline where Earth is under attack and Batman (as you can see by the cover) is dealing with a Gotham City that, like the whole planet, is under a complete blackout due to extreme alien tech - a very worst, case scenario that reminded me of the old "No-Man's Land" storyline which was one of the most badass ever in Batman comics, not great, but a first of its kind at the time and done pretty well. I thought this would be Batman making the Bat-cave and his city a fortress to hold back the darkness and evil.
NOPE!
It turns out that Superman is completely AWOL and no one knows where or even when he vanished off the face of the Earth. So as the story kicks off at a very brisk clip from the very first pages, we have a world on the edge with a looming alien force in space and Batman has to find a way to revive communication and bring together the Justice League or literally any forces he can marshall, to try and hold back the tide - all while looking for a way to access the titular Fortress, i.e, Supermans' Fortress of Soiltude aaaaaall the way in the frozen North. Somehow. And hope against hope that they can find some Kryptonian tech in there that might help them fight back against the aliens.

A big draw for me for an unknown random comic that seemed on the face of it mainly just another Batman book, was that lead artist is Darrick Robertson. I've followed his art since all his early collaborations with guys like Garth Ennis (on The Boys and more) and Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan!) and he is one of my top artists - and he is in solid form here. Granted, there are moments and particularly facial close-ups that are less than stellar compared to his norm, but overall he does a good job and one that somehow worked well for me with the story. Plus I always appreciate his ability to mostly be framing a grounded, up-close imagery but when it's needed to bounce between that and big action shots and dynamic pages, he can transition quite well. His distinctive style I think suited the story for me quite well.

I was not familiar with the work of Gary Whitta before this (that I can remember) but he has done a stellar job. The story moves at a remarkably brisk pace and that keeps the energy at a nice high - something I've seen not happening in many such mini's where the company decides to expand them to the more common 12 issues whereas this being a tight-8 actually works for it very well!
The handling in the narrative of Bruce is solid and in-character to a core version rather than any specific one I can think of and his relationship with Alfred is subtle but plays a strong part here as a low-key thing that manages to really add to the feel of it all. On top of that, we get a nice take on President Luthor after a good long while and his interactions with Batman are another highlight.

Then there is the real big selling point of the story - it's always surprising. I was just reading it for fun and I found that in a rare instance, the tale takes choices and directions I really didn't see coming, both in terms of some characters who make appearances, choices made along the way and hidden facts about the history of the DC universe that FIRSTLY makes it clear that this is a non-canon story for sure and SECONDLY, it allows for things to go in even more unexpected directions that just make it more fun all the way to an ending I promise you, I did not see coming until I turned to a specific page and read a specific line. Very cool!

Now both in terms of the artwork and the older-style feel to it as well as the non-canon setting and very over-the-top concept of the story, this could have super easily gone down the road of "Batman: Odyssey" and "Superman: The Coming of the Supermen" in the last decade by comic icon Neal Adams - both of which were bombastic and high-concept but veered into insanity the likes of which made them books we all read like a train-wreck you can't stop staring at.
Thankfully, Batman: Fortress manages to push in that direction while keeping its feet on the ground enough to tell a good looking, grounded story that manages to shock and surprise and keep you engaged and entertained from start to finish.

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Elseworlds tale, and in this case, the throughline that Batman is always Batman is the only thing consistent. Darick Robertson's art (The Boys, Transmetropolitan) is an interesting choice here, but Whitta's story is a really interesting one about legacies and families and responsibility. The team that Batman assembles to accomplish the impossible task at the center of this story dares you to laugh at it, and there are some funny moments, but ultimately, it works. A solid weekend read.

[Emmett Spain · Rating 2 out of 5]

A so-so Elseworlds story with many tonal and pacing issues. I started skipping after the second issue and don’t feel like I missed much of interest.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aliens invade Earth because they’ve got beef with Superman - who’s mysteriously vanished. After the Justice League fails to save the day, Batman and an unlikely team decide the only way to defeat the aliens is with alien tech - found in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. Which has also mysteriously vanished. Nothing’s ever that easy, eh Bats - well, not if you want to fill eight pointless issues it isn’t!

Maybe it’s because of the success of Sean Murphy’s White Knight books being its own contained universe, along with Tom Taylor’s myriad standalones, that DC are doing more non-canon books, which category Batman: Fartress definitely falls into. Why do I suspect this? Because two famous characters are killed and Superman’s family history is retconned to align with that of a certain 20th century figure who famously had one ball, although that (probably apocryphal) detail was a long way from the thing he was best known for. So that’s lovely. Also, this isn’t a very good comic.

The story isn’t a bad one. Thinking about it overall, there’s a way to do this in half the space and actually be good. The problem is that it’s eight issues long and that’s way too much fat. The first issue is Batman dealing with the problems caused by the blackout in Gotham, and the second is the Justice League failing to stop the aliens, all of which could’ve been skipped over or summarised much more quickly.

Then Batman and his team go here, then go there, looking for the Fortress, and then there’s a lot of tedious deathtraps to overcome. It all goes on for much too long, particularly as most of it is uninteresting - there’s too much bloat in this book and boy does it make for a slooooow read. What makes it slower is Gary Whitta’s verbosity too - if you’re not a fan of reading massive blocks of text on each page, you might want to skip this one.

I’m not sure if this is a plot hole as I don’t know how his powers work but one of Batman’s team is the new Aquakid. He’s important because the Fortress is at the bottom of the sea and, as we all learned recently from OceanGate, subs can only go so far down before they implode. So Aquakid’s powers enable the sub to go waaaaaayyy deeper than OceanGate would’ve ever gone and the team begin the deathtrap run into the Fortress. But Aquakid gets knocked unconscious in the first fight - would that mean that the sub wouldn’t have been protected by his powers and have imploded? Hmm.

There are some things in this comic that made me smile though. Superman’s reasoning for not being present for most of the book was the equivalent of hiding under a pile of coats and hoping everything would somehow work out.

The characters being so stupid as to point out it would be really dumb to have a fight this deep under the sea in such a fragile environment - and then doing it anyway. Steven Seagal would’ve been proud of this level of plotting.

And the chef’s kiss finale that Whitta leaves you with: Batman getting superpowers suddenly off-page and basically saying he’s going to be the new, more evil Superman. So the moral of the story is: Batman is a psycho. Wunnerful.

The execution was abysmal - Gary Whitta is as unfamiliar with brevity as Ezra Miller is with sanity - but the bones of a good story were there underneath mountains of boring words. Darick Robertson’s art is dependably good (Batman’s mouth looked really weird in some panels though - hamster-ish) and you might get a chuckle or two out of Prez Luthor’s wackiness, or the idiocy of the third act’s revelations. But Batman: Fartress is most definitely not an entertaining or fun book. DC do it again!

[Vance Amazing · Rating 2 out of 5]

"This feels like Fanfiction" is an unfair and shallow assessment of any piece of media. Technically, all fiction is fanfiction, ripping off reality or parodying a popular work with its own ideas and questions. Calling something Fanfiction should, at the very least, be used to describe a work that isn't just bad, but is weirdly indulgent, mischaracterising, and oddly obsessed with trying to make a point without building up to it.

So when I say Batman: Fortress is an odd bit of Fanfiction with false advertising, I really mean it has all the quirks and issues of the sloppiest fanfic story you've ever read. Like, this story could've been written by any random person, and it really feels that way.

When I saw a mention of this series, it described the story as Batman fighting against an alien invasion by himself, and Superman was unable to help. There was no mention of the story being a non-canon event using Batman as a vehicle to tour this new universe while redefining the lore of Superman. I think if even a fragment of that was mentioned, I wouldn't have even looked twice at this series, let alone picked up and read it. I want to say this is because they never had confidence in this standalone volume, but it's more likely I just missed something when I picked it up? Who knows.

The art is weird. It's good art and all, but this is one of the few times I feel like I can't really look at half the characters in the eye. It's really uncanny, and it destroys how I feel about some of them. Elmer Fudd should not have such a soft face.

What's the story like? Um... This is a heist movie. After issues one and two, the entire series devolves into a heist story. Batman recruits people for his Z-team Justice League, and they break into Superman's Fortress, "the most secure place in the world", then Elmer Fudd betrays them, etc. Also, Kryptonians are secretly tyrannical war criminals woooooooo. Man, that is such an original and clever idea I hope no one steals it. Anyway, the aliens are here because they are on their government-sanctioned genocide to destroy all Kryptonians. Superman was actually hiding in his fortress so they would just go away eventually, but after Batman finds him, he decides to just surrender. Then Superman alters his DNA so he's not Kryptonian anymore, but Batman is. This is also an original idea Whitta came up with it himself don't google or fact-check that.
I think I enjoy Fudd being crushed into a ball of tinfoil, but that's where the characterisation issues peak for me. Batman is too casual. Everyone keeps making lame jokes. I'm not even sure why the squirrel Green Lantern was there, since they had all the comic relief they could need. Why didn't Superman sacrifice himself in the first place? No one reacts to a guy being crushed into tinfoil. Even Fudd himself was being really... subdued, I'll go with.

I think this is all part of a bigger issue. See, Batman: Fortress is... not smart. It certainly tries to be, E+ for effort. But all the indicators are there. When people break into Bruce Wayne's Mansion, Bruce defeats them with his butler in person. No clever gimmicks or choices; he just shows up and beats them. When approaching the alien ship, Batman coordinates with the military in an all-out attack. No communication, no exploits; he works with them directly, all the soldiers die, and his team gets captured. When working with Elmer Fudd to break into Superman's Fortress, Batman has no plan or method for if he goes rogue, no real way to persuade him. All he does is give in over and over. Batman hires Red Arrow because she has experience breaking into houses and facilities. But wait, they're breaking into an alien facility; what can she do specifically that Batman isn't already contributing? No, this series isn't different because it takes place in a different world, it's just stupid not very smart. And this is bad because the story gets to move at a slower pace than the audience and skip over plot holes it accidentally created itself.

I think the ending is what really made me think, "This feels like fanfiction."

A story where Batman is the main character, resolves a problem with his plot device supporting characters, and ultimately becomes the most powerful person on the planet. A story that rewrites a popular character so that they are not so much a character anymore, but a combination of an obstacle and a reward. A story where there are heroes and villains, but only when it seems right for it. Otherwise, Heroes will turn tail, run and hide, and villains will be really passive, helpful, and understanding. This story is just so one of a kind, apparently, so it's no wonder everyone is being really weird and dragging out this lame ass heist.

That's everything I have to say about this series. It's a hollow attempt to tell a shallow heist story for a predictable retcon, and has no greater depth to say anything meaningful other than how the author has less than one original good idea.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es herrscht Stromausfall in Gotham und das ruft natürlich Batman auf den Schirm. Doch während er sich mit den damit verbundenen Problemen in Gotham herumschlägt, wird ihm langsam klar, dass der Blackout nicht nur in seiner Stadt ist, sondern nach und nach den ganzen Planeten ergreift.
Natürlich will Bruce herausfinden,was es damit auf sich hat, und schnell stellt sich heraus, dass alles von einem seltsamen außerirdischen Objekt verursacht wird. Bei solchen schwerwiegenden Vorkommnissen muss natürlich Superman konsultiert werden, doch blöd nur, dass dieser wie vom Erdboden verschwunden ist.
Die überlegene Technologie des außerirdischen Objekts macht der eilig herbeigerufenen Justice League schnell den Garaus, was Batman dazu veranlasst, eine bunt zusammengewürfelte Gruppe von eher unbekannten Superhelden zusammenzustellen, die in die Festung der Einsamkeit einbrechen will, um kryptonische Waffen für die Verteidigung der Erde zu entwenden.
Das Ende habe ich so nicht kommen sehen und hätte auf jeden Fall noch etwas ausführlicher abgeschlossen werden können, dennoch regt es zum Nachdenken an, ob man darauf aufbauend nicht noch weitere Geschichten erzählen kann.

Die in sich abgeschlossene Geschichte ist kein Teil des aktuellen Kanons und diese macht so einiges anders als man es von Batman gewohnt ist. Alles in allem bin ich sehr positiv überrascht ob der innovativen Idee von Gary Whitta. Hier kann getrost zugreifen, wer nicht unbedingt die laufende Batmanserie lesen will.

[drown_like_its_1999 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earth is blanketed by a worldwide blackout which Batman soon discovers is caused by an alien ship floating above the planet. Superman is mysteriously missing and after a failed attempt to handle the conflict with the remaining members of the Justice League, Batman ventures to track down Superman and figure out how his disappearance relates to the arrival of the alien threat.

While the cavalier tone of this book will be off-putting for some and others will not enjoy the elseworlds modifications to the DC cannon, I had an absolute blast reading this. The plotting is pure summer blockbuster, entertaining and bombastic with delightful story beats among creative set pieces interwoven with some compelling detective work. The story also utilizes a wide cast of characters brimming with charisma and compelling interplay, from Detective Chimp to President Lex Luthor to a newly introduced squirrel-like Green Lantern. It reads like the best of the Marvel movies, where tension takes a backseat to fun and nothing takes itself too seriously. Within Batman comics, the closest similarity I've read is Batman: Universe in that both stories are action forward and humorous blockbusters with excellent pacing and intriguing plot developments. While I didn't enjoy the art as much, especially in the portrayal of Batman who can look bloated at times, it was serviceable at delivering the light-hearted tone and supernatural atmosphere.

[Robby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally, out-of-continuity miniseries like this have an obvious selling point, whether it be a gripping premise or a bankable creative team. In the case of Batman: Fortress, I'm not sure what the elevator pitch for this book was supposed to be. What if Batman had to break into the Fortress of Solitude with an unlikely team? Well that doesn't get going until later in the book. What if Batman had to deal with aliens? Pretty sure we've seen that before. What if we combined a mediocre screenwriter with an artist some people might remember from The Boys but more will more likely confuse with Brian Bolland? Guessing that wasn't it.

This book is a good example of why some writers need the limitation of continuity to tell a good story and not just get to play with every character in the DC Universe like a bunch of dolls. There's also some confusing references to some of the film versions of these characters, not the least of which is a very Kevin Spacey-like Lex Luthor. Gross.

In the end, I'm not sure why eight overly wordy issues were needed to tell this silly of a story, which ends up being more about Superman than Batman anyway. I can occasionally get into the detailed style of Robertson's artwork, but often it either has an uncanny valley effect or has one cartoonish detail that throws the look off (Again, it is like bargain store Brian Bolland with maybe a dose of Steve Dillon). I honestly don't know why DC editorial made room for this one.

[Langston Lardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun elseworld Batman story that starts in Gotham but quickly takes us around the world. In reality I give it a 3.5/5 because it really is a fun world crossing adventure that utilizes characters we do not get the opportunity to see often in a story that is truly a unique one, but there are tiny things that set it back for me personally. As said it utilizes characters we hardly see these days such as their choice in GL for this story and some of Green Arrow and Aquamans characters. I enjoy how we start in Gotham and it’s a traditional Batman story that as we learn more slowly evolves into this world side event that even includes some heavy hitter characters. I’d also say this is as much a Superman story as a Batman one. My only real nitpicks would have to be that while the art is great it is not my preferred style that catches my eye, but I also can’t draw to save my life so that’s why I consider all art good and above and my only other nitpick is just my personal preference, I enjoyed the book a lot I just didn’t love it and that’s okay. It’s perfectly fine to have just good books. Also the ending is really neat and just shows how this book takes big swings. Would love to see more stories this way.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, but I REALLY wish they'd be consistent with Black Label imprint logos.

This is most definitely an Elseworlds type story that takes things in a new direction for our usual group of heroes. Batman is left holding the bag when something disrupts most communication systems across the planet and Superman and the Green Lantern Corps are nowhere to be seen. He finds a way (as only Batman can) to stay one step ahead of whatever is out there.

Plot twist...
DC's Independence Day w/o Will Smith?

This was a great story that kept you engaged through all 8 issues. Always a timely reveal and then a plot turn. Loved it.

----
Bonus: DC always underused (you'll know what I'm talking about when you read it. Spoilers!)
Bonus Bonus: This would be an interesting world to revisit. Fresh takes on new and old characters

[Timothy Pitkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok story that kind of confuses me why it's a Batman story as it quickly becomes all about Superman. In all honestly this should have been a Justice League story but aside from that nit pick it is an ok story. I do like that it does try to explore something that is not really discussed to often and that is Krypton's past as conquerors as members of various alien races who suffered because of Krypton invade Earth looking to kill superman and we see Batman trying to find a way to beat them by getting various heroes to rally after the Justice League is defeated. It does drag for a while but picks up when they break into the Fortress of Solitude to find answers and hopefully some tech to help them defeat the invaders. It is a good story that does suffer some pacing issues.

[Amity · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm, normally I like comics that are just Heroes in Situations, but I thought that the tone of this seemed a bit inconsistent with the premise? It ends up being a bit of a wackier adventure with Bats assembling a ragtag team of misfits to break into the Fortress of Solitude, and I was expecting something a bit grittier and chaotic on the streets of Gotham. Even once I adjusted my expectations, it seemed like it should have been more serious? I dunno, the tone just didn't land for me, and I wasn't a huge fan of the art style, either. Overall, I'll give this 2.5 Lex Luthor presidencies out of 5.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, let's see how to avoid spoilers?

Lets go to non-spoiler (IMO) places first.

Superman has disappeared, and aliens have thrown all technology back to essentially the dark ages (cliche' number 237). Batman puts together a bit of rag tag team to deal with the aliens and find the missing Superman.

A near spoiler here, if you have read the New Krypton story arc, you'll understand why the aliens are out for Earth and Superman.

BTW the ending, well I did not see that coming at all.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this is the perfect example of a 2.5 star comic book. It's a fun twist on elements of the DC Universe, and an interesting, well-paced story. But there's some off-model art and some story and character elements that only work if you truly embrace that this is an elseworlds/what-if type of universe. Plus, is there now a rule about what happens to Cyborg in these types of alternate universe stories? Sheesh.

[André Dal Cim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman em uma história alternativa, na qual ele precisa descobrir um mistério sobre um apagão que ocorre em todo o mundo e o sumiço do Superman. Onde está Superman quando o mundo precisa dele? Ai que começa o desdobramento da história que envolve os antepassados da família kal-El e o motivo do sumiço do homem de aço.

Quadrinho interessante com um final bastante diferente. Gostei da história mas os desenhos apesar de ter acostumado não me agradou muito!!

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

DC's really leaning into these Elseworlds stories without calling them Elseworlds these days. This one is about a planetary blackout caused by aliens and a missing Superman. Batman's left to figure out what happened to Superman while dodging aliens and breaking into the Fortress of Solitude. The story is fine, if a bit simplistic at times. I do appreciate Darick Robertson's art here.

[The_J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let's see - Superman's Family were war criminals so that makes him a war criminal? For the heroes we need to have a gay kiss from multi-racial Aqua-guy, odd that no other character's sexuality was highlighted, almost like an agenda. There is certainly a story presented, but I am not sure that it would have been successful at garnering an audience.

[Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

If during a blackout Batman thinks "huh, looters, I don't have time for that with all the Arkham escapees, fine.
When in those conditions Batman thinks "those stores have insurance and I'm not protecting profit margins" you're no longer reading a comic book, you're being proselytized by the irreligious and unholy church of communism.

[Roman Colombo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars really. This was a fun Elseworld story, but could have been 2 issues shorter. That first few were great, setting up the conflict and villains. I know it’s called Fortress, but they spent a little too much time on breaking into the Fortress of Solitude. And then it rushed the ending.

Had some good art though. Whitta gave it a very dynamic look.