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adperfectamconsilium's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Batman: Life After Death by Tony S Daniel
This collected edition pulls together issues 692-699 of Batman. The first six issues are the Life After Death story written and penciled by Tony S Daniel with inks by various artists. That's followed by a two part story, Riddle Me This, which again Tony writes but is penciled by Guillem March.
Batman is dead. Long live Batman.
We're at a time in the DC Universe where Bruce Wayne is presumed dead but Gotham still needs Batman.
Taking on the cowl and bat-suit is Dick Grayson, formerly the hero Nightwing, and the original Robin.
He's joined by a new Robin, Damian, Bruce Wayne's son (that's a long story that I won't go into here).
There's s criminal war going on in Gotham. The mysterious Black Mask has an army of brainwashed soldiers on the streets and Batman needs to find out who he is and take him down.
The artwork is fantastic (see pics for a selection) but the story just has too much going on. It is exciting and there's plenty of action and twists and turns but it's too convoluted and confusing to really hit the mark. Within the six issues we also get Penguin, Riddler, Catwoman, Huntress, Oracle, Hugo Strange, Hush, the Falcone mob, Arkham, Fright, and more! It feels like Tony has been allowed to play in the Batman universe and wants to write and draw everyone at once which unfortunately means the story loses focus and is just good instead of great.
The different artwork in Riddle Me This, while being a darker, more brooding style, actually fits the plot very well. It's an interesting couple of issues (again with lots of characters) but the ending was somewhat unsatisfactory. It feels like it's setting things up for future issues rather than being completely self-contained.
Overall, a fun and entertaining collection.
✨✨✨⚡3.5 stars
This collected edition pulls together issues 692-699 of Batman. The first six issues are the Life After Death story written and penciled by Tony S Daniel with inks by various artists. That's followed by a two part story, Riddle Me This, which again Tony writes but is penciled by Guillem March.
Batman is dead. Long live Batman.
We're at a time in the DC Universe where Bruce Wayne is presumed dead but Gotham still needs Batman.
Taking on the cowl and bat-suit is Dick Grayson, formerly the hero Nightwing, and the original Robin.
He's joined by a new Robin, Damian, Bruce Wayne's son (that's a long story that I won't go into here).
There's s criminal war going on in Gotham. The mysterious Black Mask has an army of brainwashed soldiers on the streets and Batman needs to find out who he is and take him down.
The artwork is fantastic (see pics for a selection) but the story just has too much going on. It is exciting and there's plenty of action and twists and turns but it's too convoluted and confusing to really hit the mark. Within the six issues we also get Penguin, Riddler, Catwoman, Huntress, Oracle, Hugo Strange, Hush, the Falcone mob, Arkham, Fright, and more! It feels like Tony has been allowed to play in the Batman universe and wants to write and draw everyone at once which unfortunately means the story loses focus and is just good instead of great.
The different artwork in Riddle Me This, while being a darker, more brooding style, actually fits the plot very well. It's an interesting couple of issues (again with lots of characters) but the ending was somewhat unsatisfactory. It feels like it's setting things up for future issues rather than being completely self-contained.
Overall, a fun and entertaining collection.
✨✨✨⚡3.5 stars
captwinghead's review against another edition
3.0
An average Batman story. More of a classic one with adding the Falcones back in as a foe.
I thought they might have done more with the parallel of Mario trying to fill his father's shoes and Dick trying to fill Bruce's shoes, but they didn't really. In a way, it was a bit cluttered with 3 or 4 antagonists in this story.
Anyway, the art was nice. I appreciated Damian being here. I liked the introspection as Dick doubted his ability to take over as Batman. I got some of that in Morrison's Batman & Robin series but this was more of Dick's thoughts, which was nice
But, I can't imagine this is the kind of story I would want to re-read. It wasn't all that engaging for me.
I thought they might have done more with the parallel of Mario trying to fill his father's shoes and Dick trying to fill Bruce's shoes, but they didn't really. In a way, it was a bit cluttered with 3 or 4 antagonists in this story.
Anyway, the art was nice. I appreciated Damian being here. I liked the introspection as Dick doubted his ability to take over as Batman. I got some of that in Morrison's Batman & Robin series but this was more of Dick's thoughts, which was nice
But, I can't imagine this is the kind of story I would want to re-read. It wasn't all that engaging for me.
tmwebb3's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this, but knew from early on that Black Mask was Dr. Arkham. Loved the interaction between all the different villians and Dick. Would have been better with Bruce, but that goes without saying. Looked like other Batman comics, which is a good thing.
blackbird9805's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sarah_toast's review against another edition
3.0
Closer to 2.5 stars but I’m rounding up cause it was Dick Grayson batman, not Bruce.
quinnster's review against another edition
2.0
I'm just going to say it. I don't like Dick Grayson as Batman. I want him to be Nightwing and I want Bruce Wayne to be Batman! *end whiny kid rant*
I'm not entirely sure then if I didn't care for Life After Death because Grayson was Batman or because I just didn't like it. Thinking about it now I realize how this volume is basically other people playing parts they never should have played. Batman & Black Mask, both impostors!
There was a bunch of stuff going on and things were confusing at points and then it would drag for a bit to the point where I was almost bored. Too bad.
I'm not entirely sure then if I didn't care for Life After Death because Grayson was Batman or because I just didn't like it. Thinking about it now I realize how this volume is basically other people playing parts they never should have played. Batman & Black Mask, both impostors!
There was a bunch of stuff going on and things were confusing at points and then it would drag for a bit to the point where I was almost bored. Too bad.
captwinghead's review against another edition
3.0
An average Batman story. More of a classic one with adding the Falcones back in as a foe.
I thought they might have done more with the parallel of Mario trying to fill his father's shoes and Dick trying to fill Bruce's shoes, but they didn't really. In a way, it was a bit cluttered with 3 or 4 antagonists in this story.
Anyway, the art was nice. I appreciated Damian being here. I liked the introspection as Dick doubted his ability to take over as Batman. I got some of that in Morrison's Batman & Robin series but this was more of Dick's thoughts, which was nice
But, I can't imagine this is the kind of story I would want to re-read. It wasn't all that engaging for me.
I thought they might have done more with the parallel of Mario trying to fill his father's shoes and Dick trying to fill Bruce's shoes, but they didn't really. In a way, it was a bit cluttered with 3 or 4 antagonists in this story.
Anyway, the art was nice. I appreciated Damian being here. I liked the introspection as Dick doubted his ability to take over as Batman. I got some of that in Morrison's Batman & Robin series but this was more of Dick's thoughts, which was nice
But, I can't imagine this is the kind of story I would want to re-read. It wasn't all that engaging for me.