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fishfish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lorien13's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting story. Bruce Wayne is no longer Batman and instead Jim Gordon is. While he's alright as a Batman the fact is the cowl would go to Dick. Duh. The fact that it didn't was straight up lame to me. This whole idea doesn't really fit the Bat universe in either Modern or New 52. Then again, 52 has switched things up so much that I am one of hundreds pissed at their stupid timeline and other choices they've made.
That said, it is well done. It's well stupidity which automatically knocked it down to 2 stars from the get go. But the story was solid within it's stupid rules, and it was rather interesting. I'm not certain if this was the end of 52 or if there's one more graphic novel but I'm rather interested to see Jim take down Bloom. However if this is all there is I won't be too upset.
What earned back a full star is the story about Bruce when he's a young Batman. If you check out my notes you'll see me praise it. I want to own that story, of Batman so disgusted with the way cops are shooting unarmed Black kids, how everyone's ignored the Corner as it's a Black "hood" and therefore doesn't need help from the city. It was powerful and beautiful and tragic. It didn't shy from what goes down there when there is no support, or that the lack of support came from the color of the skin of the majority of the people who live there.
For that alone I want this novel, and badly. Solid 3 stars, with most of it being 2-2.5 and that one story being 5.
That said, it is well done. It's well stupidity which automatically knocked it down to 2 stars from the get go. But the story was solid within it's stupid rules, and it was rather interesting. I'm not certain if this was the end of 52 or if there's one more graphic novel but I'm rather interested to see Jim take down Bloom. However if this is all there is I won't be too upset.
What earned back a full star is the story about Bruce when he's a young Batman. If you check out my notes you'll see me praise it. I want to own that story, of Batman so disgusted with the way cops are shooting unarmed Black kids, how everyone's ignored the Corner as it's a Black "hood" and therefore doesn't need help from the city. It was powerful and beautiful and tragic. It didn't shy from what goes down there when there is no support, or that the lack of support came from the color of the skin of the majority of the people who live there.
For that alone I want this novel, and badly. Solid 3 stars, with most of it being 2-2.5 and that one story being 5.
caterpie_reading's review
2.0
It's actually more of a 2.5 - 2.75 stars.
Well, sadly enough, this one disappointed me. I was putting of reading this volume for so long, because I knew that I would not enjoy Gordon as Batman. And that is exactly what happened. Which is a pity, because Gordon as Batman is very present in this book. I just did not like the idea of him being the 'hero' that Gotham needs, I did not like the reason why especially he had to become Batman. I just do not like the idea behind it all.
And who actually is this Powers Company? Why haven't we heard of them before, if they are so powerful and important in Gotham? And why are they funding this new Batman idea? Unanswered questions I would have liked to get an answer to.
Back to Batman. Jim Gordon is someone I do not really care for as a cop, and I definitely do not care for him as Batman. On the contrary, now that he is the Bat, he is bothering me. I do not like him, even though yes, he wants to do good things and not be controlled by higher forces. I can see that. And I appreciate him being more reckless and stubborn and more like Bruce-ish. But still, if you do not like the main character, the comic is automatically a little bit dragging and tough to get through. At least it is like that for me.
Moreover, the story itself I did not particularly care for, even though I liked the idea of Mr. Bloom as a villain. He was interesting, to some degree.
So what did I like about this volume? I actually really enjoyed the little scenes we got to see from Bruce and his new life. Even though I do not see the point as to why it was necessary to make someone else Batman, I liked the way the 'new Bruce Wayne' was written. I really enjoyed the panels about him. It was nice seeing this other side of him. To see the person he could have been, if his parents had not died. It was nice to read. I also liked the little scene with Alfred and Clark - Alfred is always touching my heart with his little speeches. That was another mini highlight of this volume for me.
But everything that has to do with Gordon as Batman was just not interesting to me (not even thinking about this stupid suit of his or his 'Batmobile' which I not liked. At all.) Even his 'helpers' were more interesting to me. And this has nothing to do with me not liking somebody else being Batman. I know that Bruce was/is not always Batman. But the people that were Batman were at least interesting and had something unique about them. I can picture them as Gothams heroes. I can not do that with Jim Gordon.
The art in this comic, however, I really enjoyed, which is not a surprise, because I really like Greg Capullo's style. The color were very vibrant on same pages, which I enjoyed as well.
However, this comic has very few redeeming qualities about it (sadly) and it was definitely the weakest volume of Batmans New 52 run so far.
Well, sadly enough, this one disappointed me. I was putting of reading this volume for so long, because I knew that I would not enjoy Gordon as Batman. And that is exactly what happened. Which is a pity, because Gordon as Batman is very present in this book. I just did not like the idea of him being the 'hero' that Gotham needs, I did not like the reason why especially he had to become Batman. I just do not like the idea behind it all.
And who actually is this Powers Company? Why haven't we heard of them before, if they are so powerful and important in Gotham? And why are they funding this new Batman idea? Unanswered questions I would have liked to get an answer to.
Back to Batman. Jim Gordon is someone I do not really care for as a cop, and I definitely do not care for him as Batman. On the contrary, now that he is the Bat, he is bothering me. I do not like him, even though yes, he wants to do good things and not be controlled by higher forces. I can see that. And I appreciate him being more reckless and stubborn and more like Bruce-ish. But still, if you do not like the main character, the comic is automatically a little bit dragging and tough to get through. At least it is like that for me.
Moreover, the story itself I did not particularly care for, even though I liked the idea of Mr. Bloom as a villain. He was interesting, to some degree.
So what did I like about this volume? I actually really enjoyed the little scenes we got to see from Bruce and his new life. Even though I do not see the point as to why it was necessary to make someone else Batman, I liked the way the 'new Bruce Wayne' was written. I really enjoyed the panels about him. It was nice seeing this other side of him. To see the person he could have been, if his parents had not died. It was nice to read. I also liked the little scene with Alfred and Clark - Alfred is always touching my heart with his little speeches. That was another mini highlight of this volume for me.
But everything that has to do with Gordon as Batman was just not interesting to me (not even thinking about this stupid suit of his or his 'Batmobile' which I not liked. At all.) Even his 'helpers' were more interesting to me. And this has nothing to do with me not liking somebody else being Batman. I know that Bruce was/is not always Batman. But the people that were Batman were at least interesting and had something unique about them. I can picture them as Gothams heroes. I can not do that with Jim Gordon.
The art in this comic, however, I really enjoyed, which is not a surprise, because I really like Greg Capullo's style. The color were very vibrant on same pages, which I enjoyed as well.
However, this comic has very few redeeming qualities about it (sadly) and it was definitely the weakest volume of Batmans New 52 run so far.
shri_ace13's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
mummybear_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
groblinthegoblin624's review against another edition
3.5
I didn’t dislike Gordon’s Batman like I was expecting to. The cigarettes bit was cute, and I really like the design of Mr. Bloom
tamnhauser's review
3.0
I'm torn, but it's a 3.5, if I'm being kind. It's just, well... There's plenty of thought and direction to what goes on. But, yes. It's not what you'd call entertaining and hey, I guess that lessens the value for some!
I'm split. Half of me screams of desperate disappointment and the other nods enthusiastically about changing it up and doing something that enters the inner workings of each character and precisely what their goals are.
But, ha! It's a stellar run either way.
I'm split. Half of me screams of desperate disappointment and the other nods enthusiastically about changing it up and doing something that enters the inner workings of each character and precisely what their goals are.
But, ha! It's a stellar run either way.
thatguitarist7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-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
4.25
vlpfeiffer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0