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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Not enough of a Batman aficionado to get all the finer nuances but I liked the overall story.
Illustrated by David Finch and Mikel Janin
Batman saves a little boy and his parents right before they’re killed in the same manner as his own parents, and, in turn, the little boy grows up wanting to be just like Batman. He and his sister become Gotham and Gotham girl and fight crime trying to save the city. Batman isn't sure if he can trust them, so he puts them through some training and tests to see if they're superhero material. Wouldn't it be nice to have Justice League - level superheroes right in Gotham, rather than having to call Superman and Wonder Woman all the time?
This first volume of the Batman Rebirth storyline seems like a run-of-the-mill Batman story, with nothing earth-shattering or timeline-altering. But a volume one of Batman cannot resist reliving how Bruce's parents met their end. Rather than rehashing Bruce's story, though, we get a slightly different version of it applied to another young boy's parents. There's not much about volume one that will carry over into volume two, so hopefully, we'll see more set up of the overarching story relatively soon.
The art is also very typical of Batman comics with a few double-page spreads of great detail and richly colored. As with many Batman titles, there is some violence and blood, but there isn't much of the psychological thriller component that usually accompany Batman storylines.
Sara's Rating: 6/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
Batman saves a little boy and his parents right before they’re killed in the same manner as his own parents, and, in turn, the little boy grows up wanting to be just like Batman. He and his sister become Gotham and Gotham girl and fight crime trying to save the city. Batman isn't sure if he can trust them, so he puts them through some training and tests to see if they're superhero material. Wouldn't it be nice to have Justice League - level superheroes right in Gotham, rather than having to call Superman and Wonder Woman all the time?
This first volume of the Batman Rebirth storyline seems like a run-of-the-mill Batman story, with nothing earth-shattering or timeline-altering. But a volume one of Batman cannot resist reliving how Bruce's parents met their end. Rather than rehashing Bruce's story, though, we get a slightly different version of it applied to another young boy's parents. There's not much about volume one that will carry over into volume two, so hopefully, we'll see more set up of the overarching story relatively soon.
The art is also very typical of Batman comics with a few double-page spreads of great detail and richly colored. As with many Batman titles, there is some violence and blood, but there isn't much of the psychological thriller component that usually accompany Batman storylines.
Sara's Rating: 6/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
Нат грейт, нат терібл. Але тут Бетмен має більше людських почутів, а не просто "грр, я Бетмен"
adventurous
reflective
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
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
This is a really good take on Batman. An excellent way of re-establishing him as a competent, brooding character while still remaining fresh. I appreciated how much of a drama queen he was. His banter with Alfred was phenomenal. He's also got his newest child and trying to be a good Bat-dad to him, which is just always nice to see. A lot of those good, classic elements of Batman pop up here and mixes really nicely with the newer characters and stories.
Again, this rebirth title gives us a really simple, well-told, self-contained arc. Really great cameos and I like how they set up the story for what's to come next. I am happy with how this is going.
Again, this rebirth title gives us a really simple, well-told, self-contained arc. Really great cameos and I like how they set up the story for what's to come next. I am happy with how this is going.
via NYPL - A solid read focusing on a pair of neophyte heroes collapsing under their tragedy underscored by stirring emotional beats. The art's solid (and I'm generally not a fan of Finch). It's a good read, but nothing I feel compelled to follow indefinitely - which says more about my interest in superheroes in general and Batman in particular than it says about King's very good work.
3 Stars
I really enjoyed the first 3 issues in this volume. I really like Duke as a character, both here and in Snyder's All-Star Batman. I even liked the Gotham/Gotham Girl plot when it was just starting out. However, once this started coming to a close and Gotham started to dissociate, I lost interest. I get why this plot exists but I was not a fan.
Anyway, this starts with Bruce taking on Duke as an apprentice. I'm not entirely sure where they met but I really like Duke as a character. I really like his relationship with Alfred, as well. Much like the rest of the Batfam, he came into Bruce's care because of a parental tragedy and Bruce is helping him pick up the pieces by turning him into a crime fighter. Duke is sweet. He's caring, selfless, pretty damn smart and he reminds me of Dick in that he takes care of others. I would gladly read more about this character.
The first real issue in the "I Am Gotham" storyline is Bruce trying to stop a plane from crashing into Gotham City. There's a moment where he talks to Alfred about his letters for the boys in the event of his death and he asks whether his parents would have been proud. Not gonna lie, I teared up a bit during this scene. I'm not the world's biggest Bruce Wayne fan. I usually find his personality to be extremely bland in books without the Batfam but here, I found him interesting and relatable in this first issue.
I must add, Finch's art is Grayson levels of gorgeous. Seriously, Bruce looks freaking amazing in this book.
Anyway, he meets Gotham and Gotham Girl. Let me get my complaints about this out of the way now. Why does she have to be Gotham Girl? 1. I'm pretty sure she's of age and 2. the guy isn't called Gotham Boy or Gotham Guy. Whatever. Claire/Gotham Girl is sort of removed from all of the important parts of this story. She's not there when their parents nearly die and Hank first encounters the Batman. She's not shown fighting crime as much as Hank or getting as much advice from Batman. The last half of this volume, she's back at the Batcave cowering from the effects of the Psycho Pirate (which... okay) which is some classic, 50's comic book BS. Gotham gets turned into the Superman from hell and she's just scared of everything. Thanks. Add to that the implication that they became superheroes because it was Hank's idea and she just followed her brother into everything. I'm just realizing how terrible this character is, actually.
Claire's barely even a character and I'm wondering if that's because the writer is male and thought Hank would be the more relatable character? He's the one that nearly loses his parents in an alley and he's the one with the idea to become super. Claire is kind of pointless and I think that last issue of this volume was the worst one.
Anyway, the plotline with Gotham is confusing because pretty much every Batman story I've ever read with this type of issue is treated very differently. Batman's not a fan of trusting people with unchecked superpowers. Even after he befriended Superman, he always had a contingency plan in place. However, I think this is part of the All-Star Batman type of Rebirth thing where he's making changes. He's trying to trust more people and look at other ways of helping his city. I think that's pretty damn honorable so I'm not completely against the idea.
So, ultimately, I didn't hate this book. I really like King's Bruce Wayne in issue 1. He's someone I find unusually compelling here. I enjoy Bruce's partnership with Duke and I can't wait to see more of them working together. Alfred was a joy, as always. My biggest problems were Gotham and Gotham Girl. I don't like the concept of Gotham Girl as a character and I think the conclusion of that story was pretty messy.
So, I'm not sure if I'd recommend this book. How about this:
- If you are a fan of dark and gritty Batman stories where there's a mystery and Batman has to use his wits to save the day: This is not the book for you.
- If you enjoyed All-Star Batman and you're looking for more of Bruce and Duke's partnership: Check out the first three issues.
-If you are looking for a Batman story that delves more into his childhood trauma and you want a story where Batman helps a Gothamized version of Superman and Supergirl: You have oddly specific taste and this is definitely the book for you.
3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed the first 3 issues in this volume. I really like Duke as a character, both here and in Snyder's All-Star Batman. I even liked the Gotham/Gotham Girl plot when it was just starting out. However, once this started coming to a close and Gotham started to dissociate, I lost interest. I get why this plot exists but I was not a fan.
Anyway, this starts with Bruce taking on Duke as an apprentice. I'm not entirely sure where they met but I really like Duke as a character. I really like his relationship with Alfred, as well. Much like the rest of the Batfam, he came into Bruce's care because of a parental tragedy and Bruce is helping him pick up the pieces by turning him into a crime fighter. Duke is sweet. He's caring, selfless, pretty damn smart and he reminds me of Dick in that he takes care of others. I would gladly read more about this character.
The first real issue in the "I Am Gotham" storyline is Bruce trying to stop a plane from crashing into Gotham City. There's a moment where he talks to Alfred about his letters for the boys in the event of his death and he asks whether his parents would have been proud. Not gonna lie, I teared up a bit during this scene. I'm not the world's biggest Bruce Wayne fan. I usually find his personality to be extremely bland in books without the Batfam but here, I found him interesting and relatable in this first issue.
I must add, Finch's art is Grayson levels of gorgeous. Seriously, Bruce looks freaking amazing in this book.
Anyway, he meets Gotham and Gotham Girl. Let me get my complaints about this out of the way now. Why does she have to be Gotham Girl? 1. I'm pretty sure she's of age and 2. the guy isn't called Gotham Boy or Gotham Guy. Whatever. Claire/Gotham Girl is sort of removed from all of the important parts of this story. She's not there when their parents nearly die and Hank first encounters the Batman. She's not shown fighting crime as much as Hank or getting as much advice from Batman. The last half of this volume, she's back at the Batcave cowering from the effects of the Psycho Pirate (which... okay) which is some classic, 50's comic book BS. Gotham gets turned into the Superman from hell and she's just scared of everything. Thanks. Add to that the implication that they became superheroes because it was Hank's idea and she just followed her brother into everything. I'm just realizing how terrible this character is, actually.
Claire's barely even a character and I'm wondering if that's because the writer is male and thought Hank would be the more relatable character? He's the one that nearly loses his parents in an alley and he's the one with the idea to become super. Claire is kind of pointless and I think that last issue of this volume was the worst one.
Anyway, the plotline with Gotham is confusing because pretty much every Batman story I've ever read with this type of issue is treated very differently. Batman's not a fan of trusting people with unchecked superpowers. Even after he befriended Superman, he always had a contingency plan in place. However, I think this is part of the All-Star Batman type of Rebirth thing where he's making changes. He's trying to trust more people and look at other ways of helping his city. I think that's pretty damn honorable so I'm not completely against the idea.
So, ultimately, I didn't hate this book. I really like King's Bruce Wayne in issue 1. He's someone I find unusually compelling here. I enjoy Bruce's partnership with Duke and I can't wait to see more of them working together. Alfred was a joy, as always. My biggest problems were Gotham and Gotham Girl. I don't like the concept of Gotham Girl as a character and I think the conclusion of that story was pretty messy.
So, I'm not sure if I'd recommend this book. How about this:
- If you are a fan of dark and gritty Batman stories where there's a mystery and Batman has to use his wits to save the day: This is not the book for you.
- If you enjoyed All-Star Batman and you're looking for more of Bruce and Duke's partnership: Check out the first three issues.
-If you are looking for a Batman story that delves more into his childhood trauma and you want a story where Batman helps a Gothamized version of Superman and Supergirl: You have oddly specific taste and this is definitely the book for you.
3.5 stars.