Graphic Novel Reviews: The Dark Knight 020

The Story

Batman investigates the murders while Natalya is kidnapped by the Mad Hatter. Despite his conviction that she was perfect, after Natalya leaves a large scar on his face he decides she is not his Alice and must be disposed of. Batman realizes that Natalya has been taken and races to find her. But he is too late and the Mad Hatter throws her out a helicopter to die on the bat signal.

The Review
I could be very, very sarcastic during this review. In fact last week that was my gut reaction. Since then I've had time to cool down, realize there were more important things in life than bad comic books. But, I imagine as I get back into the books coming out this week I'll find a couple of stinkers to ruin my mood.

I don't think anyone is surprised at Natalya's death. People that haven't read any Batman books before couldn't possibly be surprised by her ultimate fate. Batman has kept his secret identity for a long time, that doesn't happen when every girl he ever revealed his secret to managed to survive their respective story.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batman - The Dark Knight 019

The Story
The Mad Hatter spies Batman dropping off his current girlfriend, and realizes that she is perfect to play the role of Alice. He runs his slaves through the reenactment of that perfect date, and after the rehearsal is over he murders them all and dumps them in a lake for Batman and Gordon to find. In the meanwhile, Bruce wonders if what he's feeling for expendable #1 is in fact love.

The Review
I apologize in advance for sounding like a lunatic in this review.

Graphic Novel Reviews: The Dark Knight 018

The Story

Batman tracks down Mad Hatter's operation, but is overpowered. He runs into Catwoman, who has stolen his hubcap to try and get his attention. We get another flashback of Mad Hatter's, where we learn the source of his insanity was a dangerous testosterone pill he took as a child. And then Batman reveals who he is to his current F.R.I. (Forced Romantic Interest, thanks to ERod).

The Review
Whooo boy, and we were doing so well with this story. Where do I even begin? Perhaps with what I liked. I like the way Van Sciver draws Batman's cape. It's a bit odd, but the way it's put together makes it look like proper bat wings when the air catches it.

I like the fact that Catwoman made a random appearance, even though it basically affirms that we're back to the early stage of their relationship. I liked where it had gone before the New 52, so going back to square one is annoying. And confusing, considering they did the nasty in Catwoman 001.

Graphic Novel Reviews: The Dark Knight 014-017

The Story
After Batman breaks free from the Scarecrow's trap, the Scarecrow turns to the final phase of his plan—gassing Gotham city with his new fear toxin. From a zeppelin. The entire city becomes a disaster area, and while Batman is trying to contain the chaos he discovers that he is immune to the new formula. Figuring that his blood has the necessary antibodies to create an antidote, unfortunately it would take days to create an antidote. With no time left, Batman decides to spray his own blood over the city to counteract the toxin. It almost kills him, but he succeeds.

In the story beginning with issue sixteen, the Mad Hatter has been kidnapping people and casting them in parts from Alice in Wonderland. Batman tracks the kidnappings, trying to find where the Mad Hatter is, but as of the latest issue he has not found him. In the meanwhile, Bruce and his girlfriend Natalya break up.

Graphic Novel Reviews: The Dark Knight 013

The Story
The Scarecrow exposes Batman to an even more potent toxin, causing him to live out the life he could have live had he turned to the light rather than the darkness when his parents died. The toxin causes him to confront his very essence. Batman confronts his future, the fact that he fears human contact more than anything. While at the same time we get to see more of Scarecrow's past, and how he was trapped in a pit filled with corpses and gruesome mannequins. Finally, Batman is able to escape and confront Scarecrow.

The Review
Out of all the Batman stories, this is by far the creepiest. I may not enjoy the macabre all the time, but every once in a while it can spice up a dark story just right. What surprised me most about this issue is how little actually happened. There weren't any big action scenes, and the plot didn't really progress out of the one room. But I love this kind of storytelling. Taking a chapter to focus on what makes Batman who he is was incredibly enjoyable.

Graphic Novel Reviews: The Dark Knight 0

The Story

After his parent's death, Bruce spends years trying to find the meaning behind their murder. He grows up, goes to school, graduates, always trying to find the reason behind his parents deaths. He reasons that someone must be responsible. His father was a powerful man that stepped on a lot of toes. But once Bruce tracks their killer, Joe Chill, down he discovers the man to be a drunk. Not a mob killer, an assassin, or a gunman. The reason his parents died is because one man was down on his luck and needed some money to buy another bottle. His world view shattered, Bruce sets out to find meaning in the world, beginning the training that would lead to him becoming Batman.

The Review
This story has been repeated to exhaustion. The horse is no longer just dead, it's been resurrected and kept alive long enough for its flesh to rot away in undead putrification. THEN they started beating it again.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batman - The Dark Knight 012

The Story

Scarecrow experiments on Batman, revealing another take on the murder of Bruce's parents, with more of a focus on the topic of fear. Scarecrow's own backstory is revealed, showing his growth from a damaged child to a psychotic adult. With the exception of another visit from Scarecrow's morality pet, the majority of the issue is fear hallucinations, or backstory.

The Review
I liked the parallel this issue draws between Batman and the Scarecrow. I've been thinking for a bit that as far as foils go, Scarecrow makes perhaps more sense than the Joker. That's not to say I don't like the Batman and Joker dynamic, but there's a certain logic to Scarecrow being Batman's foil.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batman - The Dark Knight Issue 011

The Story

Bruce finds out about Gordon's kidnapping and leaves his girlfriend to save his friend. While he triest to track Scarecrow down, Scarecrow experiments on another girl that he kidnapped. Batman talks to the girl from the last issue and manages to get Scarecrow's license plate number from her. He goes to where Scarecrow is hiding, but is ambushed and infected with fear toxin.

The Review
This issue covers all the necessary plot points, Bruce's failing relationship with his girlfriend, his hunt for Gordon, and the Scarecrow's past. At the same time it felt like not much happened. I got through this issue in just a few minutes and didn't feel like much had been accomplished.

Which is strange, because we learned a fair few things. Most importantly, we got a flashback for Scarecrow, to his father using him as a test subject in his fear experiments. It certainly explains Scarecrow's obsession with fear, though after Freeze got a flashback I can't help but feel this is more the second step in trend rather than an interesting new development.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batman - The Dark Knight 010

The Story

Batman and the police are tracking a criminal that has been kidnapping children, and though he releases them, they return mentally changed. Batman tries to find out who is responsible for the kidnappings from the most recent victim, but the child is too traumatized. In a rare and touching scene, Batman sits with the little girl and comforts her.

After this touching scene we get a jarring shift where Bruce is shown neglecting not only Damian, but his current girlfriend as well. He's played off as clueless to his neglect, which conflicts with his development in Batman and Robin.

Gordon in the meanwhile is haunted by his inability to protect his daughter from the Joker, or to protect his son from himself. He's attacked, in his own home, by the scarecrow, who's upped the horror ante and sewn his lips closed, while somehow retaining his abilitiy to speak.