rhganci's review
2.0
I was really enjoying this book, its clever allusions to various horror fiction, some very nicely-written scenes that explored the dynamics between characters, and I had some pretty high expectations for the last 40 pages when all of the sudden, from nowhere, two gelatinous blobs that the Scarecrow somehow rounded up and “programmed” with internal computers to kill an interesting character. It shattered my conception of the book, its connection with Batman Begins, and it became a poorly drawn and badly written issue of the comic book. The climax was way too Batman Forever with the Scarecrow’s “lair” set up in what was a pretty cool characterization piece for Grey Berwald. Maggie Tolleyer was very much an interesting character, but I kept picturing her with very mannish hair and not a whole lot of feminine charm, which threw off my understanding of her attractiveness to Grey and to Bruce Wayne. The prologue and the scene between Gordon and Batman in the Batmobile were two excellent scenes that explored some cool aspects of the characters, but the climax just buried this book.
liquid_death's review
1.0
This book is absolutely awful for the following reasons:
1) The book keeps trying way too hard to give really in depth world building to Gotham. None of which matters to the plot and keeps breaking up what little action there is. It was also some of the most stale world building I have had the misfortune of reading.
2) Like most people have said the book tries way too hard to pretend Scarecrow isn't involved even when he is clearly involved.
3) At the end of the book and Batman only ever so slightly cares. That was so incredibly out of character for Batman that I wanted to quit the book in rage even though there were only 2 pages left. Even if they had planed for there to be a sequel and have it revealed that . You can't take back Batman's cold and uncharacteristic reaction.
1) The book keeps trying way too hard to give really in depth world building to Gotham. None of which matters to the plot and keeps breaking up what little action there is. It was also some of the most stale world building I have had the misfortune of reading.
2) Like most people have said the book tries way too hard to pretend Scarecrow isn't involved even when he is clearly involved.
3) At the end of the book
Spoiler
Scarecrow dies due to negligence on Batman's partSpoiler
Scarecrow somehow survivedsoulfulsin's review
3.0
Eh. I enjoyed Scarecrow and I enjoyed the idea of a fear toxin, but I think the execution could have been a little better. I felt no actual, palpable fear. Maybe that would have happened if the writer had been able to create suspense, which he could only do to a limited extent.
Maggie was also a pain. She was a Mary Sue, plain and clear, because why else would she suddenly attract an OC *and* Batman? Srsly. And Alfred trying to hook Bruce up. Gimme a break. I had to skim the ending.
Still, Batman. The fact that this narrated from Batman's third person limited POV helped contribute to my actually liking the book, along with Scarecrow as the villain. I've heard other Batman books are better and I guess I'll find out soon enough.
Maggie was also a pain. She was a Mary Sue, plain and clear, because why else would she suddenly attract an OC *and* Batman? Srsly. And Alfred trying to hook Bruce up. Gimme a break. I had to skim the ending.
Still, Batman. The fact that this narrated from Batman's third person limited POV helped contribute to my actually liking the book, along with Scarecrow as the villain. I've heard other Batman books are better and I guess I'll find out soon enough.
lenaf's review
4.0
This was a refreshing tale involving not only a desperate horror author but also one of my favorite Batman villains, The Scarecrow. I really loved the analysis of horror writing “going too far” with scaring readers, and whether the potential liability falls on the shoulders of the author. Of course that question gets ramped up since this involves the Scarecrow.
I grew to like Ulysses Cutter, the afflicted henchman that worked with Crane. However I struggled to like Maggie as a character since we ended up having both Bruce Wayne and the Horror Author fighting over her attention. I had some issues with the ending, but if you read enough comics or watch enough comic book movies, it’s not terribly surprising.
I enjoyed the characters and the setup, and I chuckled multiple times at the literary references and classic horror movie references. I may be biased toward this story since I am a horror author myself. ;)
Overall a fun read if predictable at the end.
I grew to like Ulysses Cutter, the afflicted henchman that worked with Crane. However I struggled to like Maggie as a character since we ended up having both Bruce Wayne and the Horror Author fighting over her attention. I had some issues with the ending, but if you read enough comics or watch enough comic book movies, it’s not terribly surprising.
I enjoyed the characters and the setup, and I chuckled multiple times at the literary references and classic horror movie references. I may be biased toward this story since I am a horror author myself. ;)
Overall a fun read if predictable at the end.
More...