mjthomas43's review against another edition
4.0
Review from 20141130: Wow. I'm getting old. I don't remember reading this before. It did feel a little familiar but I guess three years is enough time to forget something like this. Not much to add content-wise to my previous comments other than that this volume would be a good starter to the Batman universe since it brings in so many characters and touches on so many of Batman's key relationships with them: Alfred, Gordon, Selina, the GCPD, Arkham, the crimes families, several super villains, and finally Dick Grayson. I also really like the art here: Batman is enormous and nicely shadowy, Mario Falcone's face is a wall, and Joker's jaw is a character unto itself. The whole thing is drawn spookily, which is how Batman should be. I upped my rating from 3 to 4 stars out of 5 for these reasons. I was so hard to please back in '11. /sigh
Review from 20110628: Graphic novels confuse me. I've only read some of the Batman series' issues in order and in the original but there are plenty of collections and non-series books that include origins and "permanent" story lines that either conflict with other details or at least tell it from a slightly different perspective. This is primarily a story about Harvey Dent / Two-Face, but it's really an exploration of Batman's problem with trusting anyone, finally being resolved in the acceptance of Robin as his partner. It also includes some insight into Jim Gordon and the interplay of the all the main villains.
Review from 20110628: Graphic novels confuse me. I've only read some of the Batman series' issues in order and in the original but there are plenty of collections and non-series books that include origins and "permanent" story lines that either conflict with other details or at least tell it from a slightly different perspective. This is primarily a story about Harvey Dent / Two-Face, but it's really an exploration of Batman's problem with trusting anyone, finally being resolved in the acceptance of Robin as his partner. It also includes some insight into Jim Gordon and the interplay of the all the main villains.
neartaking's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emsemce123's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
The follow-up to The Long Halloween feels a little scattershot and unfocused, rushed at the end. I liked it overall but Robin's inclusion feels a little ham fisted and forced in, like something that was an afterthought and not a clear goal from the beginning. I like the continuation of Harvey's/Two Face's storyline and wish there was more focus on his split personality. I could also see that being done on purpose to lend it an air of plausible deniability. I kind of wished the mysteries of this and the previous story were a little more fleshed out, with actual clues being dropped for the reader to pick up on and actually figure out who the killer is, instead of it being a big reveal that doesn't really shock me. I definitely didn't see it coming but that doesn't automatically make it good. Still a great Batman story, especially in its smaller, grounded, more gritty, realistic side.
Nitpick: I still don't like Catwomans design or The Jokers...look at how they Massacred my boy.
Nitpick: I still don't like Catwomans design or The Jokers...look at how they Massacred my boy.
robbiesbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
fluffyfinger's review against another edition
4.0
Even better than long Halloween. Gotta love the loner aspect of it and the introduction of Robin as a foil to his loner side. Loeb is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers.
ugmug's review against another edition
2.0
Lazier, weaker clone of Loeb's best Batman book. If you've read The Long Halloween, you can skip this one.
walter_the_wombat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Part 9: Orphans is some of the best exploration of these characters I've ever seen. The rest... is not great.
georgezakka's review against another edition
4.0
3.5, this book really makes me sick of the entire crime family genre. It’s really boring and I really just don’t care about the mob.
Batman Dark Victory - similar to the long Halloween every month a police officer is hanged by a rope with a message sent in the form of the hangman game. Jim Gordon blames himself and everyone thinks it’s Harvey dent because the messages tie to him but it’s actually Sofia gigante, Meh.
My thoughts - I’m so sick of the falcone Marconi blah blah blah crime mob boss blah blah it’s so boring to read but it’s ok because there are ups. Like how dick becomes robin how he gets over his parents and copes with living with Bruce. Also I’m starting to love Tim sale’s weird art especially scenes with Batman’s rogues gallery. We also get to see more of Alberto falcone but he’s on house arrest being monitored by an ankle monitor and his brother but soon is killed. I also really liked the surprise of the new attorney working with dent but all the crime family holds back a lot of my enjoyment.
Overall good book
Batman Dark Victory - similar to the long Halloween every month a police officer is hanged by a rope with a message sent in the form of the hangman game. Jim Gordon blames himself and everyone thinks it’s Harvey dent because the messages tie to him but it’s actually Sofia gigante, Meh.
My thoughts - I’m so sick of the falcone Marconi blah blah blah crime mob boss blah blah it’s so boring to read but it’s ok because there are ups. Like how dick becomes robin how he gets over his parents and copes with living with Bruce. Also I’m starting to love Tim sale’s weird art especially scenes with Batman’s rogues gallery. We also get to see more of Alberto falcone but he’s on house arrest being monitored by an ankle monitor and his brother but soon is killed. I also really liked the surprise of the new attorney working with dent but all the crime family holds back a lot of my enjoyment.
Overall good book
shibosan's review against another edition
4.0
Вполне достойное продолжение "Долгого Хеллоуина", описывающее закат эпохи гангстеров старой школы в Готэме. Все в принципе то же самое - нуарный детектив, таинственный серийный убийца со своим гиммиком, масса подозреваемых, развязка не то чтобы неожиданная, но не слишком очевидная, ввиду того что слишком много заинтересованных акторов в деле. Рисунок Тима Сэйла стал еще немного лучше и практически терпим. К истории пришита на скорую руку ориджин стори Дика Грейсона, но если убрать ее - вообще ничего не изменится.
По итогам двух этих серий хочется сказать, что приятно видеть Бэтмена в роли street level hero, которого при свете дня мелкий бандит может и нахер послать, а не персоналией галактического масштаба, какой он стал в последние годы в ранах Лиги Справедливости. И Джокера - не в роли непоборимой силы и агента Хаоса, а всего лишь как одного из криминальных боссов Готэма, которого не уважают "правильные" гангстеры, а Харви Дент может вломить люлей. Старые добрые времена.*ностальгически кряхтит*
По итогам двух этих серий хочется сказать, что приятно видеть Бэтмена в роли street level hero, которого при свете дня мелкий бандит может и нахер послать, а не персоналией галактического масштаба, какой он стал в последние годы в ранах Лиги Справедливости. И Джокера - не в роли непоборимой силы и агента Хаоса, а всего лишь как одного из криминальных боссов Готэма, которого не уважают "правильные" гангстеры, а Харви Дент может вломить люлей. Старые добрые времена.*ностальгически кряхтит*