revolution666's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thechocolatefinger's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This is the one where Joker is standing on Batman in high heels.
(but there is actually no relevance in the comic - it’s just for the cover)
It’s a sequel to Batman: Cacophony.
(but there is actually no relevance in the comic - it’s just for the cover)
It’s a sequel to Batman: Cacophony.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
The sexual assault is Poison Ivy physically to Batman - he has to push her off. There’s a graphic bloody and violent cannibalism scene in issue 2.renatasnacks's review against another edition
4.0
I really dug this. I like Batman movies, but I haven't read too many of the comics. I understand Kev Smith got a fair amount of flak for writing "un-Batman-ish" comics, but I loved this. It had a really good dash of Kevin Smith humor (which I know isn't for everyone, but which I really enjoy) and a genuinely surprising/scary twist (no spoilerzzzz). Oh, and you should read [b:Batman: Cacophony|6185966|Batman Cacophony|Kevin Smith|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255571784s/6185966.jpg|6366242] first, if you're going to read this.
onceandfuturelaura's review against another edition
4.0
That was AWESOME.
Seriously insightful, deeply meta-textual, and full of laugh out loud lines. Kevin Smith at his best. A taste, as he’s fighting a demon at Arkham Asylum, he thinks:
“Every evening as I suit up, I remind myself this could be the night I don’t come home because I’ve been crushed beneath the key of a giant prop typewriter. Or the night I die at the business end of an umbrella. Or the night I die at the hands of a caped alien god who’s realized he can just as easily enslave the world as protect it.”
This Dark Night is both Grant Morrison and Adam West. And the Joker is still reading Ayn Rand with a skeptical look. I approve.
Seriously insightful, deeply meta-textual, and full of laugh out loud lines. Kevin Smith at his best. A taste, as he’s fighting a demon at Arkham Asylum, he thinks:
“Every evening as I suit up, I remind myself this could be the night I don’t come home because I’ve been crushed beneath the key of a giant prop typewriter. Or the night I die at the business end of an umbrella. Or the night I die at the hands of a caped alien god who’s realized he can just as easily enslave the world as protect it.”
This Dark Night is both Grant Morrison and Adam West. And the Joker is still reading Ayn Rand with a skeptical look. I approve.
saturnserina's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gwimo's review against another edition
5.0
If you haven't read Batman: Cacophony, I strongly suggest that you do before picking up the first volume of Batman: The Widening Gyre. Like Cacophony, The Widening Gyre is written by Kevin Smith with art by Walter "Tell 'Em, Steve Dave" Flanagan.
The volume - the hardback to be released on 14 December 2010 - features a cast of infamous and not-so famous Gotham villains. However, there isn't a single one that is a singular in the story arc. The focus is on the hero in town. One called Baphomet, which has Batman and the boy wonder at odds whether this shady crime fighter's intentions are pure.
But Batman's guard is down when Silver St. Cloud returns to Bruce Wayne's life. Flashing back to every relationship he ever held as Batman - nonromantic, that is - Bruce begins to wonder if Gotham is safe without him. Assured that both Robin and the newcomer can take care of things, Bruce allows himself something he hasn't in years - peace of mind.
With the light at the end of the tunnel becoming brighter, Bruce is forever looking behind his shoulder. But will his guard be up when the one that go away returns to his life?
I'd like to say as usual but considering that Cacophony is the first story arc by Smith that I've read, I think it's a moot to even think it. However, Kevin Smith doesn't disappoint with the first of two volumes. Along with him, returns Walter Flanagan whose art amazes me. Both are able to blend humor with the seriousness expected of Batman. It won't say it's canon, but The Widening Gyre is essential to any Batman fan out there. Just be sure to read Cacophony first. You'll lost without it.
The volume - the hardback to be released on 14 December 2010 - features a cast of infamous and not-so famous Gotham villains. However, there isn't a single one that is a singular in the story arc. The focus is on the hero in town. One called Baphomet, which has Batman and the boy wonder at odds whether this shady crime fighter's intentions are pure.
But Batman's guard is down when Silver St. Cloud returns to Bruce Wayne's life. Flashing back to every relationship he ever held as Batman - nonromantic, that is - Bruce begins to wonder if Gotham is safe without him. Assured that both Robin and the newcomer can take care of things, Bruce allows himself something he hasn't in years - peace of mind.
With the light at the end of the tunnel becoming brighter, Bruce is forever looking behind his shoulder. But will his guard be up when the one that go away returns to his life?
I'd like to say as usual but considering that Cacophony is the first story arc by Smith that I've read, I think it's a moot to even think it. However, Kevin Smith doesn't disappoint with the first of two volumes. Along with him, returns Walter Flanagan whose art amazes me. Both are able to blend humor with the seriousness expected of Batman. It won't say it's canon, but The Widening Gyre is essential to any Batman fan out there. Just be sure to read Cacophony first. You'll lost without it.
jakekilroy's review against another edition
3.0
Most of this first volume handles way too fast or way too slow. It's half a-new-criminal-every-night and half oh-my-god-is-Bruce-Wayne-finally-happy. This all happens while Batman is fighting his lesser-known wacky, almost silly, super-violent villains, such as Crazy Quilt (murderer of eye doctors) and Cornelius Stirk (eater of human hearts).
It actually feels pretty manic and unfocused or a lot of it, but the ending is so tightly-wounded and precise that it almost makes you furious (because now you have to eagerly await the second volume). I think I literally said, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?"
The difference here is that there's a new crime fighter in Gotham that's helping out Batman (with a really dope mask, by the way...think cold-hearted pagan goat god). Also, the return of Silver St. Cloud as Bruce Wayne's epic love interest here is pretty unsettling, just because seeing Bruce Wayne that happy is peculiar, but rare, so it's ok. However, it's treated with an almost teenage misunderstanding and frivolous gossipy excitement. Shrug.
One thing that Kevin Smith can do better than almost any other Batman writer is place a solid joke. There were two or three times I laughed out loud, which Batman would straight up hate.
It actually feels pretty manic and unfocused or a lot of it, but the ending is so tightly-wounded and precise that it almost makes you furious (because now you have to eagerly await the second volume). I think I literally said, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?"
The difference here is that there's a new crime fighter in Gotham that's helping out Batman (with a really dope mask, by the way...think cold-hearted pagan goat god). Also, the return of Silver St. Cloud as Bruce Wayne's epic love interest here is pretty unsettling, just because seeing Bruce Wayne that happy is peculiar, but rare, so it's ok. However, it's treated with an almost teenage misunderstanding and frivolous gossipy excitement. Shrug.
One thing that Kevin Smith can do better than almost any other Batman writer is place a solid joke. There were two or three times I laughed out loud, which Batman would straight up hate.
erutane's review against another edition
2.0
I felt like I missed something while reading this. Was Kevin Smith being serious? Was there some sort of joke that went over my head that would have helped me to understand this story? I hope so, because without that missing piece I seem to have gotten sucked into some teen-scribed fan-fiction. I don't mind Batman being happy, even foolishly, sappily so. I can even handle Batman being a little silly once in a while. But this was not Batman. This wasn't even Bruce Wayne. Both guys are infinitely cooler than whomever this imposter is. And Silver St. Cloud has got to be the worst socialite Batman has ever breathed the same air with. She is obnoxious, grating and perpetually twelve. Batman has had dalliances with some amazing women, but we're to believe that he's willing to settle down with the Queen of Whine? I can't even stand up for Catwoman- a personal favorite- because she was also written down to a love-struck teenage girl who plays games to get the guy she wants. I think Smith spent a little too much time on Degrassi. The only things missing here are acne, puberty-induced voice cracks, and sleep-overs in which the girls of Gotham swoon over the hottest of the Justice League.
Baphomet was cool; I liked him even though I had no doubt of his sinister role. And some of the villains they encountered were rather fun to read about. But with Baphomet's appearance came the disappearance of Batman's proteges. His hormones go into overdrive whenever he thinks of Baphomet and the freedom his role is allowing him to have, but he's fostered more heroes with more talent than this goat-guy has and he's never felt any ease in letting them take over. If I were Robin or Nightwing I'd be quite offended.
The very last page barely makes up for the rest of the pages, but it helps. It also makes me wonder: did Kevin Smith hate Silver St. Cloud as much as I did?
Baphomet was cool; I liked him even though I had no doubt of his sinister role. And some of the villains they encountered were rather fun to read about. But with Baphomet's appearance came the disappearance of Batman's proteges. His hormones go into overdrive whenever he thinks of Baphomet and the freedom his role is allowing him to have, but he's fostered more heroes with more talent than this goat-guy has and he's never felt any ease in letting them take over. If I were Robin or Nightwing I'd be quite offended.
The very last page barely makes up for the rest of the pages, but it helps. It also makes me wonder: did Kevin Smith hate Silver St. Cloud as much as I did?
tabman678's review against another edition
2.0
I'll put it this way, I enjoy the references to movies and other Super hero comics. I also enjoy seeing Batman happy and got a few chuckles here and there.
But as a Batman comic there are better ones to read including Smiths previous Batman comic.
I can't exactly say to read this if you liked the previous one, because it rushes to a climax in part six and doesn't have an ending.
Not great, bot good, all in all it was unmemorable and I would not recommend it.
But as a Batman comic there are better ones to read including Smiths previous Batman comic.
I can't exactly say to read this if you liked the previous one, because it rushes to a climax in part six and doesn't have an ending.
Not great, bot good, all in all it was unmemorable and I would not recommend it.