Reviews
All-Star Batman, Volume 3: The First Ally by Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque, Jordie Bellaire
madoc_mattox's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I really enjoyed this way too much. This story is more Alfred's than Batman's. It was perfect, lovely, entertaining, tense, inspiring, it was everything.
jhstack's review
3.0
I'm so used to Greg Capullo's artwork that Rafael Albuquerque's pales a bit in comparison. I do like, though, how Alfred rose to more of a central role, if just for this trade collection. The execution of the plot line, though, left me feeling a little mixed. (e-galley from NetGalley)
apageinthestacks's review
4.0
3.5/5.
Some great potential (and a great back-up story), but this one actually kinda disapointed me. If it wasn't Snyder it'd be a solid four stars, but at this point I expect more from him.
Some great potential (and a great back-up story), but this one actually kinda disapointed me. If it wasn't Snyder it'd be a solid four stars, but at this point I expect more from him.
19lindsey89's review
2.0
I liked the idea of telling stories from Alfred's point of view, but this volume fell flat for me. This volume feels too far removed from the events happening in the other Batman comics.
agudenburr's review
5.0
Badass Batman and Alfred! I really liked the classic pirate theme for this volume. The art is PERFECT, and really shows a tough/gritty Batman.
drewmay97's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Again better, but just not it.
subhamroxx's review
2.0
Alfred Used to be a SAS agent and we see how he was training to become some black knight called "Nemesis" under a man named Briar. In the present day we have Batman fighting Hush and then the criminal conspiracy leads us to a criminal auction and then comes some people who kill the person organizing it and when Batman investigates and fights and dodges and escape from them, we see its the new Nemesis and maybe Briar is behind it. The past has come to haunt Batman and will he escape? Whatever will happen to Alfred when he finds this out?
Its a good story and has some great panels and moments and other things but it again comes down to just so bland and boring. Like some scenes are filled with un-needed text like Alfred talking about pirates and it takes so long to read that one will sleep while reading it. The art is so somber and boring and just not all that exciting. Action scenes are poorly executed. Plus the backstory is unnecessary and lots of loop holes and there is no definitive ending or fight with the villain which is such a missed opportunity and it doesn't impact them anyhow. Skip this.
Its a good story and has some great panels and moments and other things but it again comes down to just so bland and boring. Like some scenes are filled with un-needed text like Alfred talking about pirates and it takes so long to read that one will sleep while reading it. The art is so somber and boring and just not all that exciting. Action scenes are poorly executed. Plus the backstory is unnecessary and lots of loop holes and there is no definitive ending or fight with the villain which is such a missed opportunity and it doesn't impact them anyhow. Skip this.
lukeisthename34's review
3.0
On one hand I like how unique these stories are but on the other Snyder really bent over backwards so shoehorn in some things that just don't make sense in the scheme of this universe and the way they explained why Batman and Wayne look alike was, pretty laughably bad.
yevgeny's review
5.0
I'll keep this short. This is a modern pirate story with Alfred as the main protagonist and Batman at the back seat. Scott Snyder takes us outside of Gotham (as he did in the previous All Star stories) and unveils the history of Alfred's military past before he became the Wayne family butler. This story is full of heart and James Bond vibes. And it's totally original with the help of artist Rafael Albuquerque who previously collaborated with Snyder on American Vampire.
The back-up story features Batman on a covert mission to Russia, and it's pretty great too. I couldn't ask for a more satisfying conclusion to this short All Star series.
The back-up story features Batman on a covert mission to Russia, and it's pretty great too. I couldn't ask for a more satisfying conclusion to this short All Star series.
captwinghead's review
5.0
This was just amazing!
Snyder remains my favorite Batman writer. He's the only one who's stories consistently make me enjoy Bruce as a character which is quite a feat. In his stories, I really get a compassionate understanding for Bruce's tireless pursuit to keep others from suffering the grief that he did. He's, to quote Alfred, "an absurd human being" but his goal is an admirable one. I preface this review with that because this book is very much not focused on Batman. It's focused on Alfred.
And I fucking loved it!
This was just outstanding! Every time I've read a story from Alfred's point of view, I've loved it. Robin: Year One was written that way and it's always a joy to read about Alfred's thoughts on his family. It's clear he loves them as though they were his blood and this was just a wonderful example of that. Alfred continuously refers to Bruce as his son throughout the narration and you can feel his attachment to Bruce. It's beautiful and I can't describe it well enough. It's just so incredibly heartfelt and dedicated and I love Alfred as a character so, so much.
This volume tells Alfred's story. And what an interesting one it is! It tells of Alfred's rebellious past and his attempts to get back at his father for neglecting the Pennyworth family to take care of the Waynes. It tells of how he entered the S.A.S partially out of revenge and fell in with a man called Briar. This story is all told with an interesting tie in to pirate stories. Alfred loved them as a kid: stories of rebellious children who left home and fell in with rag tag crews of pirates and looked to the pirate captain as a mentor. That mentor is later revealed to be less than the hero the young boy thought them to be and they return home before they go down with the ship. Snyder tells this story beautifully.
The irony of Alfred resenting his father's dedication to the Waynes and later become just as much, if not even more dedicated to this family goes without saying. It's one of the more beautiful aspects of the Batfamily history. Alfred loves Bruce and his grandchildren and I've never doubted that. I'm just so surprised and so, so happy that Snyder appears to be one of the only writers to understand that aspect with other writers referring to Dick as Bruce's "best friend" and Damian as Bruce's "real son". Snyder understands that the Batfamily is not about blood.
This entire volume is the contrast of Briar wanting Alfred to be the son he never had: a perfect Dark Knight with no personal attachments that can be used against him. This is contrasted with Alfred fretting that he may have been the worst thing to ever happen to Bruce. Alfred posits that the pirate stories may have been cautionary tales for parents as, the kids always come home in the end because the pirate captain tries to drag the kids down a bad path. Alfred talks of trying to lure Bruce away from his mission but Bruce ends up right back in the suit every single time.
Alfred also speaks of Bruce loving pirate tales but hating the endings.
It's also worth it to note that Alfred's love of pirate tales reminds me Dick's love for Robin Hood. I love that the batkids all have their own unique attachments to literary works.
Alfred steadfastly holds onto Bruce and tries to keep him safe in this story and Bruce does the same to Alfred. Throughout the entire arc, Alfred has this internal war within himself that is so fascinating considering the many times he's questioned Bruce's treatment of the batkids. Alfred has always wondered if he did the right thing helping create the Batman and keep him alive and even as he doubts himself, he continues to help.
So, this is a little rambly but I'm honestly just in awe at such a beautifully written, complex, wonderful story. This series has been such a gift! So many out of the box Batman stories that are unlike the other Batsy stories we're getting right now. This series tells stories that actually make me root for Batman and this one made me root for Alfred and want to give him a hug.
Alfred Pennyworth is one of the best fathers in comic book history.
Snyder remains my favorite Batman writer. He's the only one who's stories consistently make me enjoy Bruce as a character which is quite a feat. In his stories, I really get a compassionate understanding for Bruce's tireless pursuit to keep others from suffering the grief that he did. He's, to quote Alfred, "an absurd human being" but his goal is an admirable one. I preface this review with that because this book is very much not focused on Batman. It's focused on Alfred.
And I fucking loved it!
This was just outstanding! Every time I've read a story from Alfred's point of view, I've loved it. Robin: Year One was written that way and it's always a joy to read about Alfred's thoughts on his family. It's clear he loves them as though they were his blood and this was just a wonderful example of that. Alfred continuously refers to Bruce as his son throughout the narration and you can feel his attachment to Bruce. It's beautiful and I can't describe it well enough. It's just so incredibly heartfelt and dedicated and I love Alfred as a character so, so much.
"Over the years, my son has developed a bit of a flair for the theatrical. I like to think he gets it from me. But really, if I'm being honest with myself...it's something all his own. The world knows my son as a hero. And he is. Never stopping... even when I beg him to. He's an absurd human being, is the truth... bloody absurd. And I love him for it."
This volume tells Alfred's story. And what an interesting one it is! It tells of Alfred's rebellious past and his attempts to get back at his father for neglecting the Pennyworth family to take care of the Waynes. It tells of how he entered the S.A.S partially out of revenge and fell in with a man called Briar. This story is all told with an interesting tie in to pirate stories. Alfred loved them as a kid: stories of rebellious children who left home and fell in with rag tag crews of pirates and looked to the pirate captain as a mentor. That mentor is later revealed to be less than the hero the young boy thought them to be and they return home before they go down with the ship. Snyder tells this story beautifully.
The irony of Alfred resenting his father's dedication to the Waynes and later become just as much, if not even more dedicated to this family goes without saying. It's one of the more beautiful aspects of the Batfamily history. Alfred loves Bruce and his grandchildren and I've never doubted that. I'm just so surprised and so, so happy that Snyder appears to be one of the only writers to understand that aspect with other writers referring to Dick as Bruce's "best friend" and Damian as Bruce's "real son". Snyder understands that the Batfamily is not about blood.
"All I know is that I love him with everything in me."
This entire volume is the contrast of Briar wanting Alfred to be the son he never had: a perfect Dark Knight with no personal attachments that can be used against him. This is contrasted with Alfred fretting that he may have been the worst thing to ever happen to Bruce. Alfred posits that the pirate stories may have been cautionary tales for parents as, the kids always come home in the end because the pirate captain tries to drag the kids down a bad path. Alfred talks of trying to lure Bruce away from his mission but Bruce ends up right back in the suit every single time.
"Maybe I'm the bad captain, the pirate father, the one indulging him, keeping him away from shore. Prolonging a more and more painful end. Perhaps I can still become the good father. The one who walks away, forces him to come to grips.
Alfred also speaks of Bruce loving pirate tales but hating the endings.
"Bruce loved every bit of it except for the end. For the life of him, he couldn't understand why anyone would leave the island for civilization."
It's also worth it to note that Alfred's love of pirate tales reminds me Dick's love for Robin Hood. I love that the batkids all have their own unique attachments to literary works.
Alfred steadfastly holds onto Bruce and tries to keep him safe in this story and Bruce does the same to Alfred. Throughout the entire arc, Alfred has this internal war within himself that is so fascinating considering the many times he's questioned Bruce's treatment of the batkids. Alfred has always wondered if he did the right thing helping create the Batman and keep him alive and even as he doubts himself, he continues to help.
So, this is a little rambly but I'm honestly just in awe at such a beautifully written, complex, wonderful story. This series has been such a gift! So many out of the box Batman stories that are unlike the other Batsy stories we're getting right now. This series tells stories that actually make me root for Batman and this one made me root for Alfred and want to give him a hug.
Alfred Pennyworth is one of the best fathers in comic book history.
"My son. I have helped him build a pirate story all his own, complete with caves and flying ships and magic cars. I have helped him keep this story going long past the time I should have closed the book. Have I done the right thing?"