sodope's review against another edition
2.0
Meh, this arc involves three Bat's villains, Mr. Freeze, Ivy and Mad Hatter (almost forgot Ra's at the end of the story), the conclusion it's super mediocre, Snyder lost his great streak since The New 52 finale.
hidinginstacks's review against another edition
3.0
I didn’t particularly adore this collection of stories. The storytelling is different from what I’m used to, & I did enjoy some parts here or there. I absolutely fell in love with Tula Lotay’s art, though !!
bookishdoll's review against another edition
5.0
Really digging the dark and gritty Batman. Also, Duke is a great addition.
beebliobibuli's review against another edition
4.0
That's one hell of a story! What does H. Dent have in store for Batman? A lot of trouble!
loved the art and the events, sounds promessing.
loved the art and the events, sounds promessing.
ajnewsom's review
2.0
First, let me say that I am a huge fan of Scott Snyder. His “American Vampire” series was excellent, and his run on Batman completely revolutionized the character.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t do it for me. The biggest we distraction for me was the artwork. I am not a fan of John Romita Jr. His art just does not appeal to me The was Greg Capullo or Jim Lee do (to name a few).
Scott Snyder gets Batman. He understands the character, but I can’t say the same for his understanding/interpretation of Two-Face. The relationship between Harvey and Bruce seems manufactured and hard to believe.
This odyssey that they are on to try and “cure” Two-Face takes a long time, but they don’t seem to get anywhere. There doesn’t seem to be a real conflict that needs to be resolved.
The backstory by Snyder and Declan Shalvey was a bit better, but I was still not thrilled with it. I haven’t read much with Duke Thomas in it, but I miss the old team. Give me Dick, Tim, or even Damian any day.
With Snyder and artist Jock on the second volume I am bound to read it. Fingers crossed that it is better...
Unfortunately, this one didn’t do it for me. The biggest we distraction for me was the artwork. I am not a fan of John Romita Jr. His art just does not appeal to me The was Greg Capullo or Jim Lee do (to name a few).
Scott Snyder gets Batman. He understands the character, but I can’t say the same for his understanding/interpretation of Two-Face. The relationship between Harvey and Bruce seems manufactured and hard to believe.
This odyssey that they are on to try and “cure” Two-Face takes a long time, but they don’t seem to get anywhere. There doesn’t seem to be a real conflict that needs to be resolved.
The backstory by Snyder and Declan Shalvey was a bit better, but I was still not thrilled with it. I haven’t read much with Duke Thomas in it, but I miss the old team. Give me Dick, Tim, or even Damian any day.
With Snyder and artist Jock on the second volume I am bound to read it. Fingers crossed that it is better...
subhamroxx's review against another edition
2.0
Batman has to stop Mr Freeze as he has unleashed a virus that seems to bring the Ice age back to this world and on the other hand you have Batman going to Ivy to ask for a cure to save people infected. Then another one through the mind of Mad hatter and how he sees everything in Alice in wonderland terms and finally the man behind it all a demon and how he has been putting it into motion all this time. And a duke side story where he fights Bloom and becomes the signal.
Its a bland and boring storyline with pieces connected in some strange manner and the narration is just boring, the art is still good and thats all it is and with constant artist changes its annoying, some scenes look good. But the mad hatter story was just pure bad and its the same old "the villain wants to take over the world" but batman stops it cuz he is batman just no stakes is there and comes off as generic and in poor distaste. And finally the Duke story could have been done in 1 issue rather than stretching it out and it just serves to alleviate the boredom when reading this volume. A big miss for Snyder.
Its a bland and boring storyline with pieces connected in some strange manner and the narration is just boring, the art is still good and thats all it is and with constant artist changes its annoying, some scenes look good. But the mad hatter story was just pure bad and its the same old "the villain wants to take over the world" but batman stops it cuz he is batman just no stakes is there and comes off as generic and in poor distaste. And finally the Duke story could have been done in 1 issue rather than stretching it out and it just serves to alleviate the boredom when reading this volume. A big miss for Snyder.
koralis93's review against another edition
2.0
The artwork was grungy and Batman looked as if he didn't shower for days. He didn't have the billionaire look. Also the story was told out of order which I didn't care for. I will not be reading other issues.
the_rox13's review
5.0
Synopsis: Batman is transporting Two-Face to a house where they were both sent to as kids. At the house Harvey has supposedly hidden a cure that will rid him of Two-Face forever. However, Two-Face put out a bounty to everyone, basically, to stop Batman from getting him to the house or he will release all the information he has on people in Gotham. Much of the first half is a variety of bounty hunters coming after Batman and Two-Face, which Batman finds suspicious since they were using stealth mode in his Batplane. It is revealed that Alfred was the one that alerted everyone to Batman and Two-Face's location. Batman doesn't know this, but cuts off all communications.
The Penguin, Black Mask and Great White enlist the help of KG Beast to get Two-Face. It gets pretty crazy and I'm not going to go into all the details, but we get flashbacks to Bruce and Harvey meeting at the house and at one point Two-Face throws acid into Batman's eyes. Duke arrives at some point to assist Batman. Eventually, they are all captured by KG Beast and the three that hired them. Things go south, though, when there is a mob of bounty hunters outside.
There's a shit ton of fighting and eventually, Duke and Batman get Two-Face to the house. Harvey reveals that the cure will actually allow Two-Face to take over him completely because he's tired of fighting. Batman beats the shit out of him and seemingly gives him the cure, but then tells him that he gave him something that will prevent him from ever using the "cure" again. KG Beast shows up again and there's yet another fight in which Duke saves Batman and the two take Two-Face back to Gotham.
The last little arc revolves around Duke. Batman is testing him in the same way he has tested all the Robins with, what Alfred calls, "the Cursed Wheel." Batman and Duke work a case involving Victor Zsasz, in which Batman teaches Duke to question everything like, "why this person?" and "who were the victims?". The point is for Duke to see the worst of the worst and then see what kind of hero he can be, if he can indeed be one. We get flashbacks to Duke's family before the Joker toxin drove them insane. Eventually, Zsasz is apprehended and Duke asks Batman, "what's next?"
Review: I really love this volume. It's one of the most action packed volumes I've read in a while. John Romita Jr. was the perfect artist for the "My Own Worst Enemy" arc, too. It is violent and bloody and gritty. The colors are also very vibrant, which just adds to it, in my opinion.
The story itself is wonderful. I have always had a soft spot for Two-Face since Harvey has history with Bruce. I guess I'm similar to Batman in that way that I have a soft spot for Two-Face. The dialogue between the two is incredible and the fact that Bruce never seems to give up on him is really sweet. However, that doesn't mean he's completely blind when it comes to Harvey. I thought it was harsh of him to give Harvey a fake cure so that he can never take the real cure ever again. Still, I think it came from the whole "I believe in Harvey Dent" thing and I think deep down Bruce believes Harvey will overcome Two-Face eventually.
That being said, Two-Face is such a sad figure. Harvey pleading with Batman to end his suffering with the cure was heartbreaking. But even when Harvey has given up on himself, Bruce doesn't. I thought it was interesting in the back story with Bruce and Harvey with both of them planning murders. It was a very real world moment when Harvey back tracks on their plan because his father writes him a letter, saying that he won't ever hurt him again. With abusers, this is a common promise and I liked the inclusion of it.
I'm not a huge fan of KG Beast, I think he's kind of basic. He's an accomplished killer that's for sure, but I just saw him as the main bounty hunter needed for the arc. I was a bit upset with Alfred for sending out Batman's location. I thought it was slightly out of character, even if it came from a good place. I'm surprised Batman didn't go off on him more.
I enjoyed the "the Cursed Wheel" arc as well. I am digging Duke Thomas as the Signal. He stands out from the other Robins and I am here for it. Besides, his costume is amazing and I cannot stress that enough. His backstory is compelling and tragic, like so many other of Batman's sidekicks. I liked that Duke took inspiration from his mom, who was a social worker, and channeled that into his training.
All-Star Batman isn't a must read for Rebirth, but I highly recommend this volume, especially if you like action, Two-Face and are curious about Duke.
The Penguin, Black Mask and Great White enlist the help of KG Beast to get Two-Face. It gets pretty crazy and I'm not going to go into all the details, but we get flashbacks to Bruce and Harvey meeting at the house and at one point Two-Face throws acid into Batman's eyes. Duke arrives at some point to assist Batman. Eventually, they are all captured by KG Beast and the three that hired them. Things go south, though, when there is a mob of bounty hunters outside.
There's a shit ton of fighting and eventually, Duke and Batman get Two-Face to the house. Harvey reveals that the cure will actually allow Two-Face to take over him completely because he's tired of fighting. Batman beats the shit out of him and seemingly gives him the cure, but then tells him that he gave him something that will prevent him from ever using the "cure" again. KG Beast shows up again and there's yet another fight in which Duke saves Batman and the two take Two-Face back to Gotham.
The last little arc revolves around Duke. Batman is testing him in the same way he has tested all the Robins with, what Alfred calls, "the Cursed Wheel." Batman and Duke work a case involving Victor Zsasz, in which Batman teaches Duke to question everything like, "why this person?" and "who were the victims?". The point is for Duke to see the worst of the worst and then see what kind of hero he can be, if he can indeed be one. We get flashbacks to Duke's family before the Joker toxin drove them insane. Eventually, Zsasz is apprehended and Duke asks Batman, "what's next?"
Review: I really love this volume. It's one of the most action packed volumes I've read in a while. John Romita Jr. was the perfect artist for the "My Own Worst Enemy" arc, too. It is violent and bloody and gritty. The colors are also very vibrant, which just adds to it, in my opinion.
The story itself is wonderful. I have always had a soft spot for Two-Face since Harvey has history with Bruce. I guess I'm similar to Batman in that way that I have a soft spot for Two-Face. The dialogue between the two is incredible and the fact that Bruce never seems to give up on him is really sweet. However, that doesn't mean he's completely blind when it comes to Harvey. I thought it was harsh of him to give Harvey a fake cure so that he can never take the real cure ever again. Still, I think it came from the whole "I believe in Harvey Dent" thing and I think deep down Bruce believes Harvey will overcome Two-Face eventually.
That being said, Two-Face is such a sad figure. Harvey pleading with Batman to end his suffering with the cure was heartbreaking. But even when Harvey has given up on himself, Bruce doesn't. I thought it was interesting in the back story with Bruce and Harvey with both of them planning murders. It was a very real world moment when Harvey back tracks on their plan because his father writes him a letter, saying that he won't ever hurt him again. With abusers, this is a common promise and I liked the inclusion of it.
I'm not a huge fan of KG Beast, I think he's kind of basic. He's an accomplished killer that's for sure, but I just saw him as the main bounty hunter needed for the arc. I was a bit upset with Alfred for sending out Batman's location. I thought it was slightly out of character, even if it came from a good place. I'm surprised Batman didn't go off on him more.
I enjoyed the "the Cursed Wheel" arc as well. I am digging Duke Thomas as the Signal. He stands out from the other Robins and I am here for it. Besides, his costume is amazing and I cannot stress that enough. His backstory is compelling and tragic, like so many other of Batman's sidekicks. I liked that Duke took inspiration from his mom, who was a social worker, and channeled that into his training.
All-Star Batman isn't a must read for Rebirth, but I highly recommend this volume, especially if you like action, Two-Face and are curious about Duke.