Do you like THE CULT?

[TruerToTheCore]

Basically ripping off THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Jim Starlin wrote his own mini-series with lots of violence, supported by horror artist Bernie Wrightson, and talking heads. Batman is captured and broken and even kills a man, Gotham City gets conquered by Deacon Blackfire's hordes, Gordon gets shot. So basically Knightfall, Officer Down and No Man's Land in one story.

I must say I've always had a soft spot for it. I am not the biggest fan of grim and gritty Batman but for some reason I like it. It tries so hard to be the "next big thing" in comics it's almost funny. And it has the INSANE BAT-MONSTER TRUCK! The art is creepy and excellent, exactly what you would expect from Wrightson.





So... what do the fellow community members think about it?

 

[Drz]

Interesting. Is this purposely made so grim dark it turns into comedy? Does Batman start killing people? Personally i've been for sometime aching for an elseworld where Batman is a criminal and stuff. Or an elseworld where Jason Todd/Damian Wayne are the Batman.

 

[MasterOgami]

What I like about The Cult is the way it handled Jason Todd and allowed him to really be Robin. Its the story that made me actually give a crap about him.

 

[Cain]

This was one of the first Batman arcs I remember following when my cousin handed me down these issues back in the late 80's. To me this is much more entertaining not important just simply entertaining than TDKR. Probably because it explores the character psychologically dealing with having broken his "one rule" even if it was through brainwashing and as said it was actually a good use of post-OG-crisis Jason Todd as Robin just when he was starting to get interesting they just killed him off.

 

[Mace Dolex]

I thought The Cult was a good story, it's actually the first time that someone else broke the Batman's spirit way before Knightfall and people seem to forget this little story.

I haven't read it in a while but I do remember some gruesome scenes intended for shock value in which some guy gets his head blown on live TV and some poor citizen getting pulled down the sewers and the next panels are of his decapitated head bouncing on the streets.

I don't remember though Batman killing anybody but he does scare a couple of folks having a picnic and eats their food, hey fighting crime is a hungry business.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

What I like about The Cult is the way it handled Jason Todd and allowed him to really be Robin. Its the story that made me actually give a crap about him.

Yes yes, exactly. Jason Todd was so good in that series. (BTW, that's the only tbp where Jason Todd (before his resurrection) appears. )

 

[theMan-Bat]

I thought The Cult was a good story, it's actually the first time that someone else broke the Batman's spirit way before Knightfall and people seem to forget this little story.

The Cult was always overshadowed by Killing Joke featuring the crippling of Barbara Gordon and A Death in the Family featuring the murder of Jason Todd, which all came out in 1988. I like The Cult a lot. I love the Bernie Wrightson art, the monster-truck is fun, Batman tripping out is interesting, and seeing Batman come back strong after what he'd been through is inspiring.

 

[batpawn]

The Cult was always overshadowed by Killing Joke featuring the crippling of Barbara Gordon and A Death in the Family featuring the murder of Jason Todd, which all came out in 1988. I like The Cult a lot. I love the Bernie Wrightson art, the monster-truck is fun, Batman tripping out is interesting, and seeing Batman come back strong after what he'd been through is inspiring.

very very true. a, sadly, overlooked masterpiece, in my opinion. it's my third favorite batman story, right after arkham asylum and year 100. I love the cult, I love bernie wrightson's art (he is, in my opinion, the only artist who can pull-off beefcake batman, and still make him look dark, gothic and intimidating. I'm looking at you, jim lee), and jim starlin's anarchic, yet naive but still oh-so lovely "F**k you" message to the comics code (his introduction, in which he explains it all, still lightens up my spirit). A great read, absolutely.

 

[Travesty]

I've always enjoyed it, and thought it delved into the psychology of Batman in an interesting way. I know some peopel that hate it, but I've always enjoyed it. It's been a few years since I've read it, so I may pick it up over the holiday break and give it another read.

 

[rogue trooper]

The Cult, much like Blind Justice, is a great underated Batman story. I also love Bernie Wrightson's stuff.