What Happend To The Caped Crusader?

[Hush]

I picked this up today and I thought it looked gorgeous but im kinda confused on the concept. So this thread is for discussing the story.

Written by Neil Gaiman and Illustrated by Andy Kubert.

Discuss

 

[WompuM]

Yeah, this was a wierd story. But not weird in the way that it makes sense like Morrison's stuff. I'm confused at whats happening in it. Gaiman is making it seem as if Batman is actually dead or something of the sort. I'll wait for the next issue to see how the mystery unfolds.

 

[Hush]

Yeah that is what confused me too, while they were interesting twists with Alfred and such it was still just like huh?

 

[CBG]

. . . Hasn't anyone here read Moore's "What Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?"

 

[Hush]

I have not read that but i know i need to. See I don't know where its collected.

 

[CBG]

I have not read that but i know i need to. See I don't know where its collected.

DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore

 

[Hush]

thank ya sir!

 

[Spade]

I liked it, but I want to see what the conclusion in Detective Comics reveals before I give my complete thoughts. It felt somewhat incomplete, raising more questions than it answered- which, to be fair, has been the name of the game for Batman for some time now.

Spoiler

I enjoyed how Gaiman paced those epiphany moments for the reader in the story and worked with the narration between Bruce and this mystery figure. What I didn't care for was Alfred orchestrating his rogue gallery. Yes, it's an alternate telling that obviously has no bearing on actual history, but I feel there are better ways of illustrating "Batman can't give up even when his world crumbles around him" than that.

I'd give it an 8/10, with the expectation that this side story will prove its point in the conclusion.

 

[Aristotle]

I liked it, but I want to see what the conclusion in Detective Comics reveals before I give my complete thoughts. It felt somewhat incomplete, raising more questions than it answered- which, to be fair, has been the name of the game for Batman for some time now.

I feel like I'm saying this to people constantly, but this story is not about events. This story, even more than RIP and Final Crisis, is about narrative and about telling timeless stories with the character of Batman.

One thing I enjoyed very much is the effort being taken to showcase all the different sides and eras of Batman. Obviously Catwoman is from the Golden Age. The Alfred at the door seems modern era (although the Alfred in the middle does not.) Two-Face looks Golden Age, but Gordon and Babs are clearly modern. Riddler gives a nod to the Adam West series. Silver Age Joker shows up in the Ha-Ha-Car (or whatever that thing used to be called), but a page later he's from the Timmverse. So is Harley, who only panels earlier showed up with her modern-age pal, Poison Ivy. 70s-era Ra's Al Ghul shows up, with Damian from just a couple years ago right behind (and also, a dude in a suit with glasses.) Modern Harvey Bullock chats with Renee Questoya. Old-school Mister Zero and Gentleman Ghost can be seen in the background. Penguin and Mad Hatter are classic Golden/Silver Age iterations. Kirk Langstrom looks to be fairly modern age.

Aside from that, I wonder if Gaiman is making a comment on fanboys and continuity with this story. "Do you know how much of that story is impossible?"

 

[Aristotle]

Wasn't the second part of this story supposed to come out two weeks after the first part?

 

[Hush]

Not sure, but yeah i see what you mean about the art stotle. Kubert really did bring his A game and its nice to see that finally because ever since DC acquired the brothers Kubert we havent really gotten anything that great from them.

 

[Spade]

I feel like I'm saying this to people constantly, but this story is not about events. This story, even more than RIP and Final Crisis, is about narrative and about telling timeless stories with the character of Batman.

That would be fine if that was all it was doing, but the narrative within the captions clearly focuses on the Bruce we know reacting to this amalgam world. I don't think it's unreasonable that I'd like to find out to what degree this plays into the main storyline, seeing as how Gaiman made an effort to allude to Final Crisis fallout.

 

[WompuM]

I just can't believe how similar this story seems to Last Rites.

 

[CBG]

I just can't believe how similar this story seems to Last Rites.

I take it as Morrison exploring other lives Bruce Wayne could have led, and Gaiman exploring other lives Batman could have led.

 

[Assassin]

huhwhatwhy?

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

it was an interesting story one the second read through i noticed what Aristotle said about the characters look changing but i noticed a few things.

personally i think the woman bruce is speaking to is

[BLACKOUT]talia as she doesn't seem to be at the funeral.[/BLACKOUT]

another thing is the 3 strange figures at the start of the book when selina arrives

[BLACKOUT]there is a man and a woman standing at the back, possibly bruce's parents. along with some guy sitting by himself in the front row with a suit and a "bowler" hat but in both panels his face is totally blacked out[/BLACKOUT]

 

[sandwraith]

I see Bruce waking up screaming only to find himself in his dim, ember lit cave saying: "Anthro, I just had the strangest dream!"

 

[CBG]

it was an interesting story one the second read through i noticed what Aristotle said about the characters look changing but i noticed a few things.

personally i think the woman bruce is speaking to is

[blackout]talia as she doesn't seem to be at the funeral.[/blackout]

I'm thinking [blackout]Death of the Endless[/blackout]

 

[Donnie Darko]

I'm thinking [blackout]Death of the Endless[/blackout]

that's what I was thinking, too.

I actually enjoyed this issue more than I have enjoyed any other single issue of any comic in months (well, except for maybe Deadpool. I loves me some Deadpool).

 

[Assassin]

I read the first 3 pages thats it

 

[ironman29758]

On page 27 who is this guy in the red box

Spoiler

I like the adam west batman tv show riddle man. I don't like the whole alfred and his theactrical troupe being Batman's rouge gallery to get him out of a mood. I like the cat-woman's tale talking about the golden age batman while the Gentle's Gentelman's tale being the silver age version. Selina Kyle's real name being Sadie Kelowski reminded me of Sally Jupiter, the first Silk Spectre real name being Sally Juspeczyk. I like seing the DKR Oliver Queen. the DCAU Joker and Harley Queen as well as many characters from th Grant Morrison/New Earth Batman universe, the silver age characters and many tributes to the golden-modern age batman. I expected Two Face to chose sides on the aisle like Kirk Langstrom. I give it a 4/5

 

[CBG]

I call Super Mario cameo.

No, I don't know.

 

[p4poetic]

Maybe its not meant to be anyone in particular?

I call Super Mario cameo.

No, I don't know.

 

[hippie_hunter]

On page 27 who is this guy in the red box

Spoiler

I like the adam west batman tv show riddle man. I don't like the whole alfred and his theactrical troupe being Batman's rouge gallery to get him out of a mood. I like the cat-woman's tale talking about the golden age batman while the Gentle's Gentelman's tale being the silver age version. Selina Kyle's real name being Sadie Kelowski reminded me of Sally Jupiter, the first Silk Spectre real name being Sally Juspeczyk. I like seing the DKR Oliver Queen. the DCAU Joker and Harley Queen as well as many characters from th Grant Morrison/New Earth Batman universe, the silver age characters and many tributes to the golden-modern age batman. I expected Two Face to chose sides on the aisle like Kirk Langstrom. I give it a 4/5

That looks like Mario.

 

[ironman29758]

I thought it was scarecrow but mabye I'm wrong but Mario is good to