Before I start off this book review I'll admit I'm not a fan of Damian Wayne - at all. With the upcoming release of the Batman and Son movie on the horizon though, I decided I would read this story because, as mentioned, I'm just not a fan of Damian. I also wanted to be able to make a comparison between the source material and the movie when released as I thought that the Under the Red Hood movie was better than the volume it was based from; but I digress.
I had the choice of either picking up the original TPB version of Batman and Son or this newly released 'Deluxe Edition.' The guy at the comic store said they were the same price so may as well get the Deluxe, and I agreed. Tim Drake-Wayne is a great Robin, and as much as I love Jason Todd and Dick Grayson, Tim really is the best in line with the analytical skills and deduction like Bruce to be a Batman. The only thing that makes you think otherwise is his very nice and trusting nature, which is displayed quite a bit in this story. Like Bruce he wants to give Damien the benefit of the doubt, but that just lands him in a recovery bed.
I'll admit I somewhat enjoyed the initial Batman and Son storyline, but seeing how fast Damian went from 'screw you' to everyone to 'please father accept me,' followed by seeing his mother again and switching to 'didn't I do good mommy,' - yea, that just didn't bode over well with me. Damian just seems like a little turncoat. I get it, he's a kid, but he's also supposed to be ridiculously intelligent too so saying that just doesn't fly. Another massive hole - why is Bruce allowing Damian to wear a Robin suit so soon? Just because Tim is injured because of Damian the kid is out on a mission with Bruce in a Robin suit. Why?
After finishing the initial Batman and Son story I went on to read the rest of the book which was unrelated really to the first half of the book and had more to do with the Black Glove, Black Case Book and Batman R.I.P. story which I can't stand. Say what you want, but I think Morrison's run with Batman is just awful. For people who haven't read the Batman and Son story and have a choice between the original edition and the 2014 'Deluxe Edition,' if there is a price difference and the original is less go with it as the second half of the book really is fairly separate from the story arc that you are initially buying this book for and just read up to 666. Somewhat clever what they did there - the kid's name is Damian and issue 666 is a future with him as Batman.
Been a ridiculously busy semester as I've been juggling being back in school full-time, working part-time, a new gf and semi-managing my old publication. Finally made the time to read a book I've wanted to read for a while, Batman: Secrets. I loved Sam Keith's The MAXX when I was a kid and it sucked that it was such a short series. when I found out that he did a bat book I had to get it and was far from disappointed. His undeniable style is still very much prevalent in the book, as well as his own twist in the bat mythos. Really loved how he actually kept with the history/continuity and didn't say screw this, it's my one-off book and I'll do what I want. He actually respected the history and even made reference to some pretty infamous bat stories so this book could still be considered a part of the timeline and not a one-off of 'elseworlds' storyline. My furry hat goes off to you Mr. Keith.
A rainy weekend, plans cancelled for two nights in a row ::sighs:: Lovely. This just gave me time to catch up on more TPB reading, this time the whole Death of the Family storyline. Gotta admit, after all of the hype I've seen on this I'm a bit disappointed. All of that buildup to, what was basically a joke to really screw with Bruce's head. I suppose it was a good enough one that even Penguin, Two-Face and Riddler were semi-shocked by it to not kill Batman themselves when the chance was there. I guess the 'death of the family' really is a more the death of the trust that the 'batfamily' had in Bruce at the end. If that was Joker's true intent, then mission accomplished but after all of the hype in this storyline I feel more disappointed than I was after reading the whole 'Owl's' arc. Another DC screw up found too. If Tim Drake was never Robin in the New 52 universe, then why is it that when he's captured by Joker at one point he dresses him up as what Tim refers to as his old Robin uniform?
Picked this one up on a whim yesterday afternoon when I visited Past Present and Future Comics in West Palm Beach, FL. I was actually hoping to find Year One but they suggested this would be a better read. Glad I picked it up. Not too familiar with Dick Grayson's background with Haly's, but I guess over the years this has been an ever evolving story. You can already see how things have changed in the New 52 with this new story arc as it's mentioned that Dick never really went back to visit where, prior to the New 52 we know that Dick had gone back quite a few times. A few cool twists with the introduction of a new villain and more digging into Dick's big top past. Definitely a cool story they're developing with this one. Looking forward to reading Volume 2 soon.
Just finished reading the 2012 edition of the 'Birth of the Demon' trilogy TPB. Part 1 and 3, 'Son' and 'Birth' respectively, definitely the more compelling stories. though I found 'Birth' to be the real page turner. Definitely gives new perspective on Ra's as a young man and how he came to his way of thinking.
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