The Dark Knight Rises - Prodigal

DECIPHERING DC

Writers: Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Alan Grant
Artists: Mike Gustovich, Ron Wagner, Phil Jimenez, John Cleary, Lee Weeks, Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Mark Bright

Click to Enlarge

Welcome to the final edition of Deciphering DC's coverage of the colossal and epic Knightfall saga. Though Knightfall ended with KnightsEnd, the good people at DC saw it prudent to use this opportunity to bring forth the long out of print, perennially in demand Prodigal, where we see Dick Grayson donning the cape and the cowl as Batman for the first time.

Batman: The Dark Knight Rises - KnightsEnd

DECIPHERING DC

Writers: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Dennis O'Neil, Jo Duffy
Artists: Mike Manley, Graham Nolan, Bret Blevins, Tom Grummett, Ron Wagner, Jim Balent, Barry Kitson

Hello and Welcome to yet another edition of Deciphering DC. This time, we take a look at the conclusion of the Knights Saga, KnightsEnd. Of course, Bruce comes back to regain the mantle of the Bat. Subsequently, Dick Grayson takes up the Bat costume, albeit for a short time, in the next arc, Prodigal.

DC Animated : The Dark Knight Returns (Part 1)

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS - PART ONE

It's that time of year again, when DC's animation house releases its next movie - this time around it's a legendary story that is beloved by fans and is the first to be split into 2-parts, adapting the legendary series into this first part and the follow-up graphic novel as the second.

I know I’m preaching to the choir but I’ve gotta say it. Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns is one of the greatest Batman stories ever. It’s right there in the top 5, oscillating between positions one and two, because this is one story that you can’t rate lower. Heck, we’re talking about a comic-book that changed the world here. 

The Dark Knight Rises - KnightQuest: The Search

DECIPHERING DC

Welcome to yet another edition of Deciphering DC. We continue our look at Knightfall, now focusing on KnightQuest: The Search. It follows Bruce Wayne and Alfred in their quest for Jack Drake and Shondra Kinsolving. This phase of the Dark Knight has never been collected, and chances are, it still won’t be.

The storyline crosses over three titles –

- Justice League Task Force issues 5 & 6 written by Dennis O’Neil (incorrectly solicited as David Michelinie on one cover) and art and covers by Sal Velluto

- Batman: Shadow of the Bat issues 21-23 written by Alan Grant, art by Bret Blevins and covers by Brian Stelfreeze

- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight issues 59-61 written by Dennis O’Neil, art by Ron Wagner and covers by Norm Breyfogle

Christopher Nolan’s "The Dark Knight" trilogy : The Comic Connections

With The Dark Knight Rises having stormed theatres around the world and the epic trilogy coming to a close, there is a lot of discussion on various sites and pages about how much this trilogy is loyal to its comic book counterparts.
Well the good news is that it is to a large extent.

This article tries to prove how well the researched the trilogy was by showing all the cues, characters, story points and details that Christopher Nolan and his fellow writers adapted from various iconic comic stories/arcs to create a whole new Batman for a new age!

Click to Enlarge!

(It will either prove that, or that I'm an utter and total nutter who see's things everywhere that are just not there!)

I've tried to break these elements down and give you the titles of the stories/graphic novels/collections where they seem to have originated, of course only the movie-makers can know what's true and what's not.
But here, I ask YOU - think you know your caped crusader? Check this out and see what you knew and all the stuff you might've missed, the inspirations for some great movie moments.

The Dark Knight Rises - KnightQuest: The Crusade (Batman and Catwoman)

DECIPHERING DC

Welcome to yet another edition of Deciphering DC. Continuing our look at KnightQuest, this time we focus on the issues featured in the monthly title Batman and Catwoman. This review covers Batman #501-508 and Catwoman #6 & 7. All issues of Batman are written by Doug Moench and art by Mike Manley. The Catwoman issues are written by Jo Duffy and the art is by Jim Balent. All Batman covers are by Kelley Jones, while Catwoman covers are by Jim Balent.

Batman: The Dark Knight Rises - KnightQuest: The Crusade - Batman: Shadow of the Bat

DECIPHERING DC

This week we continue our look at the entire Knightfall saga and today we take a look at the issues of Batman: Shadow of the Bat featuring KnightQuest: The Crusade. This review covers issues #19, 20, 24-28 of Batman: Shadow of the Bat. Issues 21-23 will be covered in KnightQuest: The Search, next week. All stories are by Alan Grant, while art is by Vince Giarrano on the earlier three issues and Bret Blevins on the later four issues. All covers are by Batman: Shadow of the Bat regular cover artist Brian Stelfreeze.

Batman: The Dark Knight Rises - KnightQuest: The Crusade - Detective Comics and Robin

DECIPHERING DC

Hello and welcome one and all to yet another edition of Deciphering DC. Today, we continue with our look at one of the modern Bat epics, arguably THE modern Bat epic, the Knights Trilogy. While Knightfall chronicled the breaking of an exhausted Bruce Wayne at the hands of Bane, KnightQuest, the second part of the trilogy examines Gotham City without Bruce Wayne as Batman.

Batman: The Dark Knight Rises - Knightfall Vol 2: Who Rules the Night!

Writers : Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant

Artists : Mike Manley, Jim Aparo, Bret Blevins, Graham Nolan, Klaus Janson

Collects : Batman 498-500, Detective Comics 664-666, Batman: Shadow of the Bat 16-18, Showcase '93 7 and 8

Published by DC Comics

While the new volume of Knightfall collects the whole Knightfall saga in one volume, I prefer to stick with the older volume partition while reviewing, because both the volumes are different beasts.

Deciphering The Dark Knight Rises - Knightfall Vol 1: The Broken Bat

Welcome to another special edition of Deciphering DC with me, Aalok. For quite a few weeks now we've been making our way through the shared history of Batman and one of his deadliest enemies - Bane - all with an eye to the recently released and outright awesome experience that is The Dark Knight Rises.
This week we reach the most critical part of this journey, the fatal confrontation that led to the breaking of The Bat and his rise from the ashes - yes, this is where the movie got the idea!

[Editor : For the previous articles that led up to this epic and legendary story-line in the Batman mythos, see the bottom of this post]


Writers: Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon

Artists: Jim Aparo, Graham Nolan, Norm Breyfogle, Jim Balent

Collects: Batman 491-497, Detective Comics 659-663

Technically, the Knightfall arc has gone through a number of printings with surprising inclusions, as well as equally surprising omissions. The first and second printing collected the basic nineteen-part storyline, plus additional issues, in the form of two trade paperbacks. The third (current) printing chooses to combine the contents of the earlier two trades in one volume. However, both the volumes of the first and second printing are two different beasts entirely, so that is how I choose to analyse and break down the story.

Batman: Earth One Review

Batman - Earth One is yet another take on the Batman mythos, this time Geoff Johns and one of my favourite artists, Gary Frank, take us on a journey that looks at the search for Martha and Thomas Waynes killer/s by Bruce who is only just beginning his career as Batman.

It must have been tough for Johns to come up with something new and fresh with all the previous versions of the Batman origin having been well established over the past decades. Frank Miller's Batman: Year One and of course the Batman Begins movie, along with the other movies, already establishing the character in our own minds doesn't allow much room for someone else to add just another origin tale. So, how does Johns try to keep it fresh and entertaining? He gives us an early look at Alfred Pennyworth and his relationship to the Waynes and his new relationship to Bruce Wayne as well as the early stages of Bruce Wayne becoming Batman.

The Dark Knight Rises (Movie Review)

CLICK TO ENLARGE AND DOWNLOAD!

I have never seen people counting down to a movie by the hour, never seen people more reluctant to reveal spoilers or anything that normally appeals to so many people, most of whom are from the comic book writing/drawing fields and have worked on the character at some time in their career. If all of this is happening, one thing is obvious - Nolan and Co. have gotten it right. To say that this was the most eagerly awaited movie of the year would be an understatement, and an unfair one, at that!

Okay, let's begin with where the first two movies by Nolan had brought us.
Batman Begins introduced us to Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale), Alfred (Michael Caine), Lieutenant James Gordon (Gary Oldman), Jonathan Crane (Cillian Murphy) and Ra's Al Ghul (Liam Neeson). We get a glimpse into the world of the Batman and what makes him tick. We learn of his arduous training under Henri Ducard/Ra's Al Ghul, and most important, we see how Bruce conquers his greatest enemy, his fear. The Dark Knight introduces us to the primary force of chaos in Gotham, The Joker. We see allies turn into enemies, as Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is disfigured and ruined physically as well as mentally, turning him into the homicidal Two Face. While Batman Begins was powerful on emotional content, The Dark Knight packed a punch with it's edge of the seat sequences, and the memorable performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker.

Countdown to The Dark Knight Rises - Prelude to Knightfall

Welcome back to another edition of Deciphering DC. With the Dark Knight Rises all the rage all over the media, I think it’s high time I gave the whole saga a comprehensive look. DC thought the same, and that is why we saw a collection called Batman vs Bane, that collected for the first time ever, Batman: Vengeance of Bane 1 and the miniseries Batman: Bane of the Demon.

Among other collections released were a reprint of Batman: Venom (see review here), with the first appearance of the drug of the same name, which the antagonist Bane uses and Batman: Birth of the Demon (see review here), featuring the trilogy of graphic novels featuring Ra’s Al Ghul, probably a major player in this enterprise as well. And finally, an expanded collection featuring the Knightfall saga and tie ins.

Countdown to The Dark Knight Rises - Batman: Venom

Writer: Dennis O'Neil

Artists: Trevor Von Eeden, Russell Braun, Jose Luis Garcia Lopez

Collects: Batman: Legends of The Dark Knight #16-20



Welcome to another edition of Deciphering DC. This once, in anticipation of the upcoming movie, The Dark Knight Rises, which features Bane, DC Comics has decided to release a few Bane centric trades in the hopes of cashing on. This is one, the others are Batman Vs Bane (collects Batman: Vengeance of Bane 1 and Batman: Bane of the Demon 1 - 4) and a remastered edition of Batman: Knightfall, again in three (huge) volumes but this time complete with KnightsQuest and Prodigal.

Week In Review : Batman #10 + Before Watchmen:Silk Spectre #1 + Conan The Barbarian #5 + Planetoid #1 + Spider-Men #1

I love a good new-release day and this week has been an amazing one, with a slew of great comics to check out!

Not only do we have several titles from DC fresh after the harrowing events on the Night of Owls, but also the start of the second Before Watchmen series and many, many more to read.

Here's some of our picks of the ongoings and even a new Image series - now go ahead and enjoy! (and make sure to be back here tomorrow for more new releases in burst-reviews!)

- Editor

Batman #10 (DC)

Story : Scott Snyder

Art : Greg Capullo (main story) & Rafael Albuquerque (back-up)

(Reviewed by Anupam Sarkar)

I've been reading Batman comics from time immemorial (actually, about 10 years) and to me this issue is the perfect example of why I like Batman. While most go with action or a relationship crisis, very few writers can capture the detective in Batman. Amongst those few is now Scott Snyder.

To start with, the story - Snyder does a masterful job. Not going knee deep into spoilers, I can say that this issue has a major revelation at the end (cough...something to do with Lincoln March...cough). And everybody's going to love it. Not only does it give weight to the “New 52 Batman”, but it also shows that the Wayne's are not as squeaky clean as people thought they were.

As of the artwork, Greg Capullo amazes me after each consecutive issue. The man is an active volcano of talent! There are however only a few panels which show the Court of Owls, in all of which they are dead (literally). But, throughout the issue Capullo maintains the owl vibe. One of my favorites is the second page from the issue. Be sure to check it out.

Review : Batman - Going Sane

Writers: J. M. DeMatteis, Eddie Campbell, Daren White

Artists: Joe Staton, Bart Sears

Collects: Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 65-68, 200



Welcome to another edition of deciphering DC. Today, we bring you another heaping helping of Batman. This time, we'll take a look at an anecdote from Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, where the Joker takes centre stage.

Batman Vs Bane

Writer: Chuck Dixon

Artist: Graham Nolan

Collects: Batman: Vengeance of Bane 1, Batman: Bane of The Demon 1-4, origin pages from 52 issue 46, Countdown to Final Crisis 4 and 7

This trade is actually a misnomer. The title says Batman Vs Bane, and Batman faces Bane just for a few panels, and nothing of substance actually happens in those panels. It's got a few good things (other than good creators and stories) running for it though. Vengeance of Bane is actually the first appearance of Bane, and has never before been collected (it should have been included in the first volume of Knightfall). Neither has Bane of The Demon. The other good thing is the price.

Week In Review : Avengers #25 / B.P.R.D: The Long Death #3 / Batman #8 / Nighwing #8 / Ragemoor #2 / The Shadow #1

 Avengers #25 (Marvel)

Story : Brian Michael Bendis

Art : Walter Simonson

(Reviewed by Anubhav Sharma)

As I’ve said last week, I’m a big fan of Bendis penned event tie-ins, mainly because he gets the level of characterisation and depth stories as big as the events we’ve been seeing for the last half decade which may not fit in well with all the big action in the main books. At face value, one may not see how relevant this issue is to AvX as a whole, but deep down it gives much needed buildup on the Avengers side of the conflict at the core of the event, and serves as a bridge between the recent Osborn storyline and AvX. Captain America and the Protector, in particular, get their motivations fleshed out, which explains some of the former’s decisions in AvX so far and the latter’s solicited actions.

Of course, one can’t talk about this issue without talking about the return of legendary artist Walt Simonson to Marvel. With modern colouring techniques showing is art in a new light, it’s safe to say it as the same level of dynamism he was known for at his best. Also, is Thor particularly looks as majestic as ever.

SCORE : 8.2 / 10

Week-In-Review: Army of Darkness #2 / Batman #7 / Kick Ass 2 #7 / Rebel Blood #1

Army of Darkness #2 (Dynamite)

Story : Elliot R. Serrano

Art : Marat Mychaels

(Reviewed by Akshay Dhar)

He's baaaaack!!!

Sweet!

For those who haven't guessed already, Ash Williams a.k.a. the most hard-a** demonite killer and one of the most awesome movie characters of all time finally makes his entrance into the story in this new issue – and what an entrance it is indeed!

We saw the new 'chosen one' last issue getting herself a massive overdose of what she can expect in that role and then some more and still more to follow. That continues this issue as she is looking for the man himself, but thankfully that takes a backseat/cameo sort of role as we get to see the character made famous by the legendary Bruce Campbell (under Sam Raimi's direction...) drive right into our minds again, boom-stick in hand and a whoooole mess of wicked new weaponry to play with and give company to the trusty old chainsaw!

Top Ten Uncollected runs from DC Comics, Part 2 - 5 to 1

Hello and welcome back to the concluding edition of Top Ten Uncollected runs at DC Comics. You can find my choices from 10 to 6 here. Now on to the final five:
 

5. Supergirl by Peter David and various

Some time after Supergirl (Matrix) was introduced, writer Peter David started defining the blank slate of emotions Matrix had been. Roger Stern wrote her as Luthor’s love interest (for good reason, as in the pocket universe she came from, she was Lana Lang who was in love with that universe’s Lex Luthor) until they had a falling out. Peter David shows her gaining, or rather absorbing the personality, of Linda Lee Danvers (actually the secret identity Supergirl operated under in the pre Crisis on Infinite Earths days). In this series, before Supergirl absorbed Linda, she was a good girl who did bad things, and got corrupted by the dark side, which eventually led to her death, until Supergirl/Matrix found her.