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

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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.

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.

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 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.