Tag: DC

Graphic Novel Review: Batman: Arkham Asylum – A Serious House on Serious Earth

Today Kim is bringing you a video review of the graphic novel Batman: Arkham Asylum – A Serious House on Serious Earth by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Dave McKean.

Batman: Arkham Asylum – A Serious House on Serious Earth
Series: Batman: One-Shots

Author: Grant Morrison
Illustrator: Dave McKean
First Published: January 1, 1989
216 Pages

Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 5 stars

Graphic Novel Description:

In this groundbreaking, painted graphic novel, the inmates of Arkham Asylum have taken over Gotham’s detention center for the criminally insane on April Fools’ Day, demanding Batman in exchange for their hostages. Accepting their demented challenge, Batman is forced to live and endure the personal hells of the Joker, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, and many other sworn enemies in order to save the innocents and retake the prison. During his run through this absurd gauntlet, the Dark Knight’s own sanity is placed in jeopardy.

Kim’s Video Review:

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

Dear Justice League

Dear Justice League
Author:  Michael Northrop

Illustrator: Gustavo Duarte
Published: Today, August 6, 2019
176 Pages

Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: July 31, 2019
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

The greatest heroes in the DC Comics universe, the Justice League, answer mail from their biggest fans–kids!–courtesy of Michael Northrop, New York Times bestselling author of TombQuest, and artist Gustavo Duarte.

Does Superman ever make mistakes? What was Wonder Woman’s eleventh birthday like? Does Aquaman smell like fish? In this new middle-grade graphic novel, iconic heroes are asked questions both big and small, and when they are not busy saving the world, the Justice League even finds time to respond. Their honest and humorous answers will surprise and delight readers of any age, as it turns out that being a superhero is not too different from being a kid.

Full of feats, follies, and colorful illustrations, Dear Justice League gives readers the inside scoop into everyday heroics, no matter who wears the cape!

Jessica’s Review:

Dear Justice League is a graphic novel aimed at middle grades kids.  It is a fun continuous story of kids asking questions of their favorite hero/heroine.  And the Justice League even gets to save the day!

There are eight ‘chapters’  featuring a member of the Justice League. Each chapter introduced the character then gets to the important issue of a child’s question in which the superhero answers honestly in their own unique way.  Each chapter builds on the previous and we have appearances by Superman, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Cyborg, and Batman.

Each chapter is unique and showcases the personality of each character.  My personal favorite was The Flash’s chapter.  And I have to say one thing: Poor ‘old fashioned’ Batman! 

The illustrations are very colorful and well done.  They definitely add to the story. I am not familiar with all the DC characters, so this was a good introduction for me.  It would be great for kids as well.  This is an enjoyable graphic novel for kids and adults! 

Many thanks to the publisher for granting me a copy via NetGalley.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

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Batman: Nightwalker

Author: Marie Lu
Published: January 2, 2018
272 Pages

Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 3 stars

Book Description:

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city’s elites are being executed as their mansions’ security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family’s fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he’s forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city’s most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce’s only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

Kim’s Review:

I was so disappointed in this book and it made me sad. We are 1 for 2 on the DC Icon series so far. I loved Wonder Woman: Warbringer, not so much Batman: Nightwalker. My biggest issue was that this was not a Batman story, so it shouldn’t be called one. Batman has a very set timeline, Wonder Woman and Superman can be played with a little more since they have inborn super powers. You can’t do that with Batman. So this was not a Batman story. My other big problem is that, although this story was interesting, it could have been about anyone.

Marie Lu is an excellent story teller, we all know how much Jessica and I loved Warcross. But throwing Bruce Wayne into any old story doesn’t work for me. Batman is a detective, some of his greatest stories are based on his ability to solve mysteries and crimes in concise, genius, Sherlock Holmes type ways. It felt like everything just happened to Bruce. He never seems to know anything until someone told him. The story itself was good, I liked the plot and the twist, so thankfully it wasn’t a total loss. But this is not a DC story, it’s not a Batman story, therefore, I have to give it such a low rating. And believe me, it hurts! I’m not gonna go so far as to say that I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, I think teen boys would enjoy this book. I just can’t say that I liked it.

Kim’s review of Wonder Woman: Warbringer is here.
Kim’s review of Warcross is here.
Jessica’s review of Warcross is here.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US: Batman: Nightwalker is currently $1.99 for Kindle.
Amazon UK

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