Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Batman: Knightfall (Bantam Spectra Book) by Dennis O'Neil ISBN: 0553096737 Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub (Trd) Pub. Date: August, 1994 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.58
Rating: 5
Summary: "Dark Knight-New Light"
Comment: The story of Batman was always a bright & humorous part of my life, as seen in reruns of the 60's TV series with Adam West & Burt Ward AND the cartoon, "Justice League of America" every Saturday morning. I never really collected the comic books (as great as they are), nor did I become aware of how Batman came to be until 1989, when the caped crusader hit the movies in a darker light. This is the first novel I've read based on a comic book series (A series that has developed far beyond the TV series, cartoons & films). IT WAS AWSOME! Even with little knowledge of the storyline which preceeded "Knightfall", I was always on the same page (no punn intended) with the author, becoming more & more fascinated with this story of a man, his cause, his fears, and his struggles to regain the identity he created...The Batman.
Rating: 4
Summary: The Fall of Rise of Batman, told without the pictures
Comment: "Batman: Knightfall" was primarily adapted from the story serialized in Batman #488-510, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-30, Detective Comics #656-677, Legends of the Dark Knight #59-63 and Robin #1, 7-9 in 1993-94, with additional material from Batman: Sword of Azrael #1-4 (1992) and Bateman: Vengeance of Bane Special #1 (1993). Dennis O'Neill was one of the four writers-- along with Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant and Doug Moench--who worked on the original comic books, and he gets the honor of transforming this epic into a more traditional novel. Of course, this is the opposite of what traditionally happens; usually novels are turned into comic books, not the other way around. I am usually disdainful of massive cross-over stories that require me to purchase comics I do not usually buy, but I do appreciate the idea of comic up with an epic storyline. Consequently, I did not read the original comics and finally read the "novelization" knowing nothing more than that Bane was going to break Batman's back. Hopefully, this will bring a slightly different perspective to this review.
This novel is divided into three parts: "Knightfall," in which Batman's back is broken by Bane; "Knightquest," in which a new Batman defeats Bane; and "KnightsEnd," in which the original Batman regains his rightful place. We start reading comic books as children and the defining element of most of the main characters in "Knightfall" is that they had traumatic childhoods. Obviously the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents is the template for such horrors, but in this story the villain (Bane) was born in a prison to serve the sentence of his dead father, the replacement hero (Jean Paul Valley) was indoctrinated by his father into a cult, and the savior/damsel in distress (Shondra Kinsolving) was abused by her adopted father and exploited by her adopted brother. This becomes important because circumstances compel Bruce Wayne to think about who he is and what he does, not only because of Batman's defeat at the hands of Bane but also because of the way the new Batman does his job. His broken back is only one part of the character's monumental identity crisis in "Knightfall."
I have never liked villains with an obvious "Achilles heel" as we have with Bane's need for Venom and its vulnerable delivery system. Bane ends up being more of a convenient contrivance for this story than an enduring character, and I wonder why this epic could not have utilized one of Batman's more traditional villains in the same role. But Bane is not the most important antagonist in "Knightfall." That honor belongs to the "new" Batman, when Jean Paul assumes the mantle after Bruce Wayne is incapacitated. This story allows Wayne to look at Batman from the outside and as if this was not enough to give him pause there is the added dimension that Batman/Azrael is more a creature of violence (and of death) than the original. This ups the ante considerably in terms of Wayne rethinking Batman, added in this endeavor by the standards Alfred and Tim Drake have for the Dark Knight as well. As his body slowly heals, it becomes necessary for him not only to rededicate that particular temple (with help from Shiva), but his soul as well. In this context the role played by the original entrance to the Batcave helps foster a nice sense of symmetry. Ultimately, the point of this entire story is a true rebirth of the character, appropriate not only to the 1990's but both the essence and history of the character. This is not a great Batman tale on the order of "The Return of the Dark Knight," but it is very good. I should probably see what it looks like with pictures.
O'Neill's "Afterword" in the volume is a nice little explanation of where "Knightfall" stands in the continuing evolution of the Batman character. His thoughts on Batman's archetype being Dracula (while Superman is Gilgamesh, Hulk is Hercules, etc.) is quite insightful and his understanding of the Batman mythos is clearly first rate. As the group editor on this project, O'Neill knew what he was doing.
Rating: 5
Summary: Fun And Exciting!
Comment: I am so tired of novels based on comic books that are too serious. "Batman: Knightfall" by Dennis O'Neil is a fun ride of a read. It transports us into the strange and wonderful world of Batman the way I imagine it to be. He writes the characters wonderfully. But I love this novel because it also has the elements of a great movie. I say that if Hollywood really wants to make a movie that accurately captures Batman's world with the look and feeling, then they should get Tim Burton or Joel Schumacher to read this book. "Batman: Knightfall" is intriguing, action-packed, and just a fun read. I was never bored by this book and recommend it for someone bored of serious books, who wants to escape. "Batman: Knightfall" is also noirish, it's like watching "Dark City" again. The settings are wonderfully gothic, exotic, thrilling, and vastly entertaining. This is a book that has drama, romance, intrigue, and magnificent suspense. This looks and feels like a movie, and that is what I loved most about it.
 |
Title: Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, Dennis O'Neil ISBN: 0930289455 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: February, 1996 List Price(USD): $5.95 |
 |
Title: The Death and Life of Superman: A Novel by Roger Stern ISBN: 055309582X Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub (Trd) Pub. Date: October, 1993 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
 |
Title: Batman: Knightsend by Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Jo Duffy ISBN: 1563891913 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: July, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
 |
Title: Batman: Knightfall: Broken Bat by Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon ISBN: 1563891425 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: July, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
 |
Title: The Stone King (Justice League of America: Batman) by Alan Grant ISBN: 0743417100 Publisher: Pocket Books Pub. Date: March, 2002 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
