| Title | : | Batman: The Wrath (Batman Confidential, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1401225144 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781401225148 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 142 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2008 |
Batman and the Wrath have two things in common. The date of their parents deaths, and the cut of their costumes. Otherwise, one fights criminals, and the other is a criminal.
Batman and Nightwing become embroiled in the return of a major nemesis who was long believed to be dead: The Wrath has returned, and he knows too much about Batman -- and the deaths of his parents.
Batman: The Wrath (Batman Confidential, #3) Reviews
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Two parents are shot on the streets of Gotham one night, leaving their son an orphan. That son grew up to be… The Wrath?!
Right: first? I’ma eat some crow! Ever since Year Two: Fear the Reaper I’ve called Mike Barr one of the worst Batman writers ever. Tony Bedard never wrote anything as heinous but he’s never impressed me either. So I’m glad that I occasionally give these bad writers a chance to redeem themselves because, credit where credit’s due, Batman: The Wrath positively stunned me with how good it was!
The book starts with Batman Special #1 by Michael Golden and Mike DeCarlo from 1984. Usually I hate reading ‘80s Batman comics as they’re almost always bad but this story, The Player on the Other Side, surprised me by being entertaining and interesting; it’s also essential in understanding Barr/Bedard’s succeeding comic.
It follows a gun-toting Batman wannabe in a purple outfit calling himself The Wrath (now I see where Mark Millar got his inspiration for Nemesis - I knew he couldn’t think originally!) who blames Jim Gordon for his parents’ deaths and is out to assassinate the Commish. It’s a silly comic, even by ‘80s Batman standards. The Wrath’s origins are sketchy at best, the dialogue is very stilted and Grayle, the mob daughter and forced love interest for The Wrath, is a joke – and yet it was readable and compelling.
Then we’re into modern day Batman and the bulk of the book with Barr/Bedard’s Wrath Child. A new Wrath is in town and determined to finish his predecessor’s job - but who is he? Wrath’s origin is explained far more clearly this time around and the cat and mouse story is even more exciting as the writers push the new Wrath further. He remains an intimidating enemy whose dark past makes him compelling as an alternate Batman. He’s also a genuine challenge to both Batman and disco-era Nightwing (this book is part of the Batman Confidential series which was set in past Batman continuity).
Barr/Bedard build on 1984’s The Player on the Other Side, developing a richer story using that history to draw closer parallels to Batman and Robin’s lives. There’s also an awesome chase sequence with the Batmobile and Wrath’s Mad Max-esque car. The only real flaw is that they spend so much time on that scene that the final battle between Batman and Robin and Wrath is extremely abrupt and wrapped up in a single page! Well, that and Rags Morales gives Gordon an unforgivably naff bowl haircut!
Maybe I liked this more because my expectations were rock bottom going in but I was still pleasantly surprised to find The Wrath to be a very enjoyable read. I’d recommend it to any Batman fan and I’m glad I challenged my beliefs on Mike Barr and Tony Bedard because otherwise I’d’ve missed out on a great Batman book! -
On the night of Bruce's parents murder, another child had suffered the same tragic fate, though not by a mugger, but by a cop!
The first story is the original debut of The Wrath, written by Mike W. Barr. it was a decent read, nothing more than that. That's a shame, because it was kinda intriguing. Then again, Batman comics from the early 80's are usually not my cup of tea.
5/10
The second story, The Wrath Child, written by Tony Bedard, is a continuation of the first story.
In it, the thought-to-be-dead, The Wrath, has miraculously returned, or has he? This one is better than the original story. There's a recap of the first story in it, so you can skip the original one if you want, which is something I should have done. Throughout the story, it's a cat-and-mouse kinda game, and The Wrath here is more dangerous and poses to Batman a real threat. I might also add that the pacing is really good.
I liked the minor retcon of James Gordon's past being kinda connected to The Wrath's, that was a good addition.
It was nice to see Batman and Nightwing working together in it, complemented by the gorgeous artwork of Rags Morales.
Is this story a masterpiece? No. What it is, is a fun Batman story that does it in a semi refreshing manner.
7.5/10 -
Superman had Bizarro. Green Lantern had Sinestro. Now Batman has 'The Wrath,' a doppelganger of sorts. Whereas Bruce Wayne's childhood trauma sent him in a good [ahem!] direction, his opposite number became misguided and has a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas.
In this two-part saga (first one published in '84, the second from about 25 years later) we also learn about some skeletons in Commissioner Gordon's closet. Leslie Thompkins - who is wonderful in a Aunt May Parker way - adds some much-needed kindness and heart amidst the testosterone. Oh, and Nightwing (looking like he's ready to fill-in for Deney Terrio on Dance Fever - just kidding, NW, you're a good guy) shows up in the latter story to lend capable assistance. Not a bad book, but at the end it felt like something was missing. -
The cheesy 80s story was a little painful, mostly because the detecting was painfully easy and the characters didn't know things they should. A map with the area circled? Does anyone actually do that? And would Batman be so dumb as to show up in costume every year at the site of his parents' death? Why didn't anyone else figure out who he was! And why didn't Leslie know who he was AND WHY DIDN'T ALFRED KNOW WHY BRUCE WENT TO THAT SITE?!! I am only a casual Batman fan and I know better than the writers of the first story? That seems unlikely, so probably I know things that were established later and were used as canon after 1984. Though it's possible there was just terrible editing, comics didn't expect people to want a continuing coherent story. The art seemed very good for the time. Comics have different sensibilities now but I enjoyed the drawings. The story itself had potential but it was just so corny with the player on the otherside. I guess I just don't see Batman feeling so connected to the guy.
The second part of the book is more modern and I enjoyed it more, mostly for Nightwing. I liked that it tried to fill in some of the holes left in the first series, though it made some holes of its own (how's an orphaned preteen boy continue his vigilante training to reach Batman levels?). I'm torn on whether or not I like the art. I think it's good but I don't always like its style. They managed to make Nightwing's costume not totally cringe-worthy which is generally how I feel about his first costume. -
"Va para tres genéricas y cumplidoras estrellitas."
Creo que debería dedicarme a la futurología, porque siempre que me adelanto con el veredicto le pego.
Hablando en serio, esta saga de Batman Confidencial me ofreció más o menos lo que esperaba: una historia con buenas intenciones y un desarrollo parcialmente bien logrado. La idea de un anti-Batman es bastante interesante pero no va mucho más allá de contrastar sus ideales y mostrar lo diferentes que reaccionaron ante un mismo hecho traumático. El dibujo peca más o menos de lo mismo, Rag Morales está mucho menos inspirado que en "Identity Crisis" y se nota. La manera de plasmar la acción en las páginas es mucho más pobre que en aquella espectacular miniserie, pero -muy a mi pesar- sigue con esa manía de hacerles cortes taza a los personajes más inesperados. En este caso, la víctima de la moda es nada menos que el Comisionado Gordon.
Yendo a la edición española de Planeta, no hay mucho que reprochársele en cuanto a traducción, rotulación y papel, pero sí con el criterio editor, como siempre: se comieron el especial de los 80s donde aparecía el enemigo de la saga por primera vez, aunque en el tomo yanqui sí estuviera incluido. Menos mal que esta historia va a estar incluida en Batman La colección (#21), porque si me la hubiera comprado en esta edición, seguro puteaba por el faltazo. -
A story from 1984 by Mike Barr & Michael Golden gets a sequel of sorts 25 years latter, this time by Tony Bedard & Rags Morales.
The first story involves a man saw his parents gunned down by a cop the same night Bruce Wayne saw his own parents die. The 'other one' became one of the best assassins around, specializing in targeting coos. Meanwhile, Wayne became Batman.
The second story told over several parts (4), involves a reunion of sorts with Batman, Robin/Nightwing and tge Wrath (Chikd).
Interesting concept. Wasn't the best thing I ever read, but interesting concept. -
Once again Batman story that felt old, dozens of times read before. This made me believe even more that I'm never going to be a Batman fan. Even though New 52! Green Lanterns have been good, I'm still Marvel man. Batman and Superman are just boring.
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3.5~ pretty cool, just refreshing myself before reading the Wrath's debut in New 52 continuity.
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This graphic novel contains two stories, i.e., The Player on the Other Side ("TPOS") (Batman Special #1) and Wrath Child (Batman: Confidential #13-16).
I've never read anything written by Barr but TPOS is pretty good considering that it was written in 1984 (I'm not really a fan of 80s comics). However, the real gem of this graphic novel is Wrath Child, which is a continuation of TPOS. Wrath Child is a Batman Confidential story. I'm not sure if DC Comics intended to create a sequel when they released TPOS since there is around a 24-year gap between the two stories, but Wrath Child fills in the gap in TPOS. It also explains why Gordon left for Chicago. Also, Rags Morales' art is amazing.
The Wrath currently has a 3.17 score on Goodreads and I don't really know why. For me, this is definitely an underrated Batman story. -
Lectura interesante con un villano poco visto y explotado, recomendada para batmaníacos. Argumento: "Coincidiendo con la celebración de una cumbre mundial de agentes de la ley, un veterano policía de Scotland Yard es asesinado en las calles de Gotham City. Lo más desconcertante es que, atendiendo a la imagen captada por una cámara de seguridad, el autor del crimen guarda un sospechoso parecido con el Caballero Oscuro. ¿Quién se oculta tras la máscara del asesino y por qué alberga tanto odio hacia las figuras de Batman y Jim Gordon?"
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Os desenhos são maravilhoso, e Por isso ganhou 2 estrelas. A história é bem clichê e simples demais.
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Buena mini serie, bien dibujada y con una historia amena
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Goodreads needs half stars, this was more than a 3 but not quite a 4.
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Have the Eaglemoss version.
Pretty good I think the concept was better than the execution though. -
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the case of this Batman volume, that opposite reaction is dubbed the Wrath. The orphaned son of a pair of criminals, an unnamed child dedicated his life to the destruction of law enforcement. With an origin story that syncs up perfectly to Bruce Wayne's tragic night - to the very day - the Wrath spent his debut targeting Jim Gordon and eventually meeting a fateful end. Yet the identity was resurrected by Elliot Cadwell, who had been groomed in much the same way that Batman prepared Robin. Acting as a dark reflection of the Dynamic Duo, the Wrath was to represent the polar opposite of the Batman. Despite presenting a unique perspective, the forced origin of the original Wrath proved difficult to swallow. The career of the second version does allow the possibility of a more realistic take on the violent assassin, yet falls flat in characterization. The only wrath felt here is that of a comic reader seeking a better Batman story.
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Batman: The Wrath was an interesting look at comic book story-telling then and now. The first story, by Mike Barr and Michael Golden was published as a Batman Special in 1984 and featured a masked anti-Batman named Wrath. His beginnings were shrouded in mystery and seemingly linked to Batman’s origin. The story had a beginning, middle, and end. The art by Golden was lovely and you could see why he influenced everyone from Art Adams to Bill Willingham.
The sequel runs five issues and tediously dissects every little thing about the anti-Batman character. The story is overwrought and overwritten for a trade. Sure the art by Rags Morales is beautiful, but it is in service of a story that falls far short of the inspiration.
5 Stars for the old story and 1 for the new. -
I love the old Batman comics. Don't get me wrong, I really love the New 52 Scott Snyder Batman, but there is something so charming and sweet about the early Batman stuff. I don't know what it is, maybe he was more human? Had more emotion? More empathy? He showed surprise and regret. Something.
There's a 24 year gap between The Wrath and The Wrath Child, the two stories that encompass this book. Which is good because at the end of The Wrath you don't have any idea why he was after Jim or killing cops or who he was. The Wrath Child wraps everything up for us and brings some closure to the story arc while also giving Robin/Nightwing a part in the story that he didn't have before.
A quick, but satisfying read. -
Imagine my embarrassed surprise when I
1) Chose this because I thought it was Huntress on the cover and later realized it was actually "The Wrath";
and
2) Realized, upon coming here to review, that I had actually read this before - and reviewed it. Here is what I said the first time:
Nice backstory, and awesome villains. Well-done!
I agree with myself. The villain, Wrath, also lost his parents the same night as Bruce Wayne, but they were criminals. And he vowed the same kind of revenge, and underwent training as extensive. Great premise! Awesome Villains!
At least I'm consistent.
Now to search for a bonafide Huntress comic... -
Okay, so it may not be classical literature, but it's a light read if you're into super heroes like I am. Well, I did have trouble with having a point of reference for the villain in this four-part story bound into one graphic novel. The villain, the caped-crusader's opposite, shares a similar background but is out for revenge -- and it's against Commissioner Gordon! The first part of the story takes place without Batman's sidekick, Robin. But when the boy wonder returns it's as an adult hero now named Nightwing -- about time he grew up!
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A surprisingly decent, if overwrought pair of stories featuring a villain who had no fucking reason to exist. Barr and Bedard are members of that group of solid, workmanlike writers (along with Wolfman, Wein, Jurgens, and many others) whose work rarely if ever transcends but is always readable and forward-moving.
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Nothing that special to be honest.
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This is a hidden gem of a story. I recommend reading this story as an example of what an anti-Batman should be. The artist, Rags Morales does a great job also.
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Review coming...
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The second half of this story was much better than the first.
