Cover Image: Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar

Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar

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The clear star of Tom King's Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar? is the Ivy story. Lushly illustrated by Mikel Janin, it is itself a wonderful puzzle. First, King creates some amazing stakes, putting Batman and Catwoman against literally the entire Poison Ivy-controlled world The second issue, where seemingly innocuous acts like Batman and Catwoman getting a meal or taunting Ivy's Superman all tie into a grand plan, was cleverly executed, and that continues into Batman and Catwoman's timed-to-the-second recruitment of Harley Quinn against Ivy. The final pages are both a nice Gotham City Sirens reunion and, I thought, a rather caring take on trauma and recovery (King can write this Harley any day). The books' final chapter where Selina is picking out (read: stealing) her wedding dress reminds of King and Tim Seeley's excellent Grayson #12, with its call-outs to these characters' long histories.

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This volume of Batman is sort of stuck in an oddly transitional period. It’s between two relatively major events; what unfolded in the last volume and the upcoming plot (which most people will know to be the Wedding by this point). That’s a tough place to be in, yet they managed to find a way to make this one worth reading.
While I’ve been really enjoying the art for Batman recently, I have to say that the cover they chose for this volume is absolutely striking. Honestly, it’s probably my favorite Batman cover to come out in a while, which is funny considering the fact that Batman isn’t even on the cover of this one.
Being that it’s between a few major plots, this volume didn’t bother trying to establish any longer term plots for itself. This was actually probably a smart move, all things considered. Instead it’s split into three distinct parts.
The first is the Super Friends plot, continuing from the last volume. Admittedly I feel like these two should probably have been put under a different plot title? Super Friends just sounds so…happy and the first part of this one (part three, if you want to get technical) is actually kind of heavy. It’s a fantastic plot, don’t get me wrong, but it isn’t what I’d call light reading by any stretch of the imagination.
Long story short, Bruce and Diana get stuck in a space between dimensions. Sure, they volunteered for it; but they were not made fully aware of the sacrifice at the time. In the end its Selena’s job to get things back to normal and get them out of there.
This plot was a little concerning for many when it came out. I remember the controversy of the conclusion to one of the issues. People were concerned that Bruce and Diana were going to become a thing. This obviously upset people for a couple of different reasons. The first; Bruce and Selena are engaged, and that engagement shouldn’t change based on circumstances, right? Second, Diana is more than a minor character to be thrown around like that. Thankfully though, our fears were unfounded for the most part, and Selena did what she does best.
The second Super Friends plot is also kind of heavy, which again makes me wish they had named it something else. On the bright side it’s a Poison Ivy focused plot, and being that she’s one of my favorites I was pretty thrilled about it. The big revelation was perfect, as were the character interactions and the appearance of Harley Quinn. I couldn’t have asked for more.
The second part of this volume is a bit of a weird one. It’s titled the Origin of Bruce Wayne, but it isn’t anything that you could expect just based off that title. It actually has very little to do with Bruce Wayne, other than the idealization of his persona and circumstances. Beyond that it’s entirely about a young both who at first glance seems very much like Bruce. It isn’t until the whole truth comes out that we learn just how wrong quick assessments like that can be.
The last part is the source for the amazing cover of this volume, and it’s also probably one of my favorite issues. Well, that may be a bit of a stretch, but I still loved it. It’s all about Selena trying to find a middle ground for herself. Some sort of compromise of what she wants to be for herself, and what Bruce wants her to be. It’s a shockingly introspective piece, put into sharp contrast by the fact that Selena is gleefully ‘shopping’ (read: stealing) a wedding dress for herself. Still, it suits her character perfectly and helped to show that there will be sacrifices made to make this relationship work; just like there always have been.
This was a pretty solid volume on the whole. I still don’t know how I feel about this whole wedding business, but DC is not shying away from it and I have to give them credit for that. I do feel like they did a better job of hitting the darker tones they’ve been searching for, especially in the Super Friends parts. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of those sorts of plots, truth be told.

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Volume 6 in the run up to the wedding that may or may not take place is a four parter with some parts better than others. Chapter one was a mirror image of the Bat's origin story and showed how Bruce Wayne could have turned out for the worse. Bruce encounters a young boy with a butler whose parents were, surprise, brutally murdered. Only this boy has vowed revenge in gruesome fashion and takes it early and often and neither Bruce not Batman can stop him. Chapter 2 saw Wonder Woman get Batman to join her in fulfilling a vow the two made to the Gentle Man to give him time off from his eternal battle against monsters who threaten the world. The problem: time works differently in the Gentle Man's realm than in our world and Batman and Wonder Woman spend 37 years battling monsters and Batman attempting to stay true to Catwoman. Meanwhile, back in our world Catwoman is trying to speed Gentle Man up in his visit with his wife so he will return to his duties and allow Batman and Wonder Woman to return home. A good read with a few inconsistencies, like Batman never aging during those 37 years.

Chapter 3 is a bit less successful as Poison Ivy takes control of the world and Batman and Catwoman have to break the spell. it's apparently a call back to the War of Jokes and Riddles, which I haven't read so it was perhaps my fault that it was less successful with me. Nevertheless, I thought it was one of the weaker pieces. Chapter 4 finds Catwoman waking up in the. middle of the night, slipping out of the bed she shares with Bruce/Bat and goes wedding dress shopping/stealing in the only way Cat knows how to shop. This is actually my favorite story for its character reflection of Cat, for its art and ultimately for its intimation of the second and third thoughts Cat is having about going through with the wedding.

Ultimately, Volume 6 is a hit or miss volume leadup to the wedding that may or may not take place (no spoiler if you haven't already read about it). It's not crucial to the wedding storyline although the wedding dress shopping story is fun.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in return for an honest review (less)

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From the publisher: A young admirer of Bruce Wayne's, Mattie, wants nothing more than to grow up to be like his millionaire idol. But what would happen if Mattie was forced to relive the worst tragedy of Bruce Wayne's life and his parents were murdered? Batman's hunt for the killer brings him face to face with a strange mirror image of his own painful past.

This stunning series continues as Batman and Wonder Woman's storied friendship--one that has stood at the heart of the DC Universe since the beginning--unravels while the universe itself begins to crumble around them.

The superstar creative team of Tom King (GRAYSON, The Vision) and Mikel Janín (JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK) unite to tell another epic tale in the Dark Knight's mythology. Collects BATMAN #38-44.

Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar by Tom King continues the story leading up to the wedding of Bruce Wayne/Batman and Selina Kyle/Catwoman. This particular volume contains four stories that highlight different aspects of Bruce and Selina's personalities and character, both together and alone.

The first story shows Bruce providing comfort and help to a young boy who's parents were killed, much like Bruce experienced himself. As Bruce digs deeper, however, something much darker begins to emerge. This story bordered on horror, and King might have set the stage for a new villain.

The second story splits the Bat and the Cat up. Batman travels to another dimension along with Wonder Woman, where they will be filling in for The Gentle Man in his endless battle against a demonic horde trying to reach our dimension. Meanwhile, Catwoman chaperones The Gentle Man himself as he gets a chance to check in on his wife. Both Bruce and Selina realize some things about love, marriage, and commitment. There were some tender moments and some near-heartbreaking moments as the two fought to return to each other.

The feature story was a three-part tale starring Poison Ivy and dealing with some of the fallout from the War of Jokes and Riddles storyline. After killing some men, Ivy struggles to come to terms with her actions. She decides she needs to make the world a better place, something she accomplishes by taking over every person on Earth except Bruce and Selina. This was a fascinating examination of the trauma of violence and trying to process and deal with your own awful actions. King is very careful to not pass judgement on Ivy, but presents her actions as those of someone who has been broken and doesn't know how to pick up the pieces and move on. It is a moving and well-written tale.

The final story is a look at Selina Kyle, and presents how a cat-burglar like Catwoman might go wedding dress shopping. It is a simple story, full of heart, with an eye to both the past and future. It is plain to see just how much Selina cares about Bruce and wants this relationship to work.

King hits another one out of the park with Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar. It is a wonderful collection of stories of all sorts of tones and moods. Through it all, the focus remains on Bruce and Selina. King's characterization is terrific, and their engagement and inevitable wedding are making for some excellent stories. I highly recommend this book, particularly to Batman fans. However, it will have an appeal for new readers, as well.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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I willingly confess that it has been years since I have seen a Batman movie, and decades since the television show, and I've never fully read a graphic novel, but when the opportunity to review this title came up, I gladly jumped at it. How exciting to read about Batman and Catwoman, whose altar ego is Selina Kyle, being engaged! The two were archenemies in years gone past, but now they are about to become a married couple. While the nuptials are approaching, chaos continues to abound, bringing both Batman and Catwoman to the brink of danger.

The story begins with a young idol of Batman's and of the terrible tragedy he has just experienced, that of the murder of his parents. This hits just a little too close to home to Bruce Wayne's own younger life. As Batman hunt's for the killer, there are things about his very life that he is brought face-to-face with, a past that he would've preferred to remain there, in the past. The drama continues to unfold as Batman and Wonder Woman are forced together during some strenuous situations, making their very futures look rather bleak. The villains abound, with a perfect level of action and continuity. One night, in the midst of all of the chaos, Catwoman sneaks off to try and find the perfect wedding dress. I just had to smile, because I almost cannot imagine Catwoman picking out her dress for the impending nuptials.

I am very glad that I picked up this graphic novel, and for several reasons. The art itself is outstanding, as is the storyline itself. The fact that there were shorter stories within made this an engaging read as well. As briefly mentioned, I loved the continuity of friends and foes. So much so that I immediately went over to NetGalley to request more titles. Also, I will be seeking out the advice of my future son-in-law, because he is a true aficionado if these types of novels.

I confess to being a newbie so I do hope that I did this review justice. Should I get to read another book of this nature, I now know more of what to expect, like the connected stories, flashbacks, and to expect a very quick read. By the way, now I see why people spend so much money on these novels, because they are enticing and people do want a lot of substance and the thinner ones end almost all too quickly. What is good about that, however, is that the reader is definitely left wanting more.

Many thanks to DC Entertainment and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Batman Volume 6 by Tom King

The New 52 Batman brought me back into reading comics but Tom King’s Batman rebirth series has kept me reading every volume. Tom King does something that I feel is a risk when it comes to comic books. He puts the characters first. The criticism I have seen about his Batman series is a lack of action but these books are complete character studies of the Bat and the Cat and that continues here in volume 6 as the series continues its path towards the wedding. Not to say this book has zero action because it does have action. A lot of it especially the beginning story of Batman and Wonder Woman as they fight off the world’s sins but still what I found the most interesting about this story was the character moments. The moments of weakness with each hero and how they help each other overcome it. The second story is back to Bat and Cat as they fight Poison Ivy who has managed to take over the world. Again Tom King brings life to Poison Ivy as she becomes a multidimensional character instead of just your regular cardboard cutout villain. In my opinion what makes a great villain is when they make you actually feel for them and Tom King does that here.

The art in this book is amazing like all the volumes before it and I love reading these books in a digital format so that I can see each Panel up close and admire it.
My only con to this book is simply the length. Maybe it is because I enjoy this run so much but I seem to fly through these books in one sitting and I always want more. I think people might criticize this book for not progressing the plot far enough. As this is the ramp up to the wedding the only part that moves us towards that ultimate end goal is the final chapter which has Selina finding her perfect wedding dress.

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BATMAN VOL. 6: BRIDE OR BURGLAR is written by Tom King and includes several vignettes about Batman and Catwoman and various friends and foes, as they wander down the road to their wedding. More intriguing than the interplay between Batman and Catwoman is the dynamic between their everyday alter egos Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. Cameos by assorted villains, Superman, and Harley Quinn add an extra dose of pizzazz.

The first story in this collection starts with murdered parents, a boy looking for comfort from Bruce Wayne, and the obvious suspect Zsasz. In this tale, Tom King present readers with a perversion of Bruce Wayne's narrative. I enjoy stories like this because they showcase Batman as a detective. A young boy's parents are murdered and, strangely enough, Zsasz's parents are also killed. This crime resonates with Batman because of his past, but he's still able to hunt down leads and follow clues toward the unsettling conclusion.

For the second vignette, Batman and Wonder Woman team up to battle the Hordes of Gehenna in place of The Gentle Man. While they are off in another realm taking care of business, The Gentle Man enjoys his break from constant battle by visiting his soulmate in this world. Catwoman tags along to keep watch over him, and she contemplates the nature of marriage and the strength of love. Batman and Wonder Woman make an exciting fighting team. Both of these super heroes are known for their stoicism, but in this story, they show rare moments of weakness while still maintaining the essence of who they are.

I love Poison Ivy stories, and this last story has a ton of DC Universe guest stars, while still revealing a fascinating side of Poison Ivy and the two heroes trying to stop her cataclysmic plans. Poison Ivy's is probably my favorite story in this collection because it shows how well Batman and Catwoman can work together. I like how Catwoman tries to appeal to Poison Ivy as one woman and antihero to another. Batman recognizes the friendship between Ivy and Harley Quinn, and Tom King writes a relationship that meshes with how Ivy and Quinn are in the HARLEY QUINN series. This story shows a more vulnerable and somewhat sympathetic Poison Ivy than she has been in some previous books.

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You will have noticed that the subtitle of this book is not exactly Batman, but actually, in reducing the man's presence and importance on these pages, the result is perhaps better than it might have been. We start with a one-shot that doesn't do what it promises, for one, before a two-issue piece where Selina learns some lessons before the will-they-won't-they wedding that was supposed to be such a showcase for DC in 2018. Yes, Selina is the subject, Batman the distant warrior, and an eternal battle to right wrongs is the provider of the moral for our Cat. Someone else then takes their turn to be a baddie, and we get the disconcerting view of Bruce waking up with Selina (more than once) on his way to try and solve things. You'll notice the villain has lost all sex appeal she once had, for this is the book that is supposed to warm us up for the marriage, and the last one-shot goes through iterations of the Cat from the past, while everyone – including Selina – gets ready.

Now one-shots and compilations of them in trades are never really the best comic titles, but here we get a pretty good book. You can fault the ending of the three-parter, the slightly incoherent emotional lead-in to the wedding, and more, but actually these shorts aren't too bad. And compared to the recent DC output, they're actually pretty bloody good. Flaws exist, sure, but I liked this book – it took a different approach to the whole build-up than I expected, and was actually worth the read, even while it bore an initial sheen of the disposable. Don't come here for the usual Batman action, but come for something that downplays certain aspects of the character without making us fear for the change the wedding might instil. Any changes on these pages are worth embracing – although why Bruce is suddenly left-handed I'll never know.

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I was initially hesitant to pursue this narrative yet eager to form my own opinion, as it has received quite a bit of social backlog. There’s too much a sense of nostalgia, not enough plausible “action” apparently, too many references to DC’s Silver Age.

But even if the feeling tone may not necessarily coincide with collectively adored depictions of Batman, a series which is constantly fluctuating in terms of presentation and mood, what I think Tom King has mastered directly is the sense of true calm that comes over Bruce when he has a trusted significant other. That’s the most striking element of reading this entire volume — the usual grim frustration and dogged futility that fuels Batman’s journey is curiously absent. For King, it’s because Bruce has Selina. Batman has Catwoman. Batman has solid love in his life that he can trust. King’s narrative emphasizes how truly interpersonal and sensitive the Dark Knight actually is as a character, and how everything else for him falls into place when he has a passionate connection to someone else.

Love is everywhere in this story. It’s what maintains Bruce’s integrity when he’s trapped in another dimension with the mythically attractive Diana of Themyscira; knowledge of love helps Batman stop Poison Ivy from holding the world her psychic hostage.

As a Catwoman fan, I was deeply pleased with all the flashbacks of Selina and Bruce over the years. And I was smitten with seeing Selina sneaking out at night to find her wedding dress.

While I am not the biggest fan to all of Mikel Janin’s character designs, I appreciate their aesthetic cleanliness, the brightness of the colors.

And because this is Batman, I would be remiss to not mention the obvious — hopefully all hell doesn’t break lose and Bruce ends up losing everything. Bruce’s life has a nasty habit of being tragic.

But maybe all those fanboys out there who dislike this King run just aren’t romantic.

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The big ceremony is just around the corner and the issues are still great. In this volume you get a bestie adventure between Batman and Wonder Woman, a great Poison Ivy arch, and grieving kid that worships Bruce Wayne. Each story brings something new to the table. Each one has its own vibe while all clearly belonging together in the world of Gotham. Plus they are all told with art work that is sleek and beautiful.

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Thanks to DC Entertainment and NetGalley for an exclusive advance reader’s edition of this title for the purposes of review.

When the initial concept of Tom King’s latest rendition on the Caped Crusader was introduced, it left many perplexed, especially when regarding the introduction and usage of the character of Catwoman. While I will not delve into the plot point itself within this review, the overall curiosity of the element is what excites fans for King’s graphic novel release of Bride or Burglar. However, while the art of the book is truly stunning, the actual material or storytelling leaves much to be desired. It teases fans on what the interesting element could provide for both characters, Batman and Catwoman, but it never holds true to the promise that its title suggests. As a whole, Batman Vol.6: Bride or Burglar is a beautifully stunning recreation of the modern Batman mythos but lacks any real substance to warrant a read, to say nothing of a purchase.
Easily the best aspect of the book, the art direction and style is truly amazing. It has a similar tone and color grading to that of Scott Snyder’s works and has a more mystified approach that keeps it in line with previous modern iterations of the character. However, there were multiple instances where I noticed a slight brightness to the scenery, especially in Batman’s suit. It was an enjoyable flair to the art that brought up similarities to that of Tim Burton’s original films.
As it always is with DC Comics, the character models are all universally excellent. They may never reach the artistically realistic designs of the Injustice series and they don’t have the artistic boldness as Batman Ninja, but what is on display is great and a highly enjoyable addition to an art style that ranks amongst the best in recent memory for the company.
While the art style and direction is breathtaking in both its design and execution, the actual storytelling nearly falls flat on its face. The story almost feels like an extremely rushed affair. Events occur at a ludicrously fast pace, creating an experience that may look stunning but is ultimately still dull and uninteresting. It never attains the heights of previous entries in the series, to say nothing of what King is capable of as a writer. In fact, the story becomes so ludicrous at times that it even rivals Batman Ninja. However, unlike Batman Ninja, this sixth volume takes each event with a heavy dose of gravity and soberness. While this may keep it in line with other DC comics, it ultimately makes the story feel as if it was ashamed of itself. Nothing in this story lives up to what both fans and the creators promised. In fact, certain fan theories floating on the Internet prior are actually more substantial that what is actually provided. It is a shocking disappointment that destroys a long line of trust that DC Comics has built up in my heart over the years.
As a whole, Batman Vol. 6: Bride or Burglar is a mixed conception. On one hand, it is a beautiful work of art that stands toe-to-toe with other DC comics and feels both inspired and nostalgic. However, it has some critical flaws in the design of the story. Events occur at a ludicrous speed and the book never lives up to what the synopsis or even title promised for the titular characters. If you are a fan of this series so far, the intrigue of another addition will compel most to pick up this graphic novel. However, it should be noted that what fans get, never reaches the full potential of what it could be.

Score: 5.2 out of 10

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Stunning artwork.
Sleek and sexy with a little gore and heartbreak... the best type of Batman comic. The epic saga of Batman 💘 Catwoman continues. I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel. It was a little difficult to follow in some parts but eventually I got the story out of it. A little less straightforward than some. Still very good none the less. I need to get my hands on the rest of the series for my library.

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A great leadup and exploration of Bruce Wayne's relationship with Selina Kyle. Each issue illustrates how he struggles with his suspicions and anxiety about his feelings.

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Tom King is one of the biggest writers in comics today and his writing on Batman has been a pleasant change from the Scott Snyder era. I enjoyed Snyder's run but King's take is a little lighter and I found myself smiling more often. This entire set of issues is told with the backdrop of the impending wedding between Batman and Catwoman. The best of the bunch is the two issue story with Wonder Woman both from an art and storytelling standpoint.. The Joelle Jones art is stunning in certain panels and the premise is intriguing. We see more of Batman having to use his detective skills in the other stories and the last issue of Catwoman picking out a wedding dress is just fun. Four stars only because it does feel like these issues were a placeholder to tease out the wedding into a longer arc.

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These stories were even better than the ones in the previous volume. It starts out with a quite disturbing kiddo story with some parallels to a character we most definitely know (hint, it's Batman).

Then a weird story with Batman and Wonder Woman in another dimension taking The Gentle Man's place. And Selina and The Gentle Man in our world.

The Poison Ivy story had her controlling almost everyone in the world (and in this one, Batman was totally a Harley/Ivy shipper, go Bats!!)

And then there was a really cool shortish story with a restless Selina going through her different costumes, uh, I mean, her and Batman's previous interactions.

I'm still eagerly awaiting the actual wedding in TPB format, but, this was an awesome TPB to wait with for sure!!

I was given this ARC by Netgalley on behalf of DC Entertainment.

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I'm still a sucker for the whole Batman-Catwoman wedding thing, which takes up part of this volume. Other elements are quite as strong, particularly a rather rushed story about Poison Ivy taking over the world, except for Bruce and Selina, who are immune to whatever plant-based trickery she's come up with (Ivy controls the entire Justice League, including Superman). Much better is the two-issue story about Batman and Wonder Woman giving the Gentle Man a respite from his never-ending battle against demon hordes. I also like the story about Selina Kyle breaking into a wedding gown store to try on gowns in the middle of the night, interspersed with vignettes from the Batman-Catwoman relationship through the years. Some great artwork throughout this volume as well--I'm not sure who I like better, Mikel Janin or Joelle Jones. Another winner, though the wheels do seem to be spinning a bit here in regard to the impending nuptials.

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Will Batman marry and continue his new life with Catwoman? I love these two together and I love Tom King’s Batman . The art work is beautiful . Their volume has 3 great unputdownable stories that will leave you wanting more Tom King Batman

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This was okay. It was definitely more of a collection of side stories than anything really significant for Batman/Catwoman's arc in the comics right now. There were some fun bits, but ultimately I felt like this was more teasing the next volume-- the wedding-- more than anything else.

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It's been a while since I caught up with ol' Bats, so I was excited to see this title appear on NetGalley.

The very beginning of this volume is a nice reminder of Batman's detective skills, focusing on his ability to break codes and solve mysteries rather than on his gadgetry - and then focuses primarily on the developing relationship of Batman and Catwoman.

Something's clearly up with Selina Kyle, we discover throughout this volume, but it's not quite clear what that something is . . . and how (or whether) it is going to affect their upcoming nuptials.

I was a little lost in some parts of this, having taken a long break from Batman stories, but I managed to pick out most of the salient details and am curious to see where the story goes.

I received access to this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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My young(er) friend with a toe still in the "mainstream" comics world kept after me about Tom King's Batman run until I succumbed and started picking up the collections--which of course I'm now hooked on. Tip of the cowl for taking a character / universe that was played out eons ago and making it all seem like a modern creation. Why the DC Comics Universe movie powers-that-be don't pay King allllll the money to put "his" Bat-vision on screen is beyond me. Is the next TPB ready yet? (Yes, I could go to a comics store and scoop up the individual issues, too, to save the hurrying up to wait.)

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