Batman: Birth of the Demon Graphic Novel Review

Hello,

Here is my latest review.

Batman Birth of the Demon

The trilogy of one shot graphic novel stories featuring Batman and Ra’s al Ghul, The Demon and the Detective. 

When I first got into reading Batman books, IGN’s original Top 25 best graphic novel list was a great help. The list has changed and been updated a few times since but back then I was seeking out the books that I was interested in. Two of those books were Birth of the Demon and Son of the Demon. Both were unavailable and I put them out of my mind for a time. Recently I saw an Amazon List of the Top Ten Batman Graphic Novels and this collection was listed. It contained the two aforementioned tales as well as Batman: Bride of the Demon, all referred to as The Demon Head trilogy. This new collection featured classic stories from the 1987, 1991 & 1993 respectively. 

BATMAN: BIRTH OF THE DEMON collects: 
Batman: Son of the Demon Written by Mike W. Barr and rt by Jerry Bingham
Batman: Bride of the Demon Written by Mike W. Barr and art by Tom Grindberg
Batman: Birth of the Demon Written by Dennis O'Neil and art by Norm Breyfogle

Ra’s al Ghul is character that doesn't appear in too many Batman stories, its quality over quantity. The only stories I have read where he featured as the main antagonist are Mark Waid’s Justice League Tower of Babel and Matt Wagner’s Superman/Batman/Wonder Woman Trinity. In my opinion he has always been one the scariest and creepiest of the Batman villain’s and yet a fascinating and interesting character. Ra’s al Ghul is great villain that is well matched for Batman and presents a very different kind of story.


The trilogy begins with a strong start with Son of The Demon features The Dark Knight and Head of the Demon form a partnership while they both track down a mutual adversary along with Talia, who has always been one of the more interesting of Batman’s love interests. Batman begins his allegiance with Ra’s and ultimately becoming Ra’s son after he and Talia marry and she reveales that she's pregnant with Batman’s child. It is a welcome change offering brighter light to a character that is so steeped in the darkness. One of the happier Batman tales of the 80’s. I really liked the story Batman, Ra’s and Talia all work together to bring down their enemy, another refreshing take for a solo character. Ra’s has no ulterior motive to double cross the Dark Knight, he trusts him and even allows Batman to train the his troops in non lethal forms of combat. This was a great story one of the great Batman tales you will ever read. Son of the Demon offers a fantastic mix of action and drama. Talia's loyalties become split between father and husband.

The beginning of the Ra's trilogy, Son of the Demon is a refreshing read. We get to see how Batman was portrayed in the late 80’s. Batman’s humanity is on full display in this tale. If you've ever had a fascination with the Demon's Head, Son of the Demon is one book you absolutely must read.

The second story Bride of the Demon, finds Ra’s al Ghul having moved on from his desire for the “Detective” to be his heir and instead seeks to create his own. The main plot of the story is Ra’s working with a environmental scientist to repair the damage done to the O-zone layer and have his own son to carry on Ra’s al Ghul improved world. He offers the chance to an aged Hollywood starlet to regain her youth in return to be his bride and to aid his determination of having a son. It feels like the kind of story that you would expect from Ra’s al Ghul story, the environmental terrorist. While the previous story consists of personal vendetta this is much more of the typical Ra’s al Ghul story, Batman attempts to thwart his plans for the betterment of mankind but with many human casualties in the process. The story does feature some great action scenes, detective work and one of the favorite moments of the story, Ra’s Al Ghul’s men leading an assault on the Batcave. The story also continues the conflict of Talia, torn between her Father and her Beloved. Ra's is shown as both tyrant and tortured soul, it's hard not to feel some sympathy for his cause.

It is an expected and great story featuring Batman and his biggest adversary Ra’s al Ghul. It’s good reading, offering a new element as Ra’s requires a bride and to be a father again. The story is the kind of story what you’d be expecting that feels right in this collection sandwiched in between two other great Batman and Ra’s al Ghul classic stories. 

Birth of the Demon, It is easy to see why this is title for this graphic novel and also why it was saved to the last. This was a brilliant story and gave me the biggest thrill of the three. The book ends in final Ra’s al Ghul tale detailing his origin in the time of the crusades.

Batman is determined to put an end to Ra's al Ghul's reign of terror. Not by killing him but by making it impossible for Ra's to revive himself within Lazarus Pit. Having discovered the secret to the location of each pit, Batman has been repeatedly foiling any attempts to create new pits. In response to this, Tailia sets out to prepare the final pit personally where she confronts Batman and the former lovers begin to discuss Ra’s Al Ghul and how he came to be hundreds of years ago. A key component in of most of the Ra’s Al Ghul stories is the Lazuras Pits, this tale does answer the questions to how and why they work and even why his name translates as Head of the Demon. The last story is the best, I thought the first story was very good, the second was good but the final story completely took me by surprise by how brilliant it was. It's more of a character driven story in the hands of the writer who created him Dennis O Neil. I was hoping when I bought this collection it would feature the famous first story arc featuring Ra’s al Ghul and Batman issue #232, but this final story pays homage to that infamous final duel that we've first scene in the aforementioned issue.This story is brilliant and was real surprise to actually how good it was. I loved the first story and thought it couldn't be topped but Birth of the Demon blows both those stories out of the water. Almost as if there was no plot, just a story of a man and how it came to be. A character driven tale unlike anything I have read before. The art is stunning too, it really fits the story. 

This spectacular story ends in a climatic showdown between the Demon and the Dark Knight. This final face is nothing more that a duel between these two long time adversaries, Ra’s no plans in place and Batman is not trying to prevent the latest evil scheme, just good old fashioned fight which lasts for several pages and is the thrilling to witness. 

Overall it is a great book featuring one of the most fascinating villains of the DC Universe. This collection offers fans a chance to get into these stories that are no longer available individually. Here the Demon trilogy in one great collection of classic stories. The book cover art is by Andy Kubert who also was the artist for the Batman and Son story. Each tale provides roughly an hour and half of reading, all the stories are different and the first two show us Ra’s al Ghul in the modern setting against Batman and the final story we learn of how he came to be before a epic face off with Batman. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and getting to get into stories of one of Batman’s infamous and mysterious villains. Ra's al Ghul will be the main antagonist in the upcoming third season of Arrow. I loved this book, the highlight for me was the final story, Birth of the Demon. Ra’s al Ghul’s origin and best story written by one of his creators Dennis O Neil. I've just stared reading Dennis O Neil and Neal Adam’s acclaimed stories that first brought relevance to comics in the 1970’s. That review will be up sometime soon after I get through the 18 issues.

Bye for now

K

New Graphic Novel reviews, Green Arrow: Road to Jericho, Batman: Zero Year-Secret City Volume 4 and Blackest Night

Hello all,

Few new book reviews, Green Arrow: Road to Jericho, Batman: Zero Year-Secret City Volume 4 and Blackest Night.

Batman Volume 4 Zero Year - Secret City

Batman Zero Year is a new take of the Batman origin. Since the New 52 relaunch DC Comics has changed, it has altered and modernized many of its heroes and villains in the DC Universe. Batman Volume 4 collects issues #21- 24, the first half of the Zero Year story arc.

Initially conceptualized as a Batman story line, that was announced in November 2013 and several titles would tie in directly to the "Zero Year" story arc. Writers of various titles in The New 52 were given the opportunity of writing a tie-in that would include their connections to Gotham City and first encounter with Batman. The Flash, Green Arrow, The Green Lantern Corps and Superman along with others in the Batman line, Batgirl, Batwing, Batwoman, Birds of Prey, Catwoman, Detective Comics, Nightwing, and Red Hood and the Outlaws all feature a tie in.

The Batman origin story has been told many times; most notably in 1987 by Frank Miller's and Dave Mazzucelli's Batman: Year One. This tale is hugely influential and that's still evident here in this modern retelling of the Batman origin story, along with the Batman Begins film of 2005 and more recently in comics the alternate origin story within Batman Earth One. Some would say the notion of redoing an origin over Miller's classic was untouchable. When I first learned that the next story arc in the New 52 Batman comics was going to re-tell the origin story, I felt unfavorable to the concept, the previous three aforementioned stories had been so well established in my mind. I loved the movie which was the reason that got me into comics and the Batman Earth One and Year One stories are two of my favorite Batman graphic novels and the latter my first graphic novel, if I didn't enjoy it I wasn't sure comics would have been for me, but I loved it hugely and continued getting into Batman books. Batman Earth One was an alternate origin told by one of my favorite and the best modern comic book writers Geoff Johns.

After Scott Snyder's and Greg Capullo's hugely successful and critically acclaimed run on Batman, the Owls saga; Court of the Owls and City of the Owls were a completely new facet and antagonist for the Batman. The idea of the city being as big a character part of the story also exists here. Then later their take on the return of Batman's arch nemesis the Joker was a brilliant story and one of the best Joker stories ever. I loved it, how could they follow it up after telling the best Joker Batman story of recent times? I became interested to see their take of the origin story of Batman. 

Starting off with Bruce Wayne as costumed Batman, taking place six months earlier in a four page prologue in a unrecognizable savage Gotham City, our story then skips back to five months earlier which see’s Bruce in a disguise in the middle of an encounter with the Red Hood gang. With a bag full of gadgets and Alfred in his earpiece providing him with information, Bruce dangerously but successfully saves the hostages from the Red Hood gang. The gang consists of wealthy Gothamites blackmailed into joining the gang by it's leader Red Hood One. You later see the frustration as Bruce's initial attempts at being a vigilante are failing, he has the skills, the methods and the gadgets, but some element is missing. Its not working. Where as Miller's Year One was a decidedly low tech Batman, Snyder’s is quite the opposite, Bruce is determined to take on the gang that is the biggest threat to Gotham. As the story progress you see that Bruce coming up short and needs to become the Batman. There are many familiar elements here that are consistent with the best known origin; young Bruce falling into the cave and the iconic moment of an injured Bruce seeing the omen of the bat and declaring "Yes Father I will become the Bat" straight from the pages of Miller's Batman Year One.

A Batman origin story is best when he takes on a non-super powered antagonist, like Carmine Falcone's and the mob in Year One. A great twist here in this tale is with the ever increasing gang of red hoods that can be anyone, anywhere. It's interesting to read throughout the story and notice the mannerisms and language of the leader of the gang, Red Hood One, it’s intriguing to see is this Red Hood, is he the man to destined to become the Joker? Is this his origin and beginning of his crime career? Before the Joker was never a factor in Batman's origin so this was a nice addition. This along with the backup stories at the end of the book showing up where Bruce got various types of training are nice bonus. Uncle Philip Kane is a new addition to history of Batman and his desire to have Bruce return to claim his place in the company, but yet his association with a certain somebody make his a suspicious individual. Jim Gordon plays less of a prominent role here as he did in previous origin stories; Year One, Earth One and Batman Begins. This first installment ends on an cliffhanger, it's likely that Batman Zero Year Dark City will feature the building of that partnership. Snyder’s earlier pre New 52 Batman: The Black Mirror was extremely reminiscent of Year One, getting to know Gordon and the bond between he and Batman. The Black Mirror is a one of the best modern Batman graphic novels and I would highly recommend you check it our, you won't be disappointed.

It doesn't go over all the same moments, a key component that is omitted is the is the shooting of the Wayne's in Crime Alley. Again, it's likely that in later issues in the next part of the arc will cover some of these important story elements. Its an intriguing to see a story that we've all been told before but in new and refreshing way. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's have already done exciting work on their Batman series. Although Batman’s Origin story is already so well known and legendary both in comic book form and live action, it is thrilling to see what these new creators would do with the already famous story. Although it may not have the same impact it’s a useful exercise in getting a new origin for a new generation. Exciting to see how these two creators would tell the origin story with their new twists and way of storytelling. Zero Year is especially praised for its unique spin on Batman’s origins, while also honoring the character’s history and spirit. 

How could you follow up the amazing Death of the Family story, that would be pretty hard to top, so taking it all back and tell a Batman story from the beginning was a stellar idea. If there is going to be a new origin for Batman it needs to be both retain familiar classic elements and well as new ones to make to stand out from the previous tales, and Batman Zero Year Dark City does just that and Snyder and Capullo were the right guys for the task. It is not a retelling of such origin stories like Batman:Year One but is a fresh take on the background of the Dark Knight.

Green Arrow Road to Jericho 

Road to Jericho is the 9th and final volume in this Green Arrow series collecting issues #66 -75 before Oliver featured in a new series with Dinah Lance titled Green Arrow/Black Canary.

What happened to Oliver Queen during the time before he became Mayor of Starling? Batman, Red Hood, Brick, Merlyn, Constatine Drakon, Deathstroke and the return of Black Canary all take place in this collection and finale. Road to Jerhico is a follow up that relies very heavily on the events of Green Arrow Crawling Through The Wreckage. The first three issues cover the events that took place preceding the events of the last volume. Oliver is again on an not so isolated island but this time he is here to improve on his training, this will only seem repetitive to the reader if they have recently read a origin story like Green Arrow Year One. The later story picks up from the last collection as Green Arrow teams up with Batman, as he comes to Starling City to track down the Red Hood.

The story opens on a wounded Oliver Queen and takes us back to fill in the blanks of the One Year Later event. Oliver, Mia and Conner are all on an island, Oliver feels the necessity to retrain himself and his partners to contend with the escalating threats they face. He has hired an assassin named Natas, the man who trained Deathstroke. These first three issues fill in the events of the year that Green Arrow was absent from Star City, as mentioned in the previous arc; Crawling Through The Wreckage. The rest of the story picks up where the last book left off. Oliver continues to deal with the crime in the Glades and as his role as Mayor. Things gets very interesting when Bruce Wayne shows up in StarCity and as Batman is on the trail of his former sidekick turned self styled vigilante the Red Hood. Writer Judd Winnick first created this character during his time writing Batman. I loved that aspect of this story, Batman Under the Red Hood is one of my favorite and one of the best animated Batman movies. The film is based on Judd Winick's Batman "Under the Hood" story arc and here you get to back to the character from Winnick's creation.The final arc follows Deathstroke and Drakon's escape from Alcatraz prison while continuing their feud with Green Arrow and these assassins are causing political difficulties for Mayor Queen.

A lot happens in this volume, from Oliver's time on the island to teaming up with Batman against the Red Hood, threats to his role as Mayor and the return of the two assassins seeking revenge against Green Arrow. The book and series ends on a high note. I liked the book the Red Hood arc was the most interesting to me and the great return of Deathstroke. Fascinating story and a great send off for this series. The book is very good full of great moments and the flashback to one year later missing events are just there to fill in the gap it serves a purpose within the story. The idea of a non powered superhero needing to retrain to be able to compete with the ever increasing threat of criminals was a worthy and thoughtful addition to the arc. I was extremely curious to what happened to Oliver during his time away along with to how is so skilled with a katana sword. Although the main draw of this volume presents itself later, the events the one year on the island was not a filler or wasted storytelling. Oliver and Dinah Lance/Black Canary are reunited and have a very personal reunion . A big part of Green Arrow is his true love Dinah Lance, and they share an intimate discussion about their love for each other, it's a pleasant change of pace for an action packed story. It is a worthy sequel to the events of Crawling Through The Wreckage so make sure and check that out first.

All in a all great book and one I was very much looking forward to with the inclusion of Batman and Red Hood featured in the for a segment of the story. Thrilling to get another face off between Green Arrow and worlds greatest assassin Deathstroke so shortly after their recent clash. It does feel like a grand finale of the series, all the stops are pulled out for this heroic showdown that has been building up to. My favorite moment of the end of the series the return of one very fan favorite arrow. The plot building in the background of recent issues of the series come into play in a grand finale. After the One Year Later events are revealed The Red Hood/Jason Todd, has come to Star City and Batman isn't far behind. The situation becomes one that will take the team of DC Comic's most recognizable vigilantes to handle. But with the likes of Brick, Merlyn, Drakon, and Deathstroke joining the fray in the aftermath, Green Arrow may have his work cut out for him. But all this action aside, the most important thing in this story is Ollie's relationships, most notably the one with long time lover, Dinah Lance/Black Canary. Great book with plenty to keep fans interested, action packed with quieter moments. Great end to a great series.

Blackest Night 

In the Blackest Night, the dead rise, the story that has been building for two years. Black Hand, a character that has been present in Green Lantern comics for some time and since Geoff Johns run has been preparing for his masters arrival for the Blackest Night. Across the Universe the dead have risen and are recruited into the Black Lantern Corps. Heroes and villains have risen for one purpose to extinguish life across the universe.This limited series collects the main story; Blackest Night issues # 0 - 8. It focuses on the events on earth and features various heroes of the Justice League while other aspects of the story being collected in Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps books. Other tie ins of the story are available, collected in other editions of the story.

The prophecy has arrived. Black rings descend and reanimate the dead, the prophecy that Hal Jordan’s predecessor Abin Sur had feared. The book gives a text introduction to what have happened before. The story begins with the main characters; Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Barry Allen/The Flash at the unmarked grave of Bruce Wayne/Batman. Barry, who has recently returned to life, is our point of view character at various points of the story including here where Hal fills him in how Batman died and what other heroes have passed away during Barry’s absence. Hal shows Barry all the heroes that have died in a double page spread using the power of his ring. So it helps the reader follow on what has transpired before this story.

Death is always something that was a big part of the DC Universe and now in the form of Nekron, the embodiment of death and leader of the Black Lantern’s poses the greatest threat to the Universe and all life. Many heroes like Superman, Green Arrow and the Flash have died and returned while others such as Arthur Curry/Aquaman and J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter have been dead for some time. Earth’s heroes fend off the threat together. The dead just don’t return as mindless zombified versions but have a emotional response to those friends and colleagues they have targeted. As Barry Allen points out “Only the dead with emotional ties to people like us are rising. The rest are staying in their graves”.

Like Brad Meltzer’s Identity Crisis the story focuses on other heroes getting an opportunity to shine including Barry Allen/The Flash along with Aquaman’s wife Queen Mera, Ray Palmer/The Atom and the new Firestorm/Jason Rusch and Gehenna Hewitt. Although Hal is one the main characters in this book he is absent for a short time in the middle of the story as he must depart to fulfill his mission in order to help stop this threat on earth. His task is covered in collected edition of Green Lantern: Blackest Night. In the beginning of Part One, Hawkman and the Atom still dealing with the fallout events from the epic of Identity Crisis, this exemplifies how important of a story it is and some are referenced a few times. It is refreshing for a big event story like this where other heroes feature more prominently than the DC Trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman take a back seat in this story. But unlike Identity Crisis their presence isn't felt. There is a reference to how important these heroes are and at one point The Flash informs The Atom and Queen Mera that they must stand in for Superman and Wonder Woman in the event of this current threat.

Great that the story focus on Hal and Barry, the two most recently resurrected heroes in the DC Universe, both their “Rebirth’s” were written by Geoff Johns. Hal and Barry have both recently returned from the dead and with their former team mates so far being denied the same privilege. Aquaman, J’ohn J’onzz and others possibly harboring some resentment towards the duo.The Blackest Night has been two years in waiting, sometime big event comics don’t live up to the hype, lose their grasp or going off-road with story quality declining halfway. This does not, each chapter gets better and better while the quality of storytelling remains consistent and has the threat ever increasing going from bad to worse for our heroes. It’s a thrilling story full of amazing, shocking and one particularly very sad moment.The art is stunning, Ivan Reis who has previously worked on Green Lantern comics does some gruesome artwork and great double page spreads and some great crowd scenes. I'm now a new fan of his since his work on New 52 Justice League. I appreciated how the dead see the emotional spectrum aura of their victims and how it changes depending on their emotional state.

The story is filled with some great fanboy moments including one that was so big that was spoiled by DC Universe Classics Wave 17 action figures here. There are some revelations to change that mythos and what we thought we knew according to one of the Guardians of Universe. As within the Sinestro Corps War it was revealed that Oa was not the center of the universe, instead earth is and this story shines some light on to the reason why. As a Green Lantern, Hal Jordan has faced his two biggest challenges, The Sinestro Corps War and The Blackest Night, fear and death, both things Hal has overcome before and now with the Blackest Night he must face and defeat death once more. This is a big story that is open to analysis and interpretations. It is one of the biggest event stories in comics, it also feels like it would make a great movie, it action packed on a large scale. It was a momentous and epic story.The miniseries event from DC Comics does double-duty both as a line-wide DC crossover and another chapter in writer Geoff Johns's ongoing Green Lantern series that has both engaging with emotional depth.

That is it for now. Check back for more soon, including Flash: Rebirth, Batman: Birth of the Demon and Green Lantern/ Green Arrow collection.

K