Title: Batman.
Story-Arc: Knightmares.
Volume: 10.
Writer(s): Tom King.
Illustrator(s): Travis Moore, Mitch Gerads, Mikel Janín, Jorge Fornes, Lee Weeks, Amanda Conner, Dan Panosia, John Timms and Yanick Paquette.
Colourist(s): Tamra Bonvillain, Mitch Gerads, Jordie Bellaire, Dave Stewart, Lovern Kindzierski, Paul Mounts, John Timms and Nathan Fairbairn.
Letterer(s): Clayton Cowles.
Publisher: DC Comics.
Format: Paperback (Read in Single Issues).
Release Date: September 17th 2019.
Pages: 176.
Genre(s): Comics, Science-Fiction.
ISBN13: 9781779501585.
My Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆.
Previously on DC Universe Rebirth’s Batman:
Batman (Vol. 1) I Am Gotham by Tom King
Batman (Vol. 1.5.) Night of the Monster Men by Steve Orlando
Batman (Vol. 2) I Am Suicide by Tom King
Batman (Vol. 3) I Am Bane by Tom King
Batman/The Flash (Vol. 3.5) The Button by Tom King
Batman (Vol. 4) The War of Jokes and Riddles by Tom King
Batman (Vol. 5) Rules of Engagement by Tom King
Batman (Vol. 6) Bride or Burglar by Tom King
Batman (Vol. 7) The Wedding by Tom King
Batman (Vol. 8) Cold Days by Tom King
Batman (Vol. 9) The Tyrant Wings by Tom King
Following the recent announcement that Tom King will be handing over the reins of the canonical Batman comic book series to writer James Tynion IV, artist Tony S. Daniel, inker Danny Miki, and colourist Tomeu Morey, as of issue #86, the grand finale to his tumultuous run will soon come to an end and every story arc going forward will be just as important as those he has given fans so far. With the past couple of volumes, especially those that came after the tragic wedding story arc that launched Batman into a spiral of madness, have been a bit messy with short stories being collected without any sense of elaborating a coherent trade paperback. It’s now only a matter of time before Tom King finally delivers something substantial but, unfortunately, Knightmares continues down a path that is a bit alarming but hopefully rewarding in the long run.
What is Batman: Knightmares about? Collecting Batman issues #61-63 and 66-69, this story arc is a set of short stories that explores Bruce Wayne’s recent tragedies, tough decisions, and mistakes. Featuring a different artist with each issue, Tom King looks into bringing a scalpel to Batman’s mind as Gotham’s Dark Knight fights off the intangible forces at work and tries to grasp the reality he’s in. With no way to understand what he’s going through, he’s forced to live in the moment and ultimately accept the impending defeat. From encountering Pyg to confronting Constantine, this wild ride is one that he will have to embrace by asking the questions that he has never dared to bring up.
I tried really hard to appreciate the direction Tom King wanted to take this story arc but I couldn’t settle for what ended up being a story with poor execution but a good idea at its foundation. With the recent tragedies that Bruce Wayne has been through, it is a fantastic idea to slowly break the Bat after having him invest in people that he normally would never allow himself to attach himself to. With this story arc, Tom King tried to explore different nightmares that are somewhat connected to him but not sufficiently explicit for readers to understand the underlying guideline. In fact, for stories that are supposed to be the worse nightmares lived by Bruce Wayne, these felt so much more tamed, controlled and manipulated—which might have been the intent but who knows—to the point where they felt like alternate universes with a moral, whereas Bruce Wayne’s nightmare should be more in the field of horror, fear, and insanity. if you ask me. Not to mention that some of the stories (nightmares) featured here are irrelevant and superficial.
Then comes the issue with the artwork. Deep down, I saw where the intention was by bringing in different artists for each issue, as each issue depicts a different nightmare, it is reasonable to change the tone and atmosphere with each. Unfortunately, half of the visual styles employed were unimpressive and barely had any apprehension of what constructions of the mind, such as dreams and nightmares, actually were. My favourite of all of these was probably the work accomplished by artist Mitch Gerads whose style works accordingly with Tom King’s ideas and was the closest of all the nightmares to be both incomprehensible and fundamental to understanding the confusion and chaos in Bruce’s mind.
I think this story arc could only be seen as a setup to what’s to come. After all, the reason why issues #64-65 were excluded was because Tom King had to give those to Joshua Williamson for tie-in stories for his controversial Heroes in Crisis mini-series. Maybe now that he’s back from this short break, things might finally get interesting.
Batman: Knightmares is a choppy and lacunary collection of nightmares, exploring Bruce Wayne’s psyche following recent tragedies.
Roars and Echoes 
I always like when a comic plays with different art forms but honestly it rarely works because the art is going to be seen different depending who is reading it. Sounds like if the art had succeeded in making the nightmares pop you would have enjoyed this more. Honestly though I agree sounds like an excellent idea that wasn’t developed enough. Sorry to hear you couldn’t get behind it Lashaan!!
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Definitely, the artwork should’ve been different in tone but I also think some of stories could’ve been so much better too. Unfortunately, this had potential but didn’t succeed in the execution. Thanks for reading, Dani!
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Major props for using the word “lacunary”. I love it when a blogger makes me go look up a word!
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It’s insane cause you always make this kind of comment on those rare words that I take directly from French and prayed they existed in English! 😂
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hahahaha! I had no idea. Maybe that is my heretofore unknown secret super power? Frenchy Man?
Somehow that brings to mind some guy wearing a french fry as a costume, not exactly what I’d want 😀
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Hahaahah 🤣🤣
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In my very limited experience, it seems Tom King either hits it out of the park… or it kinda limps along. What’s been your experience?
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Absolutely right. I thought it was just a learning curve at first but in the end it seems like its a rollercoaster ride in terms of quality! 😂
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A tragic wedding story? 😱😱😱 You have got me intrigued? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!? Was it like The Red Wedding in GoT!? Murders and all?
And that quote you included!? Of Tom King? WOW!! I LOVED ITT!! 😍😍
I am sorry you had trouble with the artwork though. I can imagine how it must be frustrating trying to be accustomed to different artists with every issue?
And I agree that sometimes the ideas aren’t executed properly and it gets Soo very irritating, seeing a story that could have done better – IF ONLY!
LOVED THE REVIEW, Lashaan! As always! ❤️❤️ I think I read enough of these reviews, I might just become Batman’s fan! 🤣🤣❤️
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Hahahah nothing like the Red Wedding. This was just a huge disappointment for Batman on the day he was waiting for Catwoman at the “altar”. 😉 Yes, it’s a cute quote hahah It’s really not just because the artwork changes but because some of the art wasn’t as powerful as they could’ve been. Well, I’m definitely glad to hear that about Batman cause he’s my number 1 hero of all time and is very present on my blog! 😂
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Oh, damn! 🤣🤣 That sucks! I don’t know much about Catwoman apart from seeing some of her pins on Pinterest but I SHIP THEM SOOO MUCH!! 😍😍❤️❤️👻
WELL HE DEFINITELY ISS! And no one who reads your post can doubt THAT! 🤣🤣 Still, I enjoy reading your reviews, as always! Not to mention that they teach me how to be more coherent in mine so that’s always a plus! 😉😉❤️
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You’re too kind hahaha I appreciate the love, Rain! Don’t stop some subjective perception of incoherence stop you from writing though. The pure love/hate you have for everything you read/watch needs to remain pure! 😛
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AWWW!! Thank you sooo much for that, Lashaan! ❤️❤️👻👻👻
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Oh, poor Lashaan, is your unwavering belief in King finally breaking? 🤣🤣🤣
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Hahahahaha he has his off days, like any other human! 😛
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You faithful defender of the wretched! I’d call you a Hero for Hire, but as you’re definitely more of a DC guy, I probably should call you… Gotham Boy? 😄
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Oh noooo 🤣 Not when Tom King already gave us Gotham and Gotham Girl 😂
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Yup, and I can’t stand them both 🤣 you’ve got a better chance, I’d say! 😂
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I totally understand your use of “tame” to describe this.
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Thanks. It could’ve been so much more but I guess it is what it is.
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I’ve seen the Joker! It was good. Thank you for not disappointing 😉
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I’m incredibly pleased to hear that! So glad you enjoyed it. It really was a phenomenal movie, where controversies and hate by critics on it have been unnecessarily destructive.
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It was. Although, I was right in thinking it was a bit tame. Aside from the murder in Joker’s apartment, we don’t really get to see all that much violence.
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But I understand that the violence wasn’t the focal point of the movie.
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I didn’t think it was either and found that every death had a purpose/meaning throughout the movie too. And it’s funny that you particularly found it tame when controversies around the movie says the violence is too much and what not. 😂
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Have you heard about the cut scenes? I think there was a lot that was lost when they got cut (ex.: Arthur’s cat). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joU-xioKMvA
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Pretty insane! I do hope they give us some kind of director’s cut on bluray. I have always loathed how the theatrical version is often not the complete movie, especially when scenes that were cut out could’ve been interesting to have in the story.
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Excellent thoughts my friend! My opinion is actually not too far off of yours (perhaps 3 stars overall for me), “Knightmares” was an interesting experiment and a neat idea in principle but it ultimately dragged out into too many issues and the whilst the use of a different artist for each chapter was neat, conceptually, it didn’t quite work as well in execution. I found it a little less bothersome reading the individual issues as they came out but can see how reading them collected/in succession would diminish the reading experience.
I’ve been enjoying “City of Bane” but, alas, John Romita Jr is currently spoiling that a little…quite jarring after Tony Daniel/Clay Mann’s work on previous issues.
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Thanks man! Exactly. A nice comic book experiment but slightly too long and not as connected as it should’ve been. It’s interesting that reading individually didn’t bother you more. 😮 I mean not being able to understand too much where everything was going until the final issue of the arc came around? Interesting.
Maaaaan, I’m skeptic about the next arc.
I’m not too sure if it’s going to be what I’ll need to get on the King train; I was never a fan of King’s Bane after all… I do hope it proves me wrong but your thoughts on the artwork have me scared now hahah
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Well Lashaan with your absolute love of Batman indeed these were pretty disappointing to get only two stars! And as far as the art is concerned (you know that I am a very visual person and that the art is important to me) I can get what you mean!
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Hahahah yep, I am quite strict with my Batman stories since I sort of know what a good story is like with everything I’ve read so far in my life! 😛 And you’re absolutely right, Sophie. Artwork is just as important as the story when it comes to any comic book! 😀
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The idea sounded good, though!! 😯 Unfortunately, it must’ve been a… knightmare to read … hahaha… 😬
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Oh noooo, you’ve been contaminated! The bad jokes are now part of you!!! 😮 😮 😮 ❤
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Hahahaha nooo 😥
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