A Death In The Family
Obviously this a must read for bat-fans. A pivotal and controversial event in Batman history. I don't need to drag on about the reason to kill off the second Robin. So i'll keep it short for those who don't know. Jason Todd was a stubborn and arrogant Robin and D.C. comics let the readers vote whether to have him live or die.
What can i say that hasn't already been said about this? What i enjoyed most was the original single issue covers and obviously the infamous crow bar beating dealt by the Joker. In the end, this is just an out dated classic that doesn't hold up well.
The art hasn't aged well and idea that Batman & Robin had to travel to the middle east to stop the Joker from selling weapons of mass destruction is just plain ridiculous. Not to mention I always cringe when the bat gyro is in use. After Jason's death, Joker is given diplomatic immunity to represent Iran as an ambassador to America, only to be used as terrorist weapon himself. The intentions were good, but the whole idea besides murdering Robin was not executed well. In saying so, it does give you chills every time you see the crowbar beating and Batman holding Jason in his arms. These images will last forever.
Death In The Family is the kind of book that unfortunately every bat-fan has to have on their shelf, but they don't have to appreciate it. If anything, D.C. needs to here the cry from the fans to give this deserving story a modern retelling in graphic novel form.
RATING:
Batman Story - 6/10
Continuity - 10/10
Art - 5/10
Episness - 5/10
OVERALL - 6.5/10
What can i say that hasn't already been said about this? What i enjoyed most was the original single issue covers and obviously the infamous crow bar beating dealt by the Joker. In the end, this is just an out dated classic that doesn't hold up well.
The art hasn't aged well and idea that Batman & Robin had to travel to the middle east to stop the Joker from selling weapons of mass destruction is just plain ridiculous. Not to mention I always cringe when the bat gyro is in use. After Jason's death, Joker is given diplomatic immunity to represent Iran as an ambassador to America, only to be used as terrorist weapon himself. The intentions were good, but the whole idea besides murdering Robin was not executed well. In saying so, it does give you chills every time you see the crowbar beating and Batman holding Jason in his arms. These images will last forever.
Death In The Family is the kind of book that unfortunately every bat-fan has to have on their shelf, but they don't have to appreciate it. If anything, D.C. needs to here the cry from the fans to give this deserving story a modern retelling in graphic novel form.
RATING:
Batman Story - 6/10
Continuity - 10/10
Art - 5/10
Episness - 5/10
OVERALL - 6.5/10
New Edition
A new edition of 'Death In The Family' actually comes with 'A Lonely Place Of Dying.' I saw this stacked up my local comic store and would of bought it had I known! It provides a great conclusion to 'Death In The Family' and shows how Tim Drake became the third Robin.
Update - This new version now has the original black cover as well as the alternate page where if Jason Todd survived as an extra.
Update - This new version now has the original black cover as well as the alternate page where if Jason Todd survived as an extra.
A Lonely Place Of Dying
Now here's something worth reading over or at least immediately after "Death In The Family." Batman has become clumsy and is on edge since the loss of Jason, and the only person noticing his fall from grace is the very smart, Batman fan boy, Tim Drake.
The art is not improvement from "Death In The Family," but the story is more meaningful. Not only are we introduced to the third Robin and how he becomes so, but we get to see how Tim Drake convinces both Batman and us as a read as to why Batman needs Robin.
Do yourself a favour and read this feel good story as Batman goes from a depressing low to a hopeful, positive, heroic best.
RATING:
Batman Story - 8/10
Continuity - 10/10
Art - 5/10
Coolness - 5/10
OVERALL - 7/10
The art is not improvement from "Death In The Family," but the story is more meaningful. Not only are we introduced to the third Robin and how he becomes so, but we get to see how Tim Drake convinces both Batman and us as a read as to why Batman needs Robin.
Do yourself a favour and read this feel good story as Batman goes from a depressing low to a hopeful, positive, heroic best.
RATING:
Batman Story - 8/10
Continuity - 10/10
Art - 5/10
Coolness - 5/10
OVERALL - 7/10