Batman: Prey
Another yarn set in Batman's early career. Hugo Strange has become obsessed with Batman and more than wanting to kill him, he would rather be him.
This is really about the police gaining Batman's trust. Gordon is forced to put together a task force to hunt him down, little do they know that Gordon is on Batman's side, though he is beginning to question his decisions.
Through hypnotism, Hugo brain washes tough cop Max Cort to become vigilante Night Scourge and prove himself better than the Batman. How necessary this was is debatable, but it sets up a final fight that proves Batman is the best of the best. Catwoman shows up every now and then too and leaves you wanting more of her then the mediocre side characters this story has to offer. However, the pacing is good and the art is acceptable and reading it makes an easy and rewarding experience.
"Monster Men" was meant to be both a prequal and remake of "Prey," but "Prey" works well as a superior sequel albeit continuity issues relating the bat-mobile. New trades of Prey come included with its bad sequel "Terror."
RATING:
Batman Story - 8/10
Continuity - 9/10
Art - 9/10
Badassness - 8/10
OVERALL - 8.5/10
Continuity Notes:
This is really about the police gaining Batman's trust. Gordon is forced to put together a task force to hunt him down, little do they know that Gordon is on Batman's side, though he is beginning to question his decisions.
Through hypnotism, Hugo brain washes tough cop Max Cort to become vigilante Night Scourge and prove himself better than the Batman. How necessary this was is debatable, but it sets up a final fight that proves Batman is the best of the best. Catwoman shows up every now and then too and leaves you wanting more of her then the mediocre side characters this story has to offer. However, the pacing is good and the art is acceptable and reading it makes an easy and rewarding experience.
"Monster Men" was meant to be both a prequal and remake of "Prey," but "Prey" works well as a superior sequel albeit continuity issues relating the bat-mobile. New trades of Prey come included with its bad sequel "Terror."
RATING:
Batman Story - 8/10
Continuity - 9/10
Art - 9/10
Badassness - 8/10
OVERALL - 8.5/10
Continuity Notes:
- During the story, Bruce is busy in his spare time building a bat-mobile. He aldready built one in "Monster Men." I like to think of it as a new and improved model to fit continuity as there isn't much talk about it in the story otherwise. Plus is makes sense as Bruce keeps a lot of bat-mobiles on display in his cave in more recent Batman stories.
- The bat-signal is made in this. Though it is supposed to be introduced in "Man Who Laughs," it can be acknowledged that is was built here, but accepted as permanent in "Man Who Laughs."
Batman: Terror
Terrible!
SPOILER: When Hugo Strange, the driving force of both the story and Batman's involvement, is killed in the first third of this book, the story offers nothing worth reading afterwards. (Hugo is later revealed to be alive and then left to an unknown fate, most likely death, again!)
Works as something to help connect "Prey" with "Strange Apparitions."
RATING:
Batman Story - 5/10
Continuity - 9/10
Art - 9/10
Badassness - 8/10
OVERALL - 8.5/10
Continuity Note:
Best read after Long Halloween or Haunted Knight due to mentioning of Two-Face and Joker and that Scarecrow is introduced captive in Arkham Asylum.
SPOILER: When Hugo Strange, the driving force of both the story and Batman's involvement, is killed in the first third of this book, the story offers nothing worth reading afterwards. (Hugo is later revealed to be alive and then left to an unknown fate, most likely death, again!)
Works as something to help connect "Prey" with "Strange Apparitions."
RATING:
Batman Story - 5/10
Continuity - 9/10
Art - 9/10
Badassness - 8/10
OVERALL - 8.5/10
Continuity Note:
Best read after Long Halloween or Haunted Knight due to mentioning of Two-Face and Joker and that Scarecrow is introduced captive in Arkham Asylum.