Batman: Tales Of The Demon
Collecting the 1970's comics featuring the first appearances of Ra's Al Ghul and his daughter Talia Al Ghul, this trade offers both aged and outdated writing as well as some of the most iconic moments in Batman's career.
At first the idea of Batman traveling the world to defeat James Bond-esque villains seemed appealing, though it still feels strange to see Batman take his vengeance of justice upon crime outside of Gotham City. Oddly enough, Talia actually appeared first before Ra's. Talia's character is unevenly written, some cases helpless and other times her stereotype, exotic femininity is just a front to hide her true deadly self. Ra's on the other hand, isn't as a fearsome a foe as I expected back in 70's. He seems only a real threat when we witness him revived for the first time from the lazarus pit, though that leads to an iconic 2 page sword fight between Ra's and Batman, where this trade unfortunately peeks.
The best parts are the art of Neal Adams featured in some of the stories, though the style isn't as different to some of the other artists of the time, where he succeeds greatly is the variety and dynamics of scenes, almost cinematic as opposed to the boring yet overly dramatic poses drawn by others of the time. Once you get past questionable dialogue from Batman like "He'll sleep the sleep of the fat, ugly and stupid" and unnecessary character tag-alongs like a random skiing woman who tags along without question to help defeat Ra's, then this trade is worth reading just for the iconic moments that would shape Batman for the future.
RATING:
Batman Story - 8/10
Continuity - 10/10
Art - 8/10
Epicness - 7/10
OVERALL - 8.2/10 (It's a collection of stories of it's time)
Anyone pay attention to the one liner from a burley Ra's thug named Lurk, who threatens to break Batman, foreshadowing Bane?
At first the idea of Batman traveling the world to defeat James Bond-esque villains seemed appealing, though it still feels strange to see Batman take his vengeance of justice upon crime outside of Gotham City. Oddly enough, Talia actually appeared first before Ra's. Talia's character is unevenly written, some cases helpless and other times her stereotype, exotic femininity is just a front to hide her true deadly self. Ra's on the other hand, isn't as a fearsome a foe as I expected back in 70's. He seems only a real threat when we witness him revived for the first time from the lazarus pit, though that leads to an iconic 2 page sword fight between Ra's and Batman, where this trade unfortunately peeks.
The best parts are the art of Neal Adams featured in some of the stories, though the style isn't as different to some of the other artists of the time, where he succeeds greatly is the variety and dynamics of scenes, almost cinematic as opposed to the boring yet overly dramatic poses drawn by others of the time. Once you get past questionable dialogue from Batman like "He'll sleep the sleep of the fat, ugly and stupid" and unnecessary character tag-alongs like a random skiing woman who tags along without question to help defeat Ra's, then this trade is worth reading just for the iconic moments that would shape Batman for the future.
RATING:
Batman Story - 8/10
Continuity - 10/10
Art - 8/10
Epicness - 7/10
OVERALL - 8.2/10 (It's a collection of stories of it's time)
Anyone pay attention to the one liner from a burley Ra's thug named Lurk, who threatens to break Batman, foreshadowing Bane?