Customer Reviews

Batman: Blind Justice

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Batman: Blind Justice is a Batman comic perhaps most notable for being written by Sam Hamm, the man who co-wrote the first Tim Burton Batman movie. Batman fans have varying opinions about that film: some love it, others will curse Tim Burton until the day they die. But whether or not you liked that movie is a moot point when it comes to this story.

You see, the thing is this: Blind Justice is good. In fact, it's really good.

First things first: despite what the book itself may tell you, this tale has little, if anything, to do with the new film, Batman Begins. Sure, the story introduced Ducard, one of the many men who helped to train Bruce Wayne before he came the feared predator of the night we know and love. However, the Ducard in this book bears little resemblance to the one in the movie, and he really doesn't have a major part to begin with. So if you're buying this because it is somehow linked to the movie, don't. Or at least read the rest of this review before making your decision.

Hamm treats us to a delightfully original plot involving mind control and a conspiracy that branches from Wayne Enterprises itself. The story is complex and full of (gasp) original characters. That's right, folks, you won't find the Joker or Two-Face or even Catwoman in this story. Instead, we have the Bonecrusher, a massive villain that literally crushes his opponents with sonic weapons and can apparantly return from the dead. But even he is merely a pawn in the larger plot that develops throughout the book.

The story also centers around Bruce's relationship with a woman and her brother, who once worked for Wayne Enterprises but has since lost his memory. These characters are welcome additions to the story, as they provide a fresh take on Bruce and Batman that we don't really see very often in comics. They are just normal, everyday people like you and me thrown into an extreme situation and not entirely sure how to handle it. It's a delight to see the characters develop throughout the course of the comic.

The art is perhaps not as smooth as the storyline, but it still works fine to present the tale. It seems a bit hard-edged and flat at times, but the smart writing more than makes up for it.

In the end, what I really like most about this story is what an original tale it is. This isn't your typical Batman story where he collects a few clues and then goes out and bashes in some skulls. Batman, utilizing his Bruce Wayne alter-ego perhaps more than any other story I have read, has to unravel a plot that jeopardizes his very career. The final couple of plot twists are really amazing and truly unexpected, making the story even more fun to read because you never know what'll happen next.

The story is a human one, and it is somewhat slow-paced with an emphasis on characterization and examining Batman and his motivations. If you go into this book expecting something like either the first Batman movie or the current one, you may be disappointed. Or you might be delighted to find a very intelligent story that is very enjoyable to read.

Batman: Blind Justice is a very good read and a worthy purchase for any Batman fan. I think true Batman fans will appreciate this comic even more because it questions the relationship Bruce has with Batman. More often than not many Batman comics will be either straight action or moody, emotional noir-fests (not to say that's a bad thing), but the best Batman comics focus on some juxtaposition between Batman and Bruce Wayne or Batman's crusade and the notion of justice. In the best Batman comics it's not always clear whether Batman is a just character, or whether Bruce Wayne is really "in control" of his Batman alter-ego. Blind Justice is one of those comics. As a Batman tale, it's very good. I can really reccomend it to fans of Batman (like myself). They should give it an extra star.

If you're not a fan of Batman, then maybe you should read Dark Knight Returns or Batman Year One. Those will make anyone fans of Batman. I want to emphasize that the three star rating doesn't mean the comic is bad or average at all. It's good. The writing is smooth if nothing particullarly mind blowing, and the art is pleasing, even if it's nothing special. However, the comic has a level of depth that I think is needed to give it some staying power. Where other comics may have some great action scenes or witty dialogue that will keep you coming back to them, this comic has the question, "just how just and righteous is Batman?" You won't really be sure that Batman isn't just out for himself (in his own twisted way) after reading this comic, and for that reason, I think it's worth reading at least. But because it focuses on Bruce Wayne and Batman so well, every Batman fan should seek this comic out. As is the case with a lot comics when it comes to major characters, there will be a lot of trades that are must owns if you're a fan of the character, or are even sympathetic to the character that on their own, are merely "good" reads. This is one of them.

Batman fans should definately think about adding this to their bookshelf, casual fans should think about at least reading this one.

Blind Justice is without a doubt, one of the best Batman stories I've ever read (I've read all the "essentials" and then some). It is written by Sam Hamm (who wrote the screenplay for the 1989 Batman film), and penciled by Denys Cowan (The Question).

To be honest, the artwork wasn't love at first sight. But as read on, I came to admire the jagged, gritty look. The book isn't printed on the highest quality paper around, but it's a good thing that it isn't. The ink would look horrible on high quality paper (go take a look in Daredevil: Love's Labors Lost to see what I mean). The story is the books best feature. I won't write a plot overview because I don't want to spoil a single detail. This is the book that introduces Henri Ducard, but he's nothing like his Batman Begins version. Which is fine, I still loved this book and it didn't change my [very high] opinion of Batman Begins.

This book doesn't carry many refrences to previous Batman continuity, so anyone can pick it up and know just what's going on. The last few pages pack alot of punch and carries a profound message, one that I won't soon forget. If you haven't read this book and are at all a Batman fan, you need to read this. You won't regret it.

This trade reprints Detective Comics 598-600 and was written by screenwriter Sam Hamm who wrote the script for the first Tim Burton Batman film. Be sure you read the forward Hamm wrote to get his take on the Batman character.

The gruesome death of a night watchman leads Batman to confront a new villain named Bonecrusher who uses sound as a weapon. Just as Batman is about to capture him he commits suicide. Later Bonecrusher turns up again to commit another crime and again kills himself rather than get caught. All of this leads to a personal crisis for Bruce Wayne as he tries to help a woman find her long lost brother who used to work at Waynetech. Bruce uncovers a member of a covert agency working within his company conducting illegal experiments, but when he tries to expose him he is accused of being a communist spy and arrested. With the help of some fake evidence and a detailed list of people and places Bruce dealt with while training for his war on crime Bruce finds his life on the verge of collapse and his secret identity soon to follow.

This story suffers from characters that never really get developed and in my opinion should have been reworked or discarded in favor of other ideas. The reason this book is worth reading at all is because it introduces the character of Henri Ducard. We learn something about the young Bruce Wayne from Henri's perspective as well as find out why he decided to train Bruce. We also see why Ducard thinks Batman attracts a certain kind of unstable criminal. This story also gives us an interesting take on Batman's relationship with Commissioner Gordon and how much Gordon knows or thinks he knows about Batman. There is also an element of irony involved in Bruce's past as it is implied some of his training was at the hands of criminals.

Okay, so the writer of the first Batman movie gets a shot on the Detective Comics title to coincide with the movies release in 1989. What we get is a way too long story, with immense highs, and dull lows. The book is only three issues long, but those issues were all double-sized or triple-sized, so the story has seven chapters. Honestly, the story could have been cut down to 3 or 4 regular-sized issues, and it would have been a lot better. Almost every chapter is slow and boring, and just when you're about to give up on it, something awesome, surprising, strange, or unique happens, making it a necessity to read on.

I don't want to give away the premise, because you might want to still read this, and the shocks come with the developing story. That being said, the few twists etc. (which usually come at the end of the chapter), are amazing and original. Each new discovery turns Batman on his head. However, there's so much throw-away content in this book (about 70%), it would be extremely hard for me to recommend this to anyone.

writing: [5.5/10]
art: [8/10]

I know this book has it's fans, but I'm not one. The art's a bit rough and dated for this day and age and the primary mover in the story is a bit too sci-fi for me. Hails back to the day of doomsday devices and plot elements carried along primarily by unexplained technology. I'm a fan, but this wouldn't be the story I'd proselytize with.

I can't remember when I first read this - I must have borrowed it from a friend several years ago. I remembered liking it but I had forgotten just how good it really is. It's not as well known in the Bat Canon as stories like Miller's Year One, Moore's The Killing Joke or Morrison's Arkham Asylum, but perhaps it should be. While the overall quality does fall short of those works, the underlying themes are as powerful and refreshing. Hamm looks at Batman as someone whose motivations are less noble than they are a product of his self-indulgence in his suffering. While there are more and more stories of Batman's inflexible self-righteousness - especially in portrayals of an older Batman - Hamm attempts to take a closer look at what is behind that result. Many of the new breed of Batman writers who want to portray him more harshly still end up painting his shortcomings as justifiable within the bigger picture; Hamm seems to want to question the truth of that.

Also, this is the story that gave us Henri Ducard, who like Ra's al Ghul is a much more interesting character than what we got in Batman Begins. Don't get me wrong - I liked the movie and the character that was actually in the movie, I just wish the writers had used different names.

Here we have Sam Hamm, screenwriter of Batman '89, taking on comics for the first time (and as of this review, the only time). It was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Batman. The story that unfolds is equal parts a Bruce Wayne story as it is a Batman tale. Wayne has been accussed of being a communist traitor and must clear his name, meanwhile, he is doing his best to help out a woman who has lost her brother, the last remaining memeber of her family, which uncovers the secret to Bruce's troubles.

This story is interesting in that, as a previous reviewer stated, is almost a precursor to the Knightfall storyline, in that Bruce is badly injured to the point where he is wheelchair bound and another man temporarily dons the mantle of the bat in his absense. Meanwhile, a brand new villain, working right under Wayne's nose is stirring up trouble.

This story is tragic in a sense, showing how even though Bruce does nothing but try to help the city and its people, he still makes mistakes, and those mistakes still cost people their lives. This story also hints at the fact that Gordon may know more about Wayne's extracurricular activities than he leads on. This story also introduces Henri Ducard, who knows for a fact that Wayne is Batman, and has been called in to testify against him. It pretty much boils down to this. If Bruce reveals he's Batman, he can easily be cleared of all charges, however then his cover is blown.

The artwork by Denys Cowan works well. I had read The Question prior to this and so I knew what I was in for. Not my favorite Batman artist, but certainly not the worst. Not a bad story, intriguing for sure. I reccommend checking it out eventually, however, there are better bat stories out there. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if I could.

This work in the Batman series is a good mixture of philosophical intrigue, action, and mystery. The tale starts as a villain named "The Bonecrusher" dies twice and seems to keep coming back. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne is accused of being a communist traitor against the US.

Perhaps most interestingly of all, the way the writer characterizes the Batman/Bruce Wayne relationship is very interesting. The writer goes as far as to suggest that Bruce would sacrifice certain moral and ethical standards to keep his life as the Batman. The result is a strange ambivalence toward the Dark Knight that few writers have been able to make me feel towards him. The plot contains a very interesting allegorical addition.

I think this is one of the best Batman graphic novels in terms of writing. Another additional interest is the character Ducard, who helped train Bruce. This book is an interesting challenge to a sometimes long list of overdone Batman cliches.

Amazing.

This is one VERY rare comic in that the quality of the writing - not just the story, but the prose could stand alone in any other medium. A better story than even the beloved (by Batfans) 'The Dark Knight Returns', BLIND JUSTICE will change the way you think about this character.

I guess I haven't seen this book in well over ten years and I can still remember its message and its closing words.