Customer Reviews

Batman: Bloodstorm

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the best book of the trilogy (I bought the other books because of this one). This book summarizes the personal hell of one man, addicted and alone, unable not to bring death to those he loves. It is about conflict, guilt, isolation, alienation ...about heroism in its rawest, truest form.

I first read this over five years ago, and it continues to fascinate me to this day. I don't care about the vampire monsters, per se, for to me they are only a necessary plot device. The same can be said for Selina's character. They only exist to further the true story, which is Batman's struggle with his own nature ...the horror of recognizing we receive pleasure from another's harm, the helplessness of an addiction to things we've not necessarily even experienced -- the overwhelming urge to satiate a thirst at the cost of our own soul. That is the heart and soul and core of this book for me.

What would we do, given his power, his isolation, and his horrible thirst? At one point he narrates this for us:

"Thirst haunts me,
Life tempts me,
Death mocks me.

Together, the three, they curse me."

That moment for me, sitting in that bookstore, galvanized an experience I had never been able to put words to ...his isolation, his thirst, his utter loneliness and despondency -- they were so real! Deep calls out to deep, as I've read elsewhere, and in spite of this book's gore and melodrama, that moment called out to me and still does to this day. I felt connected to his guilt, his shame, to his sinful pleasure and self-disgust in a way that no media ever has before or since. Selina's character, the strength and nobility she provides, and the heartbreak of her loss, bring the entire story to an unstoppable head between the maniacal Joker and a Batman now drenched in the blood of his lover.

The authors deserve top credit for making a Batman that is, ironically, more human as an undead vampire than he ever was in life. May he rest in peace...

Get this if such things interest you.

In a pitch meeting, this might sound like one of the dumbest ideas ever: What if Batman turned into a vampire? [A vampire *bat*, get it?!] But writer Doug Moench actually manages to create a powerful and affecting tale from this premise - one whose Edgar Allan Poe-like meditation on guilt and monstrousness ends up rivalling "Arkham Asylum" and "The Killing Joke" as one of the most penetrating psychological studies ever drawn of the Dark Knight. And if there has ever been more dynamic and expressive pencilling in a Batman story than Kelley Jones's outstanding work here, I haven't seen it.

As a follow-up to the awesome Red Rain, Bloodstorm succeeds. It is set prior to the time when, in modern continuity, Batman discovered Dick Grayson. Incidentally, there is no Robin, and it's a good thing, as Batman must struggle with his lust for blood, hating what he has become, but not wanting to leave Gotham unprotected. The iussue is: By sticking around in his present state, is Batman actually damning Gotham rather than saving it? Batman has to put that question on the backburner,however, when the Joker takes over the remnants of Dracula's undead legion. It's an awesome battle, believe me, and Catwoman is even along for the ride! Bloodstorm also succeeds quite nicely in creating a parallel universe; this story seems like it could be another storyline in a monthly comic. Of course, we know this isn't so because our Batman isn't a vampire, but it still has that feel to it. Finally, with the team of Doug Moench, Kelley Jones, and John Beatty, how can you lose?

In many ways, Bloodstorm is superior to the book that is continues, Red Rain. Whereas Red Rain was bogged down by the need to introduce the concepts of vampire lore, character reaction and setup, and other formalities, this book can leap right into things and get to the important business of telling the story.
In this Elseworld's tale, Batman is now a vampire. In many ways it is a vindication of his self image as a creature of the night apart from normal humans. At the same time, Batman is built on the one thing that separates him from the monsters he fights- he will not kill. As the vampiric urge to kill grows, however, he must go to extraordinary measures to fight it or lose all that he is.
Great storytelling with an ending that even shocked the hell out of me. If you liked Red Rain, you'll love Bloodstorm.

4.5 Stars because I thought the Joker really made this story a little to silly/lame compared to Red Rain. That being said, this book is amazing!
The first half is really silly and focuses more on the Joker then I'd like, half way through Selina enters the story and things get great. The ending is amazing and the whole second half of the book is one incredibly action packed and emotionally driven book. I do wish that the ink was by the same artist who did Red Rain because this doesn't have that really deep and depressing look like the first book did. This is a must buy/read for ANY batman fan!

Batman Bloodstorm is well written and well plotted, Kelley Jones's art is fitting for the story lots of angular and grotesque pictures with more than enough teeth to make what it's supposed to be a vampire story worthy. Elseworlds stories take DC's characters out of their usual settings and put them in stories that take place outside of the continuity of their regular titles. Heroes put into strange times and places some that have existed or might have existed others that can't or couldn't or even shouldn't exist. Bloodstorm is a follow up from Red Rain where the Prince of Darkness comes to Gotham city and starts to raise an army of undead followers. Batman is the only one who can stop them, with the help of Tanya, who was Dracula's child she turned away from evil and developed a human blood substitute. Tanya gives Batman her blood, giving him vampiric powers without having died . In the climatic battle, Batman kills Dracula, but not before the Count puts the bite on Batman, transforming him into a full vampire, with bloodlust. Bloodstorm begins with the vampiric Batman hunting the few vampires he missed in Red Rain. By this stage the Joker has become the leader of these remaining vampires, he leads them on a rein of terror. As the story progresses the blood substitute Batman has been taking grows less and less useful Batman is now fighting a losing struggle against his rising bloodlust. He joins with Selina Kyle who was bitten by the Jokers lieutenant, this bite turns her into a cat being. She first attacks Batman thinking it was he who caused this he convinces her otherwise they join forces to defeat Gothams vampires and the Joker. This story is in many ways a vindication of his self image as a creature of the night. He also believes and is built on one thing that seperates him from the monsters he fights he will not kill. As the vampiric urge to kill grows, he goes to extraordinary measures to fight it or lose all that he is. Batman Bloodstorm is written by Doug Moench fantastic work fantastic writing he also co wrote Batman & Dracula Red Rain, Kelley Jones the artist has a unique style suited to horror. This was a great book a must read especially if you've read Red Rain Bloodstorm is an absolute essential.

"Batman: Bloodstorm" is so satisfying as a sequel it makes "Red Rain" a much more satisfying read. One review really hits the nail on the head when asserting that the vampire plot and characters such as Catwoman and the Joker are really device to explore Batman's struggle with his fallen condition. He is more powerful physically, but the inner struggle of his nature is a fight between the will and the "condition" of who he now is. The line of demarcation is the drinking of blood - it calls, but he wills against it for it is wrong.

The dialogue is much cleverer in this book as well and helps the reader ask his or her own questions: "Are we looking for hope or answers?" Probably like Batman, we are looking for "both."

This book explores all the dark side of batman. The Catwoman is also great, and the game of the Joker is great.

I got this last summer, and I still read it