Batman: The Chalice [Comic]

Chuck Dixon (Author)

Product Details

• Comic: 96 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156389632X
• ISBN-13: 978-1563896323
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,663,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

CHUCK DIXON
Born in Philadelphia, Pa.

Chuck Dixon has more than twenty-five years of experience in the graphic novel field as an editor, writer and publisher. He has contributed well over a thousand scripts to publishers like DC Comics, Marvel, Dark Horse, Hyperion and others featuring a range of characters from Batman to the Simpsons. His comic book adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit continues to be an international bestseller. Considered to be one of the most prolific writers in his field, this award-winning storyteller currently writes G.I. Joe and A-team for IDW, The Good the Bad and the Ugly for Dynamite, The Simpsons for Bongo Comics along with many creator-owned projects for various publishers. He is also the co-publisher of an ambitious line of graphic novels based on the American Civil War.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars It's All About the Package., April 24, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Southeast Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman: The Chalice (Hardcover)

I'm finding more and more that these graphic novels are all about the package. They're founded in high concept and a fresh, different or innovative artistic vision (in this case by Vertigo-ish John Van Fleet). They sacrifice substance for flash. They are, in the words of The Bard, "Full of sound and fury, and signifying nothing."

Bruce Wayne receives a mysterious package that seems to contain the cup from which Jesus took His last supper. Lots of groups are interested in obtaining it. Batman makes a tough decision to secure it in an interesting fashion. The end.

Really. That's about it.

The story progresses at a cinematic pace. Batman battles Two-Face, and is injured in the conflict. Then we learn that Bruce Wayne has an ancestral responsibility for keeping the Holy Grail. We learn that the cup is genuine when Batman demonstrates its "supernatural" powers by using it to heal his wound. From there, the story is set up as an epic stuggle between Batman and all the forces aligned against him. The Merivingian brotherhood, Ra's al Ghul, Catwoman and Penguin are all interested in the artifact at different times to differing degrees.

Azrael puts in an appearance that makes sense given the subject matter of this book. Batman has a wonderful three page scene in Commissioner Gordon's office, where Gordon is actually credited for being as sharp as he'd need to be to have risen to the position he holds. Batman "appears" in Gordon's office, but doesn't surprise the Commissioner, who senses the change in pressure in the room. A nice moment, but the three page scene turns into a lame attempt to interject a theological element into a story that might have been much more interesting if it had been expanded into a major theme of the story. I would like to have seen an exploration of Batman's faith and relationship with God, and how he might reconcile it with what he does.

Nevertheless, the plot sounds pretty compelling doesn't it? It builds to what could have been a thrilling climax. The pacing seems fine for the first three-quarters of the book or so. But the ultimate resolution is very unsatisfying. The ending seems rushed, as though Dixon was writing along page by page without any sort of outline, then realized he only had a few pages left to wrap things up. The ending could have been a surprising twist if it had been arrived at in a more natural way - if it had been an organic extension of a study of Batman's beliefs. As it is, it comes of as a tacked on contrivance that just doesn't work for me.

Although I'm a huge Batman fan, I can't recommend this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars a great idea that goes nowhere, August 27, 2000

By 

Elizabeth A. Genco "http://www.elizabethgenco... (Brooklyn, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman: The Chalice (Hardcover)

What would happen if the Holy Grail somehow ended up in the hands of Gotham's esteemed Dark Knight? Sounds like an interesting concept, right?

It is. It could have been in this book. But with the ball so miserably dropped, a concept with much potential quickly went nowhere.

Basically what the story boils down to is this: Batman is entrusted with the Grail (because he has some kind of "blood duty" to take on the responsibility, an idea that I just can't suspend disbelief enough to accept) and protects it from the myriad of baddies out to steal it for various (and sometimes unexplained) reasons. Batman kicks the collective fanny of said baddies, then secures the Grail in an unexpected (but was it, REALLY?) fashion. Ho hum.

That said, the book has its merits, the biggest one being the dreamy, luscious artwork. If you can be swayed to buy a graphic novel for its art alone, this is definitely one to consider. It also contains one of the hunkiest depictions of Bruce Wayne that I've ever seen (yow!).

In short: a great idea that falls flat amid lots of gorgeous pictures.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointing, January 6, 2001

By 

Brian J. Sullivan (Stow, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman: The Chalice (Comic)

This book disappoints on many fronts. The characterization of Batman as a Christian soldier was totally out of character. Batman and Alfred were constantly in utter awe of the Grail, a side of them that did not work for me. I generally think it is best to keep religion out of comics.

The artwork was also very poor, especially the depictions of the villians. You would never guess who was who from the artwork because the characters were drawn so different from usual.

Lastly, there was very little story or plot. Most pages were graphic heavy and story light, so for a book this size there was very little going on. And the story presented did not work in many areas. Ras changed his objectives 180 degrees based on one flippant remark from his daughter - very out of character.

There are better Batman books out there.