Customer Reviews

Batman: Thrillkiller (Batgirl, Robin)

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

 

 

For some members of the Batman fan base, the 1960s will always be linked to the image of Adam West camping it up in tights against an array of colorful foes. Writer Howard Chaykin reclaims a bit of the Batman legacy from that decade with "Thrillkiller," a lushly, darkly painted Elseworlds story that offers an entirely new stamp on the story.

In "Thrillkiller," Bruce Wayne's parents were murdered in his childhood, but their debts left him penniless. Without the Wayne resources at his disposal, his vendetta against crime took a different route, and now -- 1961 -- he works as a police detective on the Gotham P.D. Police Commissioner Gordon's estranged daughter Barbara -- herself an heiress on her late mother's side -- has purchased Wayne Manor, and from there she and her boyfriend Richart "Dick Grayson" Graustark operate as Batgirl and Robin. They are cool but flashy, and they wield beatnik aggression against foes that resemble but are still quite different from the usual Batman gallery of rogues -- a green-haired, pale-skinned woman, a crooked cop with scars marring one side of his face, a scaly-skinned hoodlum.

Colorful bad guys notwithstanding, the world of "Thrillkiller" is a dangerous place to operate, and our heroes don't always dance blithely out of harm's way. And, as you'd expect, Batman too makes an appearance before this tale is done.

The story by Chaykin is tight, exciting and appropriate to the era. The painted art by Dan Brereton is a suitable vehicle for the story, matching the early '60s atmosphere and giving the main characters the rugged good looks of teen idols of the day. Action is a bit wooden, looking at times more posed than kinetic, but that never interferes with the story's flow.

The graphic novel, published as a collection in 1998, includes the three-book "Thrillkiller" mini-series from 1997 as well as the one-shot sequel, "Thrillkiller '62," from 1998. Combined, it's an exciting alternate world that I'd love to see explored further.

By Tom Knapp, Rambles.NET editor

After the mini-series,"The Golden Age","Thrillkiller" is my favorite Elseworlds tale from DC Comics.Back in the 60s these stories were known as imaginary tales,as if the stories from regular comic book continuity were somehow real.This series was set in an alternate universe during the early 1960s when Kennedy just became president and Elvis just got out of the army.The story by Howard Chaykin reads just like a hard-boiled crime novel.Just imagine James Ellroy writing about New York instead of Los Angeles.But what really makes this book is the art by Dan Brereton.I could see him painting the covers for lurid paperback potboilers from the era this story is set.He knows how to draw women with curves.Almost every panel drips sex.All the usual suspects are here,but in different guises.For one thing,Bruce Wayne is a hard as nails detective for the GCPD.Selina Kyle wears a cat outfit,but it's only one of the costumes she wears as a striptease artiste.Dinah Lance is a chanteuse who performs under the name of "the Black Canary",and the Joker is a beautiful woman with decidely sapphic and sadistic tendencies.Dick Grayson is here,as is Barbara Gordon.They're the two lead characters,and they're also the only characters that even vaguely resemble what were used to seeing in the regular DC Universe.This book collects the original 3-part Thrillkiller story and it's sequel Thrillkiller'62 in one volume.If you missed the original series I suggest you buy this book.You won't be sorry.

Thrillkiller is a delightfully retro, dark and gripping retelling of the Dark Knight mythos.
Bruce Wayne is an industrious detective, working with Gordon against a corrupt police force in a town of satiated, thrill seeking new aristocracy that ignores the crime that plagues the city beneath their noses. Onto the scene burts Batgirl and and Robin -really Gordon's estranged daughter Barbara - a wealthy heiress, and her boyfriend Dick Grayson. These vigilantes first battle Gordon and Wayne, before teeming with them to bring down Bianca Steeplechase - a sinister female Joker who manipulates both the underworld and the civic authorities.
Thrillkiller '69, the included sequel, deals with Wayne's transformation into the Dark Knight as he joins and takes over Barbara Gordon's crusade.
Many other Bat-cast-members are here, though in different forms, including Two-Face, Killer Ctoc, Harley-Quinn, Catwoman and the Black Canary.
The story is consistently compelling and visually stunning. The four heroes are consistently sympathetic and tragic figures, while the female Joker is a genuinely chilling presence.
One could easily hope for more of this series.

This is the comic book that got me into comic books. The story is so unique and dark. The art work is beautifully painted by Dan Brereton. The artwork alone is enough to buy this book. But the story keeps right up with the great art work.

This is a superb reworking of the myth of the Dark Knight. Starting not with Bruce Wayne but with Robin and Batgirl, the story offers readers a new and thought provoking version of Batman's origins, as well as the origins of some of the major villians. The story pumps along at a high adrenalin rate, and the moody artwork adds tremendously to the whole story. (So why isn't Amazon featuring the cover??) Highly recommended.

This is an Elseworlds Batman story. I bought part one of this graphic novel as a comic book which I purchased from a craft store that was selling old comic books from an estate sale for 50 cents each. I loved the artwork and was very intrigued by the beginning of this story and therefore was very happy to eventually find the complete graphic novel for sale. Well, the ensuing chapters proved to be a bit of a letdown. To give you an idea, Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) is Batman at first, in a manner of speaking, and Dick Grayson is still Robin. Barbara bought Wayne Manor and she and Dick live there because Bruce couldn't afford the place after his parents were murdered. Bruce is now a cop working under Jim Gordon and he's basically penniless. Barbara and Jim are very much at odds with each other ever since the death of Jim's wife. He wanted Bruce and Barbara to get together, but Barbara loved the younger Dick Grayson, whom she met after trying out for the circus (seriously). As for the other characters, the Joker character has been replaced by Bianca Steeplechase, looking disturbingly like Joan Crawford with green hair. Dinah is here for some reason portraying the wife of a murdered cop (no Ollie in sight, her husband's name is Lance), and she and Bruce have an affair accompanied by some of the corniest narrative I've ever read ("They're weak...emotionally bruised...unprepared...He wants her...She wants him...") Yeah, you get the picture. Selina Kyle makes a brief appearance as a pole dancer until she gets murdered. Dick gets murdered by Bianca Steeplechase. In her grief, Barbara cuts her hair like Dick's and dons his costume. Harley Quinn even makes an appearance as a young woman named Hayley who falls in love with Bianca Steeplechase. Whatever. And the artist, Dan Brereton, is really very good, but apparently rather limited in models because Bruce, Dick, and Roy Harper all look EXACTLY THE SAME. The storyline itself of a Nazi drug lord was uninteresting to say the least. It was an interesting premise for an Elseworlds Batman story, but the execution of it left something to be desired.

Howard Chaykin has written a twisted sixties feverish LSD infused elseworld dream filled with garish color and dirty shadows.
Bob Kane, Bill Finger and many others who have worked on the Batman myth might spin in fury when reading this story, but a lot of people like myself easily accept that yes, this is the way it should be: Bruce Wayne was raised as a penniless orphan after the murder of his parents and the stock market crash. What else can explain his vigilante caped crusade against injustice?
And yes, the Joker should be a woman, which makes her connection to Harlequin even more twisted.
There are many other characters in this version of the Batman universe, some of them who were made evil as the result of Nazi experiments:)
And Dan Brereton the creator of the Nocturnals is the perfect artist for the neon brights among the gritty noir shadows of corrupt Gotham City.
His Batgirl is voluptous pale curves, bare midriff, and burning red hair. Perhaps the best Bat Girl every painted.
While Jim Lee might have drawn the perfect Batman, Dan Brereton has painted the ultimate Bruce Wayne. Noir handsome in a fortish razor cut suit encasing his thick as steel body. Bruce has movie star good looks with a slightly blue jaw line, rendered as solid as the Statue of Liberty.
His Robin is also impressive: part James Dean, a little Elvis and a touch of Robert Mitchum. A bad boy with matinee good looks overshadowed by a fatalistic doom...
Almost every story created by some of the greatest writers over the decades is given a twist in Thrillkiller. Robin really suffers, others are savagely murdered, framed, or frame the dead, even going mad while good guys libidos run unbridled, breaking the most sacred taboos.
Take a look at the prices of the few copies available to get an idea at just how valuable this book is...

Thrilling! I've had enough Batman stories for 10 lifetimes. So I was reluctant when I picked up this book. What attracted me to it was the artwork with actual painting and the strong female characters. I was not disappointed!

In this "Elseworld" DC title, writer Howard Chaykin turns the story of Batman on its head. The setting is 1961, during the transition from placid 1950s to turbulent 1960s. The lead characters are all femme fatales: Batgirl and the female Joker. Bruce Wayne is only a detective for the Gotham City Police Department. No spoilers from me; suffice it to say this fresh take on Batman has only the names and setting in common with the tired franchise. Artist Dan Brereton paintings are blazing hot.

If you're a fan of Batman stories and gotten tired of them, give this interesting book a look for a fresh perspective.

This story set in the 1960's tell the story of Batgirl and Robin, the crime fighters/outlaws of Gotham City who are being hunted by Bruce Wayne of the Police Department. Bruce Wayne eventually joins the team. A Batgirl will like this story since she is the leader of the team. This story gives alternitive versions of the origin of many Batman heroes and villans.

Great story with a noir esque feel, the 60's background is interesting but not over emphasized
Some of the male characters look a bit similiar but the great if flashy overall designs make up for it.