Customer Reviews

Batman: Turning Points

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

 

 

Batman: Turning points collects the five issue mini series with five distinctly different but connected stories that explores the unique relationship between Batman and Commissioner Jim Gordon. The five stories are culled from various points throughout their lives. The opening story, "Uneasy Allies" takes place early in Batman's career when Gordon is still a police captain, and dealing with the stress of an impending divorce and a deadly hostage situation.

"And Then There Were Three" is the first story in which Gordon finds out about Robin. Gordon is none too happy about Batman putting a child in harm's way and the friction is intense between the two as Batman explains his reasons for allowing Robin him to become his partner. The art in this story is by Joe Giella who has been in comics for sixty years! While his art isn't as flashy as most modern artists, it's a credible, old-style look and takes advantage of today's superior printing technology and Giella's art is surprisingly good.

Speaking of old pro's, longtime Batman artist Dick Giordano pencils the third story, "Casualties of War." This story takes place not long after the events seen in Batman: The Killing Joke. In that story the Joker kidnapped Gordon and shot his daughter Barbara, paralyzing her. Batman is dealing with the guilt of those events, and hesitant to answer the Bat signal, even when a serial killer is terrorizing Gotham City.

The stories are a mixed bag. "The Ultimate Betrayal" is a ho-hum story following Batman's defeat at the hands of Bane and Azrael taking over as the new Batman. Despite the new look and violent methods, Gordon doesn't seem to realize that this Batman isn't the same man he's known for years. And this guy made Commissioner?

Overall, Turning Points is good and it's nice to see guys like Giella and Giordano still doing quality work after all these years. None of the stories were great, but none of them were terrible either. Give this one 3 ½ out of 5 stars.

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

This is basically a collection of short stories following Batman and Gordon's growth from allies into friends. It's story driven...the art is find but you get this for the narrative in my opinion. It's not particularly dark, but its not light-hearted either. Get this if you like the idea of Batman and Gordon being more than just colleagues who tolerate each other.

Of the five stories contained within, of particular interest is the first. It is set in the very interesting "year One and a Half" period. It is written and drawn, and even colored and lettered to look like a kind of continuation of Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's masterpiece. The following stories take the reader through some of the other major Batman continuity events. A pretty good read on the whole, but a must have for those of us who love depictions of Batman's earliest days.

Lacks some depth, due to it's limited length, but the drawings are nice and the stories quite well elaborated.

This collection of single issue stories focuses on the long and evolving history between Batman and Commissioner Gordon and the experiences, both physical and emotional, that they have shared throughout the years. The premises of each are intriguing, and there is a touching warmth in the relationship between these two men, but there is no depth to these stories. They are extremely quick reads lacking substance and detail, which were needed to elevate them to a loftier status and would have provided a much more complex and involved examination of their unique partnership and to these particular snippets of time especially. These stories were originally released as a series of weekly books, and they feel rushed. DC certainly used the A team (Rucka, Dixon, and Brubaker), and with a bit more time and effort, could have been something quite special. As is, although recommended, it is a missed opportunity and not the greatest value for the money.