Batman Versus Predator III: Blood Ties [Paperback]

Chuck Dixon (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563894181
• ISBN-13: 978-1563894183
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #836,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Three strikes and out, July 21, 2002

By 

Inspector Gadget "Go Go Gadget Reviews" (On the trail of Doctor Claw) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman Versus Predator III: Blood Ties (Paperback)

This is the 'Batman & Robin' of the trilogy. The bright, gaudy colors, the bad humor, the nonsense, the poor dialogue. Even from an artistic viewpoint this entry seems more like a bad TV-movie compared with the more cinematic first two.

The Pred has returned...again...to Gotham City and is once more chopping up bad guys. Batman villains pop in from time to time, do nothing, then disappear again. Other regular characters barely get a look-in or vague reference at best. Bats does virtually no detective work and Robin gets very little to do until the last act. It's all too fast, too familiar, and too shallow. Instead of giving us an epic battle between the two icons (as the title would imply) we just get a bunch of filler scenes and little else.

They try to cover up their shortcomings with pathetic attempts at self-referential humor, but to the jaded (wise) reader it just doesn't work.

Only buy to finish off your collection. It's certainly ain't no masterpiece.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but with some catches, February 5, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Philippines) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman Versus Predator III: Blood Ties (Paperback)

Batman goes up against the Predator for the third time as obvious from the title. The catch this time is that the Predator is paired with an apprentice and the Predator-in-training's target is none other than Batman's partner, Robin. What makes this book better than the last one is that any other subplot is done away with and focused only on the confrontation except for the inclusion of Mr. Freeze which is felt as done for the sake of the Batman & Robin movie which came out the same year. His appearance in this book would have been unnecessary were it not for his only contribution.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Batman & Robin Versus Predators, July 10, 2004

By 

Kp Roegele "The Baron" (Somewhere) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Batman Versus Predator III: Blood Ties (Paperback)

Imagine Adam West and Burt Ward in their tights and capes, up against the seven-foot monster that threw Schwarzenegger around like a rag doll....

Contrary to cynical expectations, the Batman versus Predator series has been of high quality. The original series captures the moody, misty atmosphere of both Predator 2 and the first two Batman movies. Batman Versus Predator II: Bloodmatch is the best action movie never made, capturing the adrenalin and non-stop thrills of a classic Hollywood pyrotecnic spectacle.

The third in the series manages to keep up the standards of it's predecessors. This is very definetly a sequel, as the caped crusader this time knows exactly what he's up against and takes a pro-active approach. And so the hunter becomes the hunted (or "the predator becomes the prey," a witty in-joke to the 1987 movie's original title). Robin appears in the series for the first time, playing a very similar role to the Huntress in the previous episode - that is, asking questions for the reader. The twist, that a younger Predator is stalking Robin whilst his tutor hunts Batman, is an effective idea.

Don't expect the all-out mayhem of BVPII here. The story is carefully paced, and the dynamic duo have to deal with a number of issues other than the alien headhunters. Though there are still a few set-pieces (Batman persuing the Predators through Gotham in an attack helicopter; Robin taking on Mr Freeze; and several flashbacks to the Predators hunting throughout history), the titular confrontation(s) doesn't take place until the climax. Suddenly the tension picks up for a dramatic finale, though the Dark Knight's battle with his hunter seems rather by-the-numbers. This is almost acknowledged by the writer, as Batman defeats his opponent rather too easily - now he knows his methods, the easier he can defeat him. Robin versus Predator is more exciting as it's new, and there seems to be no way the Boy Wonder could be victorious.

BVPIII contains some lovely, cinematic pencil work by Rodolfo Damaggio, but also the occasional rushed panel as well. He draws perfect, realistic renditions of Robin, Catwoman and the Predators. The colouring could be darker and more atmospheric, but overall it's a nice book to look at. The writing is sparse and the dialogue uninspired, but it serves it's purpose.

Batman Versus Predator III is certainly worth reading, although I'd certainly recommend the other two volumes first. Not only to read the trilogy in order, but also because they are better. Batman Versus Predator IV certainly appeals at this stage.