Batman: War on Crime [Paperback]

Paul Dini (Author), Alex Ross (Author)

Book Description

Series: Batman | Publication Date: December 1, 1999

Batman: War on Crime - 1999 The second of the excellent Alex Ross/Paul Dini books. With a character as well-trod as Batman, it's probably tempting to say that there's no more to be said about the character, no new angles to view him from--all that's left to do is subtle variations on what's been done before. But in War on Crime, Ross and Dini present Batman--and just as importantly, Bruce Wayne--in a manner I at least have never seen before. We see Bruce decide to try and take on crime in more than just the traditional batarang-to-the-head way. For the first time in a long time to this Batman reader, it's Bruce Wayne that seems like the real person, not Batman. While the story is ultimately uplifting, it does end with a exquisitely beautiful melancholy moment, a moving evocation of Batman's lonely quest. This is a wonderful companion to Peace on Earth, and, I feel, even outdoes it. One of the finest Batman stories ever written. 68 beautiful, breathtaking pages by Ross.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563895765
• ISBN-13: 978-1563895760
• Product Dimensions: 13.3 x 9.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #386,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Publishers > DC Comics
  • #14 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Characters > Batman
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Favorite Characters > Batman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Visually stunning...., March 12, 2005

By 

R. SHARIFF "rayhans1282" (Jamaica, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Batman: War on Crime (Paperback)

This is one of the four large formatted books written by Paul Dini (Batman The Animated Series, Mad Love) and illustrated by Alex Ross (Kingdom Come, Marvels, Uncle Sam). The premise of the story is simple...it is basically a day/night in the life of Bruce Wayne/Batman. However, just because it is a simple premise does not mean that it is not enjoyable. The story basically revolves around a boy whose parents are killed in a robbery. This case interests the Dark Knight because it has intimate parallels with his life. But the similarities end there because unlike Bruce Wayne, the boy has no financial endowment left by his parents and soon turn to crime. This leads the Batman to question his own life and motivation as to whether he would not do the same thing if he had the financial backings stripped away as well. A pretty standard premise but with Paul Dini's writing style, it is quite enjoyable.

Now for the art....stunning. There is no other way to describe it. This is how Batman would look in real life. The costume stays true to the comics and is a far departure from the rubber and leather outfits shown in the movies. Also, forget the overly muscled, vein popping, juiced up characters usually portrayed in comics. This is how Batman should and would look. Alex Ross is truly a master of his craft and this book is mainly a showcase for his talent.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone. It is recommended for adults and children (there are no graphic violence as prevalent in some comics). You do not have to be familiar with any of Batman's history or complicated continuity in order to enjoy this book. Highly recommended.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great comic/picture book hybrid, January 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Batman: War on Crime (Paperback)

First of all, the art is basically the reason to buy this book. Yeah, there's a story, and yeah, it ain't bad, and yeah, Dini can write this stuff really well, but come on, people: ALEX ROSS! That said, the art, in case you hadn't yet gotten the impression, is incredible, as it is in the book's predecessor, Superman: Peace on Earth. One thing you should know: this isn't really a comic book in the sense that you normally think of comic books, as pictures with speech and thought bubbles on them. It's narrated by Batman, and nobody else gets to say anything that we don't hear from Batman's perspective. It's kind of a cross between a comic book and a picture book. If you're a fan of Batman, this is definitely worth owning. Just don't expect it to be in comic book format. Not that you'll be disappointed anyway.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Work of Art, August 23, 2001

By 

Hassan Galadari (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Batman: War on Crime (Paperback)

The amazing craftsmanship of art truly does transcend words. a piece of art can speak volumes and in many different languages all together. The little subtle details truly makes the difference between that kind of art and that which is in truth can be rightfully called a masterpiece. Batman: war on Crime, albeit not a literary wonder, is a gem of a work of art.

Alex Ross popped into the comic world with MARVELS. A project so ambitious that it catapulted Ross into comic book stardom and helped bring in the world of realistic painted art and that of comic book storytelling. Ross became a very crucial and influential player in the comic book scene, where comic book fans would purchase a whole comic just to look at a cover he had painted without caring who really is drawing or writing the comic itself. His approach to characters was one of a kind and his take on certain heroes truly helped define them into the mainstream.

With this work, Ross teams up Paul Dini, the producer of the critically acclaimed animated Batman show. Though the story and plot is not thought-provoking and searing as one might want it to be, the art compensates for that. Here you look at Batman, with the most human of all attributes. He never looked more human, even in his movies. The physique is drawn just right with no bulging muscles ready to tear apart from the skin. The detail works into such that you can actually feel what the cape's material is even, which is more of a polyester, nylon look rather than the rubber associated with the movies. Ross excels in bringing out the right facial expressions with the right kind of actions. Any reader would feel he or she is reading through a photography book of a man wearing a Halloween costume of a large Bat, patrolling the streets of Gotham.

All in all, the book truly reads like a graphic novel. No dialogue bubbles to ruin the artwork which is a plus. Dini tries hard making the reader notice his story and what he's trying to say by it, but in the end, it is Ross who manages to pull things together and creates magic with painting brush.