Batman: Battle for the Cowl Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Daniel Page | Language: English | ISBN:
1401224164 | Format: PDF
Batman: Battle for the Cowl Description
From Booklist
All the greats have to face it eventually and at the end of DC’s latest epoch-shattering event Final Crisis, it was Batman’s turn to “die.” Gotham City’s various do-gooders and goons scramble to either fill or exploit the void, but the focus here is on Nightwing’s showdown with the psychopath who’s claimed the coveted cowl. Relative newcomer Daniel supplies art from the Jim Lee school of sinew and scowl, and applies atmospheric shadows in all the right places. His writing doesn’t add anything surprising to the characters’ psyches, but does admirably balance the chaos, setting up the Batman universe’s new status quo. Grades 10-12. --Jesse Karp
About the Author
Fabian Nicieza has written fan-favourite run on X-Men, as well as many other titles including Cable and Deadpool and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Tony Daniel is the regular penciller of Teen Titans; he has also drawn Superman, X-Force and more.
- Hardcover: 160 pages
- Publisher: DC Comics (November 24, 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1401224164
- ISBN-13: 978-1401224165
- Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 6.7 x 10.5 inches
- Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
Battle for the Cowl kindles so many questions, yet provides so few answers. Who is the new Black Mask? Why make Jason Todd an absolute sociopathic killer? Why was Tony Daniel, previously known primarily as an artist, chosen to write such a critical and much scrutinized series? And the most daunting question of all, why allegedly kill off and replace Bruce Wayne at arguably the commercial apex of his lengthy and legendary career? Regarding Black Mask's cryptic identity, Orpheus perhaps, although the logic behind that choice is admittedly dubious. As for Jason Todd, after his cleverly conceived depiction as a bitter yet believable anti-hero in the vastly underrated Under the Hood storyline, DC never did know how to best utilize him, with his totally exaggerated and irrational characterization here being a prime example, which alas leaves no avenue for turning back. For some, this may not be a concern, for others it negates any future possibilities of employing him in a more judicious and coherent manner. His portrayal and most of the plot were seemingly editorially mandated, ultimately leaving the eventual writer with little room for creative maneuvering, enter Tony Daniel. Many people justifiably questioned the decision to use a relative writing novice to pen this important story. There certainly is no debating the quality of his illustrations, which are some of the finest of his career, but the real revelation is his remarkably sharp and engaging writing, all while constrained within the context of a preordained outline and outcome. And speaking of that outcome...
What to say about this book? I had the unique perspective of history on my side. History - when related to comic book readers - is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad one. I read a study a few years ago that said the average comic book reader will actively buy and read comics for about seven years before moving on for whatever reason. That means that stories, characters, situations and whatnot can be rehashed about every so often without readers en masse revolting. Anyone familiar with the Batman mythos will remember that in 1993 Batman was replaced by John Paul Valley - Azrael - after Bane broke his back. In other words, we've seen this before. Other things that I've seen before - Gotham burning to the ground in some fashion. We had the guy who blew up a number of buildings in Gotham in order to highlight the more cyberpunkish buildings (1992), we had Ras Al Ghul release the Clench on Gotham, killing many of its inhabitants. We had Gotham suffer a massive earthquake and be basically cut off from the rest of the country and the world in No Man's Land (I actually liked that one). My point is... how many times can Gotham be basically shaken to its core by the criminal element and nature? Seriously. Watching Gotham burn is getting hella old. Who in Hades would actually choose to live there? And what is it with DC basically destroying entire cities (Bludhaven and Coast City)?!
But I digress... Battle for the Cowl follows Dick Grayson and Tim Drake as they try to stop Jason Todd from taking over the mantle of Batman and soiling its history - as Jason's methods are much more drastic and terminal than those of Bruce Wayne. I have to totally agree with a previous poster who questioned DC's decision to allow Tony Daniel to write this story.
Batman: Battle for the Cowl Preview
Link
Please Wait...