DC Comics Batman: Reptilian

I would have been a bit dissapointed in this book, but I did not have great expectations for this book anyway.Someone or something is brutally targrting the Gotham underworld. Personally I am surprised this version of Batman even cares. However he traces it to a part reptile origin. He will use his resources including his underworld lacky.The artwork was very good fits the story perfectly. My main disappointment comes from Batman himself. Yes Batman is a dark character, yes he uses fear as a weapon, but in this book he comes across as much of an uncaring sociopath as the criminals he is chasing or "putting into traction".If he just projected this image to the criminals that is one thing, but even in the moment when he is alone with his thoughts he is the same. Even the "banter" between him and Alfred has a mean and spiteful edge to it. I have to agree with one of the criminals this version seems to be more of a monster than those he hunts.

One of DC’s “Black Label” titles which denotes a more mature tone to the story and on that score alone it certainly delivers, a series of gruesome attacks on Gothams villains cause Batman and Killer Croc to go looking for the creature responsible.The book delves into a new take on Killer Croc and his evolution and, while there are some interesting ideas on display, the whole thing becomes extremely convoluted. This is not helped at all by the art style which is, quite frankly, hideous. It seems to be a painted style which UK readers may remember from 2000AD but here the overuse of shadows and colours blending into each other plus allegorical images being shown alongside story events turns the whole thing into a confusing mess.Another issue is the characterisation of Batman who, in this incarnation, comes across as needlessly cruel and slightly sadistic, although anyone familiar with Garth Ennis probably expects this but it can be jarring to the uninitiated.If you’re curious to see a new take on Killer Croc and Batmans dealings with each other then this might be worth a read but otherwise you aren’t missing anything profound by leaving this one out of your collection.

Any chance of getting Garth Ennis to be the regular writer for Batman?I loved everything about this from the artwork to the writing and everything in between. I'm not sure I've ever laughed at a Batman story before, but this is so well written.

Superb “aura” creating artwork. Ennis, as ever, gives you a great storyline (and some cool one liners) great “villain”. All in all a damn good comic.

If you don't like abstract art I suggest looking for a different book, this has a wonderful story but I found the art confusing at times.