Written by Tony S. Daniel
Art by Tony S. Daniel; Sandu Florea; Norm Rapmund; Guillem March; Tomeu Morey; Ian Hannin; & Jared K. Fletcher
SUMMARY:
Reprinting Batman # 692-699, this 200-page collection from 2010 consists of the six-part Life After Death, along with the Riddle Me This two-parter (both from 2009-2010). In Life After Death, Dick Grayson’s Batman is mostly solo containing the latest Gotham gang war.
As the mysterious Black Mask’s False Face army and the Falcone gang feud over Gotham City’s underworld, the new Batman runs a lethal gauntlet to decipher Black Mask’s identity. Further, Dick must keep a wary eye on Hush (aka Tommy Elliot), as he is busily impersonating the presumed-dead Bruce Wayne for his own evil agenda. With trigger-happy mobster Mario Falcone on the loose (along with his impetuous niece, Kitrina), Batman faces a dire task pursuing a trail of corpses re: Black Mask’s False Face operatives.
Not only does Black Mask have Fright, Dr. Death, Hugo Strange, and the Penguin on his side, he even manages to ensnare Batman himself as one of his expendable, mind-controlled False Face pawns. Pushed to his physical and mental limits, a battered Dick must prove his resilience, ingenuity, and detective reasoning just to survive.
Even with the help of Damian Wayne’s Robin; Catwoman; Alfred; Huntress; Oracle; and a network of heroes (in brief cameos), Batman finds himself in deep trouble. The war concludes with a showdown between Batman and the second Black Mask.
The chapters are:
- “Part One – Awakening”
- “Part Two – Charades”
- “Part Three – Fractured Pieces”
- “Part Four – Smoke and Mirrors”
- “Part Five – Mind Games”
- “Part Six – Liberator.”
Haunted by residual exposure to Hugo Strange’s nightmare toxins, Dick tackles a bizarre serial murder mystery. Initially, it seems that Mr. Zsasz has left behind a grisly series of corpses. An uninvited Riddler joins Batman & Commissioner Gordon’s investigation. Sensing a copycat, the trio finds more victims, killed by someone using Firefly’s and then Mr. Freeze’s gimmicks. Could it be the evil magician Blackspell? Or perhaps Firefly? And who tries to kill the Riddler with fake Joker toxin? The new Batman senses someone knows more than he is telling, as perhaps nothing is what it seems.
- “Part One – Black Magic Tricks”
- “Part Two – A Means to an End.”
REVIEW:
Not only can Tony Daniel draw stellar Batman action-mystery thrillers, he can adeptly write them, too. The macabre Life After Death saga depicts Dick Grayson far more like a young Bruce Wayne than a seasoned ex-Robin, and this concept really clicks. Readers can embrace Dick as the new Batman, much like how Wally West assumed the Flash’s mantle from Barry Allen.
As both writer and artist, Daniel credibly builds Dick up as a more realistic Batman – one who isn’t a virtually omniscient sleuth (like some previous Batman writers have portrayed Bruce Wayne). Dick’s interactions with Catwoman and Huntress are also well-played, particularly when an unexpected kiss leads to chilly tension with Barbara Gordon.
One should be aware that this six-part storyline is brutal, in terms of the violence and horror quotient. It makes sense that a comparatively restrained Dick must resort at times to his mentor’s ruthlessly aggressive playbook. To thwart the new Black Mask, a gritty and tenacious Dick (thanks to Daniel’s masterful work, including the wise choice to minimize Damian’s presence) makes readers believe that he is indeed Bruce Wayne’s worthy successor.
Enhanced by Guillem March’s eye-popping artwork, Daniel also delivers a vintage and equally ghoulish Batman mystery in the Riddler team-up. Instead of a conclusive (and likely forgettable) outcome, Daniel cleverly ends it with Dick putting together the pieces of only one baffling jigsaw puzzle. A second, far more daunting enigma is smartly left for another time. Somehow, it makes a satisfying means to end this smoke-and-mirrors whodunit by leaving ample room for a sequel.
Though this book definitely isn’t kid-friendly, Daniel’s creative team makes an emphatic statement boosting Dick Grayson’s relentless mission as the new Dark Knight.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The cover images are included, as is a table of contents specifying individual chapter titles.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8½ Stars
Note: With a different cover, this book was subsequently released in paperback form in 2011.
