Batman: Knight of Vengeance, Batman and the Monster Men

Batman: Knight of Vengeance 1-3

A Flashpoint series.  In this alternate reality, Bruce Wayne was the one killed in Crime Alley.  Thomas Wayne becomes Batman, and in a stunning reveal (seriously, I was most impressed by it), Martha Wayne is driven mad in her grief into the Joker.  I know I bag on Brian Azzarello a lot, but he does an amazing job with this.  It helps that he’s got his best collaborator, Eduardo Risso, on pencils.  

So effed up.

A much better Martha reveal than this one...

Soooo creepy.

The sheer darkness of this story, especially in the last issue, really works for me.  Martha’s final realization of her son’s fate, even in a world where he lives, is appealingly grim.  This is one of the best comics in this box.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Batman and the Monster Men 1-6

Batman and the Mad Monk 1-2

A very middle of the road Batman story by Matt Wagner.  Diminishing returns meant past me stopped buying before the end of the second series, and present me has no argument with that.

Nice depiction of melting into the shadows.

Sweet ride.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice.  Fine for Mad Monk