Rating: 
Summary: The Fall of Rise of Batman, told without the pictures
Review: "Batman: Knightfall" was primarily adapted from the story serialized in Batman #488-510, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #16-30, Detective Comics #656-677, Legends of the Dark Knight #59-63 and Robin #1, 7-9 in 1993-94, with additional material from Batman: Sword of Azrael #1-4 (1992) and Bateman: Vengeance of Bane Special #1 (1993). Dennis O'Neill was one of the four writers-- along with Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant and Doug Moench--who worked on the original comic books, and he gets the honor of transforming this epic into a more traditional novel. Of course, this is the opposite of what traditionally happens; usually novels are turned into comic books, not the other way around. I am usually disdainful of massive cross-over stories that require me to purchase comics I do not usually buy, but I do appreciate the idea of comic up with an epic storyline. Consequently, I did not read the original comics and finally read the "novelization" knowing nothing more than that Bane was going to break Batman's back. Hopefully, this will bring a slightly different perspective to this review.This novel is divided into three parts: "Knightfall," in which Batman's back is broken by Bane; "Knightquest," in which a new Batman defeats Bane; and "KnightsEnd," in which the original Batman regains his rightful place. We start reading comic books as children and the defining element of most of the main characters in "Knightfall" is that they had traumatic childhoods. Obviously the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents is the template for such horrors, but in this story the villain (Bane) was born in a prison to serve the sentence of his dead father, the replacement hero (Jean Paul Valley) was indoctrinated by his father into a cult, and the savior/damsel in distress (Shondra Kinsolving) was abused by her adopted father and exploited by her adopted brother. This becomes important because circumstances compel Bruce Wayne to think about who he is and what he does, not only because of Batman's defeat at the hands of Bane but also because of the way the new Batman does his job. His broken back is only one part of the character's monumental identity crisis in "Knightfall." I have never liked villains with an obvious "Achilles heel" as we have with Bane's need for Venom and its vulnerable delivery system. Bane ends up being more of a convenient contrivance for this story than an enduring character, and I wonder why this epic could not have utilized one of Batman's more traditional villains in the same role. But Bane is not the most important antagonist in "Knightfall." That honor belongs to the "new" Batman, when Jean Paul assumes the mantle after Bruce Wayne is incapacitated. This story allows Wayne to look at Batman from the outside and as if this was not enough to give him pause there is the added dimension that Batman/Azrael is more a creature of violence (and of death) than the original. This ups the ante considerably in terms of Wayne rethinking Batman, added in this endeavor by the standards Alfred and Tim Drake have for the Dark Knight as well. As his body slowly heals, it becomes necessary for him not only to rededicate that particular temple (with help from Shiva), but his soul as well. In this context the role played by the original entrance to the Batcave helps foster a nice sense of symmetry. Ultimately, the point of this entire story is a true rebirth of the character, appropriate not only to the 1990's but both the essence and history of the character. This is not a great Batman tale on the order of "The Return of the Dark Knight," but it is very good. I should probably see what it looks like with pictures. O'Neill's "Afterword" in the volume is a nice little explanation of where "Knightfall" stands in the continuing evolution of the Batman character. His thoughts on Batman's archetype being Dracula (while Superman is Gilgamesh, Hulk is Hercules, etc.) is quite insightful and his understanding of the Batman mythos is clearly first rate. As the group editor on this project, O'Neill knew what he was doing.
Rating: 
Summary: A must buy for Batman fans!
Review: An excellent thriller with the original Batman being broken and a new Batman taking over his mantle. A must read! Dennis O'Neill knows how to write Batman!
Rating:
Summary: BATMAN RULES THE NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: Batman has always been one of my favorites, on screen, in comics, but I just could never find a good novel about him. Until I read this! The detail is awesome and killer, action is powerful, and the all-powerful Bane is truly a villain. Books like this one should be written more often. Pick it up Batman fans, or you're going to miss out totally!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The best Batman ever.
Review: Batman is possibly one of the greatest fictional characters of all time, and certainly one of the most recognizable. Dennis O'Neil has managed to combine all of the elements that make this character great into a wonderful read. This is without a doubt the best incarnation of this character to date in any genre.
Rating:
Summary: Batman Knightfall review
Review: Batman Knightfall is a gripping tale of an old Batman, a new Batman, and the many trials and errors the superheros go through. Dennis O'Neil does a marvelous job in keeping the reader in suspense throughout the book's whole three-hundred and fifty pages. The title of the novel,"Batman Knightfall", means the fall of the "Dark Knight", who is Batman or also the billionaire Bruce Wayne. "Batman Knightfall" takes place during present-day in the city of Gotham. "Batman Knightfall" contains the usual characters that are associated with Batman. These characters being Batman a.k.a Bruce Wayne, Robin a.k.a Tim Drake, the butler Alfred, Commissioner Gordon and not to mention the usual bad guys such as the Joker and Two-Face. The novel also contains some new characters like Dr.Kinsolving, who nurses Batman back to god health after a near death injury, Bane, who is a physical phenomenon and is only set on the destruction fo Batman, and a new Batman. The cover of the novel, which gives interlude to the plot, is the Batman sign divided in half by two different colors. It symbolizes the re-birth of Batman. "Batman Knightfall" is a great novel that keeps the reader in suspense throughtout the whole batman experience. From a scale of one to ten I'd rate it a 9. Largely due to the fact that it was so well written that I often found myself getting very much "into" the plot of the story. Dennis O'Neil uses a great descriptive vocabulary that enables the reader to visualize what is happening in the novel. The "golden line" of the novel is when Tim Drake asks Bruce Wayne on page three-hundred and forty-two,"Bruce, is there still a Batman?". Meaning if Bruce will continue to be Batman or if he will apoint another or maybe just not have another Batman ever again. If you really want to know you have to read the novel. I definitly recommend this book to everyone, Batman lovers or not, this book is so well written that you can't pass up reading it. Just remember the name is "Batman Knightfall" by Dennis O'Neil.
Rating:
Summary: 2nd best book I've ever read!
Review: Batman; Knightfall is a very good book. It is all about how Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman gets his back broken and needs to find a replacement Batman. He finds this guy who knows some weird kind of ancient European fighting stuff to take his place. At first he sucks being Batman, then he becomes a good replacement, then he turns into a killing machine who will kill even a harmless thief just for getting in his way. This book also introduced a new villain, Bane, who is hooked on some sort of super steroid. If you want to see how it ends, get the book.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!!!
Review: Dennis O' Neil portrays Batman in the way he was meant to be seen...cold and dark, with no "movie" like comedy to dullen and mock the plot! a well written story...i've read it over and over...and have my eyes on purchasing a paperback copy! (if i can find it!! ha! ha!) Dennis if you're out there, thanks for the great work!
Rating:
Summary: A quick point
Review: I am not going to give a detailed description of the book. I will simply say that it was a lot of fun to read, even for someone (like me) who has little background in Batman. However, my one criticism of the story - and I am surprised that noone else has touched on this - is that all the villains are vanquished so efficiently. Yes, it is true that Bane breaks the back of Batman: but, when he meets Batman II, he is so quickly
defeated. The same can be said of Batman II. When the second Batman confronts the original, the battle is short and decisive.
O'Neil does a nice job of building the strengths of his antagonists - but, it is surprising (and disappointing)how easily they are brought down.
Rating:
Summary: Fun And Exciting!
Review: I am so tired of novels based on comic books that are too serious. "Batman: Knightfall" by Dennis O'Neil is a fun ride of a read. It transports us into the strange and wonderful world of Batman the way I imagine it to be. He writes the characters wonderfully. But I love this novel because it also has the elements of a great movie. I say that if Hollywood really wants to make a movie that accurately captures Batman's world with the look and feeling, then they should get Tim Burton or Joel Schumacher to read this book. "Batman: Knightfall" is intriguing, action-packed, and just a fun read. I was never bored by this book and recommend it for someone bored of serious books, who wants to escape. "Batman: Knightfall" is also noirish, it's like watching "Dark City" again. The settings are wonderfully gothic, exotic, thrilling, and vastly entertaining. This is a book that has drama, romance, intrigue, and magnificent suspense. This looks and feels like a movie, and that is what I loved most about it.
Rating:
Summary: Fun And Exciting!
Review: I am so tired of novels based on comic books that are too serious. "Batman: Knightfall" by Dennis O'Neil is a fun ride of a read. It transports us into the strange and wonderful world of Batman the way I imagine it to be. He writes the characters wonderfully. But I love this novel because it also has the elements of a great movie. I say that if Hollywood really wants to make a movie that accurately captures Batman's world with the look and feeling, then they should get Tim Burton or Joel Schumacher to read this book. "Batman: Knightfall" is intriguing, action-packed, and just a fun read. I was never bored by this book and recommend it for someone bored of serious books, who wants to escape. "Batman: Knightfall" is also noirish, it's like watching "Dark City" again. The settings are wonderfully gothic, exotic, thrilling, and vastly entertaining. This is a book that has drama, romance, intrigue, and magnificent suspense. This looks and feels like a movie, and that is what I loved most about it.
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