Rating: 
Summary: Important Subject Matter But Why Batman?
Review: Andrew Vachss is an important writer of crime fiction who know his way around a good detective story:fast action, interesting characters and sharp resolution. In his series of Burke novels he has proven himself a worthy advocate for children in abusive settings.In Batman:The Ultimate Evil he does much the same. The Batman character can be replaced by any similar character and we would have much the same story. The novel takes on the issue of sexual abuse of children. Batman the hunter of criminals takes on the issue with a vengence. The character development is somewhat spotty, as I said Batman can be replaced with any vanilla crimefighter and the result would be much the same. The author exposes his issues to an audience that normally would not read novels as has been said in another review of this book. The information Vachss provides is important in that it exposes the reader to information he would not normally have access to. Child abuse is a major cause of crime in later years. This much has been proven by sociological research. The sexual abuse of children has to be stopped as it is ruining whole generations. If it takes a comic book character to show this to the world then so be it. Vachss purpose is a noble one. The issues are real. I only wish Mr. Vachss had fleshed this one out with one of his stronger characters. The story seems a little too contrived with the Batman as the protagonist. I only hope that the readers won't pass up the major issues by looking only at the comic book surface of the story.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to Andrew Vachss standards
Review: Andrew Vachss is best known for the Burke novel, dark, seedy travels through one man's psyche as he battles personal demons, as well as his prime target, child abuse. Burke does have a great deal in common with Batman; both tangle with their own twisted realities, both are vigilantes who roam the streets, both have lairs that no one may enter, both allow no one to touch them emotionally. But where Vachss invests Burke both with nobility and realism, he fails to do so with Batman. Perhaps its the fact that Batman is more superhero than mortal, more mythic than human. Maybe is the fact that he wears a cape and a rubber suit. Whatever it is, Vachss fails to invest Batman with the emotional nuances of Burke, and the novel itself becomes a tiresome treatise on the horror of child pornography. Not that the subject itself isn't worthy of attention, but Vachss has done it before and since, and all times much better.
Rating: 
Summary: Leave Batman out of it
Review: Andrew Vachss writes a very good detective story about child pornography, but a very bad Batman story. He seemingly makes no effort to get the charicterizations correct. I wound up wondering if Vachss had ever read a batman comic book, seen a Batman movie, or even caught a re-run of the old TV show; probably he asked a friend who the important charicters were and went running off to write his book before finding out anything about them. He should have invented his own detective and saved us batman fans the agony of the book or that awful comics adaptation.
Rating:
Summary: I Get the Point Already!
Review: Batman: the Ultimate Evil is hands-down the worst Batman story I have ever read. Vachss sermonizes about the evils of child molestation on almost every page, almost completely ignoring the Batman legend in the process. So, what you're trying to say is, child molestation is bad, right? Okay, I got the point by page twenty! You don't have to keep telling me. The story centers on Batman's crusade against kiddie porn. Turns out Bruce Wayne's mother was a crusader as well, long before this was generally seen as a problem. (In other words, obvious plot device.) So Batman ventures to Southeast Asia to break up a ring of child molesters/pornographers. (?) (!) This is Batman, right? The Dark Knight of Gotham fighting crime under the Asian sun. And with gadgets that even some die-hard Batman fans may find too hard to swallow. As I said, Vachss is preachy on the subject. But beyond that, this is not a bad book. It's a bad Batman book. The only reason to make the hero Batman is because Vachss assumed that no Batman fan would read a *real* novel about the subject. I find that incredibly insulting. He might have been right about readers that only read comic books, but I read diverse material (including Batman because I love the character). Before reading this book I might have actually considered reading one of Vachss' "real" books. Not now. Sorry, Andrew, you struck out.
Rating:
Summary: I Get the Point Already!
Review: Batman: the Ultimate Evil is hands-down the worst Batman story I have ever read. Vachss sermonizes about the evils of child molestation on almost every page, almost completely ignoring the Batman legend in the process. So, what you're trying to say is, child molestation is bad, right? Okay, I got the point by page twenty! You don't have to keep telling me. The story centers on Batman's crusade against kiddie porn. Turns out Bruce Wayne's mother was a crusader as well, long before this was generally seen as a problem. (In other words, obvious plot device.) So Batman ventures to Southeast Asia to break up a ring of child molesters/pornographers. (?) (!) This is Batman, right? The Dark Knight of Gotham fighting crime under the Asian sun. And with gadgets that even some die-hard Batman fans may find too hard to swallow. As I said, Vachss is preachy on the subject. But beyond that, this is not a bad book. It's a bad Batman book. The only reason to make the hero Batman is because Vachss assumed that no Batman fan would read a *real* novel about the subject. I find that incredibly insulting. He might have been right about readers that only read comic books, but I read diverse material (including Batman because I love the character). Before reading this book I might have actually considered reading one of Vachss' "real" books. Not now. Sorry, Andrew, you struck out.
Rating: 
Summary: To the shrink's couch, Robin!
Review: Batman: The Ultimate Evil represents my first foray into the world of the Dark Knight. Previously, I was only exposed to him in his two dimensional tv comedy version and in the slightly better drawn movie versions. In Andrew Vachss thinly disguised expose of the world of international child abuse, Batman comes across as a stand in for the reader while he learns of the big business of child exploitation and makes his plans to fight the same. Since the idea here is to inform the reader, Batman's character undergoes no appreciable development, though Vachss offers insight into the inner workings of Bruce Wayne's and Batman's minds. {yes, he does treat them as separate people} His character well-formed long since, he engages the evildoers in a fierce battle to the finish.<P> For those of you who love the Batmobile and the Batcave the best, there are lots of descriptions of Batman's tools and vehicles. For those of us who have always admired the multi-talented and absolutely loyal Al
Rating: 
Summary: This is an incredible story but, carries a serious message.
Review: Curious as to why I gave this novel such a high rating? Let me take a momment to explain my decision. It wasn't because I'm a huge Batman fan. Indeed I am a fan of Batman but, to be honest that had nothing to do with my decision. Nor did the author, Andrew Vachss. In fact, I never knew who he was until my birthday when, my brother gave the book to me. No. My reason for such a high rating is so much more than that. At first, I thought it was going to be the typical Batman story. Where Batman tracks down his enemy then, ends up handing them over to the police. I will be honest, my theory was completely wrong. I never realized how someone so familiar could become unfamiliar to the point, where your whole prospective of them changes. In simple terms, this was a side of Batman I haven't seen in a long time. From start to finish, it kept me interested. I loved the numerous cast of characters Bruce Wayne encountered. Bruce Wayne, uses his detective skills throughout the book. Which isn't always seen in the comic or even, the films. Not only does he use his superior detective mind, he also uses the skill of "impersonation". By taking on a couple of personalities entirely different from his own. I say "Bruce Wayne" quite often because, his Batman persona wasn't always used like, most other times. For those of you wondering if Robin or Alfred appear the answer is both, yes and no. Robin doesn't show up but, Alfred does. I enjoyed Alfred's part like always. His charm, helpful infomation and fatherly protection for Bruce Wayne was all intact. By reading the title, one may get the impression that it's about Batman battling one of his many adversaries. He doesn't, instead he faces the world's greatest enemy: Child Pornography. Hence the name "Ultimate Evil". Yes. The issue this novel addresses is very serious but, look at it this way. Ask yourself this question, "What do you think of when Batman comes to mind?" Deadly villains. Fast paced action. Even comedy. Let me tell you what I think of. Crime. Detective work. Compassion. Most importantly, one man trying to make a difference, even if it costs him his own life in the process. Still not convinced yet? Should you read it or not? The answer is yes, you should. If you are bored with what you've been reading and feel the need for something entirely different. I recommand you pick this up and give it a try. Besides you can always go back to what you enjoy. If you are like me, an avid comic book reader and decide you're ready for a novel, choose this one. Or if you're a Batman fan like myself, I advise you to read this book. The bottem line is, you should give this incredible novel a chance. You won't be disappointed. Excellect writting, great cast of characters and outstanding description. Great Read. Highly Recommanded.
Rating:
Summary: Real Life Crime In a Fictional World
Review: I am a true Batman fan and so I was scavaging every book store I could find for a Batman novel. When I came across Andrew Vachss's world of the Dark Knight, I was instantly grasped and never let go. Through reading this story I was exposed to an evil that I never really knew much about or knew existed. Batman is a true hero in a world filled with so much darkness and cruelty, and Vachss fits him into our world. A realistic novel with realistic crime. Pick it up when you get the chance.
Rating:
Summary: WORST BATMAN BOOK EVER!
Review: I got halfway through this book and had to put it back in my bookshelf. All this guy writes about is adults molesting children, which doesn't interest me at all! It was incredibly boring, and talked about stuff that just bored me to the point where i was falling asleep, while i was trying to read it. Like when batman was at the prison and it scanned every little thing in there, i just didn't know what was going on anymore. I even started skipping ahead to see if it got more interesting....but it didn't. If you're looking for a book that'll put you to sleep, this is it!
Rating:
Summary: I got this for my thirteenth birthday
Review: I originally read this book when I was thirteen when my brother bought it for me. It didn't make a big impact then cause it was a little over my head. I've reread it a couple of times and really like the book. I just don't think that the author really got both sides of batman really well, bruce didn't seem like bruce and batman seemed a little too vindictive. Overall it was a great book and I think everyone who likes batman a little should read it. Because most people who like books that are detectives books would love this.
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