Batman: Bruce Wayne Fugitive Vol.2

Rating:
Summary: Just Read It, Cover to Cover ...
Review: ... and I can't tell you how thrilling it is, for a change, to deal with a story that is primarily about what the Batman does best: detection.

BRUCE WAYNE: MURDERER is about many things, but on the surface it only poses one question: how far is faith worth following?

After a long night of chucking bad guys, Batman and Sasha Bourdeaux (his latest in a growing list of sidekicks) return home ... Sasha a few moments later than her mentor. However, in one of the upstairs rooms, Vesper Fairchild -- one of Wayne's many conquests -- is found shot to death. A 911 call circumstantially points all fingers to the billionaire-playboy, and, thus, Batman is thrust behind Blackgate Prison's slim bars ... a place where he's housed so many of the city's treacherous underworld.

In the interim, all of the principles in the Batman universe -- Robin, Oracle, Batgirl, and Nightwing, primarily -- are left to explore the possibility of whether or not the man who has meant so much to them in their lifetimes COULD have committed the deed. Bruce Wayne's not speaking. He's not declaring his innocence, leaving second-guessing to overcome second nature, and the merry band of Batfamily members will be forever challenged and possibly changed by the graphic novel's climax.

Once again, DC Comics has produced evidence that graphic storytelling can be so far advanced than what it has long been considered: folly best left to juveniles. This book explores adult themes in an entirely adult reality, and the consequences of a single act may irrevocably change the world of Gotham, for better or for worse. Smartly, the storytellers let the reader decide, and they don't force feed morality down the throat.

While BRUCE WAYNE: MURDERER isn't a complete tale (it's only a set-up for a series of events to follow), it could be read as a stand alone tale ... the paradigm has shifted in the Batman universe, and Bruce Wayne -- long considered the true 'mask' character in the playboy/crimefighter duality -- is gone, leaving our hero to face the grim reality of his never-ending battle to free Gotham from the clutches of pure evil.

Rating:
Summary: Counterpoint
Review: A previous reviewer had one reservation with this book, nad that would be Batman's, for lack of a better term, "support staff." Beyond an exquisitely handled murder mystery, this is an exploration into Bruce Wayne's own psychoses and hypocrisy. Honestly, why would such an individualistic lone wolf need so many underlings? Take into account Bruce's age: he's in his mid-to-late-thirties by this point, as the story is set one decade since the Batman first appeared on the streets of Gotham. As protector of the city, Bruce Wayne has an overdeveloped paternal instinct, and has subliminally acquired a family under his alternate persona.

On the other hand, he tries to push this family away, because he feels his is the only soul tormented enough to sacrifice himself to the rigors of being the city's justiciar.

Rating:
Summary: Very good read, but...
Review: I know that there are a fair number of comic book fans that were not impressed with Bruce Wayne: Murderer. I read this TPB with that in mind and was pleasantly surprised. This is a great story with decent artwork - well, most of it anyway. The biggest problem with this TPB is, as another reviewer pointed out, all of the title jumping. Why can't DC just do a Batman story and keep it in Batman & Detective Comics? Being familiar with the DCU, I knew who most of the characters were, but who the heck is Spoiler? And it seems like everyone and their brother knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman now. Having Robin as a sidekick is one thing, but having a whole army of mostly kids following you around is downright silly - Robin, Spoiler, Batgirl, Nightwing, Oracle, and now Sasha. Sheesh.

Anyway, don't let my ranting deter you from reading this book. It really is worth it. Unfortunately, the bean counters at DC decided to release the follow-up story, Bruce Wayne: Fugitive, in two separate, smaller TPBs.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: This graphic novel is the second in a two-part series. In the first part of the series, Bruce Wayne was framed for the murder of a woman, and had to go into hiding, even closing down the Batcave. In this volume, Batman goes on the trail of poisoned heroin that has hit the streets of Gotham City with a bang. Who is selling this heroin, and why? Somebody very powerful is behind all of this, and only Batman can get to the bottom of it. But, what can he do to clear his name?

This is another great Batman graphic novel. The story itself is complex and gripping, and I found the illustration work to be great. So, if you are a fan of the Dark Knight, then you should check out this book it's great!


Rating:
Summary: Who is the mask? Bruce Wayne or Batman?
Review: This is a very interesting and important book in the Batman mythos.
However, there are just way too many kids in the bat-club. I swear, theres a new costumed person every couple of pages (exxageration). Seriously though, this collection will have readers considering who is wearing the mask, Batman or Bruce Wayne? Is he just as mentally ill as those who he has put away? and Why does just about everyone in Gotham have to wear a mask these days?
The story is really great, But now I see how frustrated Joker was in No Man's Land.... All of these costumes are like a distraction (besides robin (nightwing) and robin jr.) just give me Batman.

Rating:
Summary: Tables has turned....
Review: Ususally when a superhero is framed for a crime, they usually clear their name in the max: 3 issues. Not with Batman. The story bring to us a hard look when someone as you can say: Majestic and Obsessive as Batman is on the recieving end of the long arm of the law. Only other comic icon that had is public identity framed and had a very, very hard time clearing was Spide-man. Unlike Spider-man, Batman decides to abandon is "Bruce Wayne" persona which to me shows how unstable and chaotic his mind is. It true that "Bruce Wayne" is really a mask and Batman is his true self. The dark (Knight) side of comes out slowly when he was in prison and like all powerful beings, He wouldn't be contained for long.
The few things I didn't like about the story was some of the artwork and that so-called "fight" between him and dick (Nightwing). Other than this it's a good story to read.

Rating:
Summary: The Whole BatFamily!
Review: What's truly engaging about both volumes of this story -- Bruce Wayne is, at large, wanted for murder -- is that the bulk of the story is surrendered to the gallery of supporting characters in the Bat-Universe: Oracle, Robin, Alfred (the butler), and Nightwing are left to much of the real detective work, trying to clear Bruce's name not so much out of a belief of his innocence as it is out of a desire to see justice -- as it would be for any man, woman, or child -- served. They admit some doubts to Bruce's possible innocence: the millionaire playboy certainly had the skills to perform the deed, but, despite the overwhelming evidence pointing toward Bruce's involvement, he lacked the motive ... and that fact alone propels this story along at a great pace.

As always, some outstanding artwork from the players who are blessed with the opportunity to illustrate the Bat-Universe. At times, the plot loosens up a bit, but the creative folk manage to reign all relevent points together to wrap up this storyline in a very entertaining fashion.

If BRUCE WAYNE: FUGITIVE has any fencepost arguments, it would probably be the creation of a mysterious figure from Bruce's past to serve as the instigator behind the whole affair. Rather than take some creative chances, the writers all too frequently take the easy way out, once again reinforcing that those people who trained Bruce Wayne -- or were involved with him during his formative years in the quest to become the Batman -- didn't emerge as squeaky-clean as he did. Is it a statement on character or, moreso, a statement against wealth (b/c Wayne has billions he inevitably has to serve the forces of good?)? The reader is never really told, and THAT fact lessons the potentially great impact of the whole story.

Definitely worth the read ...