Return of Bruce Wayne - Thoughts so far..

[FailureByDesign]

Maybe im inspired to make this thread because the delays are getting to me, but what is the verdict of this so far? Sure i know its not finished, but i just get the general impression its not been as successful as it could have been.

Personally i loved issue 2 and 3, 1 was good but 4 left a lot to be desired in terms of art. I understand it was a fill-in job but it just wasn't worthy of this series. But i hope issue 5 will take the sour taste out my mouth as i really like Sook's work and with issue 6 the complete story will be considered "epic".

[thwhtGuardian]

Honestly, I'd need to reread them to give an accurate judgment as it's been so long since the last issue, or at least it's felt like a long time. As guess that says a lot if I can't really remember how I felt about it.

[Stu]

Delays are hurting it, but I actually like it, and reread it all in one go recently, and it works a bit better. Issue 4 was a bit off though, both in art and there were a few issues with how the story presented. Issue 4 is also the only one where Bruce's timejump DOESN'T coincide with an eclipse, which seems weird given it's significance in the rest of the story, and in the one running parrallel in Batman and Robin.
I really don't get the complaints about it though that are basically "I don't like this, it's just Bruce Wayne having an adventure in a different time period and moving on to the next!" Well...yeah. Was it promoted as anything else?

[thwhtGuardian]

Delays are hurting it, but I actually like it, and reread it all in one go recently, and it works a bit better. Issue 4 was a bit off though, both in art and there were a few issues with how the story presented. Issue 4 is also the only one where Bruce's timejump DOESN'T coincide with an eclipse, which seems weird given it's significance in the rest of the story, and in the one running parrallel in Batman and Robin.
I really don't get the complaints about it though that are basically "I don't like this, it's just Bruce Wayne having an adventure in a different time period and moving on to the next!" Well...yeah. Was it promoted as anything else?

I kind of like the Quantum leap vibe it has going for it, and while I generally remember liking the issues it just seems to me that if I can't remember the various plot details during the delay that it's probably not the most memorable or iconic series.

[Hullababy]

I loved the first three issues but the art in the fourth issue ruined it for me. It was a mess. But still, the 2nd and 3rd issues were some of the best mainstream comics I've read this year and I'm hoping I'll have similar thoughts about the 5th issue.

[Jvan]

Like someone previously said, I'll need to reread it again. I have a feeling it'll be a lot better read in succession rather than monthly.

That said, I've been a bit disappointed with it, to be honest. My favorite issue so far has been the pirate one, though.

[Jimmy Bond]

It feels a bit sloppy and hamfisted, and not Morrison's best work. But given my standards for Morrison, even that's not too bad. Hopefully the last 2 issues are good. Hate the delays.

[Superdog]

It is a lot better when you re-read them all in order as opposed to one at a time. But the 4th issue had some art mistakes that made it more confusing. I actually thought the 4th issue was the weakest, even if it did push the "Bat Box" story forward more. The 2nd issue was probably my favorite.

[T Hedge Coke]

The Western was the only issue that I haven't really loved, and that was because it played too clean, with no real threat but also no real standing tall impressiveness.

The other issues have all been wonderful about sustaining their tone and providing a nice contextual representation of what/who Bruce is and can be, while moving the mystery forward, while that issue read like a bunch of bullet points about what a generic Western should have and a bit of DCU lore.

[HaroldAllnut]

Though I'm looking forward to the resolution of this plotline, I can't say I was impressed with the fourth issue. I normally do my best to bite my tongue in terms of art criticism, since I can't draw worth a damn; however, this art was just plain bad. The actions and anatomies of the characters were muddled to a ridiculous extent, and they were frequently indistinct from one another.

Additionally, this will probably be the last Bruce Wayne-related Bat-story I'll be reading for a while. Though I plan on checking out Batman, Inc. in trades, I've really come to prefer the teaming of Dick and Damian to Bruce as Batman. That, and I'd much rather continue my run of Batman and Robin as a $2.99 series than break it up to follow a $3.99 series, no disrespect meant to Batman, Inc., its creators, or its prospective readers.

[Shrimpman]

I wanted to stop reading after issue two, but decided to stick with it until four for the western setting (and y'know Jonah Hex). Wish I didn't now though.
I had to kinda take a break from comics anyways about right after I read #4, which was something like 2 months ago? I'm surprised #5 isn't out yet. Or I guess I shouldn't be because its a Morrison title? I dunno. Some of you seem hopeful that it'll read better in succession, but there's plenty of stuff holds up as good the first time through and also gets better reading all at once.

[Stu]

Though I'm looking forward to the resolution of this plotline, I can't say I was impressed with the third issue. I normally do my best to bite my tongue in terms of art criticism, since I can't draw worth a damn; however, this art was just plain bad. The actions and anatomies of the characters were muddled to a ridiculous extent, and they were frequently indistinct from one another.

Did you mean the fourth? The third was the pirate issue.

[HaroldAllnut]

Did you mean the fourth? The third was the pirate issue.

Oh snap. You are entirely correct, Stu. I meant the fourth issue, the failed attempt at a Western. I will edit it right away.

I actually thought the third issue was the best thus far.

[El Sombrero]

I don't really like it that much. The story is too focused on the particulars of how Bruce is traveling through time, the clues that bind his path to the present day, etc...basically stuff I don't care about and find boring. Bruce is getting NO character development at all, he feels like a complete blank slate. I think it honestly compares pretty poorly to the work Morrison is doing in the Batman & Robin title. If you didn't have Sprouse, Irving and Paquette doing A-level work, it would be pretty bad overall.

[Frisky Dingo]

My quick ratings of the issues released so far (based on a 5 star rating scale):

Issue #1: 3 Stars (Average)
Issue #2: 3 Stars (Average)
Issue #3: 4 Stars (Good)
Issue #4: 1 Star (Terrible)