Knightfall V3: KnightsEnd New Edition

[Buried Alien]

I'll be curious to see how it reads without The Search. I know it's a silly story, but it still explains how Bruce was cured! I may have to track down the individual issues at this stage...

Even the printed explanation was not all that clear. At the beginning of that issue, Bruce was still paraplegic, but by the end, he was walking just fine. We know that Shondra Kinsolving caused his recovery, but we don't really get to see *how*. One panel, Bruce was still unable to stand and then, in the next, he was walking along the beach, carrying Shondra in his arms. It was almost too convenient.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[David Walton]

I think narratively and thematically, KNIGHTFALL actually started quite a few issues in advance of the actual crossover. Just before Bane broke Batman's back, we see Batman flashing back to the steps of his fall...which seemed to begin with encounters against the Black Mask gang, that spiked ninja guy (forget his name), and a few other villains. Bruce had already started physically and mentally breaking down at that point.

I trace it to that issue of DETECTIVE COMICS in which he and Vicki Vale broke it off (seemingly for good) and Vicki left Gotham City.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

I didn't get in on Knightfall until the sixth official part, and I was a little lost at the time as to who Jean Paul Valley and Bane were, and why Batman was on the verge of breaking down.

And you couldn't find a decent priced copy of Vengeance of Bane or Sword of Azrael at the time. For that matter, the first several issues of Knightfall spiked rather dramatically. It was around $15 for the first issue if memory serves. Something I couldn't pay.

[merrick97]

Count me as a person who thinks this is better for not having "The Search"

I agree. I'd be happy with a simple synopsis.

If you don't like the Search you wouldn't have to read it. The set is NOT better because it doesn't contain it.

[TheSensationalSean]

Even the printed explanation was not all that clear. At the beginning of that issue, Bruce was still paraplegic, but by the end, he was walking just fine. We know that Shondra Kinsolving caused his recovery, but we don't really get to see *how*. One panel, Bruce was still unable to stand and then, in the next, he was walking along the beach, carrying Shondra in his arms. It was almost too convenient.

If I recall correctly, the novelisation is pretty clear on that. Shondra uses her magic powers! It's almost like DC knew how silly it was...

[merrick97]

If I recall correctly, the novelisation is pretty clear on that. Shondra uses her magic powers! It's almost like DC knew how silly it was...

The reality is that Batman could have healed himself using any sort of magic power that any other hero possessed. I agree it was a silly story, but Bruce dressed up as the english dude was too cool.

[Buried Alien]

If I recall correctly, the novelisation is pretty clear on that. Shondra uses her magic powers! It's almost like DC knew how silly it was...

I feel that DC went this way rather than something more plausible/conventional (such as advanced surgery, etc.) because if Bruce got his back healed through relatively easily obtainable methods, people would have started wondering, "Well, if Bruce could heal his back that way, then why can't Barbara?"

That question was raised anyway, but if Shondra could only do it once, then the question becomes moot.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[TheSensationalSean]

"Well, if Bruce could heal his back that way, then why can't Barbara?"

Yeah, I considered that Barbara might have been a factor. They could have just said her injuries were beyond surgical repair, since she was shot.

[BarryAllen5K]

I have never read the Knightfall saga until this collection. Currently I'm halfway through volume 2 and have enjoyed it. I was put off by what this thread has told me was the lack of Robin #1. I'll tell ya what I expect. I expect to see Bruce heal and whip JPV out of the cowl. I'm surprised to hear that I may not get to see Bruce heal no matter how bad of a story it is. Seems like a pretty glaring hole! Volume 2 makes me very glad JPV wasn't batman long. I'm not a fan. That costume is an annoying reminder of the 90's fashion trend to make everyone look like Cable with pockets everywhere. I am enjoying it though even if volume 2 doesn't seem to follow as linear of a story line as volume 1. It doesn't feel like there is an overarching plot line at all. Just a bunch of JPV stories.

[Lancerman]

If you don't like the Search you wouldn't have to read it. The set is NOT better because it doesn't contain it.

No it was better. The Search was a terrible story that involved contrived magical explanations. When I read the original trades I was perfectly willing to believe that Bryce went away on an easy case and healed naturally out of Gotham. The Search ruins it

[Captain Jim]

IMO, a collection is never better off when it leaves out essential story developments, well executed or not.

[TheSensationalSean]

IMO, a collection is never better off when it leaves out essential story developments, well executed or not.

I agree. It was good enough to publish in 1994, so DC should acknowledge it now.

[Lancerman]

IMO, a collection is never better off when it leaves out essential story developments, well executed or not.

The essententail story element if you can call it that was something that could have occurred naturally and off screen and the fact is that they went about it I. The one way that actually hurts the story. I'm more likely to buy a collection ithput the search than with it. That said prodigal traded in for the search more than makes up for it.

[merrick97]

The essententail story element if you can call it that was something that could have occurred naturally and off screen and the fact is that they went about it I. The one way that actually hurts the story. I'm more likely to buy a collection ithput the search than with it. That said prodigal traded in for the search more than makes up for it.

THe entire Knightfall saga was about Bruce being broken and having someone take over and then taking back the mantle of bat. The broken back part is the critical detail as to why he gave up the mantle. You cannot PUSH aside that critical detail and bring Bruce back as healed. Most people are smart enough to know that broken backs don't heal, so nobody is going to buy that it just healed naturally. It needs to be explained and seen. For many people this is their first time to read Knightfall and I think they many were likely confused at the end of Vol. 2 when Bruce is all of the sudden healed again, which also leaves new readers confused as to how the arc with Bruce searching for Shondra ended from Vol. 1 New readers would want to know how he got healed and they don't want to have to go to wikipedia or read some cheap synposis to figure it out.

Sadly it appears that DC is doing JUST that.

You're saying that you are less likely to buy Vol. 3 because the Search would be included? That's dumb.

If you hate The Search YOU DO NOT HAVE TO READ IT. You can skip it.

However, if you are making the argument that you would rather have Prodigal than The Search, then yes I would agree with you there, but why should having one mean that the other automatically has to be left out?

[Lancerman]

Now your backtracking. I told you I find The Search to subpar and preferred it better when the one possibly relevant story point was left up to interpretation. The story of Bruce being already healed and training to be Batman again in was much better than adding a pike story to get one panel in of a back being healed. I'd rather it just be referenced like it was in the other arc. And yes to me adding poor issues for one plot beat that is referenced afterwards anyways was better. To me I'd rather sacrafice the weakest part of the main story to get the inifibirlt better prodigal I'd I had to choose. And even if I didn't I wouldn't want the search if it cost me a dime more.

[EMeadow]

I feel that DC went this way rather than something more plausible/conventional (such as advanced surgery, etc.) because if Bruce got his back healed through relatively easily obtainable methods, people would have started wondering, "Well, if Bruce could heal his back that way, then why can't Barbara?"

That question was raised anyway, but if Shondra could only do it once, then the question becomes moot.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

It almost seems like they're avoiding showing Shondra so you don't have anyone possibly reading this for the first time specifically to avoid that question. Unless its Nu52 Shondra we find out helped Barbara in South Africa.