Batman: The Dark Knight #11

[Captain Jim]

I think everyone is just getting too impatient. He is a crime novelist by trade and is using long form story telling to begin his arc, give the guy a chance to show you he knows what he is doing. Anyone who read Penguin should know that instantly. He's showing the background of scarecrow to give you a little insight into what twisted this character into acting the way he does. Ironically enough, most people in general take after their parents, so it's not a stretch that a villain would have a villainous father.... To the story itself, I think it is pretty good so far. He's setting up the scarecrow as a major creep.

I would agree with this. The storyline hasn't been bad so far; give it a chance.

The problem with the book is Finch and not Hurwitz. The problem is that Finch is too pretentious as an artist so he does a bunch of splash pages and just really big artwork. It takes away a lot of story from the pages and doesn't leave enough room for the book to end on a good cliff hanger.

But I thought the book was being done full script. Which would mean that Finch is just drawing what the writer tells him to.

Read this today and it struck me that of all the books this is actually fairly damn close the Nolan films in content and style. It's "realistic" and "street" and pretty much like the world of the films done in a comic. It's good to have a book like this.

Agree. And it makes sense that that book should be titled: The Dark Knight.

[Joseph_Kerr]

I just finished the issue myself and had to immediately come on here to talk to you guys. Lol.

I love the new scarecrow. I think the reboot is doing fairly well in the line of reasoning behind characters. Giving a more understanding development of why they turn the way they turn. I thought the pride and prejudice penguins story was also very good. But back to tdk11.

Anyone else freaked out that scarecrow stitched his own mouth shut? I mean the mask... Or sack... Over his head was freaky. But the stitching makes sense to his character and is royally creepy. And in agreement with greenlantern92, the backstory of his dad I also really enjoyed. As a character as a whole, it makes sense for his obsession to scare people be tied to his father scaring the hell out of him for research.

The dark knight has made a major turn around these last few issues.

[Joseph_Kerr]

I'm not doubting there is a point to it. My complaint is showing children being tortured. I think this is a line that shouldn't be crossed. I understand showing the girl at GCPD traumatized after the fact but depicting scenes during the torture session is too much. I felt the same about showing Nobody torturing Damian. I can't imagine the artists and writers doing this having children. If they do, how can they create such imagery? DC pulls Batman Inc 3 because the violent imagery is unacceptable at tis time. When are images of child torture EVER acceptable? I think it is as terrible as images of child pornography.

As to Scarecrow's origin, I have no problem extrapolating upon a pre existing origin story, I just don't like them changing an origin story. Though I'm not saying they have necessarilly doen that.

I don't see an issue with insinuating the torture of a child in comic books. If there was detailed art in her actually being tortured, I'd be on board. Actually torturing a child graphically is wrong in a comic book. But insinuating its existence is no different than writing about it in a book.

And let's not forget that the point is its supposed to be considered sick. I mean this is Gotham. It's supposed to be the worst place in the world. I think that crazed individuals would do exactly that. Logically they're much easier targets to control. We're supposed to think its wrong. And. I think the fact that people can be so turned off by it is the point. Once we hit that line where we're like "hm. Childs being torture.. Meh. Wo cares. :flips through pages: where's batman already?" that's where as individuals we become deranged. We should think its wrong. I think it enforces it's moral compass. Reminds us of what's really horrible these days.

And as far as the batman inc being postponed, if there was a serial killer on the loose stealing little children and murdering them, I'm sure tdk would be dealt with much worse than just postponed.

[bwsquad]

# 10 gave me hope. # 11 made me think about dropping the title. The story just didn't flow well (though much better than pre-Hurwitz) and I feel like the art quality has gone down as well. Just doesn't stack up against the other Batman books. I think I'll give it another issue or two to see if the creative team can turn it around.

[MrRoussis]

Loved the issue. I did feel it a short read but i appreciated the tone and he honestly had me on my toes... Finch's art style forces you to look at every panel closely, as if every bit is important, which made the Scarecrow popping out at Bats way more effective. The writing on last issue was great an here it's no exception, pushing the story along and breathing false hope in a relationship we are almost led to believe can be salvaged, and still getting some great villain panel time. This stuff is night and day considering the terrible pre relaunch DK and the first 9 issues which made me want to drop the book. DC is quick to fix writers stinking it up and i really feel Hurwitz is giving it his best shot. Awesome.

[MajorHoy]

I reviewed it over at my site and...how is this not better with Finch off writing?

When was the last issue where Finch wrote the story?

I thought with the New 52 version that started back in September he was down to art and co-plotting, not actual writing.

[Captain Jim]

When was the last issue where Finch wrote the story?

I thought with the New 52 version that started back in September he was down to art and co-plotting, not actual writing.

That is correct. His last issue as co-plotter was #7.

[tabo61]

I love this version of the scarecrow. He is really well drawn in this arc. His father is real creepy

Yeah that flashback seen with his father was good.

[Officersmile1466]

I got issue 10 largely because of the hype and a really great interview with Gregg where it seemed like he had some great plans for the arc. But after reading 11 I really don't care anymore. I may or may not see it through to the end but at this point I honestly don't understand what the hype was about. Bruce has a boring relationship with a boring woman, the scarecrow was messed up as a child so now he's messing up children and next issue promises to have Batman plagued by his fears and insecurities. Wow that's never been explored...oh wait it has...many times...again and again and again. I really don't see the fuss over Finch either. I find his art is dull and lifeless.

To be fair, it probably hurts that this comes out the same week as Batman Inc. That title is bursting at the seams with spark and life and colour and ideas that this kind of seems lifeless in comparison. If it came out the same week as Detective then it would look much better in comparison.

[tylenoljones]

I got issue 10 largely because of the hype and a really great interview with Gregg where it seemed like he had some great plans for the arc. But after reading 11 I really don't care anymore. I may or may not see it through to the end but at this point I honestly don't understand what the hype was about. Bruce has a boring relationship with a boring woman, the scarecrow was messed up as a child so now he's messing up children and next issue promises to have Batman plagued by his fears and insecurities. Wow that's never been explored...oh wait it has...many times...again and again and again. I really don't see the fuss over Finch either. I find his art is dull and lifeless.

To be fair, it probably hurts that this comes out the same week as Batman Inc. That title is bursting at the seams with spark and life and colour and ideas that this kind of seems lifeless in comparison. If it came out the same week as Detective then it would look much better in comparison.

I agree with you, nothing about it feels very fresh. I think my like of the last issue was mostly down to the fact that it had to be better than the stories goin on in the book previously, because almost anything would be an improvement.

So Batman's in a troubled relationship. That's a shock. Compare this revelation to Morrison's handling of a Bat- relationship between Bruce and Jezebel Jet. One feels terribly obvious, the other not so much.

Scarecrow's back story could've been pulled out of any episode of Criminal Minds or CSI, the difference is it would've been resolved in one episode, not over the course of six months (which is more a reflection on storytelling trends in the comics industry than a remark on the writer.)

I was hopeful with the last issue, but I should've known better as soon as I heard that this was going to be another paper thin dragged out 6 issue story arc.

[paulski]

Yeah... I didn't care that much for this issue.

Not a lot wrong with the artwork - not Finchy's best, but still good enough to justify the purchase - but the writing's a bit of a problem right now. I didn't panic after the disappointing #10 but now I'm starting to. The patchy storyline's ordinary enough, but some of the contents were just hard to read, especially the scenes with Scarecrow and the little girl. This scary nutbag's kidnapped and drugged her... and yet she calms right down (after the drugs wear off) and starts asking him if he's alright? WTF? And the scene where Scarecrow somehow ambushes the 4th or 5th smartest man in the world (the Batgod, no less) and shoots him so he falls perfectly down a tarp-covered hole? Insert rollyeyes here.

I'm not dropping the book while Finchy's still around, but man...

[MrRoussis]

Dont understand how people cant see those kinds of things as a means to an end. The little girl asking him if he's okay works in the scene as theres a beat or two, which really does fuel how creepy Scarecrow is. How else can mediocre Scarecrow surprise batman that would be satisfactory? It could happen that Bats just missed a step couldn't it? Regardless, after some terrible stories and writing, i think were looking at this series a little too critically. In terms of story and pacing, he isn't breaking new ground but he is certainly having us get our money's worth with some pretty good story telling.

[Bookem Danno]

Yeah that flashback seen with his father was good.

Maybe the only notable sequence in the otherwise average. The mask stitching and Bats' immediate reaction to the Gordon news were good detail.

[jmresp]

# 10 gave me hope. # 11 made me think about dropping the title. The story just didn't flow well (though much better than pre-Hurwitz) and I feel like the art quality has gone down as well. Just doesn't stack up against the other Batman books. I think I'll give it another issue or two to see if the creative team can turn it around.

Art quality was tremendous. How does this not stack up. Batman Inc has mediocre artwork at best. They need to put Morrison and Finch together on a Batman book.

[tylenoljones]

Art quality was tremendous. How does this not stack up. Batman Inc has mediocre artwork at best. They need to put Morrison and Finch together on a Batman book.

I don't think you'll find many who'll agree with you there. Burnham is great. I like Finch, but his work on this title is pretty bland. Perhaps it's the script, as it seems this story doesn't really play to Finch's strengths.