Batman Vol. 2: I Am Suicide (Rebirth)

Bruce gathers his own little Suicide Squad to infiltrate Pena Dura prison and retrieve the Psycho Pirate from Bane, but that's not why this book is called "I Am Suicide". Story: Batman accepts Waller's proposal and goes to Arkham to retrieve a team of handpicked villains to help him get the Psycho Pirate from Bane, who views him as his "cure". It's mostly C list villains, and Catwoman. They come up with a very intricate plan to get in the prison. It's almost like Ocean's Eleven, but they're trying to get a person, not a thing. One of the main aspects of this book is that it's really a character study of Batman and Catwoman, told through letters they write each other. We learn a good bit about Selina's past and how she viewed Bruce while in the orphanage. We also get a great view into why they kiss, what it means to them, and how they feel about each other. Tom King gives us a great view into the souls of these two (almost) star crossed lovers that can never truly be together. All the while, they are running the gauntlet of Bane's prison trying to accomplish their goal. The ending to me was pretty satisfactory and I was surprised by how it ended. One thing that King did well in this book is completely throw off the reader. I thought certain things were going a specific direction, and by the time you see the conclusion and the plan come to fruition, you realize only then just how intricate and deep the plan was! I was shocked, though I shouldn't have been, to see the depth of Batman's plan to get to Bane. There's so much suspense here as one wonders how Batman and his team can outwit Bane when he is lord over this island prison. The last two issues of this book is a Catwoman story, taking place immediately after their prison escapade. Batman knows Selina didn't kill 237 people and is determined to clear her name so she won't be put to death. Catwoman knows Bats will take her in in the morning, but she wants to have the night to be with him. They go out and beat up some D list villains including the ever comical Condiment King! They recall their first meeting which makes a callback to the Golden Age of comics as well as Frank Miller's Year One. Bruce and Selina then get quite intimate on the rooftop. Bruce eventually finds out the truth about Selina and the 237 murders that occurred out of vengeance for the orphanage burning down. This book was exciting, suspenseful, and gave us a good look into the psyche of Bruce and Selina. It also sets up nicely for volume 3. I'm seriously looking forward to that! Art: Wow! Mikael Janin's art is just wonderful! I wasn't super impressed by his work on "Grayson". I only read the first volume. But, when I saw his work on the Rebirth #1 one shot for this title, I was SUPER impressed, and I knew he'd be a great rotating artist. His work here is some of the best work I've seen on any Rebirth title so far! I can't imagine how long it took him to draw a lot of the images he drew for this book. Two double page spreads in a row! Batman fighting a LOT of Bane minions. There was a lot of detail and a lot of action in some of these scenes. My hat's off to Janin for being able to deliver with the sheer scale of work he must've had to put in to bring us this masterful work of art. I loved so much about his art, like the spread of the bird's eye view of the prison with Batman scaling the outside of the prison. Janin's art was consistent, panel to panel, and didn't really diminish with even the small and numerous panels. Consistency is one of the things that I think make a great comic artist. When the quality of the art is vastly different from the splash pages and the small panels, I think that's a sign of a bad artist or one that has to rush. But, it's amazing that Janin could pull it all off, pretty much flawlessly. Due to his work on the Rebirth one shot, and this book, Janin might end up becoming one of my favorite artists. I loved the covers, especially how Janin draws Bane in full costume! I didn't care for Gerad's art on the final two issues. Just not a fan of that style. Overall: Tom King delivers a very different tale here from volume 1, and what we get is ultimately a character study of Bruce, Selina, and even Bane. It's wonderfully written, surprising as hell if you can't predict the ending, and King certainly tries to make sure you can't. It's beautifully drawn, inked, and colored! I am seriously looking forward to volume 3!

Tom King delivered a fantastic volume here, adding totally new dimensions to the Batman Cat Woman relationship, and bringing a much darker aspect of the dark knight. The repeating of dialogue is an excellent motif, and it helps the emotional journey of the characters making it a deeply impactful and symmetrical read. The two characters that King focused most on were Batman and Catwoman, and their inner monologues were fantastic and added a great contrast between the two, as well as connecting them. Not only was it a fantastic emotional journey but Mikel Janin drew some great action that perfectly matched the morbid tone of the story. Batman was just as smart and in control of the situation as I wanted him to be, a great representation of the Dark Knight . The fighting weaved seamlessly across the page which gave a great flow to the story. Bane was also phenomenal, totally bad ass and also a tragic story of addiction his final confrontation with Batman was chalk full of the awesome twists you expect from a Batman book. On top of all of this the Batman Catwoman was handled wonderfully, it was a heart breaking love story that left you wanting more. Overall this sets the tone for Batman in rebirth and I hope that King and Mikel keep this up. Definitely read this one.

In a sense, this is both a self-contained story, and one that feels incomplete at the same time. The quality, however, is still fantastic, and Tom King delivers some excellent Batman mythos that continues his volume 1 talent in bringing together both the familiar and something refreshingly new to the Dark Knight. One thing that this volume's storytelling contains, almost to the point of annoyance, is symmetry. Dialogue is repeated several times as a motif, and it usually works well to convey the dark, mysterious tone. However, it grows a little tiresome after a few chapters. It's difficult to describe without giving too much away, but anyone who reads this collection will immediately understand. King narrates certain chapters from different perspectives, which adds more depth and makes for a more interesting read. Each narration feels and sounds different, reflecting the character it belongs to. In a general sense, the story is genuinely interesting, though I feel like the story picked up in the middle, and not in one of those 'and here's how we got here' moments. There were a few story elements that must have been established in other titles that seemed rather sudden here. For example, Bane, the central antagonist, was in Gotham the last he was mentioned in a Batman title, so I was wondering how he not only abandoned venom, but became the ruler of his native country home. When Waller shows up (briefly) it's in a very off-putting matter that rather poorly reflects on Batman. Even in this new established continuity, I was a bit surprised at how she did what she did. This sounds a bit dumb phrased as it is, but it is a surprise I'd rather not spoil. As a final note on the writing, Catwoman was depicted very well, conveying both a sense of weakness and undeniable strength. The only thing slightly confusing was that, just as she was preceding the New 52, she is aware of Bruce Wayne's violent nocturnal escapades. The art is a departure from Finch's volume 1, and I must say, Janin crushes it here. The back cover makes Batman look a bit awkward, but this is the sole example. His work is shadowy and open, yet detailed and realistic. There are a few fight scenes which contain Batman in several positions, showing the progression of his fights. It looks great, though is a bit strange to behold, as it does look like there are a dozen Batmen attacking. The only thing I felt was a little off was the depiction of Bane. I'm not sure if this was Janin or King's choice, but the man that broke the Bat is nude virtually the entire time. I'm no prude, and rest assured this is nothing like the blue member in Watchmen, but it felt a little strange. I understand, I think, what they were going for, similar to the ancient Scottish warriors would do to inflict fear on the enemy. It's a power move and intimidation factor, but still took a bit of getting used to. Overall, Batman's Rebirth title continues to find success in King. Janin's work is superb, and made some of the less enjoyable dialogue easier to get through. Similar to volume 1, this is an easy recommendation for fans of the Dark Knight.

The second installment in the I AM Trilogy is a definite hit. Beautifully by both Mikel Janin and Mitch Gerads, this volume has quite possibly one of my favorite Bat stories with the two part Rooftops mini-arc. This book picks up where the last volume left off, and has Bruce assembling his own personal Suicide Squad to take on Bane. King writes from multiple perspectives in this title and gives each of the squad's members a distinctive voice, and ties all the individual plot threads together until they finally cross paths at the end. It's understandable why some might not enjoy this title's dialogue as it can be very cryptic and repetitive; however, Mikel Janin's great artwork makes up for it with his dynamic use of panels, and brilliantly illustrated action. The Rooftops story follows Bruce and Selina for one night as they explore the rooftops of Gotham taking on some of Batman's more obscure villains, and reminiscing over how they met. The artwork here by Mitch Gerads is exceptional, and complements an equally exceptional story. Overall another quality volume.

It is a great book to read

The writing is excellent. The theme is compelling. The art is breath taking. I can't imagine an improvement to this formula. I do have one gripe and that is the volume concludes without mention of Gotham Girl, the sole purpose of its beginning.

The second volume of the Batman Rebirth run is a much stronger entry than the first. Following the events of I Am Gotham, Batman needs to find the Psycho Pirate to undo the psychological damage done to Gotham Girl, but to get to the Pirate, he needs to break into the prison fortress of one his greatest enemies, Bane. This volume is largely a heist story involving Batman's infiltration of Santa Prisca with the Suicide Squad and Catwoman in tow. It starts with an examination of the parallel lives and experiences of Batman and Bane and shows their shared qualities and differences. And there are quite a few surprises as Batman moves relentlessly toward his goal and toward Bane. But, in truth, what becomes evident as the volume progresses (and as Tom King's run continues in later volumes) is that this is also, surprisingly, about an escalating love story between Batman and Catwoman. One weakness, however, that other reviewers mention, is that there is a hefty suspension of disbelief that is required, even above and beyond the usual fantastical bounds of a Batman story. Batman is usually smarter, better, faster, stronger than everyone else, but this volume really shows him doing things that are above and beyond normal (making him essentially invincible). It can take the reader out a bit and is the only reason I have to bring it down to 4 stars. Ultimately though, this is a pretty great Batman story that is hard to pass up on, and a prerequisite for the solid finale that follows in the next volume.

I'm really confused and conflicted on this new take on the Batman . The characteristic that always set Batman apart from the other superheroes with powers was his reliance on wit and preparation to avoid harm and prevail in battle. This new Batman series has him run headlong into armies firing guns at him at point-blank range and he beats them despite being him numerous times by bullets, fists, and blades WHAT??? Since when did he become Superman. Also Bane breaks his back again and he just resets it with no after effects. COME ON MAN! I don't want to give away the plot twists so I will hold further comment on the storyline. Anyway, l like most of the art and the main story is interesting though at times too preachy. The interchange with the junior "suicide squad" is also interesting but again bogs down in the metaphysical mumbo-jumbo of the writer trying to make the situations feel like an episode of the Outer Limits. The last 2 issues of this collection was all about the Catwoman/Batman relationship. Good but it felt slightly out of place in thus collection. I gave this graphic novel 3 stars because I truly like the Batman character and the story is original and well crafted. I just wish they stop with the super-Batman charaterization.

Auch wenn die Storyline des zweiten Paperback-Trades nicht so ganz überzeugen mag und doch einige 'was-soll-das-denn?'-Momente beinhaltet, bleibt die Reihe absolut lesenswert - und das hat zwei Gründe: 1) Das Art-Work von Mikel Janin und in den letzten beiden Heften von Mitch Gerards bietet sehr erwachsene und kantige Bilder, wie sie mittlerweile durch die digitale Korrektur der künstlerischen Comic-Arbeit leider immer seltener werden. Sowohl die Bildkomposition als auch die handwerkliche Gestaltung der Zeichnungen weiß durchweg zu überzeugen und machen aus Batman Vol. 2: I Am Suicide einen optischen Hochgenuss. 2) Der Comic ist unglaublich intensiv und emotional. King katapultiert seine Leser einmal mehr binnen weniger Panels von 0 auf höchsten Anpsannungslevel, wenn er sehr intensiv die Origin-Geschichte von Bane aufrollt, um dann Batmans Nemesis als kommenden Gegner einzuführen. Dabenen werden zwei der Hefte durchgängig von einem Briefwechsel zwischen Batman und Catwoman als Erzählstimme gerahmt und bringen somit eine sehr starke gefühlsmäßige Verknüpfung der Geschichte mit ihren Charakteren hinein. Das ist einfach großartig angedacht und umgesetzt und zieht den Leser durch die Nähe zu den Figuren absolut in den Bann. Leider wird jedoch die Geschichte dieser tollen optischen und emotionalen Stimmung nur in Teilen gerecht (AB JETZT ACHTUNG: kleine SPOILER!!!). Batman stellt anknüpfend an Vol.1 unter Druck von Amanda Waller ein Team aus Schurken zusammen, dass dem Trade-Titel 'I AM SUICIDE' eine besondere Note gibt, wenn also Bruce Wayne sein eigenes Suicide Squad anführt. Die Auswahl der Schurken, ebenso wie deren Rollen in der bevorstehenden Mission wirkt jedoch völlig beliebig und unglaubwürdig und egtl. hätte Batman die ganze Geschichte auch im Alleingang (oder mit der Bat-Familie) durchziehen können. Gerade vor dem Hintergrund, dass er dabei seine eigentlichen Back-Ups in der Reihe außen vor lässt. Auch der 'Plan', wie man das Zusammentreffen mit Bane durchziehen will, um an den Psycho Pirate zu gelangen, ist mehr oder weniger Blödsinn und wirkt an vielen Stellen einfach nur aufgesetzt, um die Konfrontation mit Bane im Vol. 3 der Reihe vorzubereiten - das ist wirklich Schade, denn King zeigt auch in diesem Comic, dass er durchaus die kleinen Momente toll in Szene setzen kann und so hätte man sich 'das ganze Drumherum' vielleicht sparen sollen. Wie stellenweise auch in Grayson übersieht King in diesem Batman-Comic, dass man neben der Frage: "Was ist möglich?" auch immer mal "Was ist nötig?" überlegen sollte. Viele Sachen werden einfach hineingeschoben - ein Beispiel: Der Ventriloquist wird mit in das Team aufgenommen, weil er sich nicht von Psycho Pirate beinflussen lässt und diesen dann mit einem Faustschlag niederstreckt. Das ist möglich. Einfacher und naheliegender wäre es jedoch gewesen, den Psycho Pirate einfach und direkt niederzustrecken, ohne das dieser erstmal seelnruhig seine Maske aufsetzt, um dann erfolglos seine Fähigkeit am Ventriloquist zu verschwenden. Das ist schlicht unnötig. Und solcherlei Momente gibt es in der Geschichte leider zahlreiche. Dennoch ist der zweite Band von Kings Batman-Run durchaus ein lesenswerter Comic, der vor allem über die grandios aufgebaute Stimmung lebt und dadurch über das etwas dünne Geschichtchen hinweg sehen lässt.

I am on a Batman Graphic Novel spree and just finished reading volume two. As always I love the story line, the art work and the script. I can't get enough and now on volume three. Best wishes Sean

Price very good compared to other retailers. Great reading if you're a batman fan.

Secondo volume che raccoglie gli albi della serie Batman Rebirth. Alcune scene e dialoghi sono a dir poco memorabili e la storia non manca mai di stupire.

Great Catwomen and Batman dynamic throughout the whole story, and a really good introduction to Bane and a great set up for volume .