I have to preface this by saying that this is the first Batman comic I’ve read and in retrospect, this wasn’t the best way to start since it is paying tribute to all the Batman writers and artists who went before it. The book is Batman looking down on his own funeral and seeing how his friends and enemies reflect back on his life, each offering their own interpretative perspective on the Batman. It’s an interesting concept, though sort of odd as no one’s story matches up with any one else’s story (I know, that’s sort of the point, but it’s still odd to read a book like that). This edition also has some other short story-style Batman comics by Gaiman. I particularly enjoyed “A Black and White World,” which is a goof in which the reader gets a behind-the-scenes look as the Joker and the Batman reflect on life as comic book stars (Joker: “I never get panels like that.” Batman: “So? You get to make speeches.”). In “Pavane” and “When is a Door,” we get to look closer at two of Batman’s old nemeses, Poison Ivy and the Riddler, respectively. ( )

Merideth says: Hmmmm.... getting Neil Gaiman to write the "last" Batman story was a clever move on the part of DC, as Gaiman rarely writes comics anymore, so even without the "DEATH OF BATMAN" hype, this would have been an event. That being said, I'm not sure if this really works. To me, it carried too many overtones of Gaiman's other work on Sandman, which was a much more elegant, less rushedm goodbye to a character. Fans going into this cold, not being familiar with Morrison's work on Batman will likely be confused. Andy Kubert deserves credit for beautifully illustrating the volume, and the muted colors serve the story well. ( )

A typically imaginative and unique Neil Gaiman story, his first Batman tale (and I hope not his last). The Batman is dying, accompanied by an unknown but familiar presence, as he somehow observes his friends and enemies at his wake, recounting their own conflicting versions of how the Batman met his end. The story ends in an unexpected and quite touching fashion, as we see what the final reward for the Batman really is. Good artwork by Andy Kubert. ( )

Look, I love Batman and I love Gaiman, and I was a little nervous about reading this story because, one, Noooo! Batman shouldn't die! and, two, Is even Gaiman capable of pulling this off?

He is.

Remainder of review moved offsite for more flexible HTML formatting. ( )

Friends, enemies, and acquaintances gather to remember Batman at his funeral, as the Caped Crusader's spirit watches and wonders what's going on. No two stories are alike, but this is a way of reconciling the Batman stories and legends, and as each person steps up to tell about Batman's demise, the artwork and language take on new life. If you've been following Batman for ages, you'll recognize the storylines and inspirations for these stories.

I thought this was a great "ending" to the Batman story, though if there's anything that this book goes out of its way to say, it's that the Batman legend doesn't end. However, the funeral seems a bit short - I mean, with this cast of characters, Gaiman could've gone on and on, but a few more stories wouldn't have hurt! The three stories included afterward are great, and I particularly enjoyed "A Black and White World," probably because I'm a fan of stories and TV shows that break the fourth wall. ( )