Batman: Bruce Wayne - Murderer?

An excellent compilation in that great jigsaw puzzle style where they took the trouble to actually interweave the various issues into a near-seamless, single narrative -- this doesn't really seem to happen anymore. Constantly, this sort of collection will today present the issues with little more thought than publication order, causing them to outright spoil each other, and making beats and reveals happen at awkward or underwhelming moments. Not so here, and it adds immeasurably to the reading experience.

My main complaint, really, is that the early issues set this up as a murder mystery, but by the end of the volume, the investigation has gone by the wayside, and the story is a more personal one, centred on the character of Batman, and show more his relationship to his alter ego and to those few who know his secret and love him. This is a good story, and with a satisfying and emotional conclusion, but it is not what the story's beginning felt like it promised, and it is frustrating to have to read the three-volume "Fugitive" arc that followed to search for the eventual payoff.

But this is a minor gripe. There is great narration here -- I was genuinely moved by the last page of the issue "Timeless", for instance, as well as by Grayson's constant insistence that Bruce could not have done this when everyone around him start admitting doubts. I got chills from several Moments of Cool in the inner narration, especially that of Batman himself, not to mention Oracle's casual brilliance and Cassandra Cain's Batgirl's hyper-competence. And while they belong to the mystery plotline that fell by the wayside, it was exciting to see the Major Crimes Unit from the excellent "Gotham Central" show up to investigate such a high profile DC universe story beat. The various artist's art styles blend surprisingly well considering the jigsaw-nature of the compilation mentioned above, and all in all, this was a satisfying reading experience.

I'm already chasing down the long out of print "Fugitive" volumes to read the conclusion. Hopefully it will deliver. show less

An excellent graphic novel, one of the best Batman books I've read. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and there isn't even a villain yet! The family dynamic of Batman and all his sidekicks is explored wonderfully, along with the Batman vs. Bruce Wayne concept which, while central to the character, isn't usually looked at so deeply or with such force. The art is great, stylized enough to draw you in and get you spellbound, but realistic enough to keep things gritty. There's a cliffhanger ending into the Bruce Wayne: Fugitive trilogy of graphic novels, so make sure you have those at hand if you read this one.

A compilation of stories from the "Batman" books, in which Bruce Wayne is arrested for murder in his mansion. His comrades try feverishly to prove his innocence, but are hindered by Bruce's own refusal to aid in his case, and their doubts and arguments about what really happened. Batman's solution at the end is a jarring one, which shakes his comrades to the core and seems destined to shape the course of the Batman line for years. I don't really like Batman's solution myself, and hope that these events will not be of a permanent nature.

This was a very good read. I practically could not put it down once I picked it up. Bruce Wayne is accused of murder, and all the evidence points to him. Was he framed? Did he really do it? The pace is quick, and once it picks up, it does not really let you go. His allies strive to clear his name even as he alienates them for some reason. I am definitely reading the continuation of the story. Great mystery story. Good art also. This is definitely one to read for Batman fans.