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Batman: War Games #1
Batman: War Games, Act 1: Outbreak
It's all out war among Gotham City's underworld families with Batman and his allies caught up in the evershifting tide of deals, murder and gunfire. It all begins with a council of the underworld and continues when costumed criminals from Deadshot to Mr. Freeze get involved. Batman is aided by Nightwing, Robin, Catwoman, Batgirl, Tarantula, Orpheus and Onyx, but are even they enough to keep the city from being bathed in blood?
Collects:
- Batman: The 12 Cent Adventure #1
- Detective Comics #797
- Legends of the Dark Knight #182
- Nightwing #96
- Gotham Knights #56
- Robin #129
- Batgirl #55
- Catwoman #34
- Batman #631
Collects:
- Batman: The 12 Cent Adventure #1
- Detective Comics #797
- Legends of the Dark Knight #182
- Nightwing #96
- Gotham Knights #56
- Robin #129
- Batgirl #55
- Catwoman #34
- Batman #631
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
12 people are currently reading
1309 people want to read
About the author
Andersen Gabrych
70 books14 followersAndersen Gabrych is a Northern California native. He’s written Detective Comics, Batman, Batgirl, Catwoman, and Omega Men for DC Comics, and is the author of the original graphic novel, Fog Town.
As an actor he appeared most notably in the award-winning Edge of Seventeen and at HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival. He currently lives in L.A. with his cat, Moses, and is the co-creator of Pyrasphere, “Hollywood’s fastest growing new religion,” and the subsequent documentary Bright Day! about this fictitious spiritual movement.
As an actor he appeared most notably in the award-winning Edge of Seventeen and at HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival. He currently lives in L.A. with his cat, Moses, and is the co-creator of Pyrasphere, “Hollywood’s fastest growing new religion,” and the subsequent documentary Bright Day! about this fictitious spiritual movement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
March 13, 2022
"They must be targeting family members! Wives, children, non-combatants! Oh my God, if this war seemed bad before . . . it's about to get a whole lot worse." -- Barbara 'Oracle' Gordon, realizing s*** just got real in the escalating street warfare between Gotham City's rival gangs
Batman: War Games, Act 1 - which features the vigilante 'Bat'-family trying to staunch the flow of violence in an increasingly deadly war between the organized criminal elements in Gotham City - has three factors which, I think, keep it from being a truly great storyline featuring the Dark Knight. The first is . . . well, our title character is mostly just in a supporting role here, making some fleeting and action-ish appearances but otherwise letting his allies like Catwoman or sidekick-proteges such as Nightwing and Batgirl - not that they all don't do a damn fine job of alternately busting heads and/or saving lives - do a lot of the 'heavy lifting.' Second is that the plot is initially sort of shambling and doesn't really gain momentum until after the halfway point in this 200+ page graphic novel, which is an ominous sign. Third is that when things do start to become suspenseful or interesting it also involves schoolchildren being both intentionally shot at AND being caught in the crossfire of said gangs, culminating with gunfire and then a large-scale hostage situation at a high school. (I had to check the volume's copyright date, convinced that this was from that more innocent pre-Columbine era but nope, it's from the 21st century.) I think that the 'children in jeopardy' trope is being used as an easy go-to writing crutch, and I imagine some readers may find it objectionable or tasteless.
Batman: War Games, Act 1 - which features the vigilante 'Bat'-family trying to staunch the flow of violence in an increasingly deadly war between the organized criminal elements in Gotham City - has three factors which, I think, keep it from being a truly great storyline featuring the Dark Knight. The first is . . . well, our title character is mostly just in a supporting role here, making some fleeting and action-ish appearances but otherwise letting his allies like Catwoman or sidekick-proteges such as Nightwing and Batgirl - not that they all don't do a damn fine job of alternately busting heads and/or saving lives - do a lot of the 'heavy lifting.' Second is that the plot is initially sort of shambling and doesn't really gain momentum until after the halfway point in this 200+ page graphic novel, which is an ominous sign. Third is that when things do start to become suspenseful or interesting it also involves schoolchildren being both intentionally shot at AND being caught in the crossfire of said gangs, culminating with gunfire and then a large-scale hostage situation at a high school. (I had to check the volume's copyright date, convinced that this was from that more innocent pre-Columbine era but nope, it's from the 21st century.) I think that the 'children in jeopardy' trope is being used as an easy go-to writing crutch, and I imagine some readers may find it objectionable or tasteless.
June 2, 2016
Stephanie Brown/Spoiler accidentally ignites a city-wide gang war in Gotham and it’s up to the Bat family to end it!
War Games is soooo boring! Aside from the occasional cameo by a familiar crim like Penguin, Ventriloquist or Hush, it’s Batman and co. fighting no-name gangsters in a vague, rambling plot line that goes nowhere. It’s impossible to care about when it feels so generic and unexciting. I mean, Batman fighting thugs is what he does during a storyline, it’s not usually THE storyline!
Part of the problem is that War Games has some exceptionally crappy writers taking on most of the narrative. Anderson Gabrych, Devin Grayson and AJ Lieberman are among the worst of the worst and they deliver one monotonous issue after another. The exceptions are Ed Brubaker who contributes one mediocre Catwoman/Spoiler episode and Bill Willingham who writes two ok issues featuring Tim Drake, out of costume, trying to keep Ventriloquist and the Russian mob from gunning down his classmates.
Indie darling Dylan Horrocks collaborates with Sean Phillips on one Batgirl issue that was pretty meh - Phillips doing a workmanlike job while Horrocks felt very out of his depth with writing action-packed superhero fare compared to his much slower indie comics. Pete Woods and Giuseppe Camuncoli are the only two notable artists who produce some decent pages.
Overall though, War Games Act One is forgettable garbage. At best it should’ve been a subplot or something to hang one of the Arkham games on where at least you have the gameplay to entertain you. It comes off as a lower stakes version of No Man’s Land which itself wasn’t that great a storyline either. Batman: War Games, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin’!
War Games is soooo boring! Aside from the occasional cameo by a familiar crim like Penguin, Ventriloquist or Hush, it’s Batman and co. fighting no-name gangsters in a vague, rambling plot line that goes nowhere. It’s impossible to care about when it feels so generic and unexciting. I mean, Batman fighting thugs is what he does during a storyline, it’s not usually THE storyline!
Part of the problem is that War Games has some exceptionally crappy writers taking on most of the narrative. Anderson Gabrych, Devin Grayson and AJ Lieberman are among the worst of the worst and they deliver one monotonous issue after another. The exceptions are Ed Brubaker who contributes one mediocre Catwoman/Spoiler episode and Bill Willingham who writes two ok issues featuring Tim Drake, out of costume, trying to keep Ventriloquist and the Russian mob from gunning down his classmates.
Indie darling Dylan Horrocks collaborates with Sean Phillips on one Batgirl issue that was pretty meh - Phillips doing a workmanlike job while Horrocks felt very out of his depth with writing action-packed superhero fare compared to his much slower indie comics. Pete Woods and Giuseppe Camuncoli are the only two notable artists who produce some decent pages.
Overall though, War Games Act One is forgettable garbage. At best it should’ve been a subplot or something to hang one of the Arkham games on where at least you have the gameplay to entertain you. It comes off as a lower stakes version of No Man’s Land which itself wasn’t that great a storyline either. Batman: War Games, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin’!
March 26, 2023
Batman is so fucking cool.
September 11, 2022
The first arc of a 3 part series featuring the Batfamily. A mysterious invitation brings Gotham’s gang leaders and their hitmen together. The tension comes to a boiling point when the benefactor doesn’t show up and shots are fired. With most of Gotham’s gang leaders now dead, violence erupts throughout the city as gangs fight for new territory.
To top everything off, the Batfamily is short staffed. Tim Drake is leading a normal life and Stephanie Brown has been fired, leaving Gotham without a Robin. Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Oracle as well as help from Catwoman, Tarantula, Onyx, and Orpheus are nowGotham’s only hope during these war games.
A solid start to the event. What I have really liked from these Batman events from the early 2000s is that they do not revolve around the usual Rogue gallery and focus on lesser known villains as well as a rotating group of gang leaders and mob bosses. The art is pretty solid throughout. After reading a good amount of late 90s and early 00s comics, I absolutely love Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl. She has a much more unique costume and an extremely interesting backstory. I prefer Babs as Oracle and Cassandra as Batgirl.
To top everything off, the Batfamily is short staffed. Tim Drake is leading a normal life and Stephanie Brown has been fired, leaving Gotham without a Robin. Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Oracle as well as help from Catwoman, Tarantula, Onyx, and Orpheus are nowGotham’s only hope during these war games.
A solid start to the event. What I have really liked from these Batman events from the early 2000s is that they do not revolve around the usual Rogue gallery and focus on lesser known villains as well as a rotating group of gang leaders and mob bosses. The art is pretty solid throughout. After reading a good amount of late 90s and early 00s comics, I absolutely love Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl. She has a much more unique costume and an extremely interesting backstory. I prefer Babs as Oracle and Cassandra as Batgirl.
May 26, 2019
I feel like the fact that in the comic, a choice between saving a pregnant 15 year old's life and saving her unborn fetus is presented as a "moral dilemma" and that the doctor felt it "wasn't her choice to make" but left it up to the girl's mother, who chose to save the fetus, kinda tells you all you need to know about how the writer of this title views women.
Like do I save an unborn fetus that may or may not live? Or do I save the scared 15 year old girl with hopes and dreams and the rest of her life ahead of her? Gee, it's so fucking hard to decide!
Easiest one star ever. Finished the rest of the book because I hate myself. It's pretty mediocre batman fare. Also featuring very creepy sexualisation of a very young Steph Brown. When I see a female character whose facial features are drawn as young and cute but also has giant tits and a huge arse and is drawn in really creepy sexualised poses, I can make a pretty good guess about what kind of porn the creators are into. Now excuse me while I go take a shower.
Like do I save an unborn fetus that may or may not live? Or do I save the scared 15 year old girl with hopes and dreams and the rest of her life ahead of her? Gee, it's so fucking hard to decide!
Easiest one star ever. Finished the rest of the book because I hate myself. It's pretty mediocre batman fare. Also featuring very creepy sexualisation of a very young Steph Brown. When I see a female character whose facial features are drawn as young and cute but also has giant tits and a huge arse and is drawn in really creepy sexualised poses, I can make a pretty good guess about what kind of porn the creators are into. Now excuse me while I go take a shower.
July 6, 2021
When they say it's all out war, they mean an all out war!
All the gangs in Gotham have sounded the call to war over the stricken city. Batman and his small team must face them, all alone.
This comic makes me wonder why anyone would stay in Gotham City when so many tragic things have happened.
This all starts when someone tries to do the right thing but it goes pear shaped and completely out of control. Gotham pays the price and you see the strain that puts on Batman and co.
This comic opens a whole new mess and I am anxiously awaiting to see what happens next.
All the gangs in Gotham have sounded the call to war over the stricken city. Batman and his small team must face them, all alone.
This comic makes me wonder why anyone would stay in Gotham City when so many tragic things have happened.
This all starts when someone tries to do the right thing but it goes pear shaped and completely out of control. Gotham pays the price and you see the strain that puts on Batman and co.
This comic opens a whole new mess and I am anxiously awaiting to see what happens next.
July 23, 2020
Act 1 of this arc is an action-packed opener as Batman and co try to stop a gang war in Gotham. It’s fun and all but aspects of the plot made me feel like I was reading No Man’s Land but on a smaller scale.
January 25, 2017
Eh, a decent enough beginning to a Batman arc, as far as they go. The idea of one of Batman's complex plans going awry has interested me since I read JLA, Vol. 7: Tower of Babel. The first issue sets up the story and all of the key players while the subsequent issues tackle the enormous fallout. The pace is pretty relentless, which is at times thrilling and at other times exhausting and sometimes downright confusing. There are a lot of mob factions at work in this story, and they're not differentiated much beyond their ethnic identity (Sicilian and Russian mafia, Yakuza, Unified Latinos, etc.) The writing is pretty bland and unremarkable aside from Ed Brubaker's work with Catwoman. He's the only writer who really lets off the gas long enough for his characters to have actual conversations with one another (with tea, even!). The art is similarly decent with the exception of Giuseppe Camuncolo's work on the one issue of Robin, which I really didn't care for. By far my favorite panel is Brad Walker's depiction of Bruce Wayne in his criminal disguise (Matches Malone!) Honestly, I was hoping for a bit more from this volume, but it didn't deliver in the way that I wanted. The story moves at a breakneck pace, but it lacks the depth and desperation that made the similarly frenetic Knightfall story arc so gripping. I will still probably pick up Act 2 to see if the story settles down and evens out.
April 14, 2023
This is the 2nd book in the war games storyline and it kicks things off big time .
The book showcases how a gang war is started across Gotham City by an unknown miscreant resulting in the cities law enforcement and the Bat family being stretched thin .
The book is very much grounded in reality , focussing on the idea of a mass riot and full fledged multi-gang war . No supervillains are seen , and so no convoluted plans involved . In between we deal with Nightwing-Oracle-Tarantula storyline , the Leslie Thomkins and Bruce storyline , the Retired Robin storyline and it all culminates in a school shootout where the bat family displays their skill to perfection .
The scenes of actions are simply superb the story is grounded in reality and feasible and every thing is fast paced and entertaining. Love this and i can't wait to go for the 2nd act
The book showcases how a gang war is started across Gotham City by an unknown miscreant resulting in the cities law enforcement and the Bat family being stretched thin .
The book is very much grounded in reality , focussing on the idea of a mass riot and full fledged multi-gang war . No supervillains are seen , and so no convoluted plans involved . In between we deal with Nightwing-Oracle-Tarantula storyline , the Leslie Thomkins and Bruce storyline , the Retired Robin storyline and it all culminates in a school shootout where the bat family displays their skill to perfection .
The scenes of actions are simply superb the story is grounded in reality and feasible and every thing is fast paced and entertaining. Love this and i can't wait to go for the 2nd act
January 17, 2025
2024 a little lost in storyline, story is dated
January 28, 2010
So much happens here. Spoiler is rash, brash, and just a little boring. Barbara is frustrated by Batman treating Oracle like a secretary. Nightwing is dealing with Blockbuster's death. Cameo from Tarantula is fun. Tim, having stopped being Robin, finds that his school can still be taken over by gang members trying to off the daughter of a mafia boss. And the entire bat-family goes without discussion.
Let me say that last bit again, in case you don't understand how momentous that is. Gotham is descending into a complete reign of terror. Gang violence has erupted everywhere--all Spoiler's fault, but more on that later--and instead of putting out those fires Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Oracle all focus entirely on helping Tim. When you're a Bat, you're a Bat all the way, from your first batarang to your last dying day.
Let me say that last bit again, in case you don't understand how momentous that is. Gotham is descending into a complete reign of terror. Gang violence has erupted everywhere--all Spoiler's fault, but more on that later--and instead of putting out those fires Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Oracle all focus entirely on helping Tim. When you're a Bat, you're a Bat all the way, from your first batarang to your last dying day.
April 21, 2016
Wow, you can seriously say this one is action-packed! Sometimes a bit confusing and a bit much.. There are so many characters in play that you really need to keep your head in the game.
But despite the overhead, it's been building up to be a great story with amazing artwork btw.
I'm immediately diving into the next act!
But despite the overhead, it's been building up to be a great story with amazing artwork btw.
I'm immediately diving into the next act!
February 1, 2015
Basically Batman fires Robin, Robin tries to prove worth by enacting Batman scheme to take down the cities gangs (without Batman being made aware of said enactment) and all hell breaks loose. This was really good a bunch of unknown writers but it was really good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2010
War has broken out and boy, is it ever-exciting. The body count is high and likely to mount even higher. Can't wait to read the remaining two volumes. This is Batman at his finest.
December 17, 2018
War Games is a major storyline comic book story arc published by DC Comics that ran in its Batman family of titles. The plot revolves around a gang war involving all the major criminal groups in Gotham. It starts with one of Batman's most ambitious contingency plans for a possible outbreak of uncontrollable gang violence.
Batman: War Games, Act One: Outbreak collects: Batman: The 12 Cent Adventure #1, Detective Comics #797, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #182, Nightwing #96, Batman: Gotham Knights #56, Robin #129, Batgirl #55, Catwoman #34, and Batman #631.
Stephanie Brown as Robin accidentally created a clash between Gotham's underworld families, which erupts into a wave of chaos that engulfs the city. Batman must use every available asset: Oracle, Batgirl, Nightwing, Orpheus, Onyx, and Tarantula to preserve life and contain the chaos.
Devin Grayson, Andersen Gabrych, A.J. Lieberman, Bill Willingham, Dylan Horrocks, and Ed Brubaker are credited for writing the series and for the most part, I rather enjoyed the narrative. Some issues were better than others were, but overall it was somewhat well planned and written. It is an interesting premise that has Batman as his criminal Matches Malone uniting all of Gotham Underground under his power, but fails miserably when it was initiated without his knowledge or consent.
Ramon Bachs, Pete Woods, Brad Walker, Mike Lilly, Al Barrionuevo, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Sean Phillips, Paul Gulacy, and Kinsun Loh are the pencilers for the series. With so many pencilers, it is rather difficult to grade the overall artistic flow. For the most part this hodgepodge of pencilers has similar styles with few exceptions and that the flow of the artistic style flowed rather smoothly with a few sudden jerks.
All in all, Batman: War Games, Act One: Outbreak is a rather strong beginning to what I hope would be an equally wonderful story arc.
Batman: War Games, Act One: Outbreak collects: Batman: The 12 Cent Adventure #1, Detective Comics #797, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #182, Nightwing #96, Batman: Gotham Knights #56, Robin #129, Batgirl #55, Catwoman #34, and Batman #631.
Stephanie Brown as Robin accidentally created a clash between Gotham's underworld families, which erupts into a wave of chaos that engulfs the city. Batman must use every available asset: Oracle, Batgirl, Nightwing, Orpheus, Onyx, and Tarantula to preserve life and contain the chaos.
Devin Grayson, Andersen Gabrych, A.J. Lieberman, Bill Willingham, Dylan Horrocks, and Ed Brubaker are credited for writing the series and for the most part, I rather enjoyed the narrative. Some issues were better than others were, but overall it was somewhat well planned and written. It is an interesting premise that has Batman as his criminal Matches Malone uniting all of Gotham Underground under his power, but fails miserably when it was initiated without his knowledge or consent.
Ramon Bachs, Pete Woods, Brad Walker, Mike Lilly, Al Barrionuevo, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Sean Phillips, Paul Gulacy, and Kinsun Loh are the pencilers for the series. With so many pencilers, it is rather difficult to grade the overall artistic flow. For the most part this hodgepodge of pencilers has similar styles with few exceptions and that the flow of the artistic style flowed rather smoothly with a few sudden jerks.
All in all, Batman: War Games, Act One: Outbreak is a rather strong beginning to what I hope would be an equally wonderful story arc.
September 19, 2024
🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦
Batman: War Games Act I
2004
Graphic Novel
Rating: 4.5/5
Batman: War Games Act I delivers an intense and gripping narrative that perfectly captures the essence of Gotham’s dark underbelly. The story brilliantly intertwines various characters, showcasing the intricate relationships and rivalries within the Bat-family. The stakes are high as Batman faces a city on the brink of chaos, with a gang war escalating into a full-blown crisis. The artwork complements the storytelling beautifully, enhancing the tension and emotional depth of each scene. The pacing is expertly managed, keeping readers on the edge of their seats while allowing for meaningful character development. This volume not only sets the stage for the unfolding conflict but also explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the burdens of heroism. It’s a book that’s called Batman, but this is heavily focused on the Bat-family, allowing each lesser known member to have their moment in sun. A lot of new readers don’t understand there’s a wealth of Batman mythology and these events have never been adapted for film, which is a giant shame if you’re a fan of the character. This is a must-read for Batman fans and newcomers alike, laying a powerful foundation for the epic saga that follows. The book settles into the gritty conflict between the underbelly for the later issues, and the tone switches into something much darker, it’s interesting that I missed this Batman event. It’s a captivating blend of action and drama that showcases why Batman remains a timeless icon in the world of comics.
#batman#2004#comics#comicbooks#comicbookcommunity#comicbooklover#booklover#bookworm#comicbookreview#comicbookcollection#comicbookcollector#comicbookcollecting#dupreewenttothemovies#books#bookrecommendations#readingtime#readingaddict#readingcommunity#readinglist#readingbooks#readingisfun#alwaysreading#ilovereading#lovereading#readreadread#readersgonnaread#billwillingham#edbrubaker#dc#graphicnovel
Batman: War Games Act I
2004
Graphic Novel
Rating: 4.5/5
Batman: War Games Act I delivers an intense and gripping narrative that perfectly captures the essence of Gotham’s dark underbelly. The story brilliantly intertwines various characters, showcasing the intricate relationships and rivalries within the Bat-family. The stakes are high as Batman faces a city on the brink of chaos, with a gang war escalating into a full-blown crisis. The artwork complements the storytelling beautifully, enhancing the tension and emotional depth of each scene. The pacing is expertly managed, keeping readers on the edge of their seats while allowing for meaningful character development. This volume not only sets the stage for the unfolding conflict but also explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the burdens of heroism. It’s a book that’s called Batman, but this is heavily focused on the Bat-family, allowing each lesser known member to have their moment in sun. A lot of new readers don’t understand there’s a wealth of Batman mythology and these events have never been adapted for film, which is a giant shame if you’re a fan of the character. This is a must-read for Batman fans and newcomers alike, laying a powerful foundation for the epic saga that follows. The book settles into the gritty conflict between the underbelly for the later issues, and the tone switches into something much darker, it’s interesting that I missed this Batman event. It’s a captivating blend of action and drama that showcases why Batman remains a timeless icon in the world of comics.
#batman#2004#comics#comicbooks#comicbookcommunity#comicbooklover#booklover#bookworm#comicbookreview#comicbookcollection#comicbookcollector#comicbookcollecting#dupreewenttothemovies#books#bookrecommendations#readingtime#readingaddict#readingcommunity#readinglist#readingbooks#readingisfun#alwaysreading#ilovereading#lovereading#readreadread#readersgonnaread#billwillingham#edbrubaker#dc#graphicnovel
April 18, 2025
I finally got around to reading this because I recently finished Marvel's Deadman's Hand. I wanted to contrast War Games, Deadman's Hand and Marvel's Spider-Man Gang War to see how each played out the concept of organized crime power grabs in a super hero universe.
Daedman's Hand was fair, but I did enjoy reading the Nomad issues that I had not previously read. With Romita Jr. doing some of the art I found Gang War enjoyable. In particular I liked that that Tombstone was actually given some character development, especially in contrast to what was done with him in Deadman's Hand.
After that prelude how does War Games stack up? So far better than Deadman's Hand, but for once I think the Spider-Man story arc (yeah, I cannot recall when I have ever said that) is better. A large part of this is because someone decided that this had to be the asshole version of Batman, the who who knows all, and orders his "family" around.
Also, the concept of literally turning this into a war that is ongoing 24 hours a day doesn't feel like it is working. Would the various gang/mob soldiers actually be taking their firefights to the streets throughout the city? At all hours of the day and night? That firefight scenario is not working for me.
I plan to finish the story arc, which has two more volumes to go, at some point. The writers such as Brubaker, Willingham and Grayson do some good work here, especially with the supporting characters.
Daedman's Hand was fair, but I did enjoy reading the Nomad issues that I had not previously read. With Romita Jr. doing some of the art I found Gang War enjoyable. In particular I liked that that Tombstone was actually given some character development, especially in contrast to what was done with him in Deadman's Hand.
After that prelude how does War Games stack up? So far better than Deadman's Hand, but for once I think the Spider-Man story arc (yeah, I cannot recall when I have ever said that) is better. A large part of this is because someone decided that this had to be the asshole version of Batman, the who who knows all, and orders his "family" around.
Also, the concept of literally turning this into a war that is ongoing 24 hours a day doesn't feel like it is working. Would the various gang/mob soldiers actually be taking their firefights to the streets throughout the city? At all hours of the day and night? That firefight scenario is not working for me.
I plan to finish the story arc, which has two more volumes to go, at some point. The writers such as Brubaker, Willingham and Grayson do some good work here, especially with the supporting characters.
September 17, 2023
Eu estava muito ansioso para iniciar essa leitura, pois marca uma morte importante no universo do Batman, mas também é uma daquelas sagas que deixam gotham completamente ferrada, sem esperança, fazendo com que a Batfamily precise se revirar em busca de uma solução.
Em jogos de guerra ato 1, temos uma reunião com os chefes da máfia de Gotham, junto de seus guarda costas, porém ninguém entende quer marcou a reunião, os mafiosos apenas foram convidados e aparecerem. No entendo, algo sai errado e um tiroteio se inicia, resultando em apenas 8 sobreviventes, de 21 que estavam presentes. Por conta disso, uma guerra entre as gangues de Gotham se instaura na cidade, espalhando uma onda de crimes e violência.
Isso é jogado na cara do leitor logo no começo, porém não é explicado como ou porque o tal encontro da Máfia ocorreu. Isso é revelado apenas no final do ato, já com todo caos instaurado.
Eu particularmente já sabia sobre quem havia causado a guerra e quem irá morrer, no entanto eu não sabia como a pessoa havia feito a guerra e o porque ela deu errado. Porém, mesmo sabendo disso, a leitura foi muito boa, com bastante investigações, crimes de máfia, disputa por poder, interações da Batfamily e desenvolvimento de trama bem resolvidos. Me lembra bastante o aspecto de terra sem lei e luta por território conforme o arco Terra de Ninguém.
Em jogos de guerra ato 1, temos uma reunião com os chefes da máfia de Gotham, junto de seus guarda costas, porém ninguém entende quer marcou a reunião, os mafiosos apenas foram convidados e aparecerem. No entendo, algo sai errado e um tiroteio se inicia, resultando em apenas 8 sobreviventes, de 21 que estavam presentes. Por conta disso, uma guerra entre as gangues de Gotham se instaura na cidade, espalhando uma onda de crimes e violência.
Isso é jogado na cara do leitor logo no começo, porém não é explicado como ou porque o tal encontro da Máfia ocorreu. Isso é revelado apenas no final do ato, já com todo caos instaurado.
Eu particularmente já sabia sobre quem havia causado a guerra e quem irá morrer, no entanto eu não sabia como a pessoa havia feito a guerra e o porque ela deu errado. Porém, mesmo sabendo disso, a leitura foi muito boa, com bastante investigações, crimes de máfia, disputa por poder, interações da Batfamily e desenvolvimento de trama bem resolvidos. Me lembra bastante o aspecto de terra sem lei e luta por território conforme o arco Terra de Ninguém.
March 15, 2025
Le point de départ est intéressant, et même s'il est plus ou moins présenté comme une surprise au début, le fait que Gotham City devienne la proie du chaos à cause de Batman lui-même pourrait être une bonne idée.
Mais c'est finalement totalement inexploité dans ce premier tome – je vous rassure, ça le sera aussi dans les tomes suivants.
On suit donc tout un tas de séries de qualité diverse à travers ce bordel qu'est devenu Gotham City.
Finalement, la cohérence entre les scénaristes ressemble à ce qui se passe dans cette ville : c'est l'anarchie.
Tout le monde fait un peu n'importe quoi et attend que quelqu'un d'autre amène un point intéressant.
Jusqu'à ce que, finalement, le volume se termine et que rien, mais alors rien du tout, ne soit proposé.
C'est dommage, il y avait du potentiel, mais on reste sur notre faim.
Concernant les dessins, il y a du correct, du moyen et du désastreux.
Bon sang... Gulacy... Il a fait des chefs-d'œuvre dans les années 80, mais là... Mon Dieu.
Est-ce la faute de l'encreur/coloriste ? Est-ce la faute de la vieillesse ? Je ne sais pas, mais c'est totalement immonde. Bref.
Mais c'est finalement totalement inexploité dans ce premier tome – je vous rassure, ça le sera aussi dans les tomes suivants.
On suit donc tout un tas de séries de qualité diverse à travers ce bordel qu'est devenu Gotham City.
Finalement, la cohérence entre les scénaristes ressemble à ce qui se passe dans cette ville : c'est l'anarchie.
Tout le monde fait un peu n'importe quoi et attend que quelqu'un d'autre amène un point intéressant.
Jusqu'à ce que, finalement, le volume se termine et que rien, mais alors rien du tout, ne soit proposé.
C'est dommage, il y avait du potentiel, mais on reste sur notre faim.
Concernant les dessins, il y a du correct, du moyen et du désastreux.
Bon sang... Gulacy... Il a fait des chefs-d'œuvre dans les années 80, mais là... Mon Dieu.
Est-ce la faute de l'encreur/coloriste ? Est-ce la faute de la vieillesse ? Je ne sais pas, mais c'est totalement immonde. Bref.
February 6, 2020
Starts off strong, gets kind of same-y in the middle, but has a decent ending. Batman's ex-sidekick Spoiler invites all of Gotham's gangleaders to the docks in order to get in his good graces. But they start killing each other and a gang war ensues. I liked that it jumped right into the action in the first issue, and that it introduced all the characters (because I haven't read many Batman comics and didn't recognize all the characters). But most of the book that follows is just Batman and his accomplices (Batgirl, Nightwing, Catwoman, Oracle, Tarantula?) going around the city putting out fires and fighting gangs for the rest of the night and into the next morning. Don't they get tired? I got a little tired just reading about them jumping from one frying pan into another and then another. It ends at a standoff at Tim Drake's (one of many Robins in this book) high school where a bunch of gangs have taken hostage. Batman and co. stop all the gang members eventually.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2022
This is one of those complicated and almost political Batman plots. If you count mob and gang politics as political. There are a lot of players but it seems like a good start to this arc. We got some really good Stephanie Brown moments in there. Steph is, in my opinion, criminally underrated so I jumped at the chance to see her motivations and how Batman has influenced her. I was a big fan of both the Nightwing (which has absolutely spectacular art as always) and Catwoman issues in this arc. My favorite part was definitely seeing how Tim is adjusting to being a civilian and how he steps up in a moment of crisis. Man I love Timothy Drake. Doc Thompkins is also spectacular. Nothing can top her appearance in no mans land but you can see how Bruce’s war on crime has affected her, and Gotham. I won’t write an essay on how how her ethics compliment but also challenges Batman but I am definitely thinking about it.
October 5, 2019
The War Games arc is another thing that's been on my to-read shelf for about 8 years, and I'm finally reading it. Considering its mixed reviews, this story is a lot better than I feared it would be. The batclan deals with a gang war started when someone started shooting at a major meeting of all the heads of criminal organizations in Gotham. For most of the book, the bats - who have been taken off guard by this - are scrambling to do damage control as violent reprisals and powergrabs become par for the course.
This is a nice break from all the supernaturally themed batbooks I've been reading recently. How much more crime related do you get than a book about a gang war? I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
This is a nice break from all the supernaturally themed batbooks I've been reading recently. How much more crime related do you get than a book about a gang war? I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Read
April 6, 2023This comic book Batman War Games Outbreak has many authors and artists such as Devin Grayson, Andersen Gabrych, A.J. Lieberman, Bill Willingham, Dylan Horrocks and Ed Brubaker, with illustrations by Ramon Bachs, Pete Woods, Brad Walker, Mike Lilly, Al Barrionuevo, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Sean Phillips, Paul Gulacy and Kinsun Loh. In the book the city of gotham is filled with multiple gangs that are led by mafia bosses. There are many fights between gangs and then Batman gets involved. I personally love this book a lot. It is a very fun read and it also has a lot of great drawings and exciting and suspenseful parts. If you are looking at this book then you should most definitely buy it because it is very action packed and great drawings that will catch your attention.
August 15, 2025
So far this is really just another gang war storyline, and pretty soon after No Man’s Land too. NML at least had an almost post-apocalyptic feeling to distinguish it and add some interest, even if it was too long and a bit unfocused.
There’s nothing really interesting happening here - this arc wraps up with different gangs taking Tim’s high school hostage, but it’s not really utilised very well. The same story could have been told at a hospital, city hall, or really anywhere else in the city.
I did kind of like that this whole thing is Stephanie’s fault, but that’s the only thing that stands out here. There isn’t even any fun interpersonal drama to add a bit of depth, except Bruce shutting down Barbara completely when she tried to take some control off him.
There’s nothing really interesting happening here - this arc wraps up with different gangs taking Tim’s high school hostage, but it’s not really utilised very well. The same story could have been told at a hospital, city hall, or really anywhere else in the city.
I did kind of like that this whole thing is Stephanie’s fault, but that’s the only thing that stands out here. There isn’t even any fun interpersonal drama to add a bit of depth, except Bruce shutting down Barbara completely when she tried to take some control off him.
May 25, 2022
Crossover entretenido de Batman, en el que surge una guerra entre familias criminales por un plan llevado a cabo por Stephanie Brown. Recomendable exclusivamente a seguidores fanáticos de Batman (como es mi caso). Argumento: "Stephanie Brown, también conocida como Spoiler, ha dejado de ser Robin contra su voluntad y piensa demostrarle a Batman que se equivocó al destituirla. Por eso pone en marcha un plan del propio Hombre Murciélago que podría destrozar los bajos fondos de Gotham. Cuando el caos se desate y los conflictos broten por la ciudad entera, el Caballero Oscuro necesitará la ayuda de todos los aliados posibles... ¡aunque parece seguro que alguien de la batfamilia va a morir!"
May 4, 2022
Me gustó el planteamiento y la acción. En definitiva es de las historias más relacionadas a la batifamilia karateando a weyes con pistolas y metralletas, así que no hay mucho acción a la vez lleno de acción.
August 21, 2025
This is so bad. And unless you're interested in Gotham gang wars, it's also boring. This entire period of Bat comics has been infuriating to read so far.
One bright spot: Stephanie and Selina meeting, and Selina being one of the only people who's actually kind to Steph.
One bright spot: Stephanie and Selina meeting, and Selina being one of the only people who's actually kind to Steph.
May 29, 2017
[3.5 stars]
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