Batman: Crimson Mist

One reviewer claims this is not a Batman tale like the first two, but instead a vampire tale using Batman as a device (my paraphrase). His point is well taken and understandable, but ultimately, I disagree. Batman is brought back from the grave. The Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Penguin, and Two-Face are the villains at center stage and Gordon is disparate and needs the Batman. Batman fights against his nature where he can, buy giving into the bloodlust where he can - essentially, Gordon and Alfred and other "decent" citizens are safe (so much so he tells him to stay back because he can hear his pulse) but the evildoers, Batman uses his lust as a pre-text to drink their blood. In the end, Batman compartmentalizes his morality and knows it is wrong. So when Jim Gordon, before the rocks form an explosion fall on him, prays for God's mercy on their souls, the Batman has no doubt Jim and Alfred deserve and will receive that mercy; however, he doubts he will. He is full of sin, blackened. This ending alone can stir debate and discussion. Does Batman receive mercy, after all, isn't his end a form of repentance? This third installment richly weaves a narrative with the two previous books. This is a Batman story and is a great graphic novel trilogy.

This is good. In fact, it's very good. It's a huge Gothic melodrama - which is a good thing. It's very gory. The art fits the story like a glove. But don't read it unless you've read the first two books in the trilogy (Red Rain and Bloodstorm). You'll be able to understand Crimson Mist without having read them, but I doubt you'll fully appreciate it. If you have read the first two I hope that saying it's more of the same will persuade you to read it as soon as possible. I think it's probably the best of the trilogy, but that could be because it's the freshest in my mind.It's always nice when you spend a lot of money on a book to get nice packaging, and this was no disappointment. A good cover, which indicates exactly what the story is going to be like. The paper is very glossy and I don't think this is going to fall apart in a hurry. Little things, like the small gold images on the pages and the skull on the front cover indicate that care has been taken over this. It is expensive, but no more so than many hardback novels. I won't say it's great value for money, but it's not a rip-off by any stretch of the imagination.The prose is gothic, over-blown, melodramatic and quite, quite brilliant. This is a vampire story. A tale of blood-lust, ancient evil, darkness and tragedy. The prose fits the themes. Batman sounds like a vampire should sound to all of us that have grown up on the Dracula myth. There's a nineteenth century feel to the writing that only serves to accentuate this. It's melodramatic, as I've already mentioned, but I like melodrama. It works.I've always liked Kelley Jones' art. One thing that struck me was that everyone in the book looked grotesque. Which is how it should be. This is a horror story, after all. Even the 'good guys' have done wrong and are tainted by the memories of their actions and the evil enveloping Gotham. The only minor problem I had was with Poison Ivy, who should look beautiful, even in a book such as this, and she looked as ugly as everyone else.The inking and colouring is excellent, and helped a lot by the paper quality, I'd imagine. There are shadows where there need to be shadows and the light, such as it is, glows. Gordon's moustache seemed to disappear in one panel, but that's taking nit-picking a little too far.The plot itself works well, but I won't go into any detail here. A very good book in its own right, and a fitting end to an excellent trilogy.

Doug Moench, Kelley Jones, and John Beatty finally, FINALLY get to release the long-awaited final chapter of the Batman vampire trilogy. We get to see variations on such Batman villains as Black Mask, Two-face, Killer Croc,and what has to be my favorite- a Riddler with a question mark stitched into his face! Batman, rapidly losing control, deals them his own rough justice, all the while wondering just how far he'll let himself go. the art is some of Jones's and Beatty's finest, and the colors here scream out at you. This one is not to be missed!

This is the best book. It has caused me to search for the other two. I love both Batman and anything having to with Vampires. Even though it's the last book of this set, it explains enough background to let the reader understand what's going on. SWEET!

For fans of the vampire Batman series, Crimson Mist won't disappoint. CM picks up where Bloodstorm left off, with Batman staked and agonizing in vampire limbo. Unfortunately for Alfred the Butler and Commissioner Gordon, a new group of criminals is besieging Gotham, and only the undead Dark Knight can stop them. Can Batman defeat Two-Face and Killer Croc without becoming a worse monster in the process? Doug Moench takes you on a journey into the remnants of Bruce Wayne's soul, with stunning artwork from Kelley Jones that can't be ignored. The best Elseworld novel I've read yet!