| Title | : | Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0930289633 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780930289638 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 116 |
| Publication | : | First published December 1, 1989 |
Collects BATMAN #440-442 and The NEW TITANS #60-61.
Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying Reviews
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Treasure of the Rubbermaids 9: Birth of a Sidekick
The on-going discoveries of priceless books and comics found in a stack of Rubbermaid containers previously stored and forgotten at my parent’s house and untouched for almost 20 years. Thanks to my father dumping them back on me, I now spend my spare time unearthing lost treasures from their plastic depths.
In 1988 DC offered Batman fans a chance to determine the fate of the second Robin, Jason Todd,
by voting via a 1-900 number. The readers turned their thumbs down, and Robin met a gruesome end at the hands of the Joker. However, poor Jason’s body was barely cold when DC decided that they needed a new Robin.
There was still a story problem with this because it was during the phase when they were trying to make Batman as dark, gritty, and realistic as possible. If the writing is good and you can stretch your imagination a bit you can suspend disbelief enough to buy into the notion that an obsessed billionaire would start wearing a costume and beating on criminals due to the trauma of seeing his parents murdered. But how do you explain the kid in the green short-shorts?
So this story needed to bring in the new Robin, Tim Drake, and it had to deal with that lingering question about why Batman needs a Robin. It does a decent enough of job of introducing the kid, and they gave some reasons about why a grim vigilante would need or want a sidekick. But it’s not ever going to be considered one of the best or deepest comics ever written.
Per the story, since Jason’s death Batman has become reckless and driven himself to exhaustion. With no one’s safety to consider but his own, Bruce’s obsession with punishing criminals has gotten the better of him, and he’s been thinking with his fists as he contends with the return of Two Face. Young Tim had figured out who Batman and the first Robin really were years ago thanks to a coincidence, and he has come forward to urge Batman and the original Robin (Dick Grayson) to partner up again. It’s pretty obvious where the story was going to from there.
It’s not a completely plausible reason for child endangerment, and Bruce does note that he sometimes feels like he created a monster with the whole Batman & Robin idea. DC was smart enough to address some of the issues that kept fans from embracing Jason as Robin. They gave Tim a better backstory than just the old my-parents-were-murdered-by-criminals thing. They’d also eventually update the Robin outfit, doing away with the shorts and giving the kid better weapons.
While not a big fan of the idea of Robin, I always liked the Tim Drake character in Batman’s world. He was smart and resourceful without ever being a smug little prick. He followed Batman’s orders and guidelines so that he never seemed like a pain in the ass, but he wasn’t a brown noser either. He’d eventually become a character that many in the Bat-family consider the best detective of them all, and it sometimes seems like he may eventually eclipse his mentor.
Tim isn’t Robin these days. That job is being filled by
Bruce's bastard son, but Tim is still around in another hero persona. While this story isn’t great, it’s probably a must-read for hard core fans to get the introduction of one of the more important characters in the Batman mythos. -
BATMAN: A LONELY PLACE OF DYING (5/5)
Probably the one and only positive thing “A DEATH IN THE FAMILY” contributed to the Batman mythos is that it paved the way for this one story. First published in The New Titans issues 60-61 and Batman issues 441-442, it takes place during the aftermath of Jason Todd’s death and tells us how Batman copes with it.
The answer? Not very well. We learn that the Dark Knight has become reckless and violent, endangering himself and others. Ironically, his numerous errors in the field are of the same nature as Jason Todd’s while the latter was still active as Robin. And while Alfred tries to talk some sense to his master, his warnings fall on deaf ears.
However, the faithful butler is not the only one to notice something is wrong with the Caped Crusader. A mysterious young man shadows him and follows his every move, taking pictures of Batman acting like a street thug with a grudge against everyone. And to say the least, Batman’s new attitude is not sitting well with him.
His name? Oh well, you will learn it sooner or later. It’s Tim Drake. Does it ring any bells?
George Perez and Marv Wolfman co-write a tale that rightfully deserves to be called epic. It peeks under the cowl and focuses on how a father deals with the death of his son. Unable to kill the man responsible due to his unbreakable code of honor that makes him the undisputed hero he is, he tries to overcome his pain and guilt by going on a frenzy, almost suicidal rampage. I doubt if there many stories that explore Batman’s psychology on such a high degree. In fact, I’m sure of it.
This tale also justifies the existence of the character of Robin. I mean, what is Robin anyway? What is the rationale of taking in a teenager, teaching him how to throw a few punches, dressing him up in a carnival costume and then bringing him out to fight homicidal lunatics?
Why would a super-hero who is far stronger and cleverer than any normal living man take a teenager as a partner in his –frankly paranoid– crusade for justice? Especially when he almost always doesn’t need the extra help in the first place.
The answer is given by a young man destined to become the greatest of all who wore the costume of Robin. A man who understands the symbol of hope Robin is and his vital importance in Batman’s crazy world better than his predecessors ever could. Robin is infinitely more than just a sidekick. Without Robin, Batman simply ceases to exist. Understand that much.
As far as the art department is concerned, amazing penciller Jim Aparo draws some stunningly detailed visuals as always. George Perez is absolutely flawless as well. Great art for a great script. The way I like’em. -
I’m glad that we were able to see how Jason’s death affected Bruce, but other than that I didn’t think this was anything other than just okay.
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A review will come
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The best supers comics go far beyond a story of heroes fighting villains and instead use those conflicts to tell deeper stories about the characters. And that's what "A Lonely Place of Dying" does. Oh, there's Two-Face silliness, but Wolfman also gets deep into Dent's head in the wonderful intro to the third issue of the arc. And that's all just the background for a genuine story about how Bruce has been affected by Jason's death.
Besides that, Wolfman also introduces a truly fun character in Tim Drake, the best of all Robins. His intelligence and his skill for deduction are front and center from the beginning, but he also has a rather joyful optimism, the perfect red-yellow-and-green antidote for Bruce's broody darkness.
Overall, this is a strong story and a great intro for a wonderful character. -
I'm never gonna pick another Marv wolfman's book again in my life. When I saw his name as writer of this book, my experience of crisis of infinite earths came into my mind which is my least favorite DC book currently. Still I went to read this book with open mind without any prejudice and honesty I found this books even worse than Crisis on infinite earths. Marv wolfman's shitty writing is so painful to read. First half of this book was super boring and nothing happened in story. whole book is filled with thought bubbles and unnecessary dialogues. Then there were some useless plots like whole circus thing or teen titan stuff which totally went over my head. After reading this I feel like its prequel "A death in the family" was thousand times better than this. Artwork also hasn't aged well.
Overall This book was nightmare for me to finish and all the time I was just checking the number of left pages so you better avoid it unless you're a hardcore Robin fan. -
The book is an answer to the question: "Why does Batman need a Robin?". However no one really says why Robin always has to be a teenager. That's just weird. Interestingly what is supposed to be Tim Drake's origins as Robin was more exploratory in the lines of Dick's thought process after "Death in the family" arc.
All in all its a decent origin story with Tim getting everything just about right when they are trying to bring down Two-Face. Its a cheese factory, really. -
After the death of the second Robin, Batman is under heavy grief and is using brutal methods to deal with criminals. Every ally and friend are concerned about his recent behaviour, except himself. Then, in comes the third Robin, Tim Drake who might just be the solution to Batman's problem.
The writing is decent and easy. The plot has got heart, action and mystery. There may be some pages which are boring, but overall, it is an enjoyable read. Tim Drake's reason for why there should be a Robin was logical but I didn't find his motivation strong enough to become Robin, himself.The psyche and lunacy of Two face and his obsessions in performing crimes in a certain pattern was intriguing. The subplot involving Dick's old circus was very interesting because it explored the heart and brain of Dick as well as the potential of Tim to become the new Robin.
The art is decent with that of George Perez's being the highlights. -
Banging. Tim is just a little fanboy. Dick is back at the circus again. Bruce is mourning properly for once and we actually have recalls to Jason's death. Harvey Dent is here. Everything is exactly as it should be.
I missed their little gang and their lives back in Gotham. I missed the family drama (caused by Dick rather than Jason, who is not the least annoying guy, unlike Dick, who was annoying until he wasn't). I missed Harvey Dent. The way Bruce and Harvey were like "I hope he likes this thing I organized" and then it results in scheduling errors. Comedy genius. 10/10. -
El nacimiento de un nuevo Robin. Marv Wolfman demuestra de nuevo lo buen artesano que es y cómo se guioniza a la manera clásica un cómic de superhéroes. Cierto es que estos tebeos no llegan a la excelencia, pero los personajes importan y la trama interesa. Si, además, el cruce de esta serie con la de los Nuevos Titanes nos trae a dibujantes como Pérez o Grummett, el cómic fluye solo. Un tebeo t��pico de los 80, de esos que enganchaban a cualquier chaval a los superhéroes, con dibujos bonitos y un guión sin complicaciones.
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Pleasantly surprised with this old school story that spans five issues and alternates between the Batman title and the Teen Titans. This series introduces Tim Drake, the Robin I probably know the least about. There is a great subplot with Nightwing visiting his old circus crew and the villainy of Two-Face is a refreshing reprieve from The Joker. Plus, art and writing is fantastically 80's in the absolutely best way possible. This is a must read of any Batman historian :)
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3.5 stars
I read this immediately after reading
Batman: A Death in the Family, which really feels like the best way to read it. You're still reeling from Batman's loss of Jason Todd. He's dealing with Two-Face as he's trying to recover from his loss, but he can't concentrate. So little Tim Drake shows up and finds Nightwing and convinces him to go back and help Bruce deal with the loss of Jason as well as fight off Two-Face.
This comic feels very significant because it shows how much Robin means to Batman, both from Bruce's perspective and from the perspective of the people that Batman and Robin protect. Having Dick come back to help Bruce deal with his grief and introducing Tim as the new Robin was really good for the plot.
I actually really liked Tim, despite him being the most neglected Robin (to my knowledge). If anyone has any recommendations of more good Tim Drake stuff, please let me know! -
I enjoyed this comic! I liked that we saw a little more of Dick Grayson's backstory and how his and Tim's past kind of intertwined.
I did enjoy seeing a gritter Batman and how Batman needs a Robin to mellow him out a little.
It was interesting to see Batman and Two-Face try to figure out what the other was doing and how they reacted to each others actions.
In the last part, I finally saw what I wanted to see when I started reading this comic; Batman and Tim meeting then Tim becoming Robin.
I liked how Tim just kind of fell into the role. He wasn't pushed in to it or anything, he chose to wear the mask and cape.
Overall, it was a good comic, I'm glad I read it. -
Boring, uninspired story and this old-style art is awful. Wouldn't recommend, and imagine I read this in the first place cause it was on a top-25 Bats stories on IGN.
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3/5 stars; the .5 is because I'm soft for Tim Drake.
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Batman A lonely Place of Dying is yet another fantastic Batman graphic novel. Picking up where A Death in the Family left off, Batman's mind has become clouded by the death of the second Robin, Jason Todd. Because this weighs so heavily on his conscience, Batman fails to fight crime as effectively as he once had when Robin was by his side. He finds himself on the brink of death more frequently, has trouble solving crimes, and, in general, is no longer the same Batman that we've come to know. In the same way that A Death in the Family proved to be thought-provoking through the death of Jason Todd, so too does A Lonely Place of Dying manage to be a profound journey into the psyche of Batman by showing the aftermath of experiencing such a tragic loss.
One of the highlights of A Lonely Place of Dying was the introduction of the newest Robin, Tim Drake. Tim immediately proves himself to be as capable a sidekick as either of the Robins before him – perhaps even more prolific than his predecessors. Seemingly with ease, he was able to deduce the identities of Batman, Robin, and Nightwing with detective skills comparable only to the World's Greatest Detective himself. Along with his stellar detective skills, Tim also has an uncanny talent for understanding Batman on a deeper level than even Dick Grayson or Alfred Pennyworth. Tim realizes that Batman's destructive behavior is the direct result of the loss of Jason Todd, and the only way to soothe his pain is to bring Robin back. He concludes that Robin means so much more to Batman than simply a sidekick along side of which to fight crime; Robin is the foundation on which Batman stabilizes himself, for without a Robin, he has no one to fight for, no one to keep him vigilant, no one to consider family. These moments with Tim Drake analyzing Batman were very well written and a joy to watch unfold. Rarely do we see somebody out-detective the greatest detective in comic books, so this was quite a marvel to behold. Before reading A Lonely Place of Dying and the preceding A Death in the Family, I seldom ever considered Robin to be such a crucial part of Batman's life, figuring him to be merely a kid that helps him out every now and then. This great graphic novel has altered my perspective on the dynamic that exists between the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder, giving me a newfound respect for these characters. A Lonely Place of Dying elevated the importance of the mantle of Robin by adding depth to his characters and fleshing out his intricate relationship to Batman.
One of the focal points of A Lonely Place of Dying was Batman's reckless behavior in the aftermath of Jason Todd's death. This graphic novel does a fine job at showcasing an uncharacteristically lackadaisical Batman, one who succumbs to injuries from the lowliest of villains while also having tremendous difficulty solving crimes that he once would have solved with ease. Batman's self-destructive behavior reinforces Tim Drake's assessment that Robin is vital to the success of Batman. Seeing Batman in these trying situations humanizes a character that is wont to conceal his emotions and put on a straight face for the sake of others. You will be hard-pressed to find many situations that can affect him so deeply as to interfere with his abilities to operate as a crime fighter. Throughout his storied career, Batman has been run through the gamut of failure on many occasions, but the loss of Jason Todd was simply too much even for the Dark Knight to handle, proving that even Batman has a breaking point. That is why A Lonely Place of Dying appealed to me so much, for it made great strides in developing Batman as a character worth appreciating for more reasons than his fighting skills.
Nothing can ever be perfect, and this (unfortunately) is no exception. My only complaints against A Lonely Place of Dying are that it didn't train its focus as well as A Death in the Family had, and Two-Face ended up being a weak antagonist to include in the final product. I was surprised at how much time was devoted to the Teen Titans when this time would have been much better spent focusing on Batman, Nightwing, or Tim Drake. The Teen Titans basically only served as the vessel that would bring Nightwing into the fold of the main story, otherwise they served very little purpose. It's not as if they come to Batman's aid at any time or help talk him down a bit from behaving so recklessly; they just take up time and space. Though ample attention is given to the main characters, I still hold that having had more time dedicated to Batman's story arc would have improved on an already fantastic graphic novel.
Additionally, I felt that Two-Face was an unnecessary villain to throw into the mix. He served no purpose in the grand scheme of things and acted only as a distraction to the main plot. Whereas the Joker played a pivotal role in A Death in the Family, Two-Face plays virtually no role in A Lonely Place of Dying as far as the main story is concerned. He could have been substituted for any other villain in Batman's rogues gallery and the story would not have fared any worse off. When the villain of your graphic novel is just about unnecessary to advance the main plot, then why have one at all? I think a Batman story can survive well enough without a villain being added into the fray, don't you think? It would make for a far more interesting read, that's for sure. All told, Two-Face was just a subplot who was shoehorned in, seemingly without much consideration, to a story that was perfectly capable of standing on its own merits.
I always considered the best graphic novels to be those that make me think critically about its character and their predicaments, and A Lonely Place of Dying is among some of the best in that regard. Although it could have benefited from centering its focus a bit more on Batman, Robin, and Nightwing and less so on extraneous factors like Two-Face and the Teen Titans, I still found this graphic novel to be excellent. A Lonely Place of Dying has unearthed in me a newfound admiration for the Bat-Family through means of expanding an already enthralling universe and taking their depth as intertwined characters to new heights. -
Normally I don't like older comics. I am such a visual reader and the art style doesn't appeal to me. That being said, the story was really good. It had moments that hadn't aged well, but I still really enjoyed it.
This takes place after Jason was killed by the Joker. Batman is not doing so well and we get to see the rise of Tim as Robin. -
Mai bun decât ”A Death in the Family”. Grafica tot slabă, de duzină, parcă ușor îmbunătățită. Dacă era faină, mai adăugam o stea.
Intrarea în scenă a celui de-al treilea Robin, Tim Drake, se face ușor, pe nesimțite. Băiatul are niște abilități logice destul de impresionante. Finalul (ca majoritatea finalurilor cu Batman) e cam sec.
O experiență călduță, dar nimic extraordinar. -
Batman has become increasingly destructive and isolated after the death of Jason Todd, the last Robin.. A young fan and amateur detective named Tim Drake has figured out Batman is Bruce Wayne and in concern over his behavior seeks out Dick Grayson, the first Robin, to help Batman recover.
It was interesting seeing the transition from Todd to Drake as Robin and while I feel this was more competently written than Todd's death storyline it is still rather pedestrian. Everything is serviceable but not particularly intriguing or memorable, leading to a story which reads like pure setup.
The art is still that saturated, high contrast 80s comic art I love but with a bit more messy line work that fits the more distressed premise but is not my favorite style of the era. 7/10 -
my heart
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Actually read this as the second arc in the combo book
Batman: A Death in the Family -
This is an awesome introduction for Tim Drake and his relationship to Batman, Dick Grayson, and Alfred. At first I wasn’t sure that I really enjoyed the story, but by the end I was fully on board.
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A good introduction to Tim Drake as Robin. I enjoyed the story of Batman and Two-Face as like-minded doubles and it was fun to see the Titans for the first time in the comics.
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El arco argumental que hace de puente para introducir al tercer Robin cumple con su función instrumental, con un guion correcto y dibujos precisos. Aunque el tiempo lo hace más valorable para el lector de Batman por sobre el aficionado promedio a las historietas.
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me ha encantado pero el final??? creo que lo he leído mal porque no tiene sentido
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Incrível como o Tim, aos poucos, vai entrando na trama a partir da narração dos fatos que ele vem acompanhando. A percepção que ele tem a respeito da dupla dinâmica Batman e Robin é muito boa, além da discussão que a HQ trás a respeito da simbologia do morcego.
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Continúan los sucesos después de la muerte de Jason Todd con un Batman desbocado y psicótico.
Este cómic plantea la duda de si Batman necesita a un Robin al lado y creo que la historia personal de Dick Grayson es fantástica. Alguien que supo estar a su lado y que cuando le llegó la hora de volar sólo también lo supo hacer como Nightwing. -
Acrobatics abound as a veritable flock of Robins descend on Gotham City. A third Robin is ordained but I knew nothing of the second one before reading A Death In The Family. Nor did I know of The Titans or that Dick operated as a new superhero in their team. You learn something new everyday.
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3/5.
Interesting story about the aftermath of Jason's death and the introduction of Tim.
