Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?

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Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? (Batman)

by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author), Andy Kubert (Illustrator), Matt Wagner (Illustrator), Simon Bisley (Illustrator), Scott Williams (Goodreads Author) (Inker), Bernie Mireault (Illustrator), Mark Buckingham (Illustrator)

3.82 · rating details · 2,614 ratings · 223 reviews

Best-selling author Neil Gaiman (THE SANDMAN) joins a murderer's row of talented artists in lending his unique touch to the Batman mythos for this Deluxe Edition hardcover! Spotlighting the story "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" from BATMAN #685 and DETECTIVE COMICS #852 in which Gaiman joins artist Andy Kubert and inker Scott Williams for a story that shines a n...more

Hardcover, The Deluxe Edition, 128 pages

Published July 21st 2009 by DC Comics

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Community Reviews

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Jan 01, 2010

miaaa rated it

Recommended to miaaa by: Wirotomo Nofamilyname

Shelves: graphics-comics-illustrated

'Am I dead?'
'Not yet.'
'Are you death?'
'I don't think death is a person, Bruce.'
'Then tell me who you are. Tell me what's going on.'
'You're the world's greatest detective, Bruce. Why don't you figure it out?'

percakapan paling asik di edisi ini. jelas seri ini masuk dalam daftar kisah batman favoritku, terutama surat cinta (as he said) neil gaiman yang bisa jadi kisah sendiri.

dua jempol buat kisah sisipan a black and white world, benar-benar h...more

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Jan 26, 2012

Cord rated it

Being a great fan of Neil Gaiman and, of course, Batman, the idea of the former writing the final story of the latter was pure genius. This arc is pretty light on action; it reads like a love letter to everything that Batman was and is, rather than a story of the Dark Knight falling in a blaze of glory. It's full of fantastic references to past Batman stories (which, I'll admit, I missed the majority of the first way through, as I haven't read quite a few of these stories) which helps make this ...more

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Nov 15, 2011

Guillermo rated it

· review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "What else am I going to do? Retire and play golf?" Batman ponders in the finite infinite moments, just before the last gasp - for most of us - shudders through the body, taking all life with it. "I doesn't work that way. It can't. I fight until I drop. And one day, I will drop." But are these flashes a mere near death experience, or is this the real thing? Has the Dark Knight succumbed to the inevitable? Because, in reality - comic book and real life - nothing lasts forever,...more"What else am I going to do? Retire and play golf?" Batman ponders in the finite infinite moments, just before the last gasp - for most of us - shudders through the body, taking all life with it. "I doesn't work that way. It can't. I fight until I drop. And one day, I will drop." But are these flashes a mere near death experience, or is this the real thing? Has the Dark Knight succumbed to the inevitable? Because, in reality - comic book and real life - nothing lasts forever, not even the hero. Yet Batman has defined all the odds - his back has been broken. He's been shot. He's been framed. Brainwashed. Blown up. Seen his apprentice murdered only to rise again. Then again, hasn't the Dark Knight been dead before? Hasn't he risen again? And will the process not occur again and again in the infinite loop?

Neil Gaiman has given us a chilling tale of the Dark Knight's funeral and all those in his life is in attendance. From his closest friend and butler, Alfred Pennyworth, to his greatest nemesis, the Joker. The first chapter - originally published in Batman #686 - tells two stories of the his death. One at the hands of former Catwoman, Selina Kyle. And the other, tells a rather different take of the Dark Knight's legacy, having Alfred Pennyworth hiring several of his former acting buddies to masquerade as the villains we know and love - with Alfred playing the Joker. In the end, Batman dies by a gunshot wound.

The second chapter - originally published in Detective Comics #853 - clues you in the other deaths of the Dark Knight - as told by the Joker, Robin - Dick Grayson - Superman, Harvey Bullock, Clayface among others. Meanwhile, Batman is led through the abyss of memories and the in between by his mother, who - sadden - states, "No matter how many lives you save, you can't bring us back."

Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert manage to combine several versions of our hero into two issues, nodding to woks by others who have molded and rewritten the Batman canon. Not only do they give an ending to Dark Knight's mythos, but rewind it to the very beginning - "You don't get Heaven or Hell," his mother explains. "Do you know the only reward you get for being Batman? You get to be Batman."

The trade includes Andy Kubert's sketchbook, as well as, other stories written by Gaiman. "A Black and White World" has Batman and the Joker living in a comic book world - as in, actors playing roles. In "Pavane," tells the intoxicating story of Poison Ivy's beginnings and the depths of her seduction. A group of edgy journalists attempt to bring the human side of the masked villains of Gotham within the pages of "Original Sins" and "When is a Door." The team digs deep, attempting to find the madman himself, the Joker. But as the saying goes, don't go looking for the Joker because the Joke will find you.

An all around great read - Gaiman at his best, you may say. And Andy Kubert's art as a homage to those who came before him is spectacular.(less)

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Apr 12, 2011

Brad Barth rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is it. The final Batman story. Nothing can or ever will come after this, Bruce Wayne is dead and watching over his own funeral, still in costume. Everyone is in attendance for this event, it being held in a bar in Crime Alley, while Joe Chill directs the mourners to the back, where Batman and his coffin lay.
His rogues gallery, his vast network of friends and accomplices stand and take turns, telling the rest the tale of the Batman's death, each person giving a different account. No t...more

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Feb 18, 2011

Jared Millet rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels, superheroes

Batman is dead. The mourners, friends and enemies alike, arrive one by one at a seedy dive in a Gotham back alley to pay their respects. The wake is being held in the bar’s back room. One by one the eulogies begin, but it quickly becomes apparent that all is not as it seems – for none of the mourners remember Batman the same way, neither in the details of his life nor the manner of his passing. Witness to this procession, and narrating the whole affair, is the watchful spirit of the Bat-Man hims...more

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Feb 11, 2011

Klytia rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comics

”Because if there’s one thing that Batman is, it’s a survivor.”
Così scrive Neil Gaiman nella sua introduzione, quasi una lettera d’amore nei confronti di uno dei supereroi più oscuri e per questo affascinanti. ”I love Batman….He was the first. He’s always been there.”
Batman è morto. I suoi amici e avversari di sempre sono riuniti attorno alla sua bara per l’ultimo saluto. Ciascuno racconta un suo personale ricordo del Cavaliere Oscuro, delle sue straordinarie imprese e…delle sue numerose morti.
N...more

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Dec 23, 2010

David Faber rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 06, 2010

logankstewart rated it

Shelves: graphic-comics, library, 2010-read

Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? is a swan song to Batman. Written by Neil Gaiman, the two-part comic is set in the back of a bar on Crime Alley. Rogues and friends alike have come together to remember the fallen Batman. Each of them offer a tale of how Batman died and why Gotham will be different without him.

Through it all, in a corporeal form, the Caped Crusader watches. He hears what's being said, but something does not jive with him. Nor, does it seem, is he alone...
...moreWhatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? is a swan song to Batman. Written by Neil Gaiman, the two-part comic is set in the back of a bar on Crime Alley. Rogues and friends alike have come together to remember the fallen Batman. Each of them offer a tale of how Batman died and why Gotham will be different without him.

Through it all, in a corporeal form, the Caped Crusader watches. He hears what's being said, but something does not jive with him. Nor, does it seem, is he alone...

The main arc within the deluxe hardcover of this book is a beautiful piece. The artist, Andy Kubert, creates panel after panel of fantastic illustrations. The tale combined with the artwork make the arc stunning.

The story pays homage to Batman over the years. Gaiman, a lifelong Dark Knight fan, is more than capable of writing a gripping tale that highlights Batman as well as laments his passing. Despite having a rather predictable conclusion, Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? is a wonderful short story for all fans of the World's Greatest Detective.

After the main arc, Gaiman includes three other short tales. The first, a Batman Black & White, is intentionally crude in the drawings. All colors are either black or white. People are almost hideous looking. And the Bat is never fully seen, only in smoke and shadows. This story was over quickly, but I liked it. The second, "Pavane," is drawn in an old comic book style and tells a story of Poison Ivy. It was the weakest of the lot. The third, "Original Sins/ When is a Door," is a semi-frame story about a group of reporters trying to get interviews with famous villains. The Riddler agrees and gives them what they ask for, along the way telling his origin (if you can believe him). This story was fun to read, the illustrations were still old school, and the conclusion was excellent.

Overall, the entire deluxe hardcover edition of Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? was a quick read, filled with fun for any Batman fan, old and young alike. The main arc is definitely the strongest part of the collection, but the latter tales shouldn't be ignored either. (less)

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Jan 23, 2010

Erik rated it

For some freakish reason, my comic book haunt never pulled the second and final issue of Gaiman’s famed “last” Batman story when it was published over a year ago. Equally strange is that I didn’t even bother tracking down said second issue. Instead, I opted to wait until this deluxe edition was released to read the story in its entirety. And as it is accompanied by an introduction by Gaiman himself, as well as several shorter backup stories about Batman and his Rogue’s Gallery penned by Gaiman o...more

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Sep 13, 2009

Orrin Grey rated it

Shelves: comics

As Neil Gaiman says in his introduction, Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? is intended to be the last Batman story, no matter when in Batman's long, convoluted, and sometimes self-contradictory career the end should finally come. And, as such, it works pretty admirably.

Surprisingly, though, it's not Gaiman's writing that is the biggest draw here, nor that brings Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? as close as it comes to being a true classic (though the writing is quite ...more

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Aug 30, 2009

Jason rated it

Shelves: favorites

I had some money left on a gift card I received for my birthday, so I decided to use it to pick up one or two of the recent Batman graphic novels I've not gotten to. Thought about Frank Miller's Batman and Robin All-Stars, but having recently read it opted to acquire unexplored story lines. Looked through Brian Azzarello's Joker, but have it downloaded ready to ready digitally. I've been really wanting to acuire Grant Morrison's Batman: R.I.P. as Morrison wrote one of my favorite other Batman...more

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Aug 25, 2009

Lyndon rated it

It's no secret that Neil Gaiman is my favourite writer. It's also no secret that Batman is probably my favourite character in all fiction. So by combining the two of course we end up with something I'm reasonably pre-disposed to enjoy, and have certainly been excited about for a good while.

But there's also a danger. If this doesn't go well, I will be shattered. Gaiman has been hired to write the last Detective Comic issue, and if it's not something pretty damn special then heads ...more

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Aug 17, 2009

Kemper rated it

Shelves: comics, superhero

Neil Gaiman writing a swan song for Batman should be a monster geek out for me, but I'm so tired of the comic industry making event comics out of killing (and later resurrecting) major characters. See Marvel's Captain America for a recent example. Plus this somehow fits into yet another huge continuity reboot that DC is doing that I don't have the time or patience to try and understand. I'm not sure if Batman is supposed to be alive or dead at this point, but since it doesn't matter because h...more

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Jul 26, 2009

Ross rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels

This volume is the two issue story by Neil Gaiman that provides a retrospective look through Batman's history and passes it off as a mystery while Batman comes to understand his role and what his ultimate reward is. A mysterious and complex story that portrays the history of the character and leaves nothing out as it explores the significance of his death. Excellent art by Andy Kubert and Gaiman's writing does not disappoint.
Also included are a group of three stories that Neil Gaiman feat...more

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Jul 16, 2009

Steve rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Is anyone else out there as completely and utterly fucking sick of Batman as I am? I grew up with major love for the Caped Crusader, and in the wake of the mostly-brilliant THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (1986) and the genuinely excellent BATMAN: YEAR ONE (1987) — both tellingly over two decades old — the character of Batman has become an unlikable downer of a tyrannical and fascistic asshole whose adventures I've only occasionally kept up with because I get them for free thanks to my reviewing assignm...moreIs anyone else out there as completely and utterly fucking sick of Batman as I am? I grew up with major love for the Caped Crusader, and in the wake of the mostly-brilliant THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (1986) and the genuinely excellent BATMAN: YEAR ONE (1987) — both tellingly over two decades old — the character of Batman has become an unlikable downer of a tyrannical and fascistic asshole whose adventures I've only occasionally kept up with because I get them for free thanks to my reviewing assignments. Back in the days I used to question Dick Grayson's bitter rejection of his mentor/surrogate dad, but nowadays I think he had the right idea.

Batman has been put through a number of really stupid "event" story arcs in the past decade or so because, in my opinion anyway, no one in comics really knows what to do with him anymore. As a writer, Frank Miller got in there two decades ago with the aforementioned classic runs and said just about everything that needed to be said regarding what made Bruce Wayne and what he could eventually end up as, so really what was left after that? DC sure as hell didn't know and that's been plainly evident ever since. Batman getting his back broken by a steroid-abusing muscle-boy in Lucha Libre-style fetish gear? The great Gotham earthquake? The death and resurrection, for the umpteenth goddamned time, of Ra's Al-Ghul? Each a big "who cares?' on the non-changing landscape of the DC Universe's stolid status quo.

And then came Grant Morrison's BATMAN: R.I.P., an unintentionally ironic title for a story arc that "killed off" Bruce Wayne in more sense than one, right alongside the nigh-unreadable FINAL CRISIS — one of the worst "event" stories I've ever witnessed, by the way — , both of which supposedly take place within the current DCU continuity yet provide totally contradictory fates for Bruce Wayne. There are plenty of Grant Morrison apologists out there and the guy certainly can write when he wants to (his runs on ANIMAL MAN and DOOM PATROL and 2000 A.D.'s classics ZENITH and BIG DAVE being personal favorites), but both of those recent events were self-indulgent to say the very least, and in the case of FINAL CRISIS downright head-scratching. And when it came to BATMAN: R.I.P., did anyone who hasn't lived in a cavern in the deepest recesses of Paraguay actually believe that DC Comics would kill off one of its international cash-cows on a permanent basis? That strategy was equally transparent when they pulled it with Superman, and the utter shit that sluiced from the savagely jailhoused anus of the Man of Steel's stable of books during his absence was truly appalling to behold. The Cyborg Superman? Steel? The new Superboy? "Hraka!," as the rabbits of Watership Down would say. And now Batman's "dead" — yeah, right — and the next couple of years will be flooded with assorted dreck to keep the addicted sated until the time of his inevitable return. (I did enjoy the first of issue of the Morrison-scripted BATMAN AND ROBIN with terrific art by Frank Quitely, but from what I hear Quitely only on it for the first three issues, so...)

Then, adding insult to injury, came "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?", a two-issue eulogy for the entire career of the Batman as predictably heartfelt and flowery as one would expect from Neil (THE SANDMAN) Gaiman. Striving far too hard to be a "literate" sendoff to some seventy years of Batman and the many different interpretations of him and his world during that time, Gaiman's words are brought to visual life by the capable hand of Andy Kubert (with inks by Scott Williams), and the skills of the two combine to create a homunculus of sheer style and artificial narrative potency. It's pretty to look at and it reads like poetry in places, but overall it left me totally cold and uncaring.

The surreal narrative places the reader into a n open-casket wake populated with characters from Batman's seven-decade history and we are made privy to the sometimes bizarre reminiscences of such familiar faces as Catwoman (seen here in her Golden Age persona, only filtered through Gaiman's wistful perception), a mind-game-playing Alfred who fosters his master's escalating madness, Betty Kane (the blonde original Batgirl from the early-1960's), Dick Grayson, assorted villains who are on their best behavior, and even Superman, each of whom provide contradictory scenarios surrounding the hero's demise. Is that supposed to make us overlook the contradictions found in Grant Morrison's two published deaths for Bruce Wayne, pehaps as one of those "never believe the teller. only believe the tale" kind of things? Whatever the case, it's a thoroughly unmoving who's-who allowing Gaiman to wax poetic while the disembodied voice/spirit of Batman has an equally emotionally false tete-a-tete with the spirit of his mother. The story is also one of those "spot the cameo" tales where the reader who is not deeply versed in the complete history of the Batman will more than likely be lost without a road map (or a copy of the DC COMICS ENCYCLOPEDIA), and I very much doubt that the casual reader will get what Gaiman was going for at all.

As previously stated, this bit of comic book rockstar masturbation is only two issues in length, so the publisher has padded out this so-called "deluxe" edition with four other Gaiman-scripted Batman-related yarns from back in the days (aka "reprint filler"). There's an amusing "behind the scenes of a comic book" story illustrated by Simon Bisley that's kinda/sorta a swipe of the old Chuck Jones cartoon shorts where Wile E. Coyote is slightly visually altered to become Ralph the wolf, foil to Sam the sheepdog, and the pair are depicted as two workers at a daily job, breaking their established character roles before and after work and during their lunch break, and in this case that trope is applied to Batman and the Joker. But if you've seen any of those Jones cartoons you've seen the gag, and what's done here will justly seem derivative. The only thing that might be a hook here is the art of Simon Bisley, but I've never really cottoned to his work — especially not after he singlehandedly sank SLAINE with his legendary and overrated "The Horned God" painted epic, following truly spectacular runs by Mike McMahon and Glenn Fabry — and if you feel the same way I do, you'll find the black and white noodling seen here to be sloppy and over-stylized at best.

The remainder of the book is fleshed out with a not bad Poison Ivy piece drawn by Mark (FABLES) Buckingham, and some Kevin Nowlan work serving as a framing story for a terrific Bernie Mireault Riddler origin puzzler that raises more questions than it answers (which is only fitting for a Riddler origin) and is easily the best thing found between this collection's covers. There's also a perfunctory selection of sketchbook and pencil process stuff from Andy Kubert, but while it's appealing to look at, it offers little by way of a look into what the artist was thinking. In other words, it's just there to take up page space.

So what we have here is little more than a tarted-up annual that in no way deserves a hardcover edition, let alone a "deluxe" version that costs twenty-five bucks. I once loved the Batman and admired him as the more or less lone badass among DC's pantheon who had no built-in superpowers, and that all-too-human aspect, along with his indomitable will and across the board learned status, is what endeared him to so many for so damned long. That's why it truly breaks my heart to see this collection that can now serve as a symbolic tombstone for a once great hero whose reputation and creative viability have been tarnished and cheapened by his treatment in the hands of the Burtons and Schumachers of the Hollywood entertainment sphere, to say nothing of the indignities done to him by the powers that be at his own publishing house, or to name them more honestly, his pimps. Requiescat in pace, Batman. (Or rest as much as you can with the assorted necrophiles having their vile way with your moldering corpse...)(less)

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May 13, 2010

Virginia rated it

Shelves: graphic-novel

This version had several Neil Gaiman's Batman stories in one volume.

Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? - I thought this would be better, but the artwork was great. In particular, I enjoyed seeing the different villain's vehicles (especially Two Face's). They definitely revealed their owner's personality. I thought Albert's tale was the best - and the ending was different enough - and set up the re-numbering of future Batman comics.

A Black and White World - Hilariou...more

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Dec 21, 2010

Christophe rated it

Collects a few Batman stories by Neil Gaiman. Batman #686, Detective Comics #853, Secret Origins #36, Secret Origins Special #1 & Batman Black & White #2. The main of the book is the story arc "Whatever happened to the caped crusader?". It's the end of the Batman as only Gaiman could tell it... or the beginning... depending on how you look at it. Andy Kubert penciled that story. Good work, he did different parts of the story making his work similar to past great Batman artists. Sketch...more

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May 02, 2010

Kara rated it

This book is a Neil Gaiman joint, and I felt like I would have been able to tell that from the quality of the text even if I hadn't seen his name in big letters on the cover. I am not a devotee of Batman, and have only read the modern Batman revisitation comics by authors like Gaiman and Alan Moore. The truth is I was bored by Dark Knight Returns.
Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? is my kind of Batman story because it's the one where Batman dies. All the villains through the years at...more

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Oct 11, 2009

Oscar rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels

Strong two-part story that follows in the vein of Allan Moore's iconic Superman Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?. Gaiman's story has the same punch but fails to deliver the knockout blow by hitting us with the point over and over again. Andy Kubert's art helps elevate the volume by simultaneously offering us his own clean, dynamic take on Batman while also paying homage to previous Bat-artists as well.

My favorite part of this collection is the bonus story from Batman Black & White - Volume 1 ...more

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Jul 29, 2009

Brian rated it

Shelves: comics

Typical Gaiman: a beautiful story, beautifully told, giving Batman -- whatever version of him you prefer -- a rather poetic sendoff.

Gaiman approaches his tale as a question: Must there always be a Batman? Gaiman argues that, yes, there must -- and that being Batman can often be its own reward, though not necessarily the happiest one. That's the theme, but the tale is in the telling -- and Gaiman tells it quietly and respectfully, while Andy Kubert gleefully pays tribute to the vari...more

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Sep 26, 2009

Bonnie rated it

Shelves: comic-book, dead-parent, death, fiction, graphic-novel, superhero, retelling

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 "endin...more

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Feb 14, 2010

Tim Weakley rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 30, 2010

Andres rated it

I was disappointed with this book. I understand that it was a collection of short stories but I was expecting more from the title and the fact that it was Neil Gaiman. The title was borrowed from Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? In the Superman comic, it portrayed Superman's last adventure in one story. I was expecting something similar on this book. In the Batman comic, the story was changed to a what if scenario that was broken into short stories. The characters were c...more

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Dec 31, 2011

Tim rated it

· review of another edition

I am actually in the middle of American Gods, the author's preferred text, and have taken a break at the point Shadow arrives in Lakeside. Luckily my sister swooped over my wish list for Christmas and bought me Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader by Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert.

I was worried it was very thin for the price, but the rich artwork, clever story, 3 bonus stories, Neil Gaiman's introduction, and some pre-ink pencil drawings all make it worth while. Favourite quote, by Alf...more

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May 01, 2010

Nicholas Whyte rated it

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1432070.html

Gaiman claims here that he is returning to his roots, by writing a piece about his first serious fandom (though he does not put it like that); it is a two-part story about Batman's funeral, but in Gaiman's hands it becomes much more than that, developing into an exploration of story and modern mythology and what they might mean to those who experience them. I thought it was very good; the deluxe edition comes with several other Gaiman-scripted ...more

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Jan 14, 2010

Mike Ehlers rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels, hugo-nebula-campbell

I'm a fairly casual graphic novel/superhero fan. But if asked to pick, Batman is easily at the top of my list. Add in Gaiman, and it was a no brainer to check this out when I saw it on the library shelf.

It was obviously a short read, but I was suprised at just how short the main story was. It was a good "final" story, told in a creative way. The art was great and really helped the story along. But the length made me feel like there wasn't room for anything groundbreakin...more

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Aug 03, 2011

Ryan Rebel rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Batman fans, one and all.

Shelves: reviewed

Batman is the best superhero for graphic novels, and he draws some of the best comic writers out there on occasion. This is one of those occasions: Neil Gaiman, one of my favorite authors, lends his talent to this pair of issues.

The art style is fantastic, and very fitting for Batman. The pages are a joy to look at; some of the illustrations are breathtaking.

The writing is, of course, wonderful. It's thrilling to hear stories from the mouths of Batman's long-time companio...more

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Apr 17, 2011

J. rated it

I hate to say this, because I like Batman, I like Neil Gaiman, and I like 'Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?' But this book really wasn't anything very interesting. Where 'Man of Tomorrow' ended the mythology by showing the last adventure, this story takes place AFTER Batman has died. It's more of a eulogy than a story, but just doesn't really contribute anything other than acknowledging that this is a significant mythos--but everyone reading the book already knows that.

Howe...more

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Dec 25, 2009

Hunter Camp rated it

I'd like to start by saying that this is probably one of my favorite Batman stories to date. It deals with the psychological aftermath of Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis by dealing with the perception of death through the eyes of the dead, or the dying in this case.

Gaiman's approach, through reasoning and logic, on Batman's allies and foes is one of the most creative that I have ever read. It kept me turning the pages and blasting through the single issues. Also, Andy Kubert's pencil...more

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Dec 08, 2011

David rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels

This is one of my favorite Batman graphics i've read. It has the patented Gaiman mind-bending character-driven approach to the world, and focuses not on a specific storyline, but a view of Gotham City and its inhabitants that is somewhat symbolic. The premise is that Batman finds himself watching his own funeral, but doesn't know how he died. All of his friends, enemies and allies are present, and each gives their own eulogy. The eulogies are short stories that show the relationship between them...more

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“The end of the story of Batman is he's dead. Because, in the end, the Batman dies. What else am I going to do? Retire and play golf? It doesn't work that way. It can't. I fight until I drop. And one day, I will drop.” — 12 people liked it

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title link	preview: Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?
avg rating	preview: Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? Goodreads rating: 3.82 (2614 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5599692-batman?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327936790m/5599692.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5599692-batman?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? by Neil Gaiman[/url]

Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? (Batman)

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