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Batman
Batman: Nine Lives
Kit Kat club manager Selina Kyle has been murdered. Selina, it seems, has been privy to dangerous secrets, and her death results in a whirlwind of furious activity from the underworld denizens. Now, Batman must chase down treacherous clues and doggedly track down the killer. But even for the Caped Crusader, it won't be easy
132 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2002
1 person is currently reading
532 people want to read
About the author
Dean Motter
175 books30 followersDean R. Motter is an illustrator, designer and writer who worked for many years in Toronto, Canada, New York City, and Atlanta. Motter is best known as the creator and designer of Mister X, one of the most influential "new-wave" comics of the 1980s.
Dean then took up the Creative Services Art Director's post at Time Warner/DC Comics, where he oversaw the corporate and licensing designs of America’s most beloved comic book characters such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. In his off-hours he went on to create and design the highly acclaimed, retro-futuristic comic book series, Terminal City-- and its sequels, Aerial Graffiti. and Electropolis.
Dean then took up the Creative Services Art Director's post at Time Warner/DC Comics, where he oversaw the corporate and licensing designs of America’s most beloved comic book characters such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. In his off-hours he went on to create and design the highly acclaimed, retro-futuristic comic book series, Terminal City-- and its sequels, Aerial Graffiti. and Electropolis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 28, 2021
"My parents were murdered for money. Despite their wealth, the thug got a lousy hundred bucks and a pearl necklace. Money doesn't save us - not our lives, not our souls." -- Bruce Wayne, on page 70
This is one of those 'alternate reality' stories in the Batman universe . . . except it contains entirely too little of our titular character. Much like a tough Warner Brothers b&w crime-drama flick from the 1930's or 40's - the kind starring Humphrey Bogart or James Cagney, with a number of character actors in stock supporting roles - the ensemble piece Batman: Nine Lives actually has Dick Grayson as its protagonist. Grayson is an ex-cop turned chain-smoking hardboiled private eye (with Barbara Gordon as his 'gal Friday'-type back at the office, naturally) investigating the murder of femme fatale Selina Kyle. After her death a safety deposit box key has gone missing - the 'MacGuffin' of the plot - and everyone is after it, just like the black bird statuette in The Maltese Falcon. The story was too slow-burn and talky without having the requisite snappy or tough-guy dialogue, and it was marred by a distinct lack of action until a great vehicle pursuit ('cut to the chase,' indeed) and then a sewer-set shoot-out in the final third of the book. Still, it was an interesting attempt or interpretation with a unique illustration style, and the Dark Knight's line-up of usual suspects - Joker, Penguin, Riddler, etc. - do translate well into the street-level criminals populating the shadows of Gotham City.
This is one of those 'alternate reality' stories in the Batman universe . . . except it contains entirely too little of our titular character. Much like a tough Warner Brothers b&w crime-drama flick from the 1930's or 40's - the kind starring Humphrey Bogart or James Cagney, with a number of character actors in stock supporting roles - the ensemble piece Batman: Nine Lives actually has Dick Grayson as its protagonist. Grayson is an ex-cop turned chain-smoking hardboiled private eye (with Barbara Gordon as his 'gal Friday'-type back at the office, naturally) investigating the murder of femme fatale Selina Kyle. After her death a safety deposit box key has gone missing - the 'MacGuffin' of the plot - and everyone is after it, just like the black bird statuette in The Maltese Falcon. The story was too slow-burn and talky without having the requisite snappy or tough-guy dialogue, and it was marred by a distinct lack of action until a great vehicle pursuit ('cut to the chase,' indeed) and then a sewer-set shoot-out in the final third of the book. Still, it was an interesting attempt or interpretation with a unique illustration style, and the Dark Knight's line-up of usual suspects - Joker, Penguin, Riddler, etc. - do translate well into the street-level criminals populating the shadows of Gotham City.
April 20, 2018
Imagine something that looks and feels just like you would it expect it to. Whether a pair of sneakers, or perhaps a watch of some high caliber and no matter how well it matches the platonic ideal you might have of it, something just bugs you about it. No matter how many times its shaken or inspected from every angle, you’re still not able to deduce its authenticity. It has the veneer to a t but something just feels off.
Call it a hunch or whatever, this is exactly how I felt about Batman: Nine Lives.
Now don’t get me wrong. Not only did I very much enjoy this read and would do anything to not detract you from reading this, I would happily advise the opposite. However, there are some nitpicky flaws that (disappointingly) drag this down the five star I wanted to give, down to a four.
And it all deals with that question of authenticity.
On the level of appearances, it’s pretty flawless. A superbly written script perfectly matches the décor of the era. From pinstripe suits and their corresponding haberdasheries to the ever-crucial femme fatale, Nine Lives feels perfectly cut from the same cloth that is the cinematographic style known as: Film Noir. Impeccably derived from its source material and well researched at every level my eyes were stunned at every twist and turn.
My eyes were always pleased but my mind didn’t quite feel the same.
As far as a narrative goes, while generally coherent, innumerable moving parts and all too convenient development betrays occasional gaps in logic that feel shifty at best and *meh at worst. Which is a shame because while a lot of tropes and characters are imaginatively well modulated to fit the story, the internal plot can get quite murky more often than not. Less is certainly more and Nine Lives is a perfect example of this immutable axiom.
The style is always hit but the misses of substance are far more convoluted than they should be. In either case, it’s a worthy read despite a panoply of intractable flaws.
Call it a hunch or whatever, this is exactly how I felt about Batman: Nine Lives.
Now don’t get me wrong. Not only did I very much enjoy this read and would do anything to not detract you from reading this, I would happily advise the opposite. However, there are some nitpicky flaws that (disappointingly) drag this down the five star I wanted to give, down to a four.
And it all deals with that question of authenticity.
On the level of appearances, it’s pretty flawless. A superbly written script perfectly matches the décor of the era. From pinstripe suits and their corresponding haberdasheries to the ever-crucial femme fatale, Nine Lives feels perfectly cut from the same cloth that is the cinematographic style known as: Film Noir. Impeccably derived from its source material and well researched at every level my eyes were stunned at every twist and turn.
My eyes were always pleased but my mind didn’t quite feel the same.
As far as a narrative goes, while generally coherent, innumerable moving parts and all too convenient development betrays occasional gaps in logic that feel shifty at best and *meh at worst. Which is a shame because while a lot of tropes and characters are imaginatively well modulated to fit the story, the internal plot can get quite murky more often than not. Less is certainly more and Nine Lives is a perfect example of this immutable axiom.
The style is always hit but the misses of substance are far more convoluted than they should be. In either case, it’s a worthy read despite a panoply of intractable flaws.
June 18, 2021
Very good pulp noir style Batman story. nice art and writing . Good enjoyable read. Recommended
June 24, 2021
Longer than most Elseworlds, but it pays off with a carefully developed film-noir style tale.
October 2, 2017
Un buen relato negro de Batman, bastante mejor que "Gotham noir"
July 21, 2012
Batman: Nine Lives
is a one-shot set in the Elseworld i.e a world which is not part of the normal DC continuity. Elseworld stories can occur anywhere from ancient/ medieval settings to futuristic worlds to any kind of parallel universe, and are usually quick affairs. While the idea might be annoying to some,
Batman: Nine Lives
turns out otherwise.
What makes Batman: Nine Lives captivating is that the whole story - an entertaining murder mystery - is told in film noir (or is it comic noir?) fashion. Yes, we have the world-weary and universally disliked ex-cop private eye, an alluring femme fatale, the usual gallery of villains each with their own secret, all told in shady lighting and sharp angles. The whole setup works brilliantly because - and this is something I realised midway through the read - there are no significant changes to what makes a good Batman story. Think of it: We have Batman who works at night most of the time, famous femme fatales like Selina Kyle and Talia Al Ghul, and a rogues galley with rich and complicated villains. In other words, Batman is noir. It's just that his stories aren't portrayed that way most of the time. And this makes Batman: Nine Lives a sheer pleasure to read.
Now to the story. Batman: Nine Lives is set in the post World War II era Gotham city which (as you guessed) is overrun by criminals. A slight change to the usual setup here is that Bruce Wayne is portrayed as a ruthless businessman who goes to any length to get what he wants. He is helped in his efforts by his attorney Harvey Dent. Dent's protrayal as the unreliable and immoral lawyer here is one of the best interpretations of the Two-Face character without the ghoulish disfigurement. We have Selina Kyle as the owner of the Kit Kat club who's seen better days, and now takes on a string of lovers (everyone from Edward Nygma, the paranoid banker to Oswald Cobblepot, the racketeer) to help finance her wealthy lifestyle. So it goes until one fine evening, a dead body turns up which sets into motion a chain of events with private eye Dick Grayson at its center.
Contrary to the title, Batman is seen for very little of the story. Dick Grayson is the washed up protagonist who sees the odds against his favor as the bodies pile up. A welcome change here is that all the regular characters are shown with little or no makeup and physical scarring, giving us a look how the Joker, Mr. Freeze, Penguin, Killer Croc and others would seem in real world.
All told, Batman: Nine Lives is a solid read with well drawn panels and sharp dialogue that does just to both the comic and film noir genres. Pick it up if you're a Batman fan.
What makes Batman: Nine Lives captivating is that the whole story - an entertaining murder mystery - is told in film noir (or is it comic noir?) fashion. Yes, we have the world-weary and universally disliked ex-cop private eye, an alluring femme fatale, the usual gallery of villains each with their own secret, all told in shady lighting and sharp angles. The whole setup works brilliantly because - and this is something I realised midway through the read - there are no significant changes to what makes a good Batman story. Think of it: We have Batman who works at night most of the time, famous femme fatales like Selina Kyle and Talia Al Ghul, and a rogues galley with rich and complicated villains. In other words, Batman is noir. It's just that his stories aren't portrayed that way most of the time. And this makes Batman: Nine Lives a sheer pleasure to read.
Now to the story. Batman: Nine Lives is set in the post World War II era Gotham city which (as you guessed) is overrun by criminals. A slight change to the usual setup here is that Bruce Wayne is portrayed as a ruthless businessman who goes to any length to get what he wants. He is helped in his efforts by his attorney Harvey Dent. Dent's protrayal as the unreliable and immoral lawyer here is one of the best interpretations of the Two-Face character without the ghoulish disfigurement. We have Selina Kyle as the owner of the Kit Kat club who's seen better days, and now takes on a string of lovers (everyone from Edward Nygma, the paranoid banker to Oswald Cobblepot, the racketeer) to help finance her wealthy lifestyle. So it goes until one fine evening, a dead body turns up which sets into motion a chain of events with private eye Dick Grayson at its center.
Contrary to the title, Batman is seen for very little of the story. Dick Grayson is the washed up protagonist who sees the odds against his favor as the bodies pile up. A welcome change here is that all the regular characters are shown with little or no makeup and physical scarring, giving us a look how the Joker, Mr. Freeze, Penguin, Killer Croc and others would seem in real world.
All told, Batman: Nine Lives is a solid read with well drawn panels and sharp dialogue that does just to both the comic and film noir genres. Pick it up if you're a Batman fan.
June 9, 2009
A very peculiar but intriguing Batman Elseworlds tale that reimagines the Batman mythos as a crime noir movie, stripping the characters of most of their more comic book-ish conceits and changing relationships around more than usual. (Catwoman, for instance, is a night club owner, the Joker a card shark with anger management issues, and Mr. Freeze is a cold-blooded hitman.) Also odd is that the comic doesn't really focus on Batman at all, spending most of its time following around Dick Grayson, reimagined as a private detective.
Still, its a solid crime noir story, and the art (by Michael Lark) is very good, reminiscent of the work of Ryan Sook.
Still, its a solid crime noir story, and the art (by Michael Lark) is very good, reminiscent of the work of Ryan Sook.
July 2, 2024
Batman siempre ha estado ligado al noir y a las historias pulp de corte criminal. Pero también siempre ha generado su propia idiosincrasia y estilo particular y característico en esta demografía. Por lo que toparse con ejercicios más entroncados en amoldarse a los canones más clásicos y sin adulterar con el personaje, siempre se deben de recibir de forma propicia. Este es el caso de Nueve Vidas. Una historia acogida en el sello Elseworld, donde se auspicia la libertad absoluta con las propuestas argumentales de los iconos de DC. Así, Dean Motter propone una revisión de Batman y su mundo que se interne en este plano detectivesco y criminal de época sin demasiado ejercicio "camp" como sería de referente directo Dick Tracy o The Spirit. El guionista fija sus influencias en los clásicos cinematográficos (ojo lo que permea a Chinatown), y en esta perspectiva. Incluso los villanos más característicos de la Batgalería apenas podrán destacar en su fisionomía o apariencia que se concretará en una búsqueda de realismo sucio, salvo cierto personaje esencial para la trama pero que aparecerá en el último momento y sin dejar hacer muchas preguntas al lector. La misma presencia de Batman queda como un elemento disruptivo, al no asentarlo realmente en el conjunto. Con datos vagos de su existencia en este "universo" y apariciones que solo se presentan como "Deus Ex Machina" y necesidad editorial de que ningún lector pueda esquivar de entrada la propuesta si no ve un par de viñetas con el cruzado de la capa. Pero Nueve Vidas encuentra su protagonista en una versión de nuestro conocido "Chico Maravilla" adulta y cínica en modo detective privado con "problemas de faldas". La investigación en torno a la muerte de una Selina Kyle cuya alusión felina se deberá a su profesión bien alejada de sus conocidas prácticas de guante blanco, da forma a esta historia que busca conectar a todo personaje relacionable con el Batverso con este asesinato. Incluso Bruce Wayne, quien en esta historia no parece que su papel al frente de Industrias Wayne sea tan benigno para la ciudad como suele ser usual. O su misma relación con Selina, pierde todo el romanticismo ya asociado a estos personajes dejando algo más tosco y que no debe trascender al ojo público.
El trabajo artístico de Michael Lark y Matt Hollingsworth, logran que la lectura de Nueve Vidas presente un gran carácter cinematográfico. El formato apaisado también contribuye a caracterizar ese ritmo endiablado y logran que el conjunto funcione aún por encima de quizás varios peros que se le pueda poner a la parte argumental de Motter que, por lo que se deja intuir en la propuesta argumenta inicial. Iba a ser incluso más precipitada y tosca de lo que pueda parecer el resultado definitivo.
El trabajo artístico de Michael Lark y Matt Hollingsworth, logran que la lectura de Nueve Vidas presente un gran carácter cinematográfico. El formato apaisado también contribuye a caracterizar ese ritmo endiablado y logran que el conjunto funcione aún por encima de quizás varios peros que se le pueda poner a la parte argumental de Motter que, por lo que se deja intuir en la propuesta argumenta inicial. Iba a ser incluso más precipitada y tosca de lo que pueda parecer el resultado definitivo.
March 22, 2021
Batman: Nine Lives is an Elseworlds graphic novel published by DC Comics in 2002, written by Dean Motter with art by Michael Lark.
Set in 1940s, Gotham City is rife with organized crime. Rather than being a superhero story, it more closely resembles a detective comic book from the same era, before the idea of superheroes had been introduced. Though Batman still exists, members of his rogues' gallery appear as normal criminals rather than mutated, disfigured or technologically enhanced characters
The narrative begins with noir like narration, following the Batman down a sewer in search of a crocodile. Upon finding and wrestling the animal he is hit on the head by a mysterious assailant. When he awakens, he is lying next to the body of Selina Kyle. Once the body is discovered, Private Detective Dick Grayson is accused by Commissioner Gordon of having something to do with the murder and it is up to Bruce Wayne as Batman to find the true culprit.
Dean Motter penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well. Motter has created a wonderful alternative world with familiar faces and stayed true to the characters that they represent. Selina Kyle is found dead. She earned the nickname of Catwoman because she owned the Kit Kat Club – a place of ill repute. She used her sexual allure to keep the club from going under financially, but she later resorted to blackmail, because she knew the secrets of many of Gotham's most wanted criminals.
Just about everyone has reason to see Kyle dead – even Bruce Wayne. In an ingenious twist, private eye Dick Grayson is made the central character who is the main suspect of the murder as he was fired the day before she died.
Michael Lark penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the only penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, Lark's penciling wonderfully depicts the noir aspects of the narrative.
All in all, Batman: Nine Lives is a wonderful Elseworld story, which takes place in 1940s Gotham City and mimics the pulp noir detective story with familiar characters rather well.
Set in 1940s, Gotham City is rife with organized crime. Rather than being a superhero story, it more closely resembles a detective comic book from the same era, before the idea of superheroes had been introduced. Though Batman still exists, members of his rogues' gallery appear as normal criminals rather than mutated, disfigured or technologically enhanced characters
The narrative begins with noir like narration, following the Batman down a sewer in search of a crocodile. Upon finding and wrestling the animal he is hit on the head by a mysterious assailant. When he awakens, he is lying next to the body of Selina Kyle. Once the body is discovered, Private Detective Dick Grayson is accused by Commissioner Gordon of having something to do with the murder and it is up to Bruce Wayne as Batman to find the true culprit.
Dean Motter penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well. Motter has created a wonderful alternative world with familiar faces and stayed true to the characters that they represent. Selina Kyle is found dead. She earned the nickname of Catwoman because she owned the Kit Kat Club – a place of ill repute. She used her sexual allure to keep the club from going under financially, but she later resorted to blackmail, because she knew the secrets of many of Gotham's most wanted criminals.
Just about everyone has reason to see Kyle dead – even Bruce Wayne. In an ingenious twist, private eye Dick Grayson is made the central character who is the main suspect of the murder as he was fired the day before she died.
Michael Lark penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the only penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, Lark's penciling wonderfully depicts the noir aspects of the narrative.
All in all, Batman: Nine Lives is a wonderful Elseworld story, which takes place in 1940s Gotham City and mimics the pulp noir detective story with familiar characters rather well.
September 24, 2022
Cleverly done Elsewhere setting. A noir story told in '40s-Gotham in which Batman, Robin, Barbara Gordon, and the main cast of his Rogue's Gallery are neatly translated to gumshoe or gangster archetypes in Dashielle Hammond style. Catwoman (Selena Kyle) is a nightclub owner, Joker is a two-bit poker-playing thug, Clayface (Matt Hagen) is a crime boss who's had more facial surgery than could ever be healthy, etc. And Dick Grayson is an ex-cop private eye.
The story is told in nine parts, all of them a play off the word "life." (Wildlife, High Life, etc.) The pacing is good, the mystery builds in a crescendo of violence, and at no point does the story fail to keep to its Raymond Chandler-esque narrative. Although the reveal at the end was less than awe-inspiring, I was struck throughout by the care and craft that went into this Elsewhere story.
The story is told in nine parts, all of them a play off the word "life." (Wildlife, High Life, etc.) The pacing is good, the mystery builds in a crescendo of violence, and at no point does the story fail to keep to its Raymond Chandler-esque narrative. Although the reveal at the end was less than awe-inspiring, I was struck throughout by the care and craft that went into this Elsewhere story.
February 9, 2021
Batman: Nine Lives é noir, possui o mesmo ilustrador de Gotham Central (Michael Lark), mas com todo o perdão ao roteirista Dean Motter, ele não é Ed Brubaker ou Greg Rucka. Ele tentou fazer uma algo parecido como um Gotham Central Elseworld aqui, mas na minha opinião não conseguiu. Gotham Central além de se encaixar na linha do tempo do Batman, traz uma familiaridade naquele universo, além de ter tido os escritos citados acima. Como este aqui é um Elseworld essa sensação de proximidade desaparece e o roteirista não consegue chegar lá. Está longe de ser ruim, mas não achei tão bom assim como dizem. É apenas ok.
January 29, 2025
"It's said that if there were no God, we would have to invent him. Maybe that's what Wayne had done. Gotham City had produced legions of somnambulists, insomniacs, madmen and devils. It had to produce a nemesis if there was to be any justice.
But the saviour was as frightening as the menace he was sent to destroy.
He had rescued me from hellfire on the towers of the divine city and shown me redemption in its pit.
I just pray I never have to come close to him again."
imo these lines are a perfect summation of Bruce Wayne & Batman.
But the saviour was as frightening as the menace he was sent to destroy.
He had rescued me from hellfire on the towers of the divine city and shown me redemption in its pit.
I just pray I never have to come close to him again."
imo these lines are a perfect summation of Bruce Wayne & Batman.
July 14, 2018
Fanboys and girls of Gotham Central will love this, too. This is an Elseworlds Batman crime story. Selina Kyle is murdered and a lot of familiar characters (nine) come into play. Story is set in the 1940s, I guess, which suits Lark’s crime noir art. Bruce Wayne is the only character with a double identity. The Joker, Penguin, etc. are all nicknames for familiar characters from Batman lore that refer to personality traits rather than alter ego’s. Gives the story a more realistic feel.
May 25, 2022
Otro buen Elseworld de Batman, esta vez de estilo pulp-noir. Argumento: "La directora del club Kit Kat, Selina Kyle, ha sido asesinada. Selina, al parecer, ha estado al tanto de peligrosos secretos, y su muerte resulta en un torbellino de furiosa actividad de los habitantes del inframundo. Ahora, Batman debe perseguir pistas traicioneras y localizar obstinadamente al asesino. Pero incluso para el Cruzado Enmascarado, no será fácil".
June 9, 2024
3,5/5. A pure Noir, Hardboiled version of Batman, on which his rogue gallery is imagined as pure mobsters in the Pulp era. Selina Kyle has been killed, and every single mobster/villain is a suspect. Dick Grayson is a detective, aided by Barbara Gordon. Bruce Wayne dons the Batman mantle more as guilt than revenge. Great drawing style, the story is a list of the tropes of the genre. Enjoyable, without being overtly original.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2019
Batman was Noir. Dean Motter's lessons with Mister X and Terminal City applied to the caped crusader.
Basically Batman cyphered through Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, etc.
Gotham is a corrupt city. It's not a story too far removed from regular lore--but it's all style here. Michael Lark make's this book look GREAT.
Basically Batman cyphered through Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, etc.
Gotham is a corrupt city. It's not a story too far removed from regular lore--but it's all style here. Michael Lark make's this book look GREAT.
August 18, 2020
A Batman Elseworlds by two of my widest read and favored creators that DELIVERED.
The horizontal format is crucial.
My canyon-wide acquisitions appetite requires me to wait for such rarities to drop to single digits but if you've got the bills just buy it- like I would've back in 2016.
The horizontal format is crucial.
My canyon-wide acquisitions appetite requires me to wait for such rarities to drop to single digits but if you've got the bills just buy it- like I would've back in 2016.
August 29, 2024
Art Silly-Puttied off the pages of Batman: Year One. Every Batman villain's distinctive characteristics wiped out to make them into duller versions of dull crime story tropes. But the pages are wider than usual!
October 28, 2018
Three and a half, more like. What do you know, there are good Batman comics other than Year 100. Beggars belief, it does.
February 24, 2019
¡Muy buena historia!
October 25, 2020
Good old noir murder myatery
April 11, 2022
The story doesn't explore or put a spin on anything. The noir theme doesn't really do much to the characters either. It's just a standard action comic. Pretty alright.
December 20, 2022
Batman Elseworld stories are pretty damn good. This one, for a change, includes Selena Kyle/Catwoman in a whole new light.
January 15, 2022
One of the best elseworlds stories I've read. It captured that Crime Noir feel very well and I love how the different characters were adapted to fit the narrative here. Really good read!
January 25, 2026
The look of this is gorgeous (the cover and the first couple pages are peak graphic design), but imo this gets preoccupied with the trappings and tropes while failing to deliver on the actual content. There just wasn't enough Batman in this to satisfy me. I love whodunits for their twists and the sleuthing, but the plot is so straightforward and by-the-numbers that it felt cheap. The ending especially was kind of a cop-out. Ah, well. At least the re-imagining of classic Batman characters was cute
September 22, 2013
The Batman-saga - with its gritty urban crime scenes, shadowy streets and numerous gangsters – always had that film-noir vibe in it. With “Batman: Nine Lives”, DC Comics finally goes all the way, featuring a down-on-his-luck private eye in 1940’s Gotham City.
Nearly all of the well known Batman characters have been slightly altered to fit this Dashiell Hammett-esque world: the Joker is now a Richard Widmark-type poker-player, racketeer Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin looks a lot like Sydney Greenstreet. Not Bruce Wayne, but Dick Grayson (aka Robin) is the lead character in this story, being the ex-cop turned private eye.
When nightclub owner Selina Kyle is found dead in the sewers of Gotham, a chain reaction rocks the city. Just about every underworld character in the metropolis has had contact with the murder victim and while all of them have motivations to take her out, all now are desperate too to keep their past with Kyle a secret. With Kyle being an old client of him, Grayson is also added to the list of suspects; and the Boy Wonder quickly has to figure out what has happened to the alluring nightclub owner before the Gotham criminals get their hands on him.
As said, Batman has always been inspired by film noir, so “Nine Lives” isn’t that groundbreaking. Had Wonder Woman or Superman been recast into the noir-look, things might’ve been more surprising.
Nevertheless, writer Dean Motter and illustrator Michael Lark make the most of the situation, throwing in as many references to “Laura”, “Double Indemnity” and “The Third Man” as possible. Lark’s pencil- and inkwork look great, providing a sort of 40’s/50's newspaper comic-look – although the landscape format of the book itself is a pain. It doesn’t read pleasantly, and if the idea was to give the book a more cinematic look, the small, upright panels on the pages themselves destroy that idea.
Motter’s story is so dense, that countless narration boxes needed to be placed throughout just about every scene in order to tell the plot. Something a little tauter would’ve done “Nine Lives” a lot of good. Add to that the very disappointing ending, the reader’s left with the feeling that the story – though full of great ideas and lots of potential – could’ve been so much better.
Overall, “Nine Lives” is an interesting, entertaining read, though falling far short of being iconic or memorable at all.
Nearly all of the well known Batman characters have been slightly altered to fit this Dashiell Hammett-esque world: the Joker is now a Richard Widmark-type poker-player, racketeer Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin looks a lot like Sydney Greenstreet. Not Bruce Wayne, but Dick Grayson (aka Robin) is the lead character in this story, being the ex-cop turned private eye.
When nightclub owner Selina Kyle is found dead in the sewers of Gotham, a chain reaction rocks the city. Just about every underworld character in the metropolis has had contact with the murder victim and while all of them have motivations to take her out, all now are desperate too to keep their past with Kyle a secret. With Kyle being an old client of him, Grayson is also added to the list of suspects; and the Boy Wonder quickly has to figure out what has happened to the alluring nightclub owner before the Gotham criminals get their hands on him.
As said, Batman has always been inspired by film noir, so “Nine Lives” isn’t that groundbreaking. Had Wonder Woman or Superman been recast into the noir-look, things might’ve been more surprising.
Nevertheless, writer Dean Motter and illustrator Michael Lark make the most of the situation, throwing in as many references to “Laura”, “Double Indemnity” and “The Third Man” as possible. Lark’s pencil- and inkwork look great, providing a sort of 40’s/50's newspaper comic-look – although the landscape format of the book itself is a pain. It doesn’t read pleasantly, and if the idea was to give the book a more cinematic look, the small, upright panels on the pages themselves destroy that idea.
Motter’s story is so dense, that countless narration boxes needed to be placed throughout just about every scene in order to tell the plot. Something a little tauter would’ve done “Nine Lives” a lot of good. Add to that the very disappointing ending, the reader’s left with the feeling that the story – though full of great ideas and lots of potential – could’ve been so much better.
Overall, “Nine Lives” is an interesting, entertaining read, though falling far short of being iconic or memorable at all.
October 25, 2016
I thought this book was great and I never wanted to put it down. The book took place in Gotham city and was about an investigation of the missing Selina Kyle. The main characters were: The joker, Batman, The penguin, Selina kyle, and dick Grayson. The book was from the narrators perspective and followed dick Grayson and batman mostly because they were trying to find out what happened to Selina Kyle. In my opinion, I think the book could've been longer and more in depth with details, but as I read things just kept piecing together and I think they did a really good job with that. I also liked how it wasn't always in the same view and what sometimes even go in the villain's perspective to see what they were doing at the time of the incident. "They met all right.they also fought,and somehow she fell into the reservoir." (Pg 112 motter) this is a quote in the book where they figured out one step into finding where Selina Kyle could be and were very close to finding her. They also said "Wayne is innocent. He was with me when nygma was killed"(pg 111 motter) this quote showed how they tried to blame Bruce Wayne for the disappearance of Selina Kyle but in this quote , the detective dick Grayson told them that he was with Bruce when Edward nygma,another culprit, was killed. I recommend this book to anyone who has seen any batman movies or read any other comic books ,because some characters are well known in the batman series and I think this a great book for anyone who is into superheroes or even mystery books because it's more of a mystery book with batman characters. I really enjoyed this book and I give it a 4/5 stars.
October 30, 2011
Some of DC's best collaborative works have come out of Elseworlds. Nine Lives is one of these. Batman virtually returns to his era of origin, the snappy hard-boiled 30s/40s, home of the gangster and noir genre. It's no wonder that he fits so seamlessly into the gritty, seedy world.
Selina "The Cat Woman" Kyle, owner of the Kit Kat club, has been found dead in mysterious circumstances. Turns out she has quite a long line of conquests and "supporters" all of whom have their own secrets. Dick Grayson steps into a Phillip Marlowe kind of shoe with jarring awkwardness as her former PI. The Rogue gallery as we know them are a little different as only Elseworlds could mould them, but are none too dissimilar to their canon counterparts. Bruce Wayne is a murder suspect among them, but the narrative takes an intriguing turn when his alter ego encounters Dick.
The art complements the era beautifully with a limited and muted palette of dark shades, while the constant black background accentuates the cinematic air of each panel. The unusual landscape layout of the pages also gives off a kind of visceral film reel/newspaper strip feeling, and lends the story a linear sequence that may seem too straight-forward (perhaps dull). These are minor issues – overall this is a richly satisfying story for the typical noir fan. Batman fans will also appreciate the subtle details and changes made by Motter and Lark.
Selina "The Cat Woman" Kyle, owner of the Kit Kat club, has been found dead in mysterious circumstances. Turns out she has quite a long line of conquests and "supporters" all of whom have their own secrets. Dick Grayson steps into a Phillip Marlowe kind of shoe with jarring awkwardness as her former PI. The Rogue gallery as we know them are a little different as only Elseworlds could mould them, but are none too dissimilar to their canon counterparts. Bruce Wayne is a murder suspect among them, but the narrative takes an intriguing turn when his alter ego encounters Dick.
The art complements the era beautifully with a limited and muted palette of dark shades, while the constant black background accentuates the cinematic air of each panel. The unusual landscape layout of the pages also gives off a kind of visceral film reel/newspaper strip feeling, and lends the story a linear sequence that may seem too straight-forward (perhaps dull). These are minor issues – overall this is a richly satisfying story for the typical noir fan. Batman fans will also appreciate the subtle details and changes made by Motter and Lark.
September 1, 2010
This book is genius!!! SO FREAKING GOOD!!! The artwork and aesthetic is stunning and the story...wow...so amazing!!! Let's start from the beginning. This particular Batman tale was published under the DC Imprint called "Elseworlds". Basically, any story published under the Elseworlds imprint told a story outside of the established continuity. The Marvel counterpart for this is the "What If" series.
In this particular tale, Dean Motter and Michael Lark revamp the world of Batman in a noir style murder mystery that is just too damn clever for words! To go into details would spoil the fun of reading so I won't do that. Suffice to say this is definitely one of the most inventive and creative Batman stories I have ever read.
I definitely intend to read more of the Batman Elseworlds stories, but this is going to be hard to top for sure. This definitely deserves a place on the list probably higher than it actually was placed.
Well done Dean Motter and Michael Clark!
Sidenote: Dean Motter worked on the Mister X comic series of which I own but have not reviewed.
In this particular tale, Dean Motter and Michael Lark revamp the world of Batman in a noir style murder mystery that is just too damn clever for words! To go into details would spoil the fun of reading so I won't do that. Suffice to say this is definitely one of the most inventive and creative Batman stories I have ever read.
I definitely intend to read more of the Batman Elseworlds stories, but this is going to be hard to top for sure. This definitely deserves a place on the list probably higher than it actually was placed.
Well done Dean Motter and Michael Clark!
Sidenote: Dean Motter worked on the Mister X comic series of which I own but have not reviewed.
December 28, 2015
Batman: Nine Lives presents an interesting context that I believe definitely matches the tone and atmosphere of Gotham City and the Batman detective story. Dick Grayson's narratorial voice comes across as engaging and keeps the tone of the story mysterious and interesting and the tone of the story consistently steady, not too fast and not too slow. This character and narrator is the primary strength of the story because the style is what makes this story interesting and sets it apart from other Batman stories.
While the style is defined and strong, the plot was not particularly unique or engaging, and the ending did not produce much of an impact. The plot of the murder mystery clearly fits the style of the story. Selina Kyle's death brings all of her friends out to try to get ahold of what she has left behind, something seemingly valuable, and Dick Grayson is tasked with finding the culprit. While it is not a bad story, there was not necessarily anything that stuck out from the story as unique or different, other than the style of the story.
While the style is defined and strong, the plot was not particularly unique or engaging, and the ending did not produce much of an impact. The plot of the murder mystery clearly fits the style of the story. Selina Kyle's death brings all of her friends out to try to get ahold of what she has left behind, something seemingly valuable, and Dick Grayson is tasked with finding the culprit. While it is not a bad story, there was not necessarily anything that stuck out from the story as unique or different, other than the style of the story.
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