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Wayne of Gotham
Behind every mask is a real man. Two men joined by blood but separated by murder: Thomas, the rebellious doctor and heir to the vast Wayne empire, and Bruce, his son, whose life is forever altered when he witnesses the brutal death of his parents. The slaying of Thomas and Martha Wayne is the torturous point on which Bruce turns to become the mysterious crusader Batman—the genesis of a simple mugging gone horribly wrong. The Dark Knight's file on the case has long been closed, the foundations of Bruce Wayne's secret life secure. But these foundations are shaken when an unexpected guest invades the grounds of Wayne Manor, raising questions about the event that ended the lives of the mother he loved and the father he worshipped, and sparked his unquenchable drive to protect and avenge. To discover his true family history, Batman must face down old foes, confront his only confidant, invade the evil heart of Arkham Asylum, and shoulder the terrible new burden of a dark legacy.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2012
239 people are currently reading
1777 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Hickman
454 books2,736 followersNYT Best-selling fantasy authors Tracy Hickman, with his wife Laura, began their journey across the 'Sea of Possibilities' as the creators of 'Dragonlance' and their voyage continues into new areas with the 'Drakis' trilogy, 'Wayne of Gotham', a Batman novel for DC Comics and his
'Dragon's Bard' collector's series
. Tracy has over fifty books currently in print in most languages around the world. A record of both Tracy and Laura's DNA currently orbits on the international space station and he is the writer and editor of the first science-fiction movie actually filmed in space. Follow us on
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
October 3, 2012
A strange conspiracy is overtaking Gotham, where criminals seem to be under someone else's thrall and vigilantism from ordinary citizens is on the rise. The murky trail seems like it's leading back all the way to Thomas Wayne, the saintly patriarch whose death was the catalyst for Bruce becoming Batman. And as Batman seeks to discover the clues behind this, he just might discover some dark secrets in his family past.
It's a really intriguing idea, and written by one of the authors of The Death Gate Cycle, an old fantasy favorite of mine, so I was excited to see how it would play out.
This was my reaction:
To start, there is no real basis in any of the Batman canons. I don't mind this, because Batman is a character given to many interpretations. People entranced by Ryan Sook's gorgeous cover and expecting something set in the comic's vast universe might want keep themselves from disappointment. There are a few winks and nods to the comic fans when he brings in some of Batman's varied menagerie of villains, but they are ultimately just a bone thrown to comic readers as they don't affect the plot at all. The one saving grace would be the Joker appearance, which might have been the closest thing to a fun scene in this dreary mess. It was enough to earn a star on its own.
As for the rest of it, it was very disappointing. I went into it thinking that this would be a completely different world since this is the one where Thomas Wayne might have had some underhanded dealings to bring all this calamity down on Bruce's head. However, there are ways you can have Batman be too out of character to enjoy a story. And Hickman's Batman has some glaring missteps.
1. There is no consuming drive to protect the innocent. Sure, we see Batman in a few fights, but when the city is going to ruin he's barely concerned about Jim Gordon being brainwashed into believing Batman killed Barbara Gordon (who is still paralyzed in this version but no word of Batgirl or Oracle). The fact that Gordon, still brainwashed and uncured, is allowed on duty is kind of baffling from a logistics standpoint, but their relationship being written as two rivals sniping at each other is worse. There's also the scene in the tunnels where Joker has taken control of all the trains and Batman's reaction to it is "oh he couldn't find one loaded with people." He doesn't worry for one second about major collateral damage, even when he almost crashes into one train and sees the engineer panicking. The good thing about writing for an established character is sometimes you don't have to explain the motivations, but they should still be felt, and this Batman's guardianship of Gotham seems more chore than raison d'être.
2. Batman is a dick. But wait, you say, he's often a dick in other stories! To which I reply, yes he is. But his unerring dickishness comes from control freak behavior and Not Putting Up With Your Shit And Sometimes Fun. It is a dickishness that, at its heart, is about protecting people and being a broken soul who cannot ever stray from his guardianship, even at the cost of his own happiness. This Batman is a whiny dick. He whines to Alfred about not wanting to be called Master Bruce, he enjoys playing pranks on paparazzi by dressing up with a fake beard and shades and letting Alfred cart him in a wheelchair on the grounds, he talks about feeding his hatred and ragegoing to the Dark Side. He says lines like this: "No, Alfred! Master Bruce does not want his cookies or his milk! Master Bruce does not want to be coddled or put to bed!"
3. Did I mention his relationship with Alfred in this one is terrible? Alfred, the steady, stalwart and loyal butler who is Bruce's surrogate father? Yeah, they're not close anymore. Apparently it's because Bruce put him as his press secretary while he went full on recluse, which doesn't make sense and still doesn't justify the fact that both of them are completely stupid about lying to each other. The part where Alfred knew all about the conspiracy behind Thomas Wayne's misdeeds and hid it from Bruce for all of his life could be managed, but is terribly executed here. This is the major unforgivable point for Wayne of Gotham, because even Christopher Nolan and Frank Miller knew how important Alfred was to Batman, and Hickman doesn't even bother to lay the groundwork to fraying loyalties of two friends. They don't talk, their conversations even at the start were mostly passive aggressive sniping, so when Bruce fires Alfred after years of service, it seems like two petulant children instead of a grave and deep seated betrayal.
So, let's say you ignore this divergence from Batman mythos and focus it as a completely new story. Does it hold up? Well...partially. As I said before, the groundwork is interesting, even if there are many set ups that are ignored or simply unresolved at the end of the story. Thomas Wayne's parts flowed seamlessly while Bruce was investigating which was both a benefit and a drawback. Benefit, because we see how all the pieces fit in a very straightforward fashion that keeps pace and guides the reader between the past and present so they uncover the mystery as Batman does. Drawback, because it makes Batman look very stupid at times, such as not knowing about a rash of vigilante murders in Gotham during the late 50's called the Apocalypse, being taunted by Gordon about it, and then first finding out about it through Wikipedia.
The World's Greatest Detective, ladies and gents.
Character-wise, the cast set in the 50's would be where Hickman had the most freedom, but they come off as simplistic too. Thomas should have been compelling in his history as a man trying to make himself into something different while finding a way out from his father's shadow. Unfortunately, he mostly reveals himself to be a passive character who has most of his decisions thrust upon him, with Nice Guy tendencies towards Martha (and their relationship is never touched on except to say the start of it was a sham). When things go awry, he gets in over his head and has to let Jarvis, Alfred's father, take care of his messes and that conflict is resolved off page. Jarvis himself is given almost nothing to work with. The closest thing to a truly sympathetic character might have been Lew Moxton, whose character arc was a mob heir trying to go straight and then falling into the family business when things go wrong. I would have wanted to read about his story moreso than Thomas Wayne's.
The ending is likewise aggravating, because it subverts the Batman mythos in a very unsatisfying way and often tries too hard to parallel Thomas's mistakes with Bruce's attempts at atonement; however, it doesn't make sense in doing so. There is a lot of tension built with little regard for how it works. The fact that the mastermind behind everything can do things like sneak up on Bruce unawares in his own home, knock him over the head and dress him in his father's tuxedo to try and kill him in the alley where his parents died is poetic, but completely unaddressed by how it could have conceivably happened. Very publicized events in the 50's flashbacks are completely new for Batman, even though we know he's obsessed with his parents.
At the end of it you feel like someone was trying to craft a great work of symbolism and dramatic weight, where the sins of the father revisit the son. However, they do this at the expense of the son's personality, his relationships with trusted friends, and his competence for researching the very history that is plaguing him. For some people that would make it a worthy novel to read, to see the parallels and foreshadowing play out, but for me I have to care about the characters to be invested, and Wayne of Gotham's are only shared characteristic is by their name.
It's a really intriguing idea, and written by one of the authors of The Death Gate Cycle, an old fantasy favorite of mine, so I was excited to see how it would play out.
This was my reaction:
To start, there is no real basis in any of the Batman canons. I don't mind this, because Batman is a character given to many interpretations. People entranced by Ryan Sook's gorgeous cover and expecting something set in the comic's vast universe might want keep themselves from disappointment. There are a few winks and nods to the comic fans when he brings in some of Batman's varied menagerie of villains, but they are ultimately just a bone thrown to comic readers as they don't affect the plot at all. The one saving grace would be the Joker appearance, which might have been the closest thing to a fun scene in this dreary mess. It was enough to earn a star on its own.
As for the rest of it, it was very disappointing. I went into it thinking that this would be a completely different world since this is the one where Thomas Wayne might have had some underhanded dealings to bring all this calamity down on Bruce's head. However, there are ways you can have Batman be too out of character to enjoy a story. And Hickman's Batman has some glaring missteps.
1. There is no consuming drive to protect the innocent. Sure, we see Batman in a few fights, but when the city is going to ruin he's barely concerned about Jim Gordon being brainwashed into believing Batman killed Barbara Gordon (who is still paralyzed in this version but no word of Batgirl or Oracle). The fact that Gordon, still brainwashed and uncured, is allowed on duty is kind of baffling from a logistics standpoint, but their relationship being written as two rivals sniping at each other is worse. There's also the scene in the tunnels where Joker has taken control of all the trains and Batman's reaction to it is "oh he couldn't find one loaded with people." He doesn't worry for one second about major collateral damage, even when he almost crashes into one train and sees the engineer panicking. The good thing about writing for an established character is sometimes you don't have to explain the motivations, but they should still be felt, and this Batman's guardianship of Gotham seems more chore than raison d'être.
2. Batman is a dick. But wait, you say, he's often a dick in other stories! To which I reply, yes he is. But his unerring dickishness comes from control freak behavior and Not Putting Up With Your Shit And Sometimes Fun. It is a dickishness that, at its heart, is about protecting people and being a broken soul who cannot ever stray from his guardianship, even at the cost of his own happiness. This Batman is a whiny dick. He whines to Alfred about not wanting to be called Master Bruce, he enjoys playing pranks on paparazzi by dressing up with a fake beard and shades and letting Alfred cart him in a wheelchair on the grounds, he talks about feeding his hatred and rage
3. Did I mention his relationship with Alfred in this one is terrible? Alfred, the steady, stalwart and loyal butler who is Bruce's surrogate father? Yeah, they're not close anymore. Apparently it's because Bruce put him as his press secretary while he went full on recluse, which doesn't make sense and still doesn't justify the fact that both of them are completely stupid about lying to each other. The part where Alfred knew all about the conspiracy behind Thomas Wayne's misdeeds and hid it from Bruce for all of his life could be managed, but is terribly executed here. This is the major unforgivable point for Wayne of Gotham, because even Christopher Nolan and Frank Miller knew how important Alfred was to Batman, and Hickman doesn't even bother to lay the groundwork to fraying loyalties of two friends. They don't talk, their conversations even at the start were mostly passive aggressive sniping, so when Bruce fires Alfred after years of service, it seems like two petulant children instead of a grave and deep seated betrayal.
So, let's say you ignore this divergence from Batman mythos and focus it as a completely new story. Does it hold up? Well...partially. As I said before, the groundwork is interesting, even if there are many set ups that are ignored or simply unresolved at the end of the story. Thomas Wayne's parts flowed seamlessly while Bruce was investigating which was both a benefit and a drawback. Benefit, because we see how all the pieces fit in a very straightforward fashion that keeps pace and guides the reader between the past and present so they uncover the mystery as Batman does. Drawback, because it makes Batman look very stupid at times, such as not knowing about a rash of vigilante murders in Gotham during the late 50's called the Apocalypse, being taunted by Gordon about it, and then first finding out about it through Wikipedia.
The World's Greatest Detective, ladies and gents.
Character-wise, the cast set in the 50's would be where Hickman had the most freedom, but they come off as simplistic too. Thomas should have been compelling in his history as a man trying to make himself into something different while finding a way out from his father's shadow. Unfortunately, he mostly reveals himself to be a passive character who has most of his decisions thrust upon him, with Nice Guy tendencies towards Martha (and their relationship is never touched on except to say the start of it was a sham). When things go awry, he gets in over his head and has to let Jarvis, Alfred's father, take care of his messes and that conflict is resolved off page. Jarvis himself is given almost nothing to work with. The closest thing to a truly sympathetic character might have been Lew Moxton, whose character arc was a mob heir trying to go straight and then falling into the family business when things go wrong. I would have wanted to read about his story moreso than Thomas Wayne's.
The ending is likewise aggravating, because it subverts the Batman mythos in a very unsatisfying way and often tries too hard to parallel Thomas's mistakes with Bruce's attempts at atonement; however, it doesn't make sense in doing so. There is a lot of tension built with little regard for how it works. The fact that the mastermind behind everything can do things like sneak up on Bruce unawares in his own home, knock him over the head and dress him in his father's tuxedo to try and kill him in the alley where his parents died is poetic, but completely unaddressed by how it could have conceivably happened. Very publicized events in the 50's flashbacks are completely new for Batman, even though we know he's obsessed with his parents.
At the end of it you feel like someone was trying to craft a great work of symbolism and dramatic weight, where the sins of the father revisit the son. However, they do this at the expense of the son's personality, his relationships with trusted friends, and his competence for researching the very history that is plaguing him. For some people that would make it a worthy novel to read, to see the parallels and foreshadowing play out, but for me I have to care about the characters to be invested, and Wayne of Gotham's are only shared characteristic is by their name.
June 30, 2020
I'm afraid this just wasn't my cup of Chiroptera. As Neil Gaiman taught us in Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?, there can (or must) be many versions of Batman (Batmans? Batmen? What's the proper plural?), but this one was neither super nor heroic enough for me. Spoilers!
Bruce is an old man who delights in treating other people badly, he apparently has no friends or allies, and he finds out Alfred has been keeping secrets so he fires him. Boom, just like that. The secrets involve his mother being an alcoholic, his grandfather being an abusive tyrant, his father funding nasty Nazi research, etc. Bruce seems to be wearing Iron Man's spare suit and much of the plot involves driving around underneath Gotham in the Batmobile like Indiana Jones in the silly mine car race from the second movie. For no real reason Joker shows up for a while, but he's old and tired, too. Bruce was such a mess that I really wasn't sure who I was supposed to pull for. This isn't a story like Frank Miller brought us, this is just unpleasant. The writing isn't terrible, and I believe the author achieved the effect for which he was going, but... Where's Denny O'Neill when you need him?
Bruce is an old man who delights in treating other people badly, he apparently has no friends or allies, and he finds out Alfred has been keeping secrets so he fires him. Boom, just like that. The secrets involve his mother being an alcoholic, his grandfather being an abusive tyrant, his father funding nasty Nazi research, etc. Bruce seems to be wearing Iron Man's spare suit and much of the plot involves driving around underneath Gotham in the Batmobile like Indiana Jones in the silly mine car race from the second movie. For no real reason Joker shows up for a while, but he's old and tired, too. Bruce was such a mess that I really wasn't sure who I was supposed to pull for. This isn't a story like Frank Miller brought us, this is just unpleasant. The writing isn't terrible, and I believe the author achieved the effect for which he was going, but... Where's Denny O'Neill when you need him?
July 21, 2012
Admittedly, I have never read any of his Dragonlance books so that would not be any indication, but Tracy Hickman loves cars. He goes on and on and on about engines and features that your average Batman reader could not possibly care about. Over-description aside, the real crime of this book is the apparent lack of understanding of the Batman psychology. More often than not, Batman is referred to as Bruce despite being in the costume. That, along with the fact that Batman is the man and Bruce Wayne the costume, is a glaring error. Other than the names confusion (are Lewis Moxon, "Lew", and "Lou" the same person?), there is the fact that characters believe that they are someone else and it is difficult to tell who is who because it seems Batman is as confused as the rest of us, and this is not due to any kind of well-written mystery as much as it is a narrative that spends way too much time on technical aspects and little to no time on character. The one character relationship that we are all well aware of is the Batman/Bruce Wayne and Alfred bond. It starts off strained and contentious (Batman is quite the dick to him), so that by the time we learn of an issue from the past that threatens to destroy their relationship (really just that of employer/employee than anything personal, thanks to the author), we feel nothing.
May 29, 2013
Not bad. One of the better superhero novels I've read. A mystery pertaining to Batman's father surfaces, with far-reaching implications. Not overly fond of the ending but it'll do.
September 3, 2012
I did grow up watching Batman. I never really read the comics but I was interested in the cap crusader. When I saw this book and learned that it was about the past and who Bruce Wayne really was and where he came from, I was intrigued. This is one person that Bruce’s past life before he became Batman has been a mystery.
I did enjoy reading this book. In this book, Bruce was more human like versus being the cool demeanor of Batman. This I liked. It helped to bring me more into the story. However, in the beginning, the story felt a little disjointed. Like I had jumped into the middle and then the first several chapters read like little mini stories versus one story. Also, the detailed descriptions, I could do without.
All of the enemies that Bruce/Batman encountered are certifiable nuts. They make for entertaining characters. Mr. Hickman did a good job telling this story. It was like I was in Bruce’s shoes and seeing everything that he was seeing and experiencing. Wayne of Gotham will make fans of Batman happy.
I did enjoy reading this book. In this book, Bruce was more human like versus being the cool demeanor of Batman. This I liked. It helped to bring me more into the story. However, in the beginning, the story felt a little disjointed. Like I had jumped into the middle and then the first several chapters read like little mini stories versus one story. Also, the detailed descriptions, I could do without.
All of the enemies that Bruce/Batman encountered are certifiable nuts. They make for entertaining characters. Mr. Hickman did a good job telling this story. It was like I was in Bruce’s shoes and seeing everything that he was seeing and experiencing. Wayne of Gotham will make fans of Batman happy.
July 20, 2013
I wanted to like this more then I did. but when You start screwing around with the wayne family history. I'm very picky. ok book. if you don't know anything about batman You might like it a little more then I did.
September 24, 2016
I have loved Tracy Hickman's writting since the first time I picked up his books, which was admittedly the Death Gate Cycle series.
So when I found out he wrote a Batman novel, I knew I had to be all over that.
As it turns out, Hickman did his research and brought forth a very accurate Batman in comparison to the source material: the comics. Near the beginning of the bookcit had a very similar vibe to the Animated Series of the 90s of which I grew up watching. But by the end it felt very much like The Dark Knight comics and animated movies (not the live action trilogy under the same title).
There is a mystery involving the late, great Thomas Wayne, who was really the foundation and role model that lead Bruce on his path to become the Batman. Thomas Wayne was a saint that dedicated his life to helping others, but how well do we really know our parents? Can they really live up to that memory once we begin looking a little deeper?
Thomas Wayne was always been portrayed as a saint, a man we should all aspire to be, but in recent trends that saintly memory has become faded and blurred, making us question it. Hickman plays on this new trend in the mythos quite interestingly and I feel I understand this new Thomas a lot better now.
It was a wonderful and great ride, a fairly light read, and full of thought provoking intrigue.
In some other reviews I looked at for this people complained that Hickman went into too much detail about the technology that Batman utilizes (a very important part of who he is and how he operates), but I didn't think so.
He described how a few of the things worked that Batman used to help further information used later in the story, I found his descriptions refreshing and key to the story. (A lot of authors will just say it's furture tech and write it off as though we shoyld accept it without a basis in reality.)
As I said, I didn't find it a challenging read, but it most certainly a worth while one that I shall always enjoy and remember. Definitely recommend.
So when I found out he wrote a Batman novel, I knew I had to be all over that.
As it turns out, Hickman did his research and brought forth a very accurate Batman in comparison to the source material: the comics. Near the beginning of the bookcit had a very similar vibe to the Animated Series of the 90s of which I grew up watching. But by the end it felt very much like The Dark Knight comics and animated movies (not the live action trilogy under the same title).
There is a mystery involving the late, great Thomas Wayne, who was really the foundation and role model that lead Bruce on his path to become the Batman. Thomas Wayne was a saint that dedicated his life to helping others, but how well do we really know our parents? Can they really live up to that memory once we begin looking a little deeper?
Thomas Wayne was always been portrayed as a saint, a man we should all aspire to be, but in recent trends that saintly memory has become faded and blurred, making us question it. Hickman plays on this new trend in the mythos quite interestingly and I feel I understand this new Thomas a lot better now.
It was a wonderful and great ride, a fairly light read, and full of thought provoking intrigue.
In some other reviews I looked at for this people complained that Hickman went into too much detail about the technology that Batman utilizes (a very important part of who he is and how he operates), but I didn't think so.
He described how a few of the things worked that Batman used to help further information used later in the story, I found his descriptions refreshing and key to the story. (A lot of authors will just say it's furture tech and write it off as though we shoyld accept it without a basis in reality.)
As I said, I didn't find it a challenging read, but it most certainly a worth while one that I shall always enjoy and remember. Definitely recommend.
June 17, 2016
Batman é um dos meus heróis prediletos, não pelo herói em si, mas mais por causa do ambiente melancólico e recluso dos personagens. Nunca havia lido nada sobre o Batman fora dos quadrinhos, por isso o livro foi uma grande surpresa. Há muitos momentos em que o Batman aparece em ação, mas a grande cereja do livro são as histórias contadas fora desses momentos. Como os mistérios sobre o assassinato dos pais de Bruce, quando detalhes são contados sobre a família de Alfred e outras informações interessantes sobre o ambiente de Gothan e sua história, do que sobre o Batman em si.
Gostei bastante do final. É uma história fechada , por isso ao estraga o que você já sabe sobre o Batman, pelo contrário, ele acrescenta informações bem legais sobre sua família.
Gostei bastante do final. É uma história fechada , por isso ao estraga o que você já sabe sobre o Batman, pelo contrário, ele acrescenta informações bem legais sobre sua família.
November 29, 2015
I have a lot of bones to pick with this book. It's hard for me to read a book that wasn't properly proofed. There were way too many mistakes. Another thing is that the inanimate objects have more personality than the characters. Hickman goes into insane detail with the technology, architecture, and history, but not as much with the characters. The characters themselves are so far off from what I'm used to in other Batman books that it's uncomfortable.
I think I'd rather read a guide by this author about Gotham itself.
I think I'd rather read a guide by this author about Gotham itself.
March 15, 2015
AUDIOBOOK: very awesome audiobook. I love Batman, and this one explores his investigation into his parents death, and also flashes back to Thomas and Martha's relationship early on, really more backstory. Also had some conflict with Alfred, and got an insight into his father's servitude to the elder Wayne's. Also had Thomas's dad in it. Really good.
December 17, 2017
The second Batman novel I read AND the second Batman novelization I've read this year and...it was meh....
This story focuses less on Bruce Wayne/Batman and more on his father, Thomas Wayne, and how in his early doctoral days, he was semi-connected to the mob and how his eventual murder, and Martha's, in Crime Alley that one, iconic night was just Thomas' demons coming back.
The couple things I did like was that it was short, almost 'straight-to-the-point' short. Also, we get back and forth narratives: Bruce in the present; Thomas in the past. I will say it is an interesting origin of his, and how he and Martha met and the in-betweens.
The two stars doesn't mean I hated this book or that it's a sin to Batman canon. It was just meh; a daring take on telling a story about our Caped Crusader that was also a easy, quick read.
This story focuses less on Bruce Wayne/Batman and more on his father, Thomas Wayne, and how in his early doctoral days, he was semi-connected to the mob and how his eventual murder, and Martha's, in Crime Alley that one, iconic night was just Thomas' demons coming back.
The couple things I did like was that it was short, almost 'straight-to-the-point' short. Also, we get back and forth narratives: Bruce in the present; Thomas in the past. I will say it is an interesting origin of his, and how he and Martha met and the in-betweens.
The two stars doesn't mean I hated this book or that it's a sin to Batman canon. It was just meh; a daring take on telling a story about our Caped Crusader that was also a easy, quick read.
March 22, 2019
This one is just ok. There is a lot of build up towards a climax that doesn't really pay off for the 250+ pages before it. I think it will always be difficult to write a book about a character that is so well known by the audience that pushing boundaries causes distaste and poor reviews. This is what really hung like a cloud over this book: my personal knowledge of the universe and the characters within them not completely lining up with what the author was trying to do. If you want to read an amazing Batman story that incorporates Bruce Wayne's family secrets and backstory, read Hush instead. An absolutely incredible book that trumps this book in almost every way.
June 4, 2023
Reading this book made me realize how much more invested I am with the character of Bruce than I am with the character of Batman as I was a fan of many instances where Bruce himself was left without the cowl. After watching and reading many Batman stories you’d think it’d get old but I’m happy to come across works that intrigue me all over again.
Overall really good story full of mystery that in the end felt satisfying. The back and forth of timelines sometimes left me impatient as as soon as I would be invested in one timeline of the story was when it switched to the other, but still enjoyed it nonetheless.
Overall really good story full of mystery that in the end felt satisfying. The back and forth of timelines sometimes left me impatient as as soon as I would be invested in one timeline of the story was when it switched to the other, but still enjoyed it nonetheless.
June 29, 2016
A tale of Batman written by legendary "Dragonlance" author Tracy Hickman? Who could pass that up? "Wayne of Gotham" is a different kind of Batman story in that it focuses heavily upon Batman's father, Thomas Wayne. The Waynes tend to have little narrative purpose in the Batman universe other than to die and thus set Bruce Wayne on his obsessive quest. "Wayne of Gotham" elevates Thomas Wayne to co-equal protagonist, with his plotline in the past paralleling a troubling mystery that Batman/Bruce Wayne now struggles to solve in the present. Like the audience, Bruce Wayne has always known that his parents were good people and that was enough. But when an unknown individual or group begins mind-controlling Gotham's ordinary citizens and super villains alike, Bruce Wayne is made to wonder if there was a side to his father that he never knew... Or would have ever wanted to know.
Hickman draws from various aspects of Batman's different incarnations over the years to create an effective composite version of the Caped Crusader and his world. Like "The Dark Knight Returns," this story deals with an older Batman struggling with the weight of years. Like Christopher Nolan's films, Batman's operation runs on cutting edge military technology and there is hard science behind everything. This may seem like a derivative approach, but Hickman was probably smart for not trying to reinvent the wield. He seems to acknowledge that Gotham City is a sandbox he has been granted generous permission to play in, so he makes liberal use of what he knows will work and what he knows fans will appreciate. This is a good thing because the conclusions this book makes and the alternate view of Thomas and Martha Wayne with which we are presented is quite unorthodox and the feeling of familiar territory definitely softens the blow.
Hickman shines as a technical writer and the reader can tell he is having the time of his life describing Batman's wonderful toys. At home describing the in-depth workings of everything from reactive armor to 1950's hand-cranked cameras, he makes the book worth it for its descriptions alone. I don't know how close to real any of Batman's futuristic weapons and armor are, but Hickman makes it all sound plausible enough to believe in.
Another great feature of this novel are the many cameos by various members of Batman's Rogues Gallery. Some are given full set piece battles, others are only referenced in passing or implied, but all are used artfully and enhance the tangled plot without overshadowing it. Half the fun of reading this book is waiting to see which well-known assailant will try to bring down the Bat next.
"Wayne Of Gotham" is a decent Batman story but it is not without its problems. Other reviewers are critical of Bruce's strained relationship with Alfred, but I found that believable. What I was disappointed in was the lack of attention given to Commissioner Gordon. The novel starts strong out of the gate with Gordon the victim of brainwashing, but other than spending a few minutes impatiently lecturing Gordon on the real facts, Batman never comes back to it and the plot point gets lost altogether. Given how much the two men rely on each other, the fact that Gordon is being used directly against Batman seems like something that should affect him more.
Another problem is the ending. After a huge build-up it comes very abruptly and leaves some gaping plot holes. It was a satisfying end to a good novel, but I wanted more from it. The reveal of who the Big Bad was fell flat as it turned out to be someone in no way scary or intimidating and who should have been no match for Bruce Wayne. When viewed in this light, how they did the things that they did begins to not make sense either. Thomas Wayne gets a far more intense climactic battle in his story arc than Bruce does, and it has all the horror and tragedy that Bruce's confrontation should have. In any other story this wouldn't be a problem. But if your co-protagonist is Batman and you kick more ass than he does, then you'd better be wearing a red cape and a big red S on your chest because otherwise it just doesn't make sense. The events of the denoument also don't make sense as there is no need for Bruce to do the thing at the end of the novel that he does.
So in the end "Wayne of Gotham" is not a perfect novel, but Tracy Hickman has earned every bit of his reputation. He writes masterfully and the story is riveting. This would be a weak novel in many other writers' hands, but it's a strong one in his. If you're looking for a fresh take on the Batman universe and want to see familiar territory revisited in a way that makes thought-provoking and new again, then "Wayne of Gotham" is the right novel for you.
Hickman draws from various aspects of Batman's different incarnations over the years to create an effective composite version of the Caped Crusader and his world. Like "The Dark Knight Returns," this story deals with an older Batman struggling with the weight of years. Like Christopher Nolan's films, Batman's operation runs on cutting edge military technology and there is hard science behind everything. This may seem like a derivative approach, but Hickman was probably smart for not trying to reinvent the wield. He seems to acknowledge that Gotham City is a sandbox he has been granted generous permission to play in, so he makes liberal use of what he knows will work and what he knows fans will appreciate. This is a good thing because the conclusions this book makes and the alternate view of Thomas and Martha Wayne with which we are presented is quite unorthodox and the feeling of familiar territory definitely softens the blow.
Hickman shines as a technical writer and the reader can tell he is having the time of his life describing Batman's wonderful toys. At home describing the in-depth workings of everything from reactive armor to 1950's hand-cranked cameras, he makes the book worth it for its descriptions alone. I don't know how close to real any of Batman's futuristic weapons and armor are, but Hickman makes it all sound plausible enough to believe in.
Another great feature of this novel are the many cameos by various members of Batman's Rogues Gallery. Some are given full set piece battles, others are only referenced in passing or implied, but all are used artfully and enhance the tangled plot without overshadowing it. Half the fun of reading this book is waiting to see which well-known assailant will try to bring down the Bat next.
"Wayne Of Gotham" is a decent Batman story but it is not without its problems. Other reviewers are critical of Bruce's strained relationship with Alfred, but I found that believable. What I was disappointed in was the lack of attention given to Commissioner Gordon. The novel starts strong out of the gate with Gordon the victim of brainwashing, but other than spending a few minutes impatiently lecturing Gordon on the real facts, Batman never comes back to it and the plot point gets lost altogether. Given how much the two men rely on each other, the fact that Gordon is being used directly against Batman seems like something that should affect him more.
Another problem is the ending. After a huge build-up it comes very abruptly and leaves some gaping plot holes. It was a satisfying end to a good novel, but I wanted more from it. The reveal of who the Big Bad was fell flat as it turned out to be someone in no way scary or intimidating and who should have been no match for Bruce Wayne. When viewed in this light, how they did the things that they did begins to not make sense either. Thomas Wayne gets a far more intense climactic battle in his story arc than Bruce does, and it has all the horror and tragedy that Bruce's confrontation should have. In any other story this wouldn't be a problem. But if your co-protagonist is Batman and you kick more ass than he does, then you'd better be wearing a red cape and a big red S on your chest because otherwise it just doesn't make sense. The events of the denoument also don't make sense as there is no need for Bruce to do the thing at the end of the novel that he does.
So in the end "Wayne of Gotham" is not a perfect novel, but Tracy Hickman has earned every bit of his reputation. He writes masterfully and the story is riveting. This would be a weak novel in many other writers' hands, but it's a strong one in his. If you're looking for a fresh take on the Batman universe and want to see familiar territory revisited in a way that makes thought-provoking and new again, then "Wayne of Gotham" is the right novel for you.
February 27, 2017
I have always been a fan or Mr Hickman starting way back in the 80's when I first read Dragonlance. I have also loved the Batman lore of DC.
This take on Batman is phenomenal. Focusing more on the struggles of Bruce Wayne, Hickman takes us on a journey that true Batman fans will love. Old foes and new histories grow into something sinister with an ending that I never saw coming.
Just a great book in the Batman lore and one that I highly recommend if you love Batman.
This take on Batman is phenomenal. Focusing more on the struggles of Bruce Wayne, Hickman takes us on a journey that true Batman fans will love. Old foes and new histories grow into something sinister with an ending that I never saw coming.
Just a great book in the Batman lore and one that I highly recommend if you love Batman.
October 23, 2014
Se você espera encontrar os pais de Bruce como as estátuas de mármore que fazem deles, esqueça este livro! São mais de gesso do que poderíamos imaginar...
E é ruim saber disso? Bem, se você não quiser ler um romance sobre a história de Batman, tente os quadrinhos ou os filmes, pois aqui o autor começa a trama um pouco depois do original de 1939; ele escolhe falar um pouco de Thomas Wayne e de sua relação com o avô de Bruce, Patrick, em meados de 1953. No Prólogo, vemos um lado sombrio e duro de Patrick, em que ele força Thomas a 'ser homem' na base da força...
Em seguida, aparecem personagens das histórias de Batman, como Scarface e uma que fala: "Onde vamos encontrar um herói, Sr. Morcego-da-torre?", e outra que é descrita como tendo "uma cabeleira selvagem... maquiagem desigual... terno roxo... olhos terríveis... voz de cascalho riscando um quadro negro..."; há bastante descrições dos aparatos do Batman, os bat-gadgets: 2 páginas para descrever tanto a bat-roupa quanto o bat-móvel.
O termo que Alfred usa "Jovem" Bruce não é tão bom quanto "Patrão" Bruce, clássico da série animada. Esse mordomo tem também seu passado: ele mentiria para Bruce? E seu pai Jarvis Pennyworth, cuja profissão era de limpar as coisas...
Descobrimos como um não conhecido Thomas Wayne se relaciona com os amigos de uma nada convencional Martha Kane; mais a frente temos um pouco da histórica de Arkham; temos algumas cenas de ação, como o desafio alucinante nos trilhos de Gotham com o bat-móvel.
O livro entrelaça passado e presente mostrando Batman em busca da real história de sua família... mas eu nunca imaginaria Bruce Wayne pedindo socorro!
E é ruim saber disso? Bem, se você não quiser ler um romance sobre a história de Batman, tente os quadrinhos ou os filmes, pois aqui o autor começa a trama um pouco depois do original de 1939; ele escolhe falar um pouco de Thomas Wayne e de sua relação com o avô de Bruce, Patrick, em meados de 1953. No Prólogo, vemos um lado sombrio e duro de Patrick, em que ele força Thomas a 'ser homem' na base da força...
Em seguida, aparecem personagens das histórias de Batman, como Scarface e uma que fala: "Onde vamos encontrar um herói, Sr. Morcego-da-torre?", e outra que é descrita como tendo "uma cabeleira selvagem... maquiagem desigual... terno roxo... olhos terríveis... voz de cascalho riscando um quadro negro..."; há bastante descrições dos aparatos do Batman, os bat-gadgets: 2 páginas para descrever tanto a bat-roupa quanto o bat-móvel.
O termo que Alfred usa "Jovem" Bruce não é tão bom quanto "Patrão" Bruce, clássico da série animada. Esse mordomo tem também seu passado: ele mentiria para Bruce? E seu pai Jarvis Pennyworth, cuja profissão era de limpar as coisas...
Descobrimos como um não conhecido Thomas Wayne se relaciona com os amigos de uma nada convencional Martha Kane; mais a frente temos um pouco da histórica de Arkham; temos algumas cenas de ação, como o desafio alucinante nos trilhos de Gotham com o bat-móvel.
O livro entrelaça passado e presente mostrando Batman em busca da real história de sua família... mas eu nunca imaginaria Bruce Wayne pedindo socorro!
August 29, 2012
This is my first Batman novel (read some graphic ones.) I was a bit hesitant at first as novels like these are usually mediocre and not really that great. I decided to give it a try anyway because I like Tracy Hickman’s work.
I thought it was a pretty good and decent read. I liked how the narrative changed from Thomas’ point of view, then back to Bruce. The mystery involved in the book was good enough to keep me interested. I liked how the story focused on Thomas and Martha Wayne before they got married (Martha seems to have gone wild child! haha!)
There’s also a mystery surrounding Alfred and I thought that was a really good read. It certainly did deepen the mystery further. The relationship between Bruce and Alfred isn’t what I expected. It’s strained, and cool (yet there are reasons why they’re acting like this).
The plot of this book was pretty good. It’s a bit hard to follow as there’s quite a bit of characters to keep track of, but the action scenes are well written and my two favorite villains, Joker and Harley Quinn make an appearance (which was fun reading). The two story arcs of Thomas and Bruce do have a nice way of having it all tie together at the end, and the ending was a great finish.
It’s worth the time to read, the plot was well written, lots of characters (most of whom Batman fans will recognize), and a nice blend of action and mystery make this book enjoyable.
I thought it was a pretty good and decent read. I liked how the narrative changed from Thomas’ point of view, then back to Bruce. The mystery involved in the book was good enough to keep me interested. I liked how the story focused on Thomas and Martha Wayne before they got married (Martha seems to have gone wild child! haha!)
There’s also a mystery surrounding Alfred and I thought that was a really good read. It certainly did deepen the mystery further. The relationship between Bruce and Alfred isn’t what I expected. It’s strained, and cool (yet there are reasons why they’re acting like this).
The plot of this book was pretty good. It’s a bit hard to follow as there’s quite a bit of characters to keep track of, but the action scenes are well written and my two favorite villains, Joker and Harley Quinn make an appearance (which was fun reading). The two story arcs of Thomas and Bruce do have a nice way of having it all tie together at the end, and the ending was a great finish.
It’s worth the time to read, the plot was well written, lots of characters (most of whom Batman fans will recognize), and a nice blend of action and mystery make this book enjoyable.
September 14, 2012
There are certain aspects about Batman that the author really got right, but then the actual plot here isn't really that exciting, which makes the book move a little slowly. As for the overall tone of the book, I think the author was spot on. The book feels very melancholy and sad, which I feel like describes the Batman 'world' very well. Another aspect that was done very well was the description of the cars and gadgets. Batman always has some fantastic gadgets and they were all described in detail here. So if those are the aspects that you enjoy about Batman stories, then you will probably like reading this novel, too.
I think the actual story was a just a little too slow for me. I also wasn't really sure if Bruce Wayne was old, or if he just felt old. His age wouldn't have bothered me at all, but he seemed to be really sad about being old, so it didn't really translate well. It would have been nice if he had been older but defied norms or boundaries about age.
Overall, the story was a little slow, but I think Batman fans would like to add this to their collection.
sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
I think the actual story was a just a little too slow for me. I also wasn't really sure if Bruce Wayne was old, or if he just felt old. His age wouldn't have bothered me at all, but he seemed to be really sad about being old, so it didn't really translate well. It would have been nice if he had been older but defied norms or boundaries about age.
Overall, the story was a little slow, but I think Batman fans would like to add this to their collection.
sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
February 20, 2013
I never read Batman novels. At least not since 1989 when I read the Batman movie novelization. It has always seemed odd when Batman is entirely in print. However, when I saw the author of this book it went on my to read list immediately.
This book will probably get mixed reviews since there are many different takes on Batman. Plus, when he's been around since the 1940s it's hard to get a fresh angle on him. This book manages to find a new angle while combining several past takes on Batman. In this way, the book reminds me very much of Batman: The Animated Series from the 90s. Add to that a hard-boiled style of storytelling and I found myself staying up past midnight when I'd only meant to read one chapter before bed. It seems obvious now that, of course, Batman's self-talk to the reader would be like Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe.
The most compelling aspect of the book is the fleshing out of Bruce Wayne's parents Thomas and Martha. And up until now I didn't know Bruce Wayne's middle name.
I've heard there are two more proposals for future Batman books by Hickman. I'll be putting those on my list, too.
This book will probably get mixed reviews since there are many different takes on Batman. Plus, when he's been around since the 1940s it's hard to get a fresh angle on him. This book manages to find a new angle while combining several past takes on Batman. In this way, the book reminds me very much of Batman: The Animated Series from the 90s. Add to that a hard-boiled style of storytelling and I found myself staying up past midnight when I'd only meant to read one chapter before bed. It seems obvious now that, of course, Batman's self-talk to the reader would be like Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe.
The most compelling aspect of the book is the fleshing out of Bruce Wayne's parents Thomas and Martha. And up until now I didn't know Bruce Wayne's middle name.
I've heard there are two more proposals for future Batman books by Hickman. I'll be putting those on my list, too.
March 7, 2015
What awful dreck. It's essentially a first draft of second rate fan fiction. It's amateurish, hackneyed and ham-fisted. Honestly, it's as if Tracy Hickman pumped the entire manuscript out in a 48-hour novel writing competition and just refused to have anyone alter a damned thing. How it got published is a mystery only the World's Greatest Detective could solve; here's hoping DC licenses a real writer to pen that story.
Here's a sample of Hickman's cringe-worthy prose:
"Batman, it seemed, was the salvation of Gordon's career, so long as Gordon could justify to himself allowing the Batman to exist. It required him to compromise his principles in order to achieve them, a dichotomy that made him question and sometimes hate himself every day. He had come to view the Batman as his friend and yet he hated him-- hated him for the compromise he represented in his life and for the things Gordon was forced to ask this outlaw to do when justice could not be served by the very institutions he had vowed to honor and protect."
Here's a sample of Hickman's cringe-worthy prose:
"Batman, it seemed, was the salvation of Gordon's career, so long as Gordon could justify to himself allowing the Batman to exist. It required him to compromise his principles in order to achieve them, a dichotomy that made him question and sometimes hate himself every day. He had come to view the Batman as his friend and yet he hated him-- hated him for the compromise he represented in his life and for the things Gordon was forced to ask this outlaw to do when justice could not be served by the very institutions he had vowed to honor and protect."
August 30, 2012
I have never read a superhero novel before. I have read a few comics in my times but not many. I have always loved Batman. He is pretty much my favorite superhero, so when my brother let me borrow this book I was kind of excited, and nervous at the same time. I am really glad that I read it. It is a darker version that I thought it would be initially, but true to how I believe Batman should be. It brought in a lot of old favorites and even had some of their background information which I didn't know before. (Kind of sad how much I don't know about the Batman universe.)
Interestingly enough, some of my favorite parts of the story were actually the parts about Thomas Wayne. The story is told from two characters showing what happened in Thomas's time that affects Bruce directly. All-in-all, it was well worth my read and it will probably be one that I read again in a few years.
Interestingly enough, some of my favorite parts of the story were actually the parts about Thomas Wayne. The story is told from two characters showing what happened in Thomas's time that affects Bruce directly. All-in-all, it was well worth my read and it will probably be one that I read again in a few years.
October 28, 2012
It's best to view this novel as an Elseworlds book (remember those?) - basically, stories set out of continuity. It's the only way to stomach the liberties taken with characterization. Even so, it's still distracting when well-loved characters refuse to behave like you've known them to.
The plot is a little too convoluted, going off in all sorts of directions, and I'm not sure if everything ties together properly at the end. It really does get quite messy leading up to the climax, and it doesn't help that there are so many characters who only exist in this novel and aren't established comics characters.
Still, the action is exciting, and everything's fast-paced. The tech geek stuff doesn't feel out of place, since the contemporary comics and films also tend to be tech-heavy.
Besides the characterization, some logic loopholes and annoying typos also mar the reading experience.
The plot is a little too convoluted, going off in all sorts of directions, and I'm not sure if everything ties together properly at the end. It really does get quite messy leading up to the climax, and it doesn't help that there are so many characters who only exist in this novel and aren't established comics characters.
Still, the action is exciting, and everything's fast-paced. The tech geek stuff doesn't feel out of place, since the contemporary comics and films also tend to be tech-heavy.
Besides the characterization, some logic loopholes and annoying typos also mar the reading experience.
September 7, 2018
What in the...
This was an aggressively poor representation of most of the characters in the Batman universe.
*Spoilers*
Thomas Wayne was super into eugenics. Bruce Wayne is a huge dick to Alfred and basically everyone else (If I hear the phrase "So I'm back in short pants, huh Alfred?" one more time...). Alfred is covering up the family's dark past.
I enjoy many different versions of Batman from Adam West's high camp to Frank Miller's grim knight to Morrison's Bat God. This version of Batman seems to miss the most important principles of the character.
If you're a reader who wants Batman but doesn't read comics I guess give it a go. If you enjoy comics then there are hundreds of better Batman reads available than this.
This was an aggressively poor representation of most of the characters in the Batman universe.
*Spoilers*
Thomas Wayne was super into eugenics. Bruce Wayne is a huge dick to Alfred and basically everyone else (If I hear the phrase "So I'm back in short pants, huh Alfred?" one more time...). Alfred is covering up the family's dark past.
I enjoy many different versions of Batman from Adam West's high camp to Frank Miller's grim knight to Morrison's Bat God. This version of Batman seems to miss the most important principles of the character.
If you're a reader who wants Batman but doesn't read comics I guess give it a go. If you enjoy comics then there are hundreds of better Batman reads available than this.
February 25, 2023
This book feels like it was written by a teenager and not proof read. Very under-researched as well. From obvious errors (ie spelling waist like waste, and confusing Bruce for Thomas Wayne in the flashbacks), and the inaccuracies from generally known Batman canon, such as the fact that Alfred himself was in some form of secret service before coming to Wayne Manor, it's giving fake Batman fan talking out of their ass. Don't even get me started on some of the redundancies. Did anyone at DC Comics actually read this before signing off on it? Also, this book could have been at least a third shorter, with the author's Jane Austen-esque over-explaining and detailing of scenery and Batman's equipment. I didn't sign up for 3 pages of every spec on the Batmobile, thanks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2016
I liked the book, but I did not loved it, even though it is about Batman. What happens is that the author was very descriptive in several scenes, he takes several pages just to describe the scene of an escape, whether speaking in detail about the engine of a car. Things I at least didn't want to know. And that made the book very tiring, it takes a very long time reading it, but what kept me going was the mystery of the story. He created a very interesting plot, alternating between the past and the present, in addition to knowing very well the villains and the whole story of the Wayne family.
January 25, 2013
Not your traditional Batman vs. his rogues gallery book. Batman is aging, relying on technology to enhance his batsuit to keep him at top performance. Interesting use of tech for that purpose in the book, as well as for the new batmobile. We get to know more about Bruce's parents and grandfather, and their lives, we get some information about Alfred's family.
Interesting use of the rogues gallery too, but they're not the main antagonists. No, Thomas Wayne's legacy is the main antagonist.
Interesting use of the rogues gallery too, but they're not the main antagonists. No, Thomas Wayne's legacy is the main antagonist.
October 25, 2016
Great book. Not usually a huge Batman fan, but this book was interesting. Got the back story about Bruce Wayne's parents, told in two POV (past and present), we got a lot of detail about what makes Batman tick in this one.
July 27, 2012
Terrible writing, astonishing that he has been involved in the writing of hundreds of books.
January 1, 2014
This is the best Batman fiction I've read. The plot and character development reeled me in right away.
August 16, 2018
Set aside. Not good. Disappointed. Moving on.
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