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Batman Post-Crisis #56
Batman: DOA
With a deadly poison coursing through his system, the Batman is dying. But before he succumbs, he is determined to save a terrified little girl, though it costs him his last breath...
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
98 people want to read
About the author
Bob Hall
332 books6 followersRobert "Bob" Hall is an American comics artist and writer as well as a playwright and theatre director. He is the co-creator of the West Coast Avengers for Marvel Comics and has worked on such series as Armed and Dangerous and Shadowman, which he both drew and wrote for Valiant Comics.
According to his personal webpage:
BOB HALL: WRITER, ARTIST, AND COMIC CREATOR
I’ve worked in the comics industry for more than forty-five years, starting at Charlton Comics in 1974, illustrating horror stories and drawing covers. That same year I took a course in creating comics taught by the legendary John Buscema and at the end of the class, Buscema recommended me to Archie Goodwin, Editor-In-Chief at Marvel, as a penciler.
I was immediately thrown into drawing a group book, The Champions, written by Bill Mantlo, who graciously mentored me through my first jobs.
Over the next fifteen years, I drew most of Marvel’s Major books and characters, The Champions, Doctor Doom, the Red Skull, The Avengers, The West Coast Avengers, The Squadron Supreme, Spider-man, including Spider-Man meeting the original Saturday Night Live cast, Thor, Nick Fury, Moon Knight, one issue of The New Mutants, and What If Conan Were Trapped In the Twentieth Century, Part 2. I also did a slew of Movie adaptations including Willow, Dark Man, and arguably the worst superhero movie ever, the 1980s Captain America. On the other hand, check out the graphic novel, Emperor Doom, probably my best work for Marvel.
In 1977, Jim Shooter, the new Editor-In Chief, offered me a job as one of a new group of sub-editors. I signed on for a six-month tenure since a stage adaptation I had co-authored, The Passion of Dracula, then running Off Broadway, was due to receive a West End production in London.
There was no question that was going to be there for that.
Those six months in the bullpen gave me opportunity of working with some of the most talented people in the comics field, Shooter, Stern, Salicrup, Giacoia, both Buscema’s, Colan, Janson, Rubenstein, Layton, Marie Severin, Byrne, Jo Duffy, Claremont, others too many to list. I learned more about making comics than any time before or since.
Then in the 1990s, Jim Shooter started a new company, Valiant. Having seen a plays I had authored, he invited me to write and asked me to choose one of four different titles. For me, Shadowman had the most potential, set in New Orleans, featuring a musician and involving voodoo, all stuff I could dig into. I wrote and eventually drew the book for thirty-five issues. It was very successful but was eventually rebooted to support a video game while moved on to I create Armed and Dangerous, a crime series and probably my finest work in comics. It’s hard to find copies but well worth the effort.
Then, in the late 1990s, the comics industry went to hell.
According to his personal webpage:
BOB HALL: WRITER, ARTIST, AND COMIC CREATOR
I’ve worked in the comics industry for more than forty-five years, starting at Charlton Comics in 1974, illustrating horror stories and drawing covers. That same year I took a course in creating comics taught by the legendary John Buscema and at the end of the class, Buscema recommended me to Archie Goodwin, Editor-In-Chief at Marvel, as a penciler.
I was immediately thrown into drawing a group book, The Champions, written by Bill Mantlo, who graciously mentored me through my first jobs.
Over the next fifteen years, I drew most of Marvel’s Major books and characters, The Champions, Doctor Doom, the Red Skull, The Avengers, The West Coast Avengers, The Squadron Supreme, Spider-man, including Spider-Man meeting the original Saturday Night Live cast, Thor, Nick Fury, Moon Knight, one issue of The New Mutants, and What If Conan Were Trapped In the Twentieth Century, Part 2. I also did a slew of Movie adaptations including Willow, Dark Man, and arguably the worst superhero movie ever, the 1980s Captain America. On the other hand, check out the graphic novel, Emperor Doom, probably my best work for Marvel.
In 1977, Jim Shooter, the new Editor-In Chief, offered me a job as one of a new group of sub-editors. I signed on for a six-month tenure since a stage adaptation I had co-authored, The Passion of Dracula, then running Off Broadway, was due to receive a West End production in London.
There was no question that was going to be there for that.
Those six months in the bullpen gave me opportunity of working with some of the most talented people in the comics field, Shooter, Stern, Salicrup, Giacoia, both Buscema’s, Colan, Janson, Rubenstein, Layton, Marie Severin, Byrne, Jo Duffy, Claremont, others too many to list. I learned more about making comics than any time before or since.
Then in the 1990s, Jim Shooter started a new company, Valiant. Having seen a plays I had authored, he invited me to write and asked me to choose one of four different titles. For me, Shadowman had the most potential, set in New Orleans, featuring a musician and involving voodoo, all stuff I could dig into. I wrote and eventually drew the book for thirty-five issues. It was very successful but was eventually rebooted to support a video game while moved on to I create Armed and Dangerous, a crime series and probably my finest work in comics. It’s hard to find copies but well worth the effort.
Then, in the late 1990s, the comics industry went to hell.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 16, 2016
The concept of an unholy trinity of Penguin, Joker and Two Face plotting to kill Batman together was enjoyable. Batman's hallucinatory trips interesting. Artwork decent. Story line average.
This could have delved a lot deeper into the plotting of the villains. Two face steals the show with his flipping coin scene when Gordon and Robin are interrogating them on the poisoning of Batman. Enjoyed Jokers' 'No more drachma for you'. Found Robin's playing a game of chance with Batman's life unbelievable and that the result works in Batman's favour a little too convenient. Also, the entire backstory of Batman saving the kid from the kidnapper a little boring.
A nice read, but not spectacular.
This could have delved a lot deeper into the plotting of the villains. Two face steals the show with his flipping coin scene when Gordon and Robin are interrogating them on the poisoning of Batman. Enjoyed Jokers' 'No more drachma for you'. Found Robin's playing a game of chance with Batman's life unbelievable and that the result works in Batman's favour a little too convenient. Also, the entire backstory of Batman saving the kid from the kidnapper a little boring.
A nice read, but not spectacular.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2019
I just forced myself to finish this book. Did not enjoy reading this. The cover shows Penguin, Joker, and Two-Face but they played a minor role in this story.
December 16, 2025
A fascinating angle to the Batman mythos. Bats is poisoned with a fatal nerve agent and the story recounts his physical and mental decline whilst trying to save a kidnapped girl from a crazy terrorist. Hallucinations and physical collapse are the one enemy while he comes to terms with not being able to function in his mission against the other, more mundane threat. The artwork left a little to be desired in some parts, especially facial close-ups, but, on the whole, a worthy and intriguing addition to the Batman's story. But I do agree with Deepti that it was a bit unbelievable to see Robin betting on Batman's life with Two-Face based on the 50 / 50 outcome of a coin flip!
January 28, 2013
Batman has been poisoned and only has 24 hours left to live. He is determined to finish his last case instead of personally looking for a cure. This is a decent character led story, concentrating on reactions and fears. A good read.
November 6, 2014
I didn't really care for this one.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews