The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby

"So We Drove On toward Death in the Cooling Twilight"

The main story -- a romantic man's doomed attempt to recapture the love of an immature woman -- was less enthralling than expected. Daisy seemed hardly worth all the trouble Gatsby took, and for that matter, neither did entry into her world. She was a cipher. The use of a narrator to connect the various characters was interesting; how could the book have been written otherwise? But at times the plot felt contrived, as with the switching of cars and an accident, and the symbolism around the valley of ashes seemed heavy-handed. Other than the passive narrator, the people lacked even a small degree of self-awareness. The only one really sure of himself throughout was the brutal, self-centered Tom, for me the strongest character. It was the lesser details in this novel that were enjoyed most. A montage at the end of the second chapter in which the drunken narrator moved from an elevator, to a bedroom, to Penn Station. A mansion housing a library of books with their pages uncut. The vapidity of a man who tried to act out his limited idea of the good life but had little of interest to say and thought San Francisco was in the Middle West. Dogged efforts at self-improvement linked to shallow goals. A shady character eating with "ferocious delicacy." The way Daisy conveyed her love for a character in just a few words said lightly in front of her husband. The class disdain someone like Tom felt for the main character -- he couldn't be an Oxford man because he wore a pink suit. The gust of hot shrubbery from Central Park wafting through the upper windows of the Plaza Hotel. The author's description of how it felt to reach 30. And the concluding paragraphs, which can still move despite the superficiality of the people portrayed.

Simply the Greatest Novel Ever Written

Simply the Greatest novel ever written. Long before the hamptons and hedge funders...Fitzgerald captured summer on long island: a story of love amongst those who are rich and those who want to be rich, mix in sunshine, sand, water and some rum. Still going on nearly 100 years later.

Two good pages

What has perhaps seduced some into thinking that The Great Gatsby is a "great novel" is that it does go after great themes, and was written by a talented writer. If you want to get a sense of Fitzgerald's talent, read his short stories: they crackle with life, excitement, and unlike this novel, have stories that pull you in and move you along hypnotically. Gatsby does not. It is like a great suspension bridge for which the pillars have been laid (the "great themes") but at no time was attention given to putting down the road itself--any plot or characters we can get our teeth into. It is a punishing bore. And I suppose those who like it are those who are so entranced by well-weighted sentences that they can get caught up in it easily. There are two well written pages, especially his description of the people traveling from Minnesota to the East. Those of us who demand more--and I don't think there's anything wrong with demanding an interesting plot!--are quite numerous, and for us, the rest of the book is unbearable. Yes, the theme is potentially great. But the book, like a failed suspension bridge, is a disaster.

Brilliant

It had been years since I first read this classic. What a treat to visit it again. I also loved Michele Cozzens'A Line Between Friends. Two great reads this summer.

Wanted to know 300 words fun purchase detail

The following is a cut-up of other one-star reviews of this product. Exciting needs to stretch the mind. Mass-produced tickertape parade of sleeping pills. It needs to use sci-fi interest. Imagination murder is what makes the mind. A man spliced together out of old newsreels. 1920s self pity is a wonderful thing. View love in a distant manner.

Keyword : textbook

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

A great writing resource!

This book is proving to be a valuable resource for outlining the writing "rules of the road". I'm in the midst of writing my doctoral dissertation and the APA Manual has proved extremely useful for learning the proper way to cite references from various sources (like telephone conversations), use combinations of unusual punctuation (should the comma go inside or outside this parentheses?), and for presenting statistical output and tables. I can see it continuing to be a useful reference for writing articles in professional journals as well since it offers guidance on writing manuscripts and authorship (which is a topic that can bring collaborators to fisticuffs!) I highly recommend this book!

APA MANUEL fifth edition

The best thing that I ever did was to purchase the APA Manuel. It has helped me with formating and the proper way to cite in text and referance in APA format. This book is much better than the Diane Hacker book on APA.

Evil But Necessary

This is one of the most cumbersome and difficult to navigate reference books out there, and it is notorious for being so. I highly suggest getting an APA formatting program for writing your papers using this style. I use APA PERRLA myself, and love it. You will still need to refer to the publication manual for your more rarely used reference types, etc. Unfortunately, it's a necessary evil.

For All College Students!

This book is required for all college students pursing a degree in any major. It may not see like the most interesting book to have on your shelf, but is crucial when writing college papers. It is an essential tool you will be glad you have for reference. Merna Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!

Confusing, and hard to use

I bought this book because most of the internet guides are not comprehensive enough to cover specifics addressed in this book. I agree with other users that say this book lists material on the same topic in multiple places, requiring you to waste time checking around for something you think you remember seeing before. The index needs to be re-done, something I hope they fix for the next edition. Electronic resources are very generally addressed.

Keyword : textbook

Wisdom from the Batcave: How to Live a Super, Heroic Life

Wisdom from the Batcave: How to Live a Super, Heroic Life

amazing book!!!

In a couple of words this is one of the best books ever written!! I have used the lessons from this book in my life many times and I plan to keep doing that.. Read it and you will thank me!! Enjoy Moe

Wisdom from the Author!

Hear an interview with Wisdom from the Bat Cave author Rabbi Cary Friedman on The Book of Life podcast's September 2007 episode "Seeing Through New Eyes," at www.bookoflifepodcast.com!

Atomic batteries to power....turbines to speed....

I love this book! Clear and concise, Rabbi Friedman lays down a compelling argument, not only that comic books can be a valuable reference for lessons in life, but that one needn't be talented, smart, or extraordinary in any way in order to achieve goals and inspire others. With a telling style and subtle (mostly) humor, Rabbi Friedman ennumerates the many personal and interpersonal struggles that we encounter within our everyday lives, and how we can overcome them. Read it, and be prepared to feel invigorated in yourself!

With great wisdom comes a great book....

This slim, unassuming volume packs a major spiritual punch. Cary Friedman, never conceding to the darker forces of either the self-help or comic genre, offers a genuinely unique and sorely-needed take on the true meaning of heroism. Drawing inspiration from his clearly sincere enthusiasm for the Batman character, Friedman provides pragmatic yet profound suggestions for true life transformation. Fans of comics will love this book, but even those who have never picked up a comic book in their lives will find it deeply wise and (not insignificantly), very entertaining. An absolute must-read for all!!

Thoroughly enjoyable & enriching; not just for Batman fans

This book is truly wonderful: inspiring, energizing, funny, and rewarding, and not just for Batman fans. Friedman takes examples from the caped crusader's adventures, identifies the qualities that make him heroic and admirable, and shows us how to apply them to our own lives. With this simple, brilliant premise he has constructed possibly the most enjoyable self-help book ever. Not at all preachy or tongue-in-cheek, "Wisdom" is refreshingly readable and, though delivering a serious and profound message, doesn't take itself too seriously. Liberally illustrated with scenes from key Batman comics over the years, this slim volume serves the dual purpose of showing us how to lead a more noble, fulfilling life, and reminding us (or showing us for the 1st time) why the Batman is such an important and enduring character. Endorsements from legendary and contemporary comic book pros Dennis O'Neil, Steve Englehart, Neal Adams, Roy Thomas, Joe Kubert, Chuck Dixon, Ed Brubaker and many more drive the point home: this book rules, and is well worth your time!

Keyword : batman

Batman: Death in the City

Batman: Death in the City

CONSISTENTLY GOOD STORIES FROM DINI

The latest Batman trade paperback collects Detective Comics issues #827 - 834. This isn't one continuous storyline as the back description might have you believe but rather a few stories which are tenuously linked. The opening tale, "Double Talk" features the return of Scarface, with a new ventriloquist pulling the strings, no pun intended. Batman goes undercover to find out who the new villain is...In the second story, "Shark Bite" Batman and the Riddler are both on the trailer of a killer who murdered an old friend of Bruce Wayne's. One of the best stories is the two parter called "Siege." Bruce Wayne is hosting an anti-terrorism conference at Wayne Towers with several world leaders when a series of explosions rocks the building. A terrorist using a gun that shoots out a liquid explosive is fully intent on bringing Wayne Tower down ala the Twin Towers. This was a great story. Batman along with Robin were at their most resourceful in tracking down and trying to stop the terrorist, But then, how do you stop a man who is on a suicide mission? Dini shows Bruce Wayne and Batman at his best, utilizing all his skills and Robin is calm and collected, even when his life is in great peril. The new Ventriloquist returns in "Kind of Like Family." Harley is turned down for parole with Bruce Wayne casting a deciding vote to keep her locked up. Scarface breaks Harley out of prison to use her skills in a major heist. Harley has to decide whether to aid Scarface and be free, or if she wants to truly gain her release through legal channels. One of the better depictions of Harley the person rather than Harley the villain that I've read. The final story is the two-part "Trust." Batman teams with Zatanna to investigate the death of one of the Zatanna's former assistants. But the magician responsible for her death turns out to be something much more sinister than Batman had bargained for. Dini's story features a good deal of tension between Batman and Zatanna as a result of the events in identity Crisis and the pair are finally able to reconcile. It's also revealed for the first time that her father Zatara was friends with Bruce Wayne's father, Thomas and worked on various charitable functions with him. Dini shows a remarkable consistency as Detective Comics writer. While none of them may be earth-shatter, his tales are always solid and that shows in this volume as there isn't a clunker on the whole lot. The art is excellent throughout but I enjoyed Don Kramer's work on "Kind of Like Family" the most. He brought a certain charming innocence to Harley Quinn that made the story stand out.

Not what I expected.

For me, this book seemed to much like the Batman animated series. The stories were not very "dark" and they just didn't seem as hard edged as I would like a Batman story to be (or as the cover would lead you to beleive). The art in this book seems very average. Nothing special with that. A couple people die, there is some blood, and Batman appears to be a pretty good detective, but I just wasn't that impressed. I would recommend this book to a child between the ages of 8-10 or to someone who was a fan of the cartoon.

Dini Has Does it Again

Dini has done it yet again! The mastermind behind Batman the Animated Series, Batman Beyond and even more famous DC animated shows takes his spellbinding writing to the next level in this intensely beautiful and interesting graphic novel. Not only are the stories filled with loads of twists and turns but the art by J.H. Williams III, another alumni of DC fame, delivers the characters you know and love with breathtaking art. This book will be worth the money and I'm sure you'll read more than once.

A GREAT READ!!!!

I AM A HUGE BATMAN FAN, THAT BEING SAID, I AM BIASED AS TO ANYTHING BATZ RELATED, BUT I AM ALWAYS WARY NO MATTER WHAT TOWARDS STORY(1st)& ART (2nd). OVER THE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN BATMAN STORIES WITH A GREAT STORY WITH TERRIBLE ART, AND GREAT ART WITH TERRIBLE STORIES. THIS BOOK HAS GREAT STORIES AND GREAT ART...I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM COMICS FOR AWHILE NOW...I HAVE A HUGE BATMAN AND BATMAN FAMILY COLLECTION OF COMICS AND BOOKS, AFTER I SAW BATMAN BEGINS, I WAS SUCKED BACK IN AGAIN. PAUL DINI ISNT THE SOLE WRITER IN THIS COLLECTION, AND THEIR IS MORE THAN 1 ARTIST CONTRIBUTING...BUT THE WHOLE MASS OF TALENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A GREAT ADDITION TO THE BATMAN MYTHOS. CUDOS!!!

Outstanding

Having been a Batman fan for many years, I've found the Dini stories begun in the "Batman:Detective" collection refreshing. The stories return to Batman's sometimes overlooked role as the world's greatest detective. These are stories, tales, intimate looks into the intellectual (and human?) side of Batman. Watch as he forms uneasy alliances with former foes . . . and former friends. My favorite tale involves Batman and Zatanna teaming up to solve a case that brings about a deadly encounter with an unexpected foe. The plot weaves together a mystery with a touching story from Bruce Wayne's past. The image of Zatanna as a girl blowing magical bubbles, and its reappearance in Batman's mind during a certain scenario bring a chill. The splash pages in between stories rivet me everytime - the black and white images bring out the most stunning emotions. If you like the artwork and the effects it brings to the stories, check out some of the "Batman: Black and White" collections. This book does nicely on its own, but when you read it in conjunction with the "Detective" collection, it takes on a unique flavor that leaves you hungry for more.

Keyword : batman

Absolute Dark Knight

Absolute Dark Knight

The Dark Knight Returns is Essential even for non-comic reading book fans.

A one-two punch of a set in one amazing volume. There are examples of a medium that so much represent the best there is that it transcends the traditional audience. The Dark Knight Returns, the first of two volumes in this set, is such a work. The 15-years between it's sequel, The Dark Knight Rides Again, seem to change the momentum. While it is sometimes fun and always interesting, it is merely a ride-along compared to the first volume. Bottom line, this is worth it alone for The Dark Knight Returns- the sequel is just icing. There are two odd omissions here- one was the Frank Miller Batman:Year-one story and the other was his Batman x-mas short.

Perhaps Absolute, But Far From Ultimate

I'm sorry that I have to be the little skunk at this garden party. I can not share the enthusiasm for this edition which many reviewers have expressed. In fact, I discourage you discriminating collectors from buying this, as it is notably flawed. I was compelled to buy this by the publisher's product description which claimed that it "set the standard for high quality." As a book collector I love buying these ultra-deluxe editions of all types of subject matter. Recent examples in the comics genre would include: The Deluxe Edition of Frank Miller's Sin City; The Complete Far Side; The Complete Calvin and Hobbes; The Completely Mad Don Martin. Each of these sets is packaged in a very impressive manner: cloth-bound; slip-cased; tipped-in plates on the covers, super-high quality paper. I presumed this Absolute Dark Knight was going to be be in this same spirit, and given the high price (even when discounted by Amazon) I was confident the book would exceed my expectations for quality. Alas, I was wrong. This large, heavy book is bound in a shiny-paper cover, just like the covers you had on your Dr. Suess books x-number of years ago. These covers get dinged up very easily and look cheap and cheesey from day one. The slip case? It is also covered only in thin shiny paper, and if this book gets any real usage at all it will look like garbage very promptly. And, with the heavy weight, this book is particularly susceptible to damage because when you bump it, there is more inertia behind it. And the torque pulling on the binding and spine from merely reading it is considerable. This production concept MANDATED quality construction, and the idiots who produced it are hoping the majority of consumers are not scrutinizing enough to note, or care about, the compromises. And it is further infuriating when you realize this malfeasance was motivated merely by the desire to shave a few bucks off the production costs. I should admit this issue of cheap book-making is a huge one for me, and I think once people make the distinction it is a big issue for them as well. Cloth covers (or "buckram," as they are often called), will last for decades even with heavy use. As the cover ages it even takes on some character which arguably enhances the book, or at least it does not detract. With the cheap paper-covered cardboard covers used on so many books nowadays, the cover get scraped, dented, dinged, and otherwise degraded in an amazingly short time. If you spend any time in used-books stores, or on Advanced Book Exchange (abe.com), you can see the difference in appearances, and dollar values, displayed vividly. If they had put a quality cover on this it almost certainly would have become a highly-valued collectable ten or twenty years from now. But, no, they cut a significant corner, and instead this will probably be only of nominal value. Or, perhaps, it will be of virtually no value if they get around to doing it right in an upgraded edition which really does deliver the quality which the subject matter deserves. Meanwhile, I'm sending this right back to Amazon.

I'm a casual comics reader ... disappointed

I was given a $100 gift card to Amazon, so I splurged and purchased this book without knowing the author's work (I know he created Sin City, but never read it), without knowing its significance in terms of how it impacted comics from this point on, etc. I'm judging this purely in terms of how much I enjoyed it as a long time Batman fan BUT casual comic reader. I didn't like it at all. First, the story arc was disappointing ... I didn't feel that it best represented Bruce Wayne's character at an advanced age. There were some interesting story elements for sure, but the quality of the writing was a huge disappointment and the artwork -- both the drawing and the coloring -- was really bad. I know it was supposed to be stylized and such -- and there are glimpses of brillance, like the front cover for example -- but panel to panel it was difficult to enjoy. If you're a die hard Frank Miller fan, I'm sure you see things quite differently and perhaps this isn't the best representation of his work. This title simply didn't resonate with me.

First batman story ever read

Well this is the first batman comic i ever picked up. There are some others now on my list, but this one was a fantastic read. Frank Miller really knows how to make batman one dark character. Can't believe how lucky i am to have picked this one up. First half of the book, i was really empressed, how gritty and grungy everything looked and went so well with the mood miller was setting. The story was fantastic, although recruiting a new robin when your really that old, kinda makes you wonder. Made me laugh really, seems robin always has to be someone young. So batman can um, mold them properly and what not ;-). Second half of the book was great too, but not as great, made batman look like more of an A-hole. As well as making some of the other dc characters who appear look naive, whiny and push over (ya im talking about superman, you'll find out why if you read it) I have to say that the art at times was funny, wonder women really looked like a tranny who hadn't gotten the rest of her plastic surgery done. It cracked me up everytime she appeard. Anyway, for any batman fan, or any person who's a comic fan, this is a great addition to any collection. I love the absolutes, this one goes well with my Absolutes (kingdom come, crisis of infinte earths, Authority 1,2) I look forward to purchasing more of the absolute comics!

Great Compilation

A well put together bundle of both the classic and the new graphic novels with a few extras. Very Impressive packaging (coffee table worthy).

Keyword : batman

Justice, Vol. 3

Justice, Vol. 3

Excellence

My goodness, what a finale! This Ross series is amazing. From Art to Writing to Characterization. Truly amazing and highly recommended. It's easy to get into this story because it's self contained. Meaning, if you buy Volume one and Volume two, you'll follow and Volume 3 will be a satisfying finale. Much can be said about such "elseworlds" stories, but the story is what matters and the story in JUSTICE is truly magnificent. Highly recommended

part three of an awesome collection

This whole series has amazing artwork and story that keeps up. It was hard not to just read the entire session as was with all three books of this series. FYI each book contains four comics in the twelve part series that makes up the whole thing. If there is not an image that you believe the entire book is as detailed as the cover or any page you can see on the view inside. I was a little worried with how good the first two were that the end would disappoint but it stays strong, and true to the first two books.

very good buy

This whole series has amazing artwork and story that keeps up. It was hard not to just read the entire session as was with all three books of this series. FYI each book contains four comics in the twelve part series that makes up the whole thing. If there is not an image that you believe the entire book is as detailed as the cover or any page you can see on the view inside.

more joker

really enjoyed this series, especially the art. i know it's kind of a take-off on super friends, but like blue oyster cult and the cowbell, it needed more joker

Concluding Chapter To One Of DC's Best Epics

Reprinting Nos. 9-12 of the semi-Elseworlds (i.e. non-continuity) epic "Justice", Volume 3 of the saga is a conclusion that lives up to everything promised by events in the first two collections. It's pretty much impossible to discuss this without going into the previous events, so I'm just going to assume that people reading this will be familiar with Volumes 1 and 2. Which in a way makes a review or endorsement superfluous; it's hard to imagine that anyone who read both previous collections (or all 8 previous issues, whichever the case may be) won't want to be around for the finale. If one is hesitant that the series won't be able to satisfactorily resolve itself, there's nothing to worry about here - the quality established before doesn't drop off one bit. It's seemed apparant from the beginning that there was going to have to be a mammoth battle between the superheroes and their legion of A-List adversaries, and although there are more angles in the final chapters than just that titanic confrontation, the battle itself does come. And pays off in spades, delivering one of the greatest head-on clashes in comics history. Meanwhile, revelations as to true objectives, clashes between former allies, and shifting loyalties as certain of the bad guys aren't sure they want to go all the way with this once certain facts come out, provide other facets of the climax to co-exist with the big showdown. The first two volumes posed some big questions. On the question of why, in a world with Superman-level beings, the world still has the problems it does, isn't definitively answered (and I suspect that the point may be that a definitive answer for something like that is pretty elusive in any world) but it certainly comes off seeming a lot more complicated than when Luthor first posed the question, seeming to argue that if the Justice League really wanted to, they could wipe out the world's ills overnight. I don't want to say too much about the resolution, and it's easy to talk around it because a lot of things are left open to interpretation, but in places it seems like the answer might in part be, in fact, Luthor and those like him. Back in writing about Volume 1 I said that I'd always assumed the supervillains and other mega-threats provide such a counter-balance to the JLA and their peers that it gets in the way of solving the bigger problems: every time Superman delivers an emergency aid shipment or overnight carves out irrigation tunnels for some drought-stricken part of the world, an Imperiex probe (or some similar threat) crashes down somewhere else and creates the same problem over again, so the net change isn't as great as it could otherwise have been. One is left to wonder: did any of the 'villains' actually believe the lines Lex had them delivering in Volume 1, and what would their inner reaction be to the idea that the superheroes might actually be able to pull off so much more for the world if it wasn't for exactly the kind of scheme they're hatching here, always taking up so much of the herores's and the world's combined efforts? Some non-spoiler thoughts on the whole series, now that I'm doing a writeup for the finale. One thing that's immediately noticeable in "Justice", although I think I forgot to mention it before, is that with the bad guys - many of whom have been through a number of incarnations during their existance - this book really went for the intimidating and scary look on many of them: just check out Grodd, Bizarro and especially Solomon Grundy (awesome depiction). Even Toyman's contraptions are disturbing: nightmarish corruptions of children's puppets. Second, it's great to see less obvious picks like the Metal Men and Elongated Man really shing alongside the JLA heavyweights in here. Also, what's been done with this version of Lex Luthor is simply brilliant. There are such glaring differences between the way he presents his case early on and what he truly feels. See the scene in Volume 1 where Luthor and some of his allies appear as giant holographic projections and address the Earth's general public; then compare that to when the cornered but still defiant Luthor is making a very different case to Batman, apparantly speaking his mind this time about his motivations. Any normal person would be taken aback by Lex's ruthlessness, but Lex himself believes it makes him noble, that he's actually the biggest humanitarian in all of this. By the same token, you can take the disturbing attitude Luthor displays toward those ordinary humans who went and placed their trust in him after Volume 1's speech, and compare it with the more flattering sentiments toward Lex and his allies, being expressed (in # 10, in this volume) by the Indian girl in her letter, who sees things in a much more benevolent light, and seems to feel that her and others' trust in the 'former' supervillains has payed off and that they've proven the new image of themselves to be sincere. Luthor has schemed to gain the respect and confidence of the world's people, but sees it as a weakness on their part when they give it to him. And sees no contradiction between this and his view of himself as humanity's benefactor. Although Lex hardly comes off smelling like a rose, there is that balance there where, to him, his reasons make perfect sense; and that balance has been applied to a lot of the villains. On one hand, one of the book's themes serves as a counter-arguement that society brings its misfortunes on itself and that the actual perpetrators aren't the bad guys (a view that seems eerily close to Luthor's own logic, and is vehemently opposed by Superman and Batman in both the tale itself and in the back-of-the-books profiles they've contributed outlining various characters); on the other hand it nuances the villains; one of Luthor's allies in one especially entertaining scence appears decidely less than impressed with Lex's true thoughts and goals making themselves known, for example. It would take pages more to go into all the subtext indepth, but the bottom line is that all the characters in here - from champs like Superman and Wonder Woman to the most dastardly of the baddies - are handled in their portrayals with detail, insight and respect from writers and artists who obviously care as much about the DC Universe as we, its fans, do. There were other points I was going to make but I'm running out of space, and I could never make them as eloquently as the characters and tale itself - and Krueger, Ross, Braithwaite and the rest of the guys who put it on paper for us - do. Bottom line - "Justice" is one of DC's alltime standouts. Highest possible recommendation for all three volumes.

Keyword : batman

Batman and Son

Batman and Son

Few ups, and downs

Batman's son Damian is where lots of conflict, and central part of the story happens. Batman will have to more or less "babysit" his own child, but its a child that has been taught the exact opposite of everything he (Batman) believes in. Damian is selfish, spoiled, nearly uncontrollable, alpha male which leads to a heated moment or 2 between him, Robin, the rest of the Bat family, and he believes its ok to kill which is a big no no for old Bats. The biggest flaw besides the annoying character Damian, and the semi stupid (or completely stupid) Ninja-Man-Bats of the story however is the fact that Grant Morrison didn't do his research properly because he didn't read Son of the demon, or at least looked it up on wikipedia. Because of that he comes up with a last minute excuse as to why Damian's origins changed from being a regular child who Talia gave birth to, to being raised in a artificial womb (stupid indeed). His excuse as to why the origins changed was the same way Jason Todd was brought back to life because reality was altered by Superboy Prime , which was a horrible way in itself, and was used again in this case. Another BIG flaw is how things are put together in this book. You should check out Grant Morrison's entire run on Batman for more details closure, etc, on these, and other stories of Batman. I agree with one of the reviews that says this is only part of the story, and was questioning why DC put out the books the way they did. Grant Morrison said that you should read his entire run to get the best of Batman's stories, as each of his story's connects with each other in more way than one. A bit confusing, but more or less mandatory to get the full effect of Batman and Son, and the other stories he wrote with in the last 2 or so years involving Batman. Trust me... there is a lot more to this story especially with the "3 ghosts of Batman", and "Batman RIP" story lines On a good note though, while Damian is annoying, it brings out some of the best parts of the story. The heat, and tension between him, Robin, Alfred, and Batman are all somewhat hilarious, and keeps you waiting to see what this little jerk will do next. Also there is a great piece of dark comedy at the beginning of the story with Gordon in the hospital still feeling the effects of Jokers gas (a side story is involved). While the Ninja Bats may be a stupid idea, ironically it also brings out some of the best action in the story with Batman trying to fight them off. For the final good note this book also contains issues 663-666 which are all great short stories consisting of Damian becoming Batman in the future. Joker returns in a story that reads more like a magazine with some art rather than a comic which may turn comic fans off. Also a story where Batman is confronted by a monster of a person that has a resemblance to himself and Bane. Sounds cool huh? All in all Batman and Son is ok with a few funny, heated moments, with a little action peppered in, and artwork that isn't great, but gets the job done. The other stories that come along with the book are great if not good, and adds more reading time for your buck. Not saying you should buy it, but its entertaining enough to at least check out before you do or don't spend money on it.

BET MY LIFE ON IT!!!!!!!!

I would bet my life that this was one of the best writing stuff on batman. Mr. Morris very does a wonderfull work of writing this book. IT was a great read and im a math guy but i could it again and again. they is a part of the book tat is just writing like a short storys maybe im going overborad but i feel that is one of the best parts of writing in the last 10 years!!!!!!!!!!

Just part of the story...

This collection includes two storylines, or more like one and a half, which were originally released in the Batman comic series. The first storyline is about Batman discovering he has a son, and the second one is about Batman discovering and going up against two evil Batman impostors. Then there are two short throwaway stories which each took up one issue of the original comic series. The main problem with this collection is that the second major storyline continues in the comics, but is cut in half here, and we see only the first half of it here in this collection. DC is releasing a second collection of Grant Morrison's Batman run later in 2008. I believe it is titled The Black Glove. It will have a similar structure to this collection in that it will have a self contained story (The Black Glove), followed by the second half of the storyline about the Batman imposters. I don't know why DC chose to release these books this way. Having read the entire imposter Batman storyline, I think it is really great. But reading half of it, without the end, just seems useless. I wish that DC had instead decided to release a collection of that complete storyline by itself, and put the two shorter Batman and Son, and The Black Glove stories together in a seperate book, instead of splitting the imposter story between two books. But I would encourage anybody who is confused by the last part of Batman and Son to keep their eyes peeled for The Black Glove later this year. It will be worth the wait. I have thoroughly enjoyed Grant Morrison's writing on the Batman title. It is sophisticated, dark and gritty, yet the affection between Batman and the people closest to him in his life (Robin, Alfred and Commish Gordon) is clearly evident, and is something that this title has needed for a long time. It really seems like there are emotional bonds between the people in this book and it makes them seem more human and more vulnerable, which makes the threats against them even more threatening. It's the contrasts that make this book. Grant Morrison is one of the greatest writers that comics has ever seen. If his Batman is too dark for you, and you would like something lighter and full of wonder, try his All-Star Superman. It's great also.

Morrison is absolutely lost with Batman....

This is one of the worst runs in Batman in the last 5 years. And I've been following Batman for at least the last 15 years. I don't know what Morrison thinks. First he brings back the son of Batman.... and he didn't even read "Son of the Demon". Ever. And then Bat - ninjas...? Please. THIS STORY AND THE ONES TO COME WERE THE REASON I CANCELLED MY SUBSCRIPTION TO BATMAN. The only good story was the Joker's one. That's the reason I'm giving 1 star.

Another exciting entry in Batman legend.

I really like the story of Batman and Talia Ghul & her secret son. The artwork is terrific and I really like the Interlude story. But somehow I'm a bit confused with the ending. Overall, this is another good entry in Batman legend.

Keyword : batman