BATMAN: KNIGHTFALL (Bantam Spectra Book)

I was surprised by how many peopled rated this book 4 stars and above. I read both the comic book version and this novelization and I found that the novelized version is an abridged version of the story published in the comics. For instance, the start of the Search plot line actually started in Santa Prisca with an appearance of the Justice League Task force (Bronze Tiger, Green Arrow and Gypsy) but this book completely ignored that and went directly to Monkleigh Hall. Also, at the start of Knight's End, Bruce Wayne was training with Lady Shiva and in the comics, he had to battle through a gauntlet of 7 master artists but this novelized version completely skipped over that. Generally, all three parts - Knightfall, Knight Quest, and Knight's End - all are just abridged versions of the comics. I recommend reading all three omnibus volumes of the Knightfall saga instead of this book. If one must have this book, don't buy the overly expensive version and just get the cheapest used version.

As the editor who largely conceived the storyline in the first place, Dennis O'Neil was best-suited to adapt the story into novel form. While this was fifteen years ago, the book is still an excellent read. Even knowing the story and how it all turns out in the end, it's still a page-turner. At nearly 400 pages, it's a goodly-sized read, but it's divided into three sections. First is the assault on Batman's psyche and body by a new villain, Bane, who can see through all Batman's disguises and subterfuges. Bane ferrets out Batman's secret identity through nefarious means, and he delivers the greatest defeat of Batman's life when he breaks the hero's back.The second section focuses on the times after Bruce Wayne gives up the mantle to Jean Paul Valley, a reformed assassin, so that Gotham will not have to suffer without a Batman. While Wayne seeks to redress some wrongs, at the expense of his own physical recovery, he alienates Alfred. Meanwhile, the new Batman proves himself to be a brutal enforcer of his own moral code, a far cry from the sophisticated detective of the real Batman. Tim Drake is a crucial character, as the newest Robin he served Wayne but is discarded by Valley, and seeks his own path in the meantime.The concluding section deals with Wayne fully-healed and seeking to recover his own sensibilities and confront the new Batman. With help from various friends, the climactic battle is that only in name. The conclusion is excellent and leaps off the page.Wrapping up the book is a fantastic Afterword by O'Neil, actually mostly an essay about Batman and how his evolution has reflected the changing times since his premiere.This is a fantastic book and should be part of any comic-lovers library along with most of the other comic-based novels.

My favorite version of Batman is the one visualized by Dennis O'Neill. I loved the novelized "Death and Return of Superman" by Roger Stern and when I heard the same treatment was given to a Batman property by O'Neill, I was flabbergasted. Thankfully this collector's edition was everything it said it was and I hoped it would be. Can't wait to read it.

I bought this novel shortly after finishing what is now contained in Knighfall Volume 1, which goes all the way up until Jean-Paul Valley, who at this point has taken over as Batman, defeats Bane. This was my first foray into the world of comic books, and so anyone who is a huge fan of the comic book universe should take this review with a grain of salt as there may be some discrepancies between the novel and the comics of which I am not aware.** Minor Spoiler Alert**Those who are unfamiliar with the Knightfall story arc (I'm sure there might be a few of you out there) should be warned that spoilers from the story are contained below.The novel does a wonderful job of combining the entire story arc into one single, fast-paced adventure. The story sticks pretty closely to the comic books in terms of the villains and challenges that Bruce faces. Parts are obviously omitted and condensed for the sake of covering a ton of ground in a relatively short amount of pages, but the characterizations are for the most part spot on. The author's writing style and pacing feel very right for a comic book novel. Descriptions of environments are limited, but the thoughts and actions of the characters are fleshed out very nicely. I actually found the sections with Jean-Paul Valley takes up the mantle of the Dark Knight to be particularly well done as he attempts to balance the lessons Bruce has taught him versus the brainwashing of the Order of Saint Dumas.Of course, the novel is not without some minor quibbles, some of which have been mentioned in previous reviews. Like some other readers, I was slightly bothered by the way the Batmobile has been reduced to a custom Maserati, but by far the biggest complaint I have against the book is its characterization of Bane. The version of Bane we got in the comic books was not only the pinnacle of physical strength, but a brilliant strategic mind and a man as disciplined in the mind as Batman himself. The Bane we have in the novel has completely unnecessary armor plating grafted on under his skin, kills prostitutes for no real reason and doesn't show much at all of the martial arts skill and discipline of his comic book counterpart. The final showdown with Batman feels more like a cheap trick than a climactic finish, which is a letdown after what has been a brilliantly formed and executed plan.Which leads me to my other complaint. In an otherwise very well crafted story, Bane's final defeat of Batman feels like a total letdown. Rather than the epic scene from the comic books where Bane triumphantly throws Batman's body down into a crowd of horrified onlookers, he simply tosses him down into a street where only a few drunks and an old lady are there. What ought to be an incredibly powerful scene winds up being just disappointing.Now I realize that I've said more bad than good in this review, but don't let that sway you. My complaints with Bane primarily stem from the fact that I really liked everything else about the character. Besides, Bane is not the real antagonist of the story anyway; it is Jean-Paul Valley, whose sections as Batman are very interesting and fun to read. The conflict between characters is wonderfully done, the writing is excellent and if you're at all like me, you will have a very difficult time putting it down.

26yrs later and the book looks almost new As if it was read once and just put back on the shelf never to be picked up again brings me back to that “shop rite” where I bought my first copy as a kid mom was hesitant to buy me a $20 book in ‘94 so I had to promise to read it ( mind you I couldn’t afford the whole comic series only was able to buy the new Batman(azerl) in new suit issue) and she bought it and yes it’s was and still is an amazing read

Weather you've read the comic or not you'll enjoy this book. I love the way they fill Bane out in this and how it makes you fill sorry for him when you read his origin, but as he grows up and see the path he takes you change and no longer feel as sorry and the Bane we all know and love has entered, the fact this is all done over a single chapter show how well Dennis O'Neil can write. Even knowing the story (I have the Knightfall comics.) I still felt shocked reading this. I love the fact that during acts 1 and 3 each chapter starts with a picture of the bat logo and as the chapters begin rolling by each new picture opening the next chapter the picture changes showing the fall and rise of the Batman. I know its not a big thing but passing through and seeing them change is such a cool idea i can't help but love and knowing how the whole story plays out it keeps me excited and looking forward to the rest of the story. I've read this book a few times in the short time i've had it and can safely say that every batman fan must have this book.

Overall, a great read and one of my favourite Batman stories. I particularly liked the way in which it fleshed-out Banes character, and provided his origin story. The only problem is that the first third of the story is so good, that what follows afterwards has trouble maintaining the standard.

Good story

Brilliant book, read it a few months back and can't recommend it enough.It does tail off as a story a little towards the end but this is without a doubt the best batman novel I have read.

Was told besides NO MANS LAND this is the next best novel... It's not as good as No Mans Land and some of the stories drag on and fall apart... but I read the whole thing... and liked the start with the intro to BANE..