Wednesday, May 06, 2020

Booknote: Batman: Death Mask

Yoshinori Natsume, Batman: Death Mask. New York: DC Comics, 2008. ISBN: 9781401219246.

Genre: manga
Subgenre: superheroes, Batman
Format: paperback
Source: I own this one. Bought it at Half Price Books.


At the time, this manga was the author's American comics debut. It's a story that links the present day with Batman's past. After his parents were murdered, Bruce Wayne traveled the world to train and to learn the skills that would lead him to become Batman. For a time, he trained in martial arts in Japan. While there, he saw his own dark side (some would say he had to do some serious shadow work) and faced a mystery with a masked individual. Years later in Gotham City, a Japanese businessman who collects ancient masks brings  back the past for Bruce Wayne. Plus the businessman's female assistant reminds Bruce of someone from long ago.

The story sounds good, but the plot in this manga can get a bit convoluted and confusing at times. Transitions between the past and present can be a bit jarring, and the story does start a bit slow. However, once the pace picks up it gets better. The art is very good in this one. The manga style does look good on Batman. In the end, I liked it. If you want a different kind of Batman story, this is worth a look.

3 out of 5 stars.

This book qualifies for the following 2020 Reading Challenges:







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