Creators: Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, James Tynion IV, Jock, Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza, Kyle Higgins, Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, Adam Glass, Ann Nocenti, Gail Simone, Ed Benes, Daniel Sampere, Rafa Sandoval, John Layman, Jason Fabok, Andy Clarke, Eddy Barrows, Timothy Green II, Fernando Dagnino, Brett Booth
Issues: Batman 13-17 & Batman and Robin 15-16 & Nightwing 15-16 & Red Hood and the Outlaws 15-16 & Catwoman 13-14 & Batgirl 13-16 & Suicide Squad 14-15 & Detective Comics 15-16 & Teen Titans 15-16
Spoiler alert! You have been warned!
After the epilogues and over halfway through the requiem storyline, I think it’s safe to say that both the characters and the readers are still reeling from the events of the epic Death of the Family event. But now that I’ve had a chance to go back and reread the entire thing in order, I have to say, it was just as much fun to read in one sitting as it was to wait week after week and speculate with friends and other fellow fans. But Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s masterpiece didn’t just shake up the status quo and add important depth to characters both new and old. It showed that DC really knows what they’re doing with crossovers. Even the weaker parts, in retrospect, were still quite well done.
A couple of standout moments in the Joker’s return to comics were featured in crossover issues, which was a very welcome surprise for me as a lifelong Batman reader. I knew that Snyder and Capullo would make the dialogue and the art as creepy and stylish as humanly possible, but the backup stories by James Tynion IV and Jock in the main Batman title were just as near to perfection as a backup feature can possibly get. And the tie-in issues scripted by Scott Lobdell, Adam Glass, Kyle Higgins, and Peter J. Tomasi were equally powerful. I have to admit, even though I am not a fan of Gail Simone, even her Batgirl issues (which were horrendous) could not ruin the pacing or the flow of this great crossover. Another thing that I didn’t notice on my first reading is just how great the Batman family line has it in terms of excellent and consistent art. These guys really know what they’re doing and their passion and love for the characters really helps stories like this jump off the pages.
Some people argue that this crossover was just a quick way for DC to make some more money, and I would just like to point out three things to those fans. First and foremost, yes, they are a company and the goal of any company, even in comics, is to make money. Secondly, these crossovers were all natural and didn’t ruin any existing stories. In fact, it actually made several of these books (including Catwoman and Batgirl) readable, something that I couldn’t have said before this event started. And lastly, I would also like to point out that the yearly Batman event is a tradition that has been going on in all Batman titles for as long as I have been a reader. Go ahead and go back to the now classic Knightfall storyline if you don’t believe me. It’s tradition. It’s excellent. It’s part of the reason I love Batman to this day. And as usual, the current writers, artists, and editors of Bat-books haven’t lost touch with their characters, their times, or, more importantly, what their fans want. This crossover was amazing and I look forward to the inevitable space that the hardcover collections will take up on my book shelves. Well done, Snyder and company. You’ve deserved every penny you’ve earned from me and fans just like me. And as usual, you’ve delivered on your promises yet again.
My Final Overall Event Rating: 5/5
