Yeah it feels like an odd complaint, but Im not a fan of this binding style at all. Anything close to the centerfold and you need to stretch the book way more than you want to.
Batman: Creature of the Night #1
| Writer | Kurt Busiek |
| Artist | John Paul Leon |
| Cover Price | $5.99 |
Young Bruce Wainwright lost his parents in a violent crime...and in the real world, no superheroes exist to save the day. But as grief and rage builds inside Bruce until he feels he can't keep it inside anymore, something strange starts taking wing in the Gotham night! Perhaps Bruce's grief isn't inside him after all? Modern masters Kurt Busiek and John Paul Leon unite for the spiritual companion to the beloved SUPERMAN: SECRET IDENTITY, putting a new spin you've never seen before on the legend of Batman-and the dark emotions that drive him!
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
On Comics Ground - Luis Cruz
Nov 22, 2017Writer Kurt Busiek is writing pure gold and the art of Johan Paul Leon is just perfect for this book. It gives you that nostalgic feel of reading an old comic book, which makes you feel like a kid again; that is why it meshes so well with how Mr. Busiek tells his dark and emotional story. "Bruce. Safe. You Safe." Read Full Review
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10
Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield
Nov 26, 2017It's an oddball book that isn't likely to have any bearings on the DCU in the future, but it's also a great entry-level comic for DC's magical characters. Read Full Review
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10
DC Comics News - Shean Mohammed
Nov 27, 2017Buy, as this book elevates the mythos of Batman, examining for the reader how the impressions of both being a meta and fictional figure affects real world consequences. Read Full Review
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10
Comics: The Gathering - Michael D
Nov 29, 2017Batman: Creature of the Night is a breathtaking book. The story will pull you in and make you feel for Bruce in a way that you haven’t before in a Batman book. This book has the potential to be the best book of the year. This needs to be on everyone’s pulllist. Read Full Review
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10
Comicosity - Keith Callbeck
Nov 29, 2017Destined to sit with the great Batman stories, this is a must-read. With echoes of its narrative big brother, Superman: Secret Identity, Creature of the Night is a beautiful story well told. Read Full Review
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10
The Batman Universe - Jessica Nilo Alves
Nov 29, 2017Busiek strips the most traditional comic hero origin story to its very essence, leaving us with a Bruce that is a lonely, traumatized little boy, and a Batman that is a frightening shadow of the night and a product of Bruces psyche. Such bareness of soul serves to remind us that, despite the current tendency of making him an all-knowing, larger-than-life character, Batman in deep down a product of a broken spirit trying desperately to heal. And that is what makes him so fascinating. Read Full Review
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10
Black Nerd Problems - Brandon Lawrence
Dec 06, 2017This creative team of Kurt Busiek, John Paul Leon, and Todd Klein put together a hauntingly beautiful comic about trauma and wonder, connecting on a visceral level to the comic book fan. This comic could very well have been a one-shot and I would be satiated. Our cup runneth over, though, as this creative team will bless us with a full miniseries. A comic like this is pure perfection and the standard by which I hold all others. Read Full Review
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9.6
Outright Geekery - Brian A. Madrid
Dec 05, 2017A wonderful and unique take on the Batman. Read Full Review
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9.5
GWW - Deron Generally
Nov 21, 2017This was a gripping, gritty tale of loss and the reality of it. Even the more fantastic elements only served to highlight the harsh reality of this kid's circumstances. A great read. Read Full Review
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9.5
Batman-News - Brian Warshaw
Nov 29, 2017A study in grief and justice, Batman: Creature of the Night #1 succeeds both as a stand-alone exploration of a lost boy finding his way and as a potent seed for future installments. Busiek expertly writes his two leads, and his observations"and illustrations"of a life made shipwreck by tragedy are authentic and moving. Leon's minimalist figures ooze character and emotion, and combined with his bleak color palette, they are Busiek's stirring words made flesh. If you haven't already, go buy this now"you won't be sorry that you did. Read Full Review
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9.5
Comicsverse - Brian Long
Dec 02, 2017BATMAN: CREATURE OF THE NIGHT #1 explores the connection between Batman, imagination, and trauma to make one of the most intriguing comics of the year. Read Full Review
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9.4
Weird Science - Jim Werner
Nov 28, 2017This is a really good story that is more than your standard comic book while celebrating comics in a dark and different way. Kurt Busiek and John Paul Leon give their character his biggest wish come true while also begging him to be careful what he wishes for. I feel so bad for Bruce, but I can't wait to see what happens next. Read Full Review
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9.3
Multiversity Comics - Nicholas Palmieri
Dec 01, 2017An immensely rewarding and well-crafted tale that actually manages to say something new and interesting about Batman. Read Full Review
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9.0
AIPT - David Brooke
Nov 29, 2017A Batman origin that's refreshingly different. Read Full Review
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9.0
Doom Rocket - Brendan Hodgdon
Dec 01, 2017Perhaps the one "bad" thing you could say about Creature of the Night is that, as a retelling of sorts of Batman's origin, it's working with a very, very familiar framework in this first issue. But when the detail work is this good, who cares what the foundation is? Truly, it's the details that really lift this book up, and the honest emotions that make it sing. Those things combined promise a Batman story like no other. I can't wait to devour each and every chapter over and over again, as I already have with this one. Read Full Review
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9.0
Newsarama - Matthew Sibley
Dec 04, 2017Which is perhaps a summation of the issue. This world is markedly different from both Gotham and our own, but Busiek, Leon, and Klein don't bend it to the point that it breaks in the process. Instead, they twist it just enough and offer multiple ways to approach Batman: Creature of the Night. They've put the work into ensuring this isn't just a rehash or going through the motions. It's a distinct story. Fresh without being alienating. Intently subjective, but through multiple perspectives, posing questions about objectivity, "truth" and reality in the process. Read Full Review
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9.0
411Mania - John Pumpernickel
Dec 14, 2017Creature of the Night is a satisfying book, even if you're not a Batman fan or think you've seen every type of Batman story told before. Read Full Review
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8.8
IGN - Jesse Schedeen
Nov 29, 2017Any fan of Superman: Secret Identity would do well to check out Batman: Creature of the Night. This series definitely reads like a sequel in many respects, or at least a riff on a similar theme. As dark as this story is, it's anchored by the very real, genuine bond between a boy and his uncle. Busiek and Leon prove here that's it's always possible to find a fresh new spin on the Batman mythos. Read Full Review
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8.0
Pop Culture Uncovered - soshillinois
Nov 29, 2017Creature of the Night is a pretty clever mix of homages to actual period Batman comics, as well as the pop culture hyperreality of the TV show, all mixed into the more drab and realistic world which Bruce Wainwright occupies. It's a textured world that clashes violently with the supernatural underpinnings of the book, and it works. If you're looking for a new entry into Batman, you definitely won't be disappointed"even if that $5.99 price tag is a bit difficult to swallow. Read Full Review
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8.0
The Beat - Alexander Lu
Nov 29, 2017Batman: Creature of the Night #1 is not a perfect book. There's a lot of relatively uncompelling backstory one has to get through to get to the point. But if you're willing to make that journey there's quite a compelling surprise waiting for you at this leg's end. Fingers crossed that the creative team keeps up this momentum in the installments to come. Read Full Review
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8.0
Newsarama - David Pepose
Nov 29, 2017Comparing Creature of the Night to Secret Identity is an inevitable and perhaps unenviable task, given how well Busiek distilled the Man of Steel's tone almost 15 years ago. Yet with his meta take on Batman feels like a gnarlier beast than the coming of age of Clark Kent, as we meet eight-year-old Bruce Wainwright, a Batman superfan whose life is turned upside-down when his parents meet a similar end to Thomas and Martha Wayne Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
"Batman: Creature of the Night" is an enthralling read, an-Elseworlds style tale of a young Batman fan who suffers a similar death of his parents, falling into anger and grief. These feelings are manifested in a new, terrifying form of "Batman." The art of John Paul Leon is amazing; in a cool bit he echoes the artistic style of early Batman comics, and in general, owns every page here. Busiek maintains mystery over the inature of this creature, whose appearance reminds me a bit of the demon in "Kill or be Killed." I can't wait to see where this goes.
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10
Absolutely everything I hoped for and more. Batman: Creature of the Night 1 was a heartbreaking comic, but it also delivers divine narration by Busiek. Both characters are well written and, if Busiek can keep this up, I think Creature of the Night will be an even better comic than Superman: Secret Identity. I couldn't help but root for Bruce Wainwright each and ever page
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10
Great stuff
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10
Masterpiece
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9.5
I love those "meta" story where the comic book world is used as an allegory to more realistic situations. Aknowledging that tragedies like the one Bruce Wayne lived as a child is also something happening in real life is an important part of comic book's role. Entertainment comes first, but it's easy to forget some kids' first contact with reading and art comes through them and are shaped by them. The relationship with his uncle is the center of it all and the distance between them is that much more painful to imagine for a little boy who lost everything. The only flaw in this comic is the middle section where it's not clear where all is headed and feels a bit long, but it all comes back into focus toward the end. It's also a very sleek piec more
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9.5
What a surprising book, both in its quality and its approach. A very interesting take on Batman and in a way most won't suspect. Leon's art is superb adding to the immersion and emotion of the book. ANyone interested in a different kind of Batman story should definitely check this series out.
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9.0
Damn ... What a story. I love how Busiek told this story. A fantastic one, with some things not answered, but perfect for now. I like this little Bruce who hoped maybe to much to be like Bruce Wayne. Well now he feel like him. Maybe I was astonished that Busiek didn't give him a little gilt's part. I'm fund of Leon art. I was like "whaoou" all the time. It's perfect for this story. Dark but not too much. Another way to lock at the Caped crusader, but without the real Batman ... But a scarer one. Cover - Nice & perfectly in symbiosis with this first part 2/2 Writing - Busiek make a wonder on this alternative story 3/3 Arts - 3/3 and those who didn't like his art, I even didn't understand you ^^ Feeling - Well Dark, but it's ok. I'm more
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8.5
Really enjoyed the dual banjo narrative style, each felt distinct and the cursive was a nice touch for Alfred. Overall its a lot of table setting that felt like it could have been done quicker, but Mr Busiek's writing keeps it moving smoothly and thoughtfuly. By the end I was chomping at the bit to get to issue 2, but for a while I wasnt sure I would get there.
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8.0
Intriguing premise that is worth staying with, featuring some great art and a good narrative. Not quite at the levels of greatness we see from Busiek in Astro City, but I think it will grab pep[le anyway.
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7.5
Lets start with the cover and size of this issue. I enjoyed the cover but the book itself is a little stiff cuz of the binding. Sometimes it feels like you're gonna break the binding just trying to open the book a bit further. I had no problem paying $6 for this cuz it's a pretty big issue. I'm not the biggest fan of this art style but I think I goes with the setting and narrative of this story. I like the connections between Wainwright's and Wayne's lives but the story overall is a bit bland. I'm curious to see how things connect later.
+ Like • Comments (1)• Likes (1) -
7.5
By the way the guys at my local shop were raving about it, I thought this would be the next 'White Knight', but it's not. It's good, but I didn't love it.
+ Like • Comments (1)• Likes (1) -
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2025 In Review:
