Batman: Last Knight on Earth

In 2011, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo started to write and draw what would become one of the best runs on Batman. While the New 52 was a horrible era in DC for many, most comic book fans would gravitate towards the Batman run as a consistent source of quality and great storytelling from 2 creators at the top of their game. Fast forward nearly a decade later, and DC finds itself in a sort of flux. Batman has just ended his 85 issue run of depression, Superman is being written by Bendis, and Wonder Woman can't get a consistent voice/writer for more than a dozen issues. DC Rebirth started out as an amazing idea, allowing characters to go back to a simpler era before the new 52, but it quickly got convoluted due to clashing ideas and delays that led to the current status quo. It is out of this that Scott Snyder decides to return to Batman to tell what he calls the last Batman story, along with his partner in crime, Greg Capullo. And what a job this dynamic duo created. While this will not be the last Batman story written by Snyder and drawn by Capullo (as of writing this review, Death Metal is still solicited, which is a sequel to Dark Nights Metal), it damn well feels like it is. The story follows Batman at the end of the line, waking up in a post-apocalyptic DC Universe without memory of how it got to be that way. Determined to bring the world back to the way it was, Batman teams up with a surprising companion and journeys throughout the hellscape he woke up in to solve the mystery. The idea is pure Batman, giving him a mystery to solve and showing his unbroken will towards making things right. The highlights from Snyder here are the character moments he gives towards many of the DC Universe: his relationship with Alfred, Wonder Woman, the Batfamily, and many others are all given their moments to shine, and it's great, showing how Batman trusts his allies rather than building contingency plans to hurt or stop them all the time. The other cool thing that Snyder brought to the story is how the world changed and what the world is. Tons of great ideas are displayed here that I wish were delved into more detail, but the length of the book does leave more to be wanted. The final positive that I give Snyder here is that he ends the story with hope, which is what all superhero stories should end with. Batman is definitely a dark character, but that doesn't mean his story should always end in tragedy and darkness. Batman is a hero, and it makes sense that he should get a hero's ending. And of course, any Snyder Batman story would not be amazing if not for the great Greg Capullo. My personal favorite Batman artist, Capullo gets the chance to show off his Spawn side here because it's a Black Label book. His art is unhinged with all the violence, gore, and detail that a post apocalyptic world should look like. However, that doesn't mean it's gratuitous. All of the fight scenes flow well and are part of the story. And the praise doesn't go to just Capullo, but the rest of the art team, which is the same art team as the Batman run earlier mentioned: Jonathan Glapion, the inker, and FCO Plascencia, the colorist. Overall, this is an amazing read and one of the best Batman stories since DC Rebirth started (only slightly behind Batman Universe for me), and if Batman were to ever have a last story, you'd be hard pressed to find one better than this. Hats off to this Batman team, I hope Death Metal will be just as good.

I only stopped one time while reading this book; that was to fall asleep. When I woke up, I picked it up again and continued reading it to its ending. I've been reading various Batman comics since the late 1960s. Those, in addition to the Batman cartoon show, the Batman/Superman Hour (I convinced my Mama that I HAD to quit piano lessons! Batman and Superman on for AN HOUR!!!L, the campy (but real-foreal for an eight-year old!) Batman television show, and I never stopped. "The Last Knight on Earth" is, with no doubt whatsoever, THE BEST Batman -- comic, television series, film, graphic novel, etc. -- I've EVER experienced. Five stars for the enthralling, highly entertaining, chilling, emotional, suspenseful, confusing at some points, revelatory, mind-boggling, mind-changing, PHENOMENAL story, artwork, inking, lettering and graphic design. Special kudos for the wandering, wondrous, white-knuckle story and art/design. A preternaturally phenomenal masterpiece!

Outstanding story!!! A Batman universe dystopian apocalyptic story. I really enjoyed the relationship between Batman and the Joker.

I wasn’t sure how to feel for a good deal of it but the story grew on me. I loved all the fantasy elements and Greg Capullos art is tremendous as always, but the story didn’t work for me until the end. A pretty decent story with great visual.

In truth, I’m still slightly confused on a few things…but it was a very good read. Thank you for the good time.

Is this Batman’s last day on Earth!!

I chose this book because of the cover. I had to know what the he'll was going on. Is that the Joker in that bottle? What the FRACK! The story turned me, flipped me, scared me, and at one point made me want to stop reading because of where I thought it was turning. And then I got flipped again. The switchback and hairpin turns are definitely not gratuitous. As I was swept through this heart rending, mind bending story, every sudden detour made sense in leading to a climatic destination. And even that has a twist. A fantastic Batman story. Too ten, too if the shelf. Read it slow, drink in the mesmerising art. You won't get drunk but it will raise your spirits.

I don’t want to spoil anything. It’s a good story, but the first chapter goes one way, and all the others go a totally different direction.