Russell Braun

Overall, it was an interesting story arc. A bit of a product of its time. And more or less a moral tale of drug addiction and overcoming it. Venom could be substituted for heroin, cocaine, marijuana, whatever drug you want to put in bad form and showcase how "its bad" and how a "good" guy like Batman can overcome it.

Some interesting things are how Batman doesn't get true justice in this arc (Porter dies in jail/withdrawl, and Slaycroft dies by Porter manipulating Slaycroft's son). Another interesting thing is that this arc is spread out over a year's time, and has them going to Haiti, Priscia (made up island), and Gotham. Also has Superman in it (in one of Batman's delirium dreams).

The biggest thing to this arc is that it's the prelude to "Knightfall" which is the introduction to Bane.… (mehr)

Batman has done something that he never thought that he would do... he lost someone. After trying to right the wrong he feels powerless and turns to putting an unknown substance in his body. one that promises to make him stronger and faster than he ever thought possible. But what it does is turn him into the very thing that he fights against. It turns him into a monster!
Absolutely fantastic comic series! This is a part of the Batman Legends of the Dark Knight series and one that I would definitely recommend.… (mehr)

Batman gets addicted to strength enhancing pills due to him being unable to lift a boulder to save a child. He changes character and at one point agrees to kill Gordon to get more pills.

Hmmm...this is one of the darker Batman books I have read from Batman being unable to save a little girl to a son being overtaken by addiction and on the verge of killing his father. I can’t help (disagree) think that Batman wouldn’t succumb to addiction in the first place or not question why the father wasn’t more upset of his only child dying; and, unfortunately, that ruined a lot of the characterization and does not correlate with his character. They did get their groove back with the last few issues but those first two issues really put a damper on the believability of it all and felt that the writer used Batman as a tool to narrate a story about the effects of addiction and how it affects those around you

Best:
-Batman failing to save someone
-him using drugs to cover up a trauma
-decent art
-great Batman characterization in the last 3 issues (very frustrating)

Bad:
-characterization of Batman in the first two issues
-he never would’ve been addicted like that in the first place (maybe should had a villain force him to take drugs instead)
-bad fight scenes… (mehr)