Batman: Reptilian

Product Information

I don't even wanna go into what happens storywise and I even less want to talk about what little left there is of waylons character to take serious! The other thing that is obviously on my mind is what would this book have looked like if Dillon got to draw it?

Needs Batman to cut off the excess of skin left after giving birth, as Batman makes a fat joke at the expense of his current situation. All of these elements come to give shape to a character that is given a menacing silhouette by the masterful Liam Sharp. I would have been a bit dissapointed in this book, but I did not have great expectations for this book anyway. Even though I adore Sharp’s work, I will always wonder what Dillon’s rendition of the story would have looked like. I'll leave the rest out since it's in spoiler territory, but while initially fascinating, it only muddles his history even more and possibly removes him from the playing field completely.

I don’t stick with Batman’s theory on Croc’s origins and if you go to the bottom of it the main argument is a bit far-fetched if not totally dumb. The reveal of the main antagonist is also enthroned through impressive artwork but doesn’t strike as a novel concept, mostly reminding readers of cult classic figures. Ennis also sees Batman’s rogues in a hilarious manner, viewing most of the lot as outclassed, multi-colored twerps, who couldn’t actually come close to touching the efficient machine of a man that is Batman, even on their best day. Killer Croc's child may count too— its victims, though horribly injured, survive its attacks, because it loses interest and doesn't finish the job.

As expected, Waylon is confused and disgusted by all this, even wishing his alcoholic aunt drowned him to death as a child. Sharp’s art adds an air of ambition to the proceedings, and at times it feels like Ennis is trying to craft a new sort of story for the Dark Knight. The context behind this book honestly adds so much more to the story for me, and it does help you to understand what Ennis is going for with this story. In true Ennis fashion, however, it doesn't miss out on the chance to mock several aspects of Batman. What really sunk the book for me though was Liam Sharp abandoning his usual style for a murky and ugly Arkham Asylum morass that looks like Bill Sienkiewicz painting over Sam Kieth.And although the ending falls apart a bit, with Batman's characterisation wobbling and a big explodey showdown that really doesn't sit right with the style Sharp is using here, I mostly enjoyed this one. Batman: Reptilian je ve svém nitru bláznivá absurdní komedie přejetá špinavým, slizkým a cynickým filtrem. No one who sees it can really describe what it is, beyond the fact that it's huge, vicious, and reptilian. The twist of this story is also an astounding disservice to Killer Croc’s character (you wouldn’t believe me even if I told you what it was), tastelessly butchering his background and nature for the sake of delivering a ludicrous, unoriginal, and dull surprise regarding the story’s mysterious main antagonist. Second, Steve Dillon was supposed to draw it before he died, and Liam Sharp took over with the intention of honoring his colleague, but the style he goes for is nothing like Dillon's at all.