Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Originally published as a leveled reader in 2000, before Batman had infiltrated every conceivable corner of the culture, Scholastic now expands Batman's Dark Secret into a picture-book format. The more spacious pages afford Muth's lustrous, contemplative watercolors room to work their poetic magic, which may at first seem incongruous to the character's pulpy nature. The images, however, are beautifully tailored to this unusual take on the Dark Knight's origin, which begins with an impressionistic, fairy-tale-like depiction of his parents' murder: a bang, a flash in the dark, and they are gone. Bruce now struggles with an abiding fear of the dark, which he must confront after an accidental fall into the bat cave beneath Wayne Manor. It's here that he learns the titular secret that what's in the dark is just as scared of him and where he takes his first steps toward his destiny. Though Batman himself appears only briefly, this concise book is filled with lyrical touches of humor and beauty and will appeal to Bat fans of all ages. The youngest readers may need a little help parsing the deeper message, but they will be edified to learn that their favorite superhero is like them in the most important ways.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-Puckett and Muth bring the story of Batman's dark beginnings to light in a stunningly illustrated picture book. One cannot tell the story of Batman without starting with the tragic loss that changed the course of his life. Puckett does not shy away from the violent events of Bruce Wayne's childhood, though the presented details are vague, expressed through spare text: a "darker than dark" alley, "the bang, the flash, the smoke," and "his parents were gone." Though the visual depiction of Bruce's parents' murder is off-page, the event may raise some uncomfortable questions for the youngest of readers. Still, children will come away with the understanding that sometimes bad things happen to good people and that even after tragedy, one can find the strength to continue to live and learn. The moral is thoughtfully depicted, and this book could easily serve as a means to introduce these difficult discussions. Muth is no stranger to the world of comics, and his beautiful and ephemeral watercolors perfectly illustrate the Dark Knight's origins. Other motifs associated with Batman such as dark caves and monstrous bats might also be a bit on the scary side, but overall this is an excellent distillation of adult comic book themes that will be embraced by older children ready to explore the slightly darker side of their superheroes. VERDICT Muth's moody watercolors elevate this superhero origin tale.-Billy Parrott, New York Public Library © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Illustrator Muth gives this variant of the Caped Crusaders origin story the full noir treatment in an unusually somber picture book. Young Bruce Wayne and his parents are on their way home one night from a screening of The Mark of Zorro when the boy hears two loud bangs and is swiftly orphaned (off-camera). Back at Wayne Manor, butler Alfred learns to keep all the lights on for the traumatized child, who soon goes on to conquer his fear of the darkand realize his destinywhen he faces down a large batlike monster in a cave he has stumbled into. Bruce felt strange, somehow. Different. Brave. Young Batman fans will appreciate the respect this book gives their uber-brooding heros childhood; theres no camp or cutesiness in Muths watercolors, which abjure a comic-book style for a more romantic seriousness. On the penultimate page, the newfound purpose in young Bruces eyes is evident; the page-turn reveal of the grown Batman, positively Byronic. roger sutton (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Muth has earned admiration as a picture-book author/illustrator and as a comic-book artist; here, he expands the Dark Knight's origin story for a picture-book audience. After a night at the movies, Bruce Wayne and his parents (inexplicably) walk through a dark alley, where Bruce's parents are shot and killed. (The violence is indicated by Bruce's surprised face, illuminated by the flash of gunpowder, and his parents' fallen hat and scarf.) The lonely boy is tended by the loving butler Alfred, who keeps Wayne Manor lit day and night to hold his young master's newfound fear of the dark at bay (presumably the titular dark secret). One day Bruce falls into a cavern beneath his property, where he faces down a ludicrously monstrous bat and finds bravery and his life's work. The story's logic suffers with its spurious expansion. How does facing the bat help Bruce conquer his fear of the dark? If it's meant to be a symbolic embodiment of that fear, that's not clear. The pages between his parents' murders and his confrontation with the bat are filled with grieving, not a burgeoning need to bring justice to a crime-filled world. But Muth's watercolors are breathtaking. Since young readers' interest in superheroes begins before they are typically ready for comic books, this lovely if thinly plotted picture book fills an important nichethough they may wonder where the action is. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
