Batman tales Once upon a crime

Derek Fridolfs

Book - 2020

Collection of short stories with a classic fairy-tale twist set in Batman's Gotham City.

Saved in:

Bookmobile Children's Show me where

jGRAPHIC NOVEL/Batman
1 / 1 copies available

Children's Room Show me where

jGRAPHIC NOVEL/Batman
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
Bookmobile Children's jGRAPHIC NOVEL/Batman Checked In
Children's Room jGRAPHIC NOVEL/Batman Checked In
Subjects
Genres
Graphic novels
Comics (Graphic works)
Fairy tales
Superhero comics
Published
Burbank, CA : DC Comics [2020]
Language
English
Main Author
Derek Fridolfs (writer)
Other Authors
Dustin Nguyen (illustrator), Steve Wands (letterer)
Item Description
"Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger"
Physical Description
191 pages : chiefly color illustrations ; 21 cm
Audience
Ages 8-12
Grades 4-6
ISBN
9781401283407
  • Waynocchio
  • The princess & the pea
  • Alfred in Wonderland
  • The Snow Queen.
Review by Booklist Review

This finds popular characters from Gotham living out a set of fractured fairy tales: Damian Wayne dreams of being a Pinnochio-like puppet; the Gotham PD investigates the theft of a diamond in a Princess and the Pea--themed story; butler Alfred takes the place of Alice in Wonderland; and Batman becomes enchanted by the Snow Queen. The first three tales feel noisy and energetic, full of puns and funny situations, with Batman's allies and foes taking the place of the traditional characters and adding their own quirkiness. "The Snow Queen" reads more like a quiet picture book, with full-page illustrations and lyrical captions. Those familiar with the team of Fridolfs and Nguyen from the Li'l Gotham series will be familiar with the sketch-like, watercolor artwork, which is particularly stunning in "The Snow Queen." Familiarity with the Batman canon is helpful, since some lesser-known characters (Talia al Ghul, Harvey Bullock) appear without introduction or backstory. However, anyone who likes twisted fairy tales or appreciates the humor in the Teen Titans Go! TV series will find this title worthwhile.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 5--8--Fridolfs and Nguyen combine the Bat-family and the world of fairy tales in this collection of stories. Dreaming that he is Pinocchio, Bruce Wayne's son Damian lies on purpose to make his nose grow, then breaks off the long wooden nose and uses it to fight bad guys. Butler Alfred Pennyworth takes a trip through Wonderland after drinking strange tea in the Batcave. Nguyen's impish character art and Fridolfs's fast-paced scripting are delightful, though some of the action is merely implied and characters' Bat-universe origins are left unexplained. Portrayals of the villains' schemes are the most eye-catching, though baddies are, of course, foiled by each tale's end. Illustration quality wavers between cute, streamlined depictions of adults and children and emoji-esque facial expressions. Full-page and wide-panel moments allow Nguyen to pull out all the stops, particularly in the final story, "The Snow Queen," in which Batman, lost in a blizzard, fights not only for his own life but also for anyone he can save. This showstopper is the most thoughtful and painted with the most detail, placed for maximum effect after the pranks and pratfalls of the earlier entries. VERDICT These inspired mash-ups bring new flavor to both the fairy tales they're based on and the Bat-family, heightening readers' appreciation for both.--Thomas Maluck, Richland Library, SC

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Four classic tales, considerably reworked to feature the Dark Knight and various foes and associates.The creators of the Secret Hero Society series (kicked off with Study Hall of Justice, 2016) turn from middle school to another fertile milieuclassic tales. The creators follow wooden "Waynocchio" on his quest to become a "real Boy Wonder"; send the butler Alfred into Wonderland to rescue his costumed charges from the "Jokerwacky" and "Harley Queen"; cast Nora "Mrs. Freeze" Fries as the Snow Queen, who seeks help from Batman to thaw her captive husband, Mr. Freeze; and reimagine "The Princess and the Pea" as a series of interrogations by police seeking a hefty stolen diamond. As dialogue constitutes the only text in all but one of these, readers unfamiliar with the originals may have trouble following at least the first two. Moreover, Batman himself takes only a supporting role in all but "The Snow Queen." Still, from the Cheshire Catwoman on, the characters (all white), though largely drawn as children or at least with young faces, will be recognizable to fans of DC comics and films. Being loosely drawn and brushed in transparent inks, the art has a quick, sketchy look reinforced by impressionistic backgrounds in both the spacious panels and unbordered larger scenes.Clever if rough-hewn concept bearing at best a chancy resemblance to its literary models. (Graphic fantasy. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.