Batman: Secrets (Batman) [Paperback]

Batman and the Joker have always had quite the rivalry, perhaps the most iconic in the whole superhero/super villain genre. Both are polar opposites, yet also have more in common than one might think. It's because of this bond that has made them both world-famous, and allowed the greatest Batman stories to be told. The most notable examples being The Killing Joke and A Death in the Family, as well as animated classics Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.

As the Joker says in this graphic novel, "Well, here we are again. Trapped in the same hell together, on opposite sides," and that sums up Batman: Secrets in a very nice nutshell. Although by no means a major turning-point like The Killing Joke and A Death in the Family, this is a Batman-Joker tale unlike anything that's been done before, and as such, it's an experiment that produces some really high-quality stuff.

The premise is that the Joker is out of prison again. But instead of escaping, he's actually been granted parole this time. If that's not enough, he claims he's reformed, has written his autobiography and has settled down with Gotham's assistant district attorney, Terry Ammons.

Naturally, this `reformed' Joker isn't to be taken for granted. Soon after his release, the Clown Prince of Crime commits a murder and cleverly frames Batman for victimisation. As the Dark Knight struggles to clear his name to a rampaging media, the Joker's campaign targets an old acquaintance of Bruce Wayne's, and soon threatens to uncover the darkest secrets of all those involved in this twisted scheme.

The most striking thing about Batman: Secrets is obviously the artwork. This is Sam Kieth's story and he presents the perfect visuals to accompany his writing. The artwork is very surreal, very nightmarish and very Tim Burton-esque. Needless to say, it's a style that suits Batman, and works really well, and Alex Sinclair's colours truly brings it all to life in a horrifically beautiful way.

Sam Keith's storytelling has been restrained to focusing purely on the characters he felt was best to tell this mini-series with, and that's not only sensible, but admirable, as it allows something new to be done with Batman and the Joker. It also brings the other central characters A.D.A. Terry Ammons and journalist Mooley Williams into the fold, thus debuting fascinating extensions of the hero and villain, and interesting characters in their own right.

The whole theme of Secrets is based around...well, secrets. But it's not as obvious as it may seem, which is surprising and laudable. Because again, it's stuff that's original. An incident from Bruce Wayne's childhood, details of the Joker's release, the reasons for Terry falling in love with the killer clown, and exactly how Mooley's career started are all secrets that define their roles, link them together and strengthen the already engrossing concept of this story.

Another reason why I really enjoyed Secrets was because of the fact that it's not just another round of the Joker being hell-bent on destroying the Dark Knight and all he cares about. This is mostly between Batman and his greatest enemy, that not only provides the psychological warfare we all enjoy reading but also some really haunting interaction. The kind that hasn't been done before.

The story is broken up by some absolutely excellent interludes which feature only Batman and the Joker talking with one another in pitch black nothingness, and it's here where Sam Kieth really stands out with his writing and artwork. The hero and villain discuss so much about their rivalry and secrets in conversational moments that are not only believable, well-scripted and inventive, but are also eerie, haunting and visually stunning. It's such a refreshing take on the Batman/Joker feud and perhaps the high-point of the whole book, I'd say.

Because this is Batman vs. the Joker, you can naturally expect it to be really, REALLY dark. There is disturbing content present here which is at the same level of that in The Killing Joke and A Death in the Family. So be warned that this is best suited for mature readers. I personally didn't find it off-putting, but others may. The whole read is quite quick and `over before you know it' as well, which is a shame as this is such a deep, grim and enthralling tale that could`ve gone on longer.

My nitpicks are just nitpicks, really. Batman: Secrets is another classic featuring the Dark Knight and his greatest nemesis that the `machine' has recently demanded and got, as the Joker says. Like I said, it doesn't change the current status quo in Batman, but it doesn't really need to. Batman: Secrets is a recent masterpiece that I feel every fan should own. The artwork is obviously its greatest strength, but it also has an excellent story to back it up. A really magnificent graphic novel indeed.

I picked this one up at my local bookstore because it was low-priced. Well, I read it within a few nights and was very pleased. First off, the art here is done in an unusual, somewhat hyper manner (the joker's face, at one point, is stretched in a manner that makes one think one's having a bad acid trip). The characters can look deformed or warped sometimes, but this actually adds to the mood set by the story. The basic theme here is actually news stories, and the public is led to believe Batman is guilty of a crime he didn't commit. Guess who frames him. Anyway, the story here has many layers and it keeps jumping back to one occurrence in Bruce Wayne's past; one that has never been touched on before. I won't spoil it for you, just know that you're in for a very noir experience.

Fantastic artwork, great Batman/Joker story. Cannot fault it, especially at this price. I personally enjoyed it more than a few 'classics' such as DKR (I know that's blasphemy but it's true!). The artwork has a great feel and is all as per the cover art, which features in the novel. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend. I have ordered Sam Kieth's other Batman graphic novel, Arkham Asylum Madness in the hope it will be this good. Batman: Arkham Asylum: Madness