Dark Night: A True Batman Story

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy Library, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 16, 2016

Review

Paul Dini's dark exploration of the influence of comics on his life and his complicated relationship with the superheroes who live in his head and flow from his pen after he is viciously attacked and beat up by two men. In his recovery, he contemplates his life choices, his tendency to shun intimacy, and his feelings of inferiority. With the voices of his drawn "friends" Joker, Harley Quinn, Penguin, and Batman, all pitch-prefect in their roles, ringing in his head (and popping up in unexpected places), he muddles through his depression and self-doubt until he can see the strengths and abilities that cary him forward day-by-day. The drawings are detailed and atmospheric. This is not a Batman story, though he is a character, it is a redemptive story of a man who was knocked down and used his ability to bring these characters to life as a reason to stand up and be the hero of his own story. Still, it will be an interesting read for comic book fans, but also for those dealing with depression or difficult times as there is a strong message at the end of the story of standing up even when all you want to do is lie down and give in to the darkness.

Overall Book Score: very good