Chapter By Chapter (usually) features me reading one chapter of the selected book at a time and reviewing it as if I were reviewing an episode of a TV show or an issue of a comic. There will be spoilers if you haven’t read to the point I have, and if you’ve read further I ask that you don’t spoil anything further into the book. Think of it as read-along book club.

PART 2: KNIGHTQUEST

Today’s chapter is only about 5 pages, and that’s on a technicality in the paperback version. I imagine it was closer to four in the hardcover edition, if there was one. I’m a bit low on time this week so that works out well for me this time.

Last chapter had us losing a teammate, Jean Paul continuing to lose his mind, and Bruce continuing to lose his health. And yet he refuses to give up trying to find the truth of whether or not Shondra is a willing participant in his brother’s schemes. This brings up another point I’ve come to disagree with others on, the idea that Bruce is obsessed with crime. Driven, yes. However, as I’ve gone over before the idea that this is obsession isn’t accurate. He wants to keep others from becoming like him. He uses Batman as a positive outlet while the whole “bat” theming is just a psychological edge on the bad guys. It’s the villains who let their obsessions get the better of them, and that’s the case with Jean Paul Valley more than Bruce Wayne. Then again, Bruce is trying to find a positive outlet for his trauma to better the lives of others while Jean Paul is the victim of brainwashing by a society of extremists. He was trained to be obsessed with no positive outlet. This is why he will fail at being Batman, but right now we still have a missing doctor with healing powers to find before she kills the world leaders.

Continue reading →