Letters To Lost To the Night

Whoa!



There've been a few of those, but yes... this one is fairly significant. Just bear in mind, this sort of thing is like running up a down escalator. A bit of backsliding is almost inevitable. However, I promise you that the semi-catatonic Bruce we saw in Chapter One is gone for good.



Oh now, it isn't! Proof's in the posting itself--there are a few things I've gone in and fixed after the fact. But thanks!



[tease] Just wait until Chapter 9... [/tease]



Yup. He does. ;D



BLUSH! Thanks!

another terrific chapter to this compelling story. I can't say enough on how much Ellen's writing just rivets me to the screen and doesn't let go.

The choice that Dick would make, of course, tickled me. But this issue was about Tim and Bruce. A very powerful and honest scene that made perfect sense because, as always, Ellen never betrays the characters themselves. That's the sign of a great writer.

Five stars as this series just continues to mesmerize me.

Another good issue, although personally the Tim/Bruce scene didn't work that well for me (I wasn't sure why Tim had waited until then to bring it up, and, considering Bruce's psychological condition, it just seemed like an inopportune moment to rake up the past anyway). Having said that, I never read any of the actual issues featuring Stephanie Brown as Robin so there could be all sorts of subtleties I'm missing here. On the other hand, I really liked your handling of Firefly and the Alex/Bruce scenes.

Great cover, Ramon.

Tim, sadly, hasn't been to see Bruce much in the past year. He went to Arkham because Dick's been nagging him about it for the last few chapters, and because he wanted to say goodbye before he left Gotham. I don't think he went to Arkham intending to confront Bruce over Steph, but this has been at the back of his mind since War Games and he wanted to know once and for all.




Mostly that Bruce didn't tell him Stephanie was dying until it was too late for him to say goodbye. And that Tim initially resisted Bruce's offer to adopt him because he didn't feel up to asking Bruce why... or how responsible Batman was.

Glad Firefly and the therapy sessions caught your eye!



Seconded!

Tim was right in everything he said.

The only thing Bruce could say is that Tim himself is very much more like Bruce was pre-Alfred's and Jason's death now, for similar reasons. But those reasons are at least partly his fault. So he could ask Tim, "Do you regret now becoming Robin in the first place?"

"That was my choice and my responsibility," Tim would answer. "It's all I know."

'Then you know how I feel," Bruce could answer.

And Tim could point out it doesn't let him off the hook, which it doesn't.

Of course, neither was in the right frame of mind to say those things.

As someone who came into the "official" DCU with Tim Drake--whose first experience with the Batbooks was Tim explaining to Dick and Alfred his origin--this chapter resonated with me more than it might with some others.

Calculator is still a sneaky bastard....and you've made Firefly one scary sonofa.

WOW WOW WOW!!!

Now this issue was jam packed with SO much that it made my head spin! Since I'm the first to comment, I hate to say too much a reveal spoilers. So be warned if you are reading this.

He's gone!!! Of course he is, what am I thinking. He always could have. He's HIM, of course.

I loved the insight into Bruce's childhood and his relationship with Alfred. I really think you pegged it perfectly. It's always why they've had a relationship that walks a very tight fence between friendship/parent-child/and employer-employee.

But what tickled me the most about this one. You actually were courages enough to mention Grayson's run on Nightwing. Five stars for that alone. (and for the record, you made it believable in a couple sentences what I never believed in all those issue's).

Great, great, issue!

Oh.

Oh crud.

Bruce escaped without Dick's help...which means he will now be very angry with Dick.

Tim has already pulled his own "Nightwing" style transformation and is out of the picture; it will be months, maybe years, till he comes back. Probably longer than it did Dick.

Yes, the Grayson run, the story arc that, in all ways that matter, turned DCU Nightwing into a villain. Even in your continuity, he's yet to wipe Blockbuster's blood--or Tarantula's stink--off of him.

(It takes a lot for a "bad girl" to make me not like her; I usually root for them. Tarantula managed it. That's a friggin accomplishment.)

The Alfred flashback was important. insightful...and very very sad.

I rather think Calculator might get either shot by Penguin's goons....or burned by Firefly.

That's what I meant, Dick refused to help, he got angry, and broke out on his own.

Great issue, it's always a joy to see Firefly in action. I liked the dialogue, and let me just say this, Dr Arkham is a F***ing tw**! I hope he gets what's coming to him. Once again, I loved the Penguin scenes, and can't wait to see what happens with him and Calculator. Heh, it's funny that Bruce broke out so easily. Why did he need Dick anyway? Gas money?

I'm quite sure Bruce could have found either a Sattelite Cave or a sympathetic JLAer (WW, anyone?) to help him. He would've gone on the road and started anew, leaving Dick in charge of his estate and blah blah blah.

But of course he has....other issues.

The "ice cream" line was classic, as was the scene with the kid Bruce had helped out.

Calculator, if you'll pardon the pun, miscalculated. All he's gonna do is piss everybody off and get his head handed to him. He should ask his DC2 counterpart. Oh that's right he can't; he's in a coma. Hah!

I do think at the end of this Jeremiah should get Pwned. (I know I'm to old to use that lingo but I really don't care.)

Anyway, I just wanted to say how good this issue was without devolving into my usual fanboy angsting. I know I'm not commenting enough on the content, a habitual fault of mine. So I'll just close by indicating the graveyard scene and the lawyer threatening Arkham in her own subtle way as high points.

Yeah I wandered into this.. kinda late in the ball game..

Good stuffs. *****

-Z.

I'm so far behind in my reading, that I apologize this comes so late, but what a great wait it was! Every issue I keep thinking, this is the best one yet! And it is!

Everything with Jim and Bruce was dead on, and gave several times it gave me goosebumps. This showed exactly what kind of bond the two have always had, and as it is in life, how strong adversity will bring out the strengths of friendships.

Bruce's talk with Alfred at the cemetary was heart-breaking, but one of the best scene's I've read in this series.

As always, you never let me down. I stand in awe! Well, I'm sitting, actually, but you get the idea.

5 stars!

Another stupendous issue! This series is one that I constantly look forward to every month. This issue was a tad subdued compared to some of the others.

It was a definite rebuilding of relationships and (this will make David shudder ) the rebuilding of "family". For that purpose alone, it get's five stars.

However, the ending! I did not see that coming at all... oh man is Bruce is some serious trouble!

As always, you did great and I will be anxiously looking forward to next months issue.

All this time we've been worried about Calculator and Firefly, when we forgot about Hush! Or at least I did.

Mind you, clearly Firefly is still on simmer at this point....

Cmon Hush, if you're gonna make your grand entrance this late in the game, do something right and kill Jeremiah, please?!?

I mean yeah, it's nice to see Bruce turn the tables on Jeremiah and all, but frankly that just isnt enough!

What a wonderful fiesty lawyer you have given us!

I'm one of the people who thinks that Dick/Kory is just as valid as Dick/Babs, but given what's going on with him in the comics these days, I'll take either. Very sweet stuff there too.

And Lord knows you're handling Cassandra about a bizillion times better than the official DCU!