Book Review: Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2)

Title: Batman: Nightwalker
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: Young-adult; Fantasy; Superhero Comics
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Reader
Published: January 2nd 2018

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city’s elites are being executed as their mansions’ security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family’s fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he’s forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city’s most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce’s only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

Goodreads

The book was good, but it was just… Underwhelming.

I’ve always been a Marvel fan. Just hold your baseball bats RIGHT THERE because I have come in peace! Even though I’m from the other side of the war, I’m still open-arms for DC’s strategies and improvements such as creating the DC Icons because whether we like it or night, they still made good movies in the past.

I was so excited about this book the moment I saw it in the 2018 list. He’s my favorite DC hero way before Wonder Woman. The idea of Batman and background story he had is so captivating and I would love to know him better because I’m not much into comics (SHAME!).

This is only a coming-of-age filler for Bruce Wayne which is not too important since we all know what drove him in being the Dark Knight. At first, I was willing to place my bet. The concept is promising, the IDEA of the characters is promising. EVERYTHING IS PROMISING. In the end, I found it average and easily be forgotten. There is something missing and, somehow, it failed to connect me with the main character in a more deeper sense, which made me disheartened.

Bruce Wayne having a love interest is fine with me. A slick, gorgeous, 18-year old genius, noble, billionaire, philantrophist, extraordinaire having the hots for a girl. Puh-lease, might as well put me in her shoes anytime. Since we all know that he only had Rachel Dawes in the movies, so I’m equally intrigued as to what made it different or what went wrong.

I actually liked Madeline Wallace’s character as a love interest. As much as she’s awfully a Mary Sue, her character was well established. Everything about her is very mysterious and cunning- assets that definitely won me over. She’s a perfect match for noble Bruce, something that would stir and play with his thoughts like all other 18-year olds would.

The action aspect was just right- which is an undertone if we are talking about a Young-adult superhero novel. The fight scenes were clean-cut and could have more potential since the plot is already great. Nevertheless, the thrill and mystery is still present that would leave you at the edge of your seat.

It would’ve been way better to give us some inklings or references that could tie the novels into the franchise because I seriously came for that- being curious of what drove him to learn martial arts, etc., and carry on with the story. Sadly, there wasn’t. The book is welcome for DC and non-DC fans alike since you’re not missing much.

There are still thumbs-up with some elements of the story: Bruce’s friendship with Diane and Harvey, awesome tech, and also, the one and only, Alfred!

I really appreciate Marie Lu’s efforts in bringing us Bruce Wayne in a teen’s perspective, but I think it wasn’t enough. I’m satisfied with the ending, anyway. Its a play-safe ending that would not leave young audiences’ souls brutally crushed. More like a Disney-kind. This is my first Marie Lu novel and since I have heard tons of praises for Warcross and The Young Elites series, I just hope that the vibe would still get me to read the rest of her books after reading this one. Despite all that, Batman: Nightwalker is pleasant to read and will still find enjoyment all on its own.