Batman: Night Cries Paperback – June 1, 1992

The Dark Knight Detective finds himself in yet another mind-teasing mystery when a new vigilante with his/her own brand of violent justice comes to town, targeting child abusers. There is a certain, sick pattern to the assailant's crimes, the particular way he/she kills his/her victims--it's as though the vigilante administers justice and is out for blood at the same time. With Commissioner James Gordon dealing with illegal drug dealers and personal family issues, Batman's only hope of capturing this new villain lies in the hands of a young girl, who's too afraid to talk.This nifty little Bat tale is great! Archie Goodwin's noir-style writing works on a level that fits the Batman and the dark world he haunts so perfectly by today's standards of Bat storytelling--Goodwin writes Batman in a cold world full of corruption, sin, and fear, and without compassion, something the great Frank Miller started in the 80s with his acclaimed "The Dark Knight Returns." The best, and yet hardest, part to look at in Goodwin's personal rendition of everyone's favorite Dark Knight is the blunt, honest light he sheds on the awful truth about child abusers: most of them NEVER stop. In the past Batman has fought some of the most powerful of crime bosses, most corrupt of elected officials, and of course, has time and time again put away the most colorful, most recognized rogue arch enemies--the Joker, Two-Face, Riddler, Penguin, etc. (none of which you will find here, mind you)--but child abuse crimes are committed behind closed doors, ones that the Batman cannot enter without being naturally violating himself. Even the man who walks where cops can't even go, can only go so far before crossing the line. If anything, Goodwin's often overlooked "Night Cries" arc shows the Batman at his uttermost human and the effect it has on the reader is incredible. Another unexpected, but welcome, addition is the fact that Batman, despite having stopped the vigilante, is not the true winner, but instead Commissioner Gordon. As Batman deals with his own problems with the killer, Gordon is placed into the shoes of the abused/abuser and Goodwin brilliantly uses this to his creative advantage to outline the "gray" area of the "black-and-white" morality of the story. "Night Cries" is a genuine detective/crime drama tale from start to finish. In addiiton to Goodwin's writing, there is some fantastic, atmospheric artwork by Scott Hampton here. Each page is dark and brooding, and makes the reader feel he/she's in hell, which is basically what the story and Gotham City itself is.Not a single word or event is wasted or out of place. Child abuse is an evil is beyond question in the world of the Batman, but what to do about those who cannot or will not stop their actions? How can you prevent people from committing crimes in the privacy of their own homes? Goodwin provides no easy solutions, a rather honest route for him to take in a world where otherwise the heroes always triumph over the villains. That point alone is worth owning this overlooked piece of crime literature!

This is what comics should be. A masterpiece in every aspect. The art. The complex emotions of self and society. Lines blurred. Human suffering. A perfect story in every sense. This is a must read and must own book.

I read some reviews say how books with this art style can be confusing and people get lost on what is happening. For me, that has been true. The painting/water coloring (or whatever this is) is gorgeous at times and some times, when it really hits, it’s downright stunning. But it is also imprecise.There’s a lack of consistency when looking at characters from one panel to the next, unlike what many of us are used to seeing with the normal drawings. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what angle things are when people are talking, where things are from or going, and one character my look way differently in a different panel.Also, sometimes, the wording of things are a little off, not super bad but they seem to miss something to me like maybe there should be a “the” there, or stuff like that.THAT SAID! If you like the idea of Batman presented in a heavily noire setting, and Jim Gordon like we saw him in Frank Miller’s Year One, this book seemed like a natural progression after that book. If you’re patient with it, I believe there is a lot of content here that makes the read very well worth the time.The art, at times, brings moments to life. And the story deals with some heavy topics you won’t usually run into in most mediums let alone comics. It seems to be a thought provoking experience and it means to be. And on some level all of the issues in the book are timeless and just as relevant today.Once you start this one, you’re probably going to want to read it to the end, but it is depressing, and may be triggering for some people. It’s really heavy. But generally a great job of presenting such a tough topic.

Batman Night Cries won't likely be recommended to you as "required" Batman reading by friends or those who frequent the comic shops. It introduces no new reoccurring characters, it doesn't kill off any major characters, it doesn't involve any of Batman's many villains, and it deals in subject matter that most would find uncomfortable. So why is it so important? Because instead of carving it's place in Batman's history by following the common tropes of superhero comics Night Cries takes a bold leap forward into reality, drawing from it one of mankind's most terrible crimes, child abuse. This is Batman at his most human, his most sincere as he tries to break a cycle a violence that seems to have no end. By his side, the weary Jim Gordon struggles with his own history of abuse as the murders mount and the pressure builds, threatening his relationship to his family. As Batman narrows in on the killer, it becomes all too clear that not all crimes can be solved, that there are cries that the Batman cannot hear no matter how hard he may try and listen. And try he will. Night Cries is a story that will remain relevant so long as this sort of pain exists, which is why it is so important. Where many other stories delve into the fictitious and others into the outrageous, this one draws from reality a tale that is poignant and moving. Whether you are a fan of Batman or simply a fan of comic books, you owe it to yourself to read this book. Listen to Goodwin's meaningful genuine words, and immerse yourself in Hampton's beautiful and somber art. It is a journey you will likely never forget.

One of the best and most underrated Batman graphic novels I've ever read. I wish more people talked about it and added it on their best-of lists. The writing is wonderful and the artwork is somehow atmospheric and dreamlike.The book itself looks and reads like a Christmastime children's hardcover which is a fitting choice considering the subject. Please do yourself a favor and buy this gem, and make every comics fan you know read it.

It's rare now that you actually find a real Batman story. This book nails it. A must read for any fan of the detective genre

Nenhuma outra história do Cavaleiro das Trevas é tão desesperadora quanto esta. Ao encarar o fato de que a iniquidade que soterra o mundo estará para sempre além do que seus pífios esforços podem fazer, Batman parece que entendeu. O mal que ele impede é nada perto do que escapa ao seu alcance. A arte de Scott Hampton, fria e pesada, casa à perfeição com a narrativa seca e angustiante de Archie Goodwin, no que Raymond Chandler talvez se reconhecesse. Esta história vai tirar o sono e incomodar muito depois de a leitura ter acabado. Prepare-se.

A terribly written story that doesn't fit batman at all. There's no pacing, no plot structure, the themes are presented in exposition which comprises 90% of all dialogue instead of shown like a comic should.The art is good but does not work for a superhero comic and all the action scenes look goofy.Overall it's a hamfisted non-story with a few cool pictures of batman in it. Save your money.

I know! Comics, especially superhero themed creations are supposed to be about the diabolical bad guys trying to take over the world and the good guys stepping in at the last moment to save our skins....well "Batman: Night Cries" is nowhere near as cliched or naive as the usual content of such works!Here you have well known mainstream comic book characters dealing with issues that take them well out of their comfort zones and placing them squarely in the real world, dealing with highly emotional subjects such as "child abuse" and it's far reaching effects and consequencesWonderfully written by Archie Goodwin with beautifully painted illustrations by Scott Hampton, I am not going to spoil the review of this excellent graphic novel with an in-depth synopsis of the story line, instead I will say this, Batman's adversary is not what you'd normally expect and the real villains are not the usual suspects, as I said the story centres around child abuse, a subject that concerns us all, so expect an emotional rollercoaster...and keep the tissues close to hand!If you have never taken the reading of comics seriously or perceived them as a juvenile pass time...then I suggest you take a chance with this book, I guarantee you will find it wonderfully rewarding

Muito bom o texto e a arte, considerando o tema.