/the-grim-knight_1.jpg "The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight #1")
I personally liked it a lot, but you made some pretty good points.
The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight #1
| Writer | Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV |
| Artist | Eduardo Risso |
| Cover Price | $4.99 |
Ripped from Batman's greatest nightmares, the Grim Knight is his world's most dangerous vigilante, unafraid to use any weapon and go to any lengths to stop those whom he deems worthy of death. Trained with the finest arsenal Wayne money can buy, learn the secret origin of the second-deadliest Batman, hand selected by the Batman Who Laughs to bring his dark plans to fruition. This one-shot has a big 28-page story!
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
-
10
Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles
Feb 13, 2019We've already gotten some strong cliffhangers from previous installments, but this one is a doozy as Snyder and Jock take Batman further down his worst nightmare. I've got no idea where this series is going and I'm loving that sense of uncertainty. Read Full Review
-
10
Dark Knight News - Steve J Ray
Mar 13, 2019I'm a sucker for continuity and tributes to classic Batman tales of the past. I love alternate timelines, parallel worlds and "What If" stories. Batman is my all-time favorite comics character. This issue ticks each and every one of those boxes. Read Full Review
-
10
Geekery Magazine - Chino DT
Mar 13, 2019It really is a shocking issue, with a spectacular art and an great script, we have an explosive story with a lot of action, I think the question of "What would happen if Batman wielded a firearm?" is completely resolved with the result of a lethal Batman, an unscrupulous being who will not hesitate to apply any method (preferably violent) in his war against the underworld of Gotham. Read Full Review
-
10
Infinite Earths - J.D. Jr.
Mar 13, 2019A terrifically twisted take on the origins of The Dark Knight! Read Full Review
-
10
DC Comics News - Carl Bryan
Mar 19, 2019I loved the diversion from the main story and it was definitely needed. We needed to know what the back story was for the Grim Knight. We are left with more questions in what the ultimate plan is for TBWL and how the Grim Knight fits into it as I cannot imagine a world where both of these creatures co-exist. The egos are too big. Jim Gordon turns out to be the real hero in this as his police training and interrogation skills keep peeling back layer after layer in the Grim Knight. This Grim Knight wants to get a second chance at Gordon. A Gordon that Jim doesn't know, but the goodness that is Jim Gordon appears to permeate through all time lines. Hooray for Jim and Hooray for us….this is the best story line for Batman since Bane broke his back! Read Full Review
-
9.8
The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally
Mar 13, 2019Eduardo Rissos art is dark and beautiful. The transitions between Bruces past and his present are perfectly executed and the pace of the story is bolstered by the amazing art. Read Full Review
-
9.6
Outright Geekery - Antonio Pedro
Mar 14, 2019I had more fun with this issue than I thought I would have. While the story is predictable in a few places, the old school Elseworlds feel coupled with the amazing artwork, make this one shot a blast to look at and a hell of a lot of cool fun. If you haven't caught up with the "Batman Who Laughs" mini-series, do so and then read this, because it is more than worth it. Read Full Review
-
9.5
AIPT - JJ Travers
Mar 12, 2019Watching The Grim Knight wield the city of Gotham like a scythe was quite the treat, and I'm excited to see how his mission to kill evil will play out alongside one of the most evil and twisted beings to ever walk the multiverse. This comic should be an automatic addition to everyone's pull list. If for nothing else, the prodigious level of skill in the art department should grab you. But there's also Tynion's magic touch when it comes to writing one-shots for evil Batman incarnations that Scott Snyder's twisted mind conjures up. Read Full Review
-
9.5
Comicsverse - Maite Molina
Mar 13, 2019THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS: THE GRIM KNIGHT #1 gives us a fantastic, well-rounded perspective of the most ambiguous Batman in THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS saga. Read Full Review
-
9.5
GWW - Nick Friar
Mar 13, 2019The way Scott Snyder and James Tynion lay out the origin, it doesn't appear The Grim Knight could have his own series. It'd be worth a shot. The character almost makes The Punisher seem soft. But because he's made it so hard for villains to exist in Gotham, a full-fledged story, or even a mini-series, would likely just entail The Grim Knight mowing his adversaries. Read Full Review
-
9.5
Batman-News - Casper Rudolph
Mar 13, 2019You have been reading the Batman Who Laughs miniseries"you really can't miss this chapter if you have!Absolutely stellar artwork is always welcome in your collection!You are a fan of Jim Gordon! This is a must buy for the art alone! Risso and Stewart carry the book, and are fantastic storytellers. Snyder and Tynion provide a solid script; it's not riddled with exposition, but the exposition is used effectively: it's to the point and clear. Perhaps the most interesting element of the book is the way in which it examines the relationship between Grim Knight and Gordon, and it reveals why Grim Knight decided to take Gordon with him in the first place. It's this final reveal that turns the story upside-down and makes you look at Grim Knight differently. Seriously, fellow comic fans"you don't want to miss this! Read Full Review
-
9.5
GWW - Nick Friar
Mar 13, 2019The way Scott Snyder and James Tynion lay out the origin, it doesn't appear The Grim Knight could have his own series. It'd be worth a shot. The character almost makes The Punisher seem soft. But because he's made it so hard for villains to exist in Gotham, a full-fledged story, or even a mini-series, would likely just entail The Grim Knight mowing his adversaries. Read Full Review
-
9.0
Comics: The Gathering - Hussein Wasiti
Mar 13, 2019This should be on everyone's reading list this week, on the basis of Eduardo Risso and Dave Stewart alone. Thankfully the script keeps up with the incredible artwork and we have a genuinely fantastic and brutal issue that delves deep into this new villain. Read Full Review
-
9.0
Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield
Mar 13, 2019Another great outing for Snyder and Tynion as they add another top-tier villain to the DCU. Read Full Review
-
9.0
But Why Tho? - lizzylynngarcia
Mar 13, 2019This issue was an interesting break from The Batman Who Laughs regular series and as a one-shot I really enjoyed it. As dark multiverse Batmen go, The Grim Knight isn't my favorite and I do not think he is nearly as deadly as DC is trying to make him out to be but I do think he is fascinating. Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and think it is a must read if you are reading The Batman Who Laughsor enjoy DC Comic Elseworlds stories. Read Full Review
-
9.0
Comic Watch - Robert Struble
Mar 19, 2019Snyder and Tynion give us the origin story for a character we didnt know we needed until a couple months ago. The Grim Knight is dark, ruthless, and a reflection of where we would be if our justice system was irrevocably broken. Its a frightening tale that only they could bring us so well! Read Full Review
-
8.8
IGN - Jesse Schedeen
Mar 13, 2019The Grim Knight #1 is a visually stunning and nuanced companion piece to The Batman Who Laughs. Read Full Review
-
8.7
Weird Science - Jim Werner
Mar 13, 2019This one-shot had enough in it to make it well worth the read for fans of the Batman Who Laughs mini-series. The Grim Knight is fleshed out and if you didn't think he was a badass before, you will after reading this. I have been saying I am a surprise fan of the Batman Who Laughs and I can now say the same for the Grim Knight. Read Full Review
-
8.7
The Brazen Bull - Charlie Chipman
Mar 13, 2019The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight (2019) #1 provides readers with an intense and entertaining backstory for the Grim Knight. Read Full Review
-
8.5
Multiversity Comics - Gustavo S Lodi
Mar 14, 2019"Grim Knight" relishes on the dark and on the ever-expanding Batman mythology to tell a haunting, disturbing story of ultimate consequences. Read Full Review
-
8.4
Graphic Policy - Brett
Mar 13, 2019The issue is a good one and one and delivers a character I want to see more of. We're shown a Batman who isn't just flawed but also isn't invincible. We see him being defeated which gives us something we don't see too often when it comes to the character. The dark multiverse shook things up and we can still be surprised with something new like this. A solid addition to the world Scott Snyder is building and he and Tynion deliver a fantastic chapter in The Batman Who Laughs' tale. Read Full Review
-
8.4
You Don't Read Comics - Rick Lopez
Mar 13, 2019Reaching the halfway point of the mini-series, but still lacking anything of any real importance or anything of actual significance has yet to happen. The second half of the title will have to pick up the slack and prove to readers why these villains deserved to survive past their initial debut last summer. The two Justice League writers take a break from their main titles to just have fun and let loose with a friend and bring some heavy fan service to store shelves. Read Full Review
-
8.2
Monkeys Fighting Robots - Corey Patterson
Mar 13, 2019An incredible story presented in the form of a thought experiment. Batman fans will see what the vigilante would be like if he killed his enemies. Read Full Review
-
8.0
ComicBook.com - Nicole Drum
Mar 13, 2019Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV do an excellent job telling an engaging origin story, but the Grim Knight doesn't feel like a far departure from the Batman we've seen in Tom King's run. Read Full Review
-
8.0
Big Comic Page - Alex McElhinney
Mar 14, 2019Regardless, I'm eagerly awaiting the continuation. If you like twisted Bat tales with added brutality, this is definitely for you. Read Full Review
-
8.0
Major Spoilers - Robert Mammone
Mar 15, 2019The Grim Knight #1 is a power fantasy for all of us who revel in its masculine identity. It's also a story that lays out in brutal detail that while our Batman operates outside the strictures of the law, it is those laws that keeps monsters like the Grim Knight from imposing their twisted morals and values over the rest of us. Read Full Review
-
8.0
411Mania - John Pumpernickel
Mar 22, 2019I don't want to ruin the issue so it makes writing a review near impossible but suffice to say that the ?Batman Who Laughs: gimmick has more miles to run that you think. Read Full Review
-
7.8
Word Of The Nerd - Jordan Claes
Mar 14, 2019I feel like Natalia Imbruglia"I'm torn. On the one hand, there were so many great moments and elements throughout The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight #1; my biggest critique is simply that there just wasn't enough. The issue stood in one place when there was limitless potential to be much more far-reachingand exploratory. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I know that's such a reductionist statement on what honestly was a great comic book; I suppose my expectations were just a tad too high. Read Full Review
-
7.3
Sequential Planet - Matt Herman
Mar 14, 2019Overall, this issue was a great exploration into the Grim Knight. Just like the rest of the Dark Knight tie-ins, Snyder does a great job at building interesting characters. But this issue doesn't really add anything to the story Read Full Review
-
7.0
Comic Book Corps - Kelly OneShot
Mar 13, 2019Ultimately I really enjoyed the way things were presented to us, and it's always a welcome treat when we are given the origin of a new Knightmare Batman. I found the relationship and interactions between The Grim Knight and Jim Gordon to be the highlight of the book, and it really gave me a much earned feeling of respect for everyone's favorite commissioner as the events of the story does well to remind us how much of a bad ass Jim can be when his city is being threatened by a crazy psychopath. Where I didn't end up finding the Grim Knight's origin to be everything I had hoped for, I did still really enjoy learning what fuels and motivates him, and it piqued my interest enough that I wanna learn more and see where this story will go. I wonder what the Grim Knight's future beyond this story will be because he's a very promising character with plenty of room to grow. Read Full Review
-
7.0
Newsarama - David Pepose
Mar 13, 2019While it doesn't quite hit the bullseye it was aiming for, there's potential to The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight that I hope is paid off in the main series moving forward. Read Full Review
-
7.0
The Batman Universe - Tony Hammack
Mar 13, 2019I have liked the other Batman's from across the Multiverse, but I connect to the Grim Knight the most. His story is extremely organic. Just by one decision, he would become a totally different Batman " one that would eliminate all evil instead of seeking justice. Read Full Review
-
7.0
Comic Book Revolution - Rokk
Mar 15, 2019The Batman Who Laughs - The Grim Knight #1 was an excellent read. Snyder and Tynion deliver a fun stand-alone issue that does a great job of providing more detail and texture to the main story on The Batman Who Laughs. If you have been enjoying The Batman Who Laughs and find the Grim Knight an interesting character then you definitely need to pick up this issue. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
-
10
A monthly series for the Grim Knight is what this issue confirms. A reality that makes Batman a true antihero who finishes what he starts. This is the Batman the next movie should be about. It's a great origin of the Death Knight of Gotham and one you don't want to miss.
+ Like • Comments (5)• Likes (3) -
10
Holy! This one shot is so good. Warner Bros. should do an animated feature of The Grim Knight and it'd become the highest grossing film easily. He's not a Punisher rip off, no! This one's done perfectly, the cause and effect of an innocent boy taking a life on that very moment his parents were murdered. Kind of reminds me of The Dawnbreaker Batman.
-
9.5
Great one shot of The Grim Knight.
-
9.0
Ever since The Grim Knight has been introduced I wanted something like this issue. I think the whole concept of Bruce Wayne shooting Joe Chill right there in the alley is really interesting and I'm happy to say that this issue delivered. It ties in nicely to the main book while giving us more info about who The Grim Knight really is and what caused him to help The Batman Who Laughs. Combine all of this with great art and you got yourself a fine issue that I very much recommend.
-
9.0
Another fun twist on the Batman mythos.
-
9.0
I really enjoyed this. It was really fun. I probably prefer it to the actual miniseries at this point.
-
9.0
DC have struck gold with the dark Batmen and this Batman/Punisher hybrid character is a really compelling character. The comic continues the Batman Who Laughs series very well.
-
9.0
This felt like one of those awesome Dark Knights one-shots.
-
8.5
Great issue. It's a cool Elseworld story, which takes place in the canon timeline, at the same time giving us some background for the Grim Knight. It's interesting how crazy (or crazier) Batman can be under the right circumstances. Which proves he can be even worse than his villains, when he's just pushed over the edge. It's also interesting, that villains like Two Face never became villains in this world. Gordon& Alfred are my favorite ones in this issue. However I personally can't stand the Grim Knight, the idea of a Batman, who kills is just wrong for me. But that's the point of the story, so I hope he gets killed at the end. (And as cool as the Laughing Batman is, I hope the same for him.) The art changed, when the past was told. I l more
-
8.5
Plenty of Bat-history references and sides of Gordon that bring about both horror and respect for our favorite Commissioner. I'm no detective but it's fairly easy to tell when Snyder comes up with the plot points and Tynion comes up with the execution, and they continue to play well together.
-
8.5
Great origin story of this new character, which works very well both as a standalone oneshot and as another instalment to the series.
-
8.5
I mentioned it a few months ago in a tweet that I think that Snyder has effectively created the DC version of Spiderverse with the DC metal event and it slid quietly under the radar. This isn't a negative I've always been a fan of "What If" or Elseworlds stories so I eat this stuff up whenever I get a new or alternate take on an established character. That being said, I'm not a big fan of the main "Batman Who Laughs" series. I love Jock in other series but this story hasn't been playing to his strengths as an artist and Snyder's take on Batman has always been cool but really pretentious. I find the Bruce Wayne's featured in this mini-series tend to lean really heavy on the aspects of Snyder Batman that I don't particularly enjoy. more
-
7.5
A little grim for my tastes.
-
7.0
Billed as an origin story for The Grim Knight, this issue missed an opportunity to delve into the psyche of an alternate universe Bruce Wayne to try and explain what events might create a Batman who breaks the "rule" by gleefully killing the criminals of Gotham. What we ended up with is a rather pedestrian, although skewed, retelling of the classic Batman origin tale. It gives us little insight into why this version of Batman is a gun-toting psychopath with little regard for human life. From the moment that this Bruce's parents are gunned down in Crime Alley, he is willing to pick up a gun and extract cold-blooded revenge. On it's own that is not a unbelievable moment, but when we have already seen this story play out so many times in more
+ Like • Comments (5)• Likes (2) -
10
-
10
-
10
-
10
-
10
-
10
-
10
-
9.5
-
9.5
-
9.0
-
9.0
-
9.0
-
9.0
-
8.5
-
8.5
-
8.5
-
8.5
-
8.0
-
8.0
-
8.0
-
8.0
-
8.0
-
7.5
-
7.5
-
7.0
-
6.5
-
6.0
-
2.5
2025 In Review:
