Publisher's Weekly Review
Dini made a mark on the DC Universe writing various Batman projects in print (Mad Love) and on screen (Batman: The Animated Series), but he's distanced himself from a real-life incident in the 1990s that shaped the way he approached stories of good and evil. While working on the Batman animated series, Dini was brutally mugged and left with extreme skull damage and an emotional toll that threatened to take him down. In this account of that event, Dini presents his life as one of disappointment; he reached the heights he always dreamed of in the field he loved, but grasped at the emptiness of the experience. It's an extremely personal work that still hedges even as it reveals, partly out of self-preservation. The narrative structure-psychological action that unfolds through conversations with Batman and various villains-creates a perhaps unavoidable emotional distance with occasional Band-Aids over the dark void being hinted at. Risso's (100 Bullets) art often goes where the narrative hesitates, offering a simple firsthand fable of pushing back the darkness. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Dini was a central force behind the Batman Adventures cartoon, considered a soaring, seminal interpretation of the character. One night, walking the unforgiving streets of the real world, Dini was attacked and left physically and psychologically traumatized. In the wake of this, his ripe cartoonist's imagination bursts with Batman villains taunting him to give into his fear, abandon his life, wallow, and hide. But at the nadir of this dark journey, it's Batman himself that forces Dini to find a way out. Not every death trap, his personal Dark Knight informs him, has a shark tank. Risso's signature, gritty noir aesthetic lends disturbing gravity to this very personal tale, and the artist uses various tones, palettes, and Batman visualizations to portray the emotional dips and rises. As potent metaphors for the ability to overcome trauma, superheroes perhaps more than any other fantasy figures engender deep, personal connections among their followers. Dini explores the notion that, in real life, Batman can't swing in to save you, though, as it turns out, sometimes he does.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2016 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Author Dini, best known for his involvement with the classic Batman: The Animated Series, presents this raw, moving, and incisive memoir detailing the events leading up to and following a vicious attack that left him physically debilitated and mentally shattered. Presented as a kind of unflinching monolog, Dini's account delves into his struggle to once again feel safe, stop feeling sorry for himself, and get back to normal and includes Batman and classic villains such as Joker, Harley Quinn, and Two-Face as a kind of Greek chorus. While there are moments in which the pain Dini describes-both physiological and psychological-are almost too much to bear, the result is ultimately uplifting and even inspiring. Illustrator Risso (100 Bullets) turns in some of the best, most nuanced work of his career, constantly adjusting his style to match the narrative. Verdict While the trauma captured here might be overwhelming for a select few, fans of comics, animation, and memoir are guaranteed to find Dini's story incredibly engaging if not relatable and revitalizing by the end.-Thomas L. Batten, Grafton, VA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
