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The Murphyverse
Batman: Curse of the White Knight
Ancient curses are awoken and timeless secrets are revealed in this explosive sequel to the critically acclaimed blockbuster Batman: White Knight from writer/artist Sean Murphy!
The Joker recruits Azrael to help him expose a shocking secret about the Wayne family's legacy--and run Gotham City into the ground! As Batman rushes to protect the city and his loved ones from danger, the mystery of his ancestry unravels and Batman begins to question everything he thought he knew about himself and his place in Gotham.
With Gotham City's identity and institutions hanging in the balance, Barbara Gordon decides to take matters into her own hands -- but will her rogue actions play right into The Joker's plans? After tragedy strikes, Renee Montoya steps into the fray to lead the GTO and restore order to the chaos that is quickly consuming Gotham City. Lightning-quick pacing and an all-star cast of Gotham's heaviest hitters will keep you on the edge of your seat until the breathtaking finale of this second installment of the White Knight saga!
Collects Batman: Curse of the White Knight #1-8 and Batman: White Knight Presents Von Freeze #1.
The Joker recruits Azrael to help him expose a shocking secret about the Wayne family's legacy--and run Gotham City into the ground! As Batman rushes to protect the city and his loved ones from danger, the mystery of his ancestry unravels and Batman begins to question everything he thought he knew about himself and his place in Gotham.
With Gotham City's identity and institutions hanging in the balance, Barbara Gordon decides to take matters into her own hands -- but will her rogue actions play right into The Joker's plans? After tragedy strikes, Renee Montoya steps into the fray to lead the GTO and restore order to the chaos that is quickly consuming Gotham City. Lightning-quick pacing and an all-star cast of Gotham's heaviest hitters will keep you on the edge of your seat until the breathtaking finale of this second installment of the White Knight saga!
Collects Batman: Curse of the White Knight #1-8 and Batman: White Knight Presents Von Freeze #1.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2020
About the author
Sean Gordon Murphy
247 books389 followersAfter breaking into the industry at a young age, Sean Gordon Murphy made a name for himself in the world of indie comics before joining up with DC. In his tenure, he has worked on such titles as Batman/Scarecrow: Year One, Teen Titans, Hellblazer, Joe The Barbarian, and the critically acclaimed miniseries American Vampire: Survival Of The Fittest and The Wake with Scott Snyder. Murphy also wrote and illustrated the original graphic novel Offroad and the popular miniseries Punk Rock Jesus.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 458 reviews
November 5, 2020
I loved White Knight but didn't really think it needed a sequel.
Which means I don't know exactly how to feel about this one.
Everything good about the original sort of died off in this and what's left is an alternate reality Batman story.
So, for what it was it was entertaining.
I'm guessing from the way it ended that there will be more in this series, and I suppose I'll read whatever comes next. I just can't say I'll have the same level of excitement going in the next time around.
Curse of the White Knight deals with Azrael and some hinky goings-on with the Wayne family's history. <--I'm a little over the Ancient Wayne Family's Secrets. Anyone else? It just seems a little odd that everyone is somehow a descendant of someone else in Gotham.
At any rate, there's too little Joker/Napier and too much gloomy Batman shit for me to love-love this one. I did think the ending was cool. There may be some potential with the introduction of that character for my interest to perk up a bit.
We'll see.
This wasn't terrible by any means. And I do like stories that retell these old characters in new and different ways. I actually did like all the twists.
And the art. I really loved the art.
Oh. And at the end, there's a single issue about Freeze. The reimagined Freeze...with Nazis.
Sorry, I can't even pretend to give any shits about yet another Nazi storyline in comic books. It's a good(ish), but NAZIS. Again with the Nazis.
Nooooooo.
Anyway. It was a good story but not on the same level as White Knight.
Which means I don't know exactly how to feel about this one.
Everything good about the original sort of died off in this and what's left is an alternate reality Batman story.
So, for what it was it was entertaining.
I'm guessing from the way it ended that there will be more in this series, and I suppose I'll read whatever comes next. I just can't say I'll have the same level of excitement going in the next time around.
Curse of the White Knight deals with Azrael and some hinky goings-on with the Wayne family's history. <--I'm a little over the Ancient Wayne Family's Secrets. Anyone else? It just seems a little odd that everyone is somehow a descendant of someone else in Gotham.
At any rate, there's too little Joker/Napier and too much gloomy Batman shit for me to love-love this one. I did think the ending was cool. There may be some potential with the introduction of that character for my interest to perk up a bit.
We'll see.
This wasn't terrible by any means. And I do like stories that retell these old characters in new and different ways. I actually did like all the twists.
And the art. I really loved the art.
Oh. And at the end, there's a single issue about Freeze. The reimagined Freeze...with Nazis.
Sorry, I can't even pretend to give any shits about yet another Nazi storyline in comic books. It's a good(ish), but NAZIS. Again with the Nazis.
Nooooooo.
Anyway. It was a good story but not on the same level as White Knight.
January 11, 2022
4.5 stars
"He's lost everything: his home, his inheritance, the honor of his family legacy. There's only one thing Azrael hasn't taken from him: his soul. That's the only thing keeping Bruce from falling into the abyss. I just hope he can save himself . . . by remembering who he really is." -- Harley Quinn, voicing concern as Batman speeds to a final violent confrontation with villain Azrael
Sequels can be a tricky thing, but the reunited duo of Sean Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth (along w/ new assistance from Klaus Janson) deliver an excellent quality follow-up with Curse of the White Knight, continuing with / building on the storyline from their simply-titled White Knight (which is probably one of my favorite Batman graphic novels of all time) two years earlier. This features one of those insanely downbeat plots - an incarcerated Joker has been able to manipulate Gotham City's secretive and wicked power brokers into bringing the extremely lethal Azrael into the mix; Batman loses both stately Wayne Manor AND the Batcave (only barely escaping alive by jumping into the nearest Batmobile . . . and promptly submerging it in a lake to outrun the hellfire) in a calculated terrorist attack; and a beloved longstanding ally is horribly murdered by said villain Azrael (wielding his fiery sword) in view of the 'Bat' family of crimefighters - where pretty much everything goes very wrong for the good guys and it would sound like it's just not a whole lot of fun to read. However, the involving action/drama moves along at a damned near flawless pace, has dialogue that is more than just rote filler, and draws on all sorts of the established mythology involving this cast of characters from the last 80 years. Hell, I appreciate the illustrators cared enough to render a picture-perfect and period-accurate representation of a '71 Plymouth Fury sedan - shown in a flashback sequence depicting young beat cop Jim Gordon taking his daughter Barbara to school - for a brief moment that only lasts a single page. I think that shows some bona fide attention was put into this edition.
"He's lost everything: his home, his inheritance, the honor of his family legacy. There's only one thing Azrael hasn't taken from him: his soul. That's the only thing keeping Bruce from falling into the abyss. I just hope he can save himself . . . by remembering who he really is." -- Harley Quinn, voicing concern as Batman speeds to a final violent confrontation with villain Azrael
Sequels can be a tricky thing, but the reunited duo of Sean Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth (along w/ new assistance from Klaus Janson) deliver an excellent quality follow-up with Curse of the White Knight, continuing with / building on the storyline from their simply-titled White Knight (which is probably one of my favorite Batman graphic novels of all time) two years earlier. This features one of those insanely downbeat plots - an incarcerated Joker has been able to manipulate Gotham City's secretive and wicked power brokers into bringing the extremely lethal Azrael into the mix; Batman loses both stately Wayne Manor AND the Batcave (only barely escaping alive by jumping into the nearest Batmobile . . . and promptly submerging it in a lake to outrun the hellfire) in a calculated terrorist attack; and a beloved longstanding ally is horribly murdered by said villain Azrael (wielding his fiery sword) in view of the 'Bat' family of crimefighters - where pretty much everything goes very wrong for the good guys and it would sound like it's just not a whole lot of fun to read. However, the involving action/drama moves along at a damned near flawless pace, has dialogue that is more than just rote filler, and draws on all sorts of the established mythology involving this cast of characters from the last 80 years. Hell, I appreciate the illustrators cared enough to render a picture-perfect and period-accurate representation of a '71 Plymouth Fury sedan - shown in a flashback sequence depicting young beat cop Jim Gordon taking his daughter Barbara to school - for a brief moment that only lasts a single page. I think that shows some bona fide attention was put into this edition.
October 5, 2020
I'm impressed. This was great. Azrael is reimagined as the anti-Batman. It's something of a spin on Knightfall in that it's Azrael vs Batman in most of this, but there is more to it than that with the Joker prodding behind the scenes. And then there's Harley Quinn. I loved her in this book. Murphy found a way to make her more than just an annoyance. Murphy's art is brilliant. He draws such a terrific Batman and Gotham.
September 12, 2020
With Jack Napier (mostly) gone, the Joker is back to wreak havoc on Gotham City by revealing a groundbreaking truth about Batman - and he’s gonna use Jean-Paul Valley as his avenging angel of death to do it!
This was SO BAD! Sean Murphy gets worse and worse as a writer. I feel like he was forced to do this as White Knight, which this is the sequel to, was so inexplicably popular, because Curse of the White Knight doesn’t feel inspired in the least.
At its core is the most tedious, convoluted, couldn’t-care-less origin story of Gotham involving (of course) Bruce’s ancestor, and a pair that (OF COURSE) look like Joker and Jean-Paul. It’s not that it doesn’t make sense (although there is that), it’s that it’s such a tenuous motive to have the kind of repercussions Joker thinks it will centuries later in present-day Gotham. A vague message daubed on a stone wall and some bones will somehow topple Bruce’s empire?! It doesn’t even matter in the end anyway. Even the evil company blackmailing Bruce seems to conveniently disappear.
Joker/Jack physically transforms from alabaster white skin/green hair/red lips to a normal appearance whenever he switches personalities. It’s so astoopid. Fans of the Jack Napier character from the previous book will probably be disappointed with this one given that Jack is barely in it - even Joker’s not in it that much. He’s pulling the strings behind it all though, I guess. After all, he’s the genius who decided to draft Jean-Paul Valley into his labyrinthine plan.
Jean-Paul Valley - this guy doesn’t really make sense. Here he’s an old man who’s cancer-ridden - he should be feeble, not some super-effective force of nature to be reckoned with! Oh, I guess the magic sword of the Order of St Dumbass gave him the power, right? I feel like he’s just here because Murphy has nostalgia for late ‘80s/early ‘90s Batman. Besides all the stuff lifted from the 1989 Batman movie, here’s a buncha crap from early ‘90s Batman like Azrael and the time Jean-Paul was blue robot Batman, just ‘cos Knightfall!
A character dies, another’s preggo, some unmaskings happen - and none of it’s interesting. The book closes out with a depressing, reimagined Nazi origin for Mister Freeze drawn by Klaus Janson that added nothing to the story (unless you thought that trinket Batman glances at in one panel was enough to warrant an entire issue explaining how Bruce came by it!).
Batman: Curse of the White Knight is way too long, way too boring and I hated every minute reading it. It’s down there with Creature of the Night and The Golden Child as one of the worst Batman comics of 2020.
This was SO BAD! Sean Murphy gets worse and worse as a writer. I feel like he was forced to do this as White Knight, which this is the sequel to, was so inexplicably popular, because Curse of the White Knight doesn’t feel inspired in the least.
At its core is the most tedious, convoluted, couldn’t-care-less origin story of Gotham involving (of course) Bruce’s ancestor, and a pair that (OF COURSE) look like Joker and Jean-Paul. It’s not that it doesn’t make sense (although there is that), it’s that it’s such a tenuous motive to have the kind of repercussions Joker thinks it will centuries later in present-day Gotham. A vague message daubed on a stone wall and some bones will somehow topple Bruce’s empire?! It doesn’t even matter in the end anyway. Even the evil company blackmailing Bruce seems to conveniently disappear.
Joker/Jack physically transforms from alabaster white skin/green hair/red lips to a normal appearance whenever he switches personalities. It’s so astoopid. Fans of the Jack Napier character from the previous book will probably be disappointed with this one given that Jack is barely in it - even Joker’s not in it that much. He’s pulling the strings behind it all though, I guess. After all, he’s the genius who decided to draft Jean-Paul Valley into his labyrinthine plan.
Jean-Paul Valley - this guy doesn’t really make sense. Here he’s an old man who’s cancer-ridden - he should be feeble, not some super-effective force of nature to be reckoned with! Oh, I guess the magic sword of the Order of St Dumbass gave him the power, right? I feel like he’s just here because Murphy has nostalgia for late ‘80s/early ‘90s Batman. Besides all the stuff lifted from the 1989 Batman movie, here’s a buncha crap from early ‘90s Batman like Azrael and the time Jean-Paul was blue robot Batman, just ‘cos Knightfall!
A character dies, another’s preggo, some unmaskings happen - and none of it’s interesting. The book closes out with a depressing, reimagined Nazi origin for Mister Freeze drawn by Klaus Janson that added nothing to the story (unless you thought that trinket Batman glances at in one panel was enough to warrant an entire issue explaining how Bruce came by it!).
Batman: Curse of the White Knight is way too long, way too boring and I hated every minute reading it. It’s down there with Creature of the Night and The Golden Child as one of the worst Batman comics of 2020.
September 23, 2020
For fear of spoiling the delight that is Murphy’s Batverse, I’ll say this: if you enjoyed Murphy’s Batman: White Knight, you’ll enjoy the hell out of this. If you haven’t read White Knight, go read that and, if you like it, immediately read this.
From the art to the mood to the pacing to the story twists to the inspired way in which he reconceives each character, Murphy’s foray into Batman lore is an absolute joy to read. It’s like getting a hug from a koala bear (but not one of the ones with chlamydia) while you’re touring a chocolate factory.
More, more, and more, please.
From the art to the mood to the pacing to the story twists to the inspired way in which he reconceives each character, Murphy’s foray into Batman lore is an absolute joy to read. It’s like getting a hug from a koala bear (but not one of the ones with chlamydia) while you’re touring a chocolate factory.
More, more, and more, please.
January 25, 2021
Wow!!!! I don't care if this is Else world, What if or Black label. This is right up there with my favourite Batman stories. It is not often that the sequel is even more epic than the original but this one manages it. If I had one complaint it is i want more!!!!!
This story took me through every emotion imaginable. Great twist in the story. Usually I hate when main characters are killed off, but even this was done well and every death ment something. Slight spoiler NO ONE is safe or off limits.
I love the artwork, and the story us just amazing. Incredible character development, every character is done incredibly well. In fact I I even look at the characters in a new light now. I am of two minds because as much as I loved this book and really want to know what happens next. I have no idea how this story could be topped I a sequel.
This is as close to the perfect comic/book as I have read. Even the bonus material (bonus story) is incredible. Every chapter starts with a full page issues cover. The cover gallery at the end the book has full page art if the varient covers. This is a myst read for any Batman fan, comic fan, reader, or writer. If you are not a fan at the begining you will be by the end.
This story took me through every emotion imaginable. Great twist in the story. Usually I hate when main characters are killed off, but even this was done well and every death ment something. Slight spoiler NO ONE is safe or off limits.
I love the artwork, and the story us just amazing. Incredible character development, every character is done incredibly well. In fact I I even look at the characters in a new light now. I am of two minds because as much as I loved this book and really want to know what happens next. I have no idea how this story could be topped I a sequel.
This is as close to the perfect comic/book as I have read. Even the bonus material (bonus story) is incredible. Every chapter starts with a full page issues cover. The cover gallery at the end the book has full page art if the varient covers. This is a myst read for any Batman fan, comic fan, reader, or writer. If you are not a fan at the begining you will be by the end.
March 29, 2020
Curse of the White Knight had big shoes to fill as White Knight was praised as being something fresh and fun for Batman. Did it? Well...
This is the story of Azrael. It is a bit odd that it's called "Curse of the white knight" but it mostly comes down to Joker being the one who sets this all up. So it is thanks to Joker Azrael finds out the truth about his family line and the Waynes. He targets Batman, and he knows his secrets, and with his "friends" he decides to take down the Bat and all his family and friends. This story is far more focused on the Dark Knight himself and his trails and tribulations. Will he outsmart Azrael or is this the end?
I'll say this, Sean Murphy art is still great. The action flows so well, the movements are near perfect, and the atmosphere is wonderfully done. On top of that he holds nothing back as this is his universe and so that lets major characters get killed off. This makes everything feel more dangerous as batman is having a tough time stopping Azrael plans. On top of that the Joker does play a supporting role here and Harley returns in a interesting way. There's some great emotional beats as well as action, and while the pacing seemed off at parts and the backstory to the waynes abit boring if I'm being honest, I enjoyed this followup a lot.
Not sure which I'd say is better but both White Knight and Cruse are solid standalone Batman stories worth reading. A 4 out of 5.
This is the story of Azrael. It is a bit odd that it's called "Curse of the white knight" but it mostly comes down to Joker being the one who sets this all up. So it is thanks to Joker Azrael finds out the truth about his family line and the Waynes. He targets Batman, and he knows his secrets, and with his "friends" he decides to take down the Bat and all his family and friends. This story is far more focused on the Dark Knight himself and his trails and tribulations. Will he outsmart Azrael or is this the end?
I'll say this, Sean Murphy art is still great. The action flows so well, the movements are near perfect, and the atmosphere is wonderfully done. On top of that he holds nothing back as this is his universe and so that lets major characters get killed off. This makes everything feel more dangerous as batman is having a tough time stopping Azrael plans. On top of that the Joker does play a supporting role here and Harley returns in a interesting way. There's some great emotional beats as well as action, and while the pacing seemed off at parts and the backstory to the waynes abit boring if I'm being honest, I enjoyed this followup a lot.
Not sure which I'd say is better but both White Knight and Cruse are solid standalone Batman stories worth reading. A 4 out of 5.
November 19, 2020
Despite having really enjoyed the previous 'White Knight' book, I went into this one with low expectations after having read a number of reviews that labelled it an unnecessary sequel. Having now read it, I can't say I disagree with them: it is a totally unnecessary sequel, and an unnecessary rehash of 'Knightfall' to boot, but I'll be painted chartreuse by rabid monkeys if it isn't a lot of fun!
This is a real rollercoaster ride of a book that seldom eases its foot off the gas pedal. It fleshes out the alternate universe of 'White Knight' in reasonably interesting ways and manages to (sort of) retell the old 'Knightfall' story arc in a way that I enjoyed considerably more than the original story. Also, the artwork continues to be pretty damned good.
Despite its 'unnecessary-ness' I can't bring myself to give this book less than 4 stars.
Of course, if they continue telling stories from this universe they might as well rebrand it 'Ultimate Batman'...
This is a real rollercoaster ride of a book that seldom eases its foot off the gas pedal. It fleshes out the alternate universe of 'White Knight' in reasonably interesting ways and manages to (sort of) retell the old 'Knightfall' story arc in a way that I enjoyed considerably more than the original story. Also, the artwork continues to be pretty damned good.
Despite its 'unnecessary-ness' I can't bring myself to give this book less than 4 stars.
Of course, if they continue telling stories from this universe they might as well rebrand it 'Ultimate Batman'...
September 25, 2020
I really didn't like White Knight. This second volume somehow manages to be even worse and more ridiculous. I'm just giving it a little more love because Azrael was cool, while Neo Joker (gag) and Jack Napier were not at all back in Vol. 1. This is almost Tom King-level bad about making characters act, well, out of character.
The only compliments I can give this (and all that will keep me going) are that the art is spectacular, the Easter eggs are fun (and sometimes just awesome... BATMOBILE), and at least unexpected things can happen here (like DCeased or Injustice, just worse).
Kinda cool ideas with questionable execution. Some bad ideas with decent execution. All combined, especially with the ending, I just don't see how much further the Murphyverse can go.
I guess he's too powerful a creative force in comics now for this, but man I would love a Brubaker, Rucka, or Tom Taylor-written Batman run drawn by Murphy. The dude kills it on art, especially with Gotham City and the vehicles. I'm just not a fan of the storytelling and he writes a really unlikable Bruce, and a just-kinda-there-but-fucking-irritating Dick Grayson and Barbara.
The only compliments I can give this (and all that will keep me going) are that the art is spectacular, the Easter eggs are fun (and sometimes just awesome... BATMOBILE), and at least unexpected things can happen here (like DCeased or Injustice, just worse).
Kinda cool ideas with questionable execution. Some bad ideas with decent execution. All combined, especially with the ending, I just don't see how much further the Murphyverse can go.
I guess he's too powerful a creative force in comics now for this, but man I would love a Brubaker, Rucka, or Tom Taylor-written Batman run drawn by Murphy. The dude kills it on art, especially with Gotham City and the vehicles. I'm just not a fan of the storytelling and he writes a really unlikable Bruce, and a just-kinda-there-but-fucking-irritating Dick Grayson and Barbara.
May 24, 2020
(4,3 of 5 for the sequel of the White Knight witch is in some ways more awesome)
First of all - I feel Murphy Did Batman for me, not for superheroes/Batman fans. I love the art and how he tackles the Gotham, Batman and all around. With surgical precision but with a punch of wrecking ball. But he deflects the "canon", creating new roots and shortcut to the end of Batman and Gotham as we know it, grasping for something "beyond Batman". I enjoy that greatly. All that road to the origins of Joker, to the last first Wayne, everything. I enjoy both the darkness and the poetry of it. This series brought me great reading experience so far and I'm looking forward to the next pieces from Batman's "Murphyverse". Even if the diehard fans would not like how he tackles the world, with such drama and great gestures, as some hate on Snyder's work. I got that. I understand. But I would never have time to get the full Batman experience and if I need to pick it would be White Knight series.
First of all - I feel Murphy Did Batman for me, not for superheroes/Batman fans. I love the art and how he tackles the Gotham, Batman and all around. With surgical precision but with a punch of wrecking ball. But he deflects the "canon", creating new roots and shortcut to the end of Batman and Gotham as we know it, grasping for something "beyond Batman". I enjoy that greatly. All that road to the origins of Joker, to the last first Wayne, everything. I enjoy both the darkness and the poetry of it. This series brought me great reading experience so far and I'm looking forward to the next pieces from Batman's "Murphyverse". Even if the diehard fans would not like how he tackles the world, with such drama and great gestures, as some hate on Snyder's work. I got that. I understand. But I would never have time to get the full Batman experience and if I need to pick it would be White Knight series.
April 2, 2023
Unnecessary sequel but entertaining nonetheless. The surprise from vol.1 has worn off though.
I wonder where Murphy will go from then on after erasing off so many characters.
I wonder where Murphy will go from then on after erasing off so many characters.
September 8, 2020
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
What happens when you lose your footing, when you’re unable to understand who you are and what you’re meant to be in the world, a world where you thought you were welcomed in with open arms? Sometimes, an identity crisis is all you need to walk down a path of enlightenment, a stairway towards purpose and commitment. However, when there’s one person out there who would do anything to see the walls around you crumble, the grounds break apart, and the ceiling fall upon you, you’re surely in for a surprise that could destroy you fundamentally. Collecting the eight issues composing this sequel to the phenomenal masterpiece, Batman: White Knight, written and drawn by Sean Murphy, as well as the one-shot story, Batman: White Knight Presents Von Freeze, written by Sean Murphy and illustrated by Klaus Janson, comes a stellar story exploring the past of Gotham City and its unbound justice, retribution, and execution, as Batman now goes up against Joker and his latest weapon of godly vengeance.
What is Batman: White Knight about? Picking up where things were left in the previous volume, the story presents the Joker’s latest plan to put an end to Bruce Wayne and Batman as Gotham City suffers from their war, with its inhabitants unable to pick sides, struggling to see through the masks of these heroes and villains. Unfortunately, Batman’s allies also have a tough time acknowledging the benefice of his existence as its city sees its foundations struggle to remain solid with the chaos that often comes from his Rogues Gallery. This time around, with Jack Napier repressed by the Joker, it is only a matter of time before the Dark Knight discovers the Clown Prince of Gotham’s plans and it is one that will inevitably unearth deeply-buried secrets from countless centuries ago. At the heart of these plans is a profoundly-deluded religious crusader far deadlier than any knight that Gotham has ever known before. He goes around under the name of Azrael, and he has come to unleash his own form of purification for the city, starting with Bruce Wayne.
The creative freedom that creator Sean Murphy is entitled to with these what-if stories set outside DC Comics canon is a blessing to his imagination as he shifts the focus of this latest story-arc from the Joker to another lunatic known as Azrael. How he ties all the narrative threads together to fully dive into some rich history newly-conceived uniquely with the purpose to offer Gotham City an intriguing yet slightly farfetched tale regarding its founding fathers is brilliant. The tone set by this world-building offers fantastic grounds on which to build the identity of the city and its heroes, while expanding on their plight through intergenerational conflicts that continuously seem to permeate through time. While the Joker doesn’t play as much of a role as before, the attention put on both Batman, Azrael, and the rest of the cast makes for an engrossing tale set in an alternate reality that screams with relentless potential.
As rare as they are, for very good reasons, it is also tremendous to see the writer draw his own ideas to life. In this case, creator Sean Murphy accomplishes this with near-perfection as he maintains artistic consistency and coherence throughout his entire story-arc. His character designs are fantastic as well, capturing every significant trait of these characters through his detailed artwork. The narrative flow is also perfect, allowing each page to build the proper tension until shocking reveals are presented, while also meticulously highlighting the little details in facial expressions and character movement. In fact, it’s important to note that this story does steer towards a heavier emotional tale where key characters are challenged into trusting one another as tragedies strike them back to back. Can colourist Matt Hollingsworth even be forgotten in the praise that this one should get? Absolutely not. The darker colours, occasionally washed out, and then suddenly vibrant, is perfectly controlled throughout the story-arc, immensely helping readers to get immersed in a story dripping with history and mythology.
This volume also includes a special one-shot story centered around Mr. Freeze, which is apparently set between issues #6 and #7. Instead of being the artist on this project as well, creator Sean Murphy teams up with legendary artist Klaus Johnson to deliver a story set during the rise of Nazis in World War II. While I’m not a huge fan of his artwork at times, this little chapter offered an engrossing story that looked into the division in beliefs regarding the vision of Nazis and the role of parenthood in one’s upbringing. While this story isn’t quintessential to the main story-arcs, I could never say no to more content expanding this alternate universe.
With all that being said, you bet that I look forward to his next chapter in this Murphyverse titled Batman: Beyond the White Knight, which hints to a brand-new neo-futuristic take on Batman Beyond, as well as his Harley Quinn spin-off stories supposedly coming out this October 2020.
Batman: Curse of the White Knight is an excellent sequel exploring the dark secrets of Gotham City through the rise of a devout knight.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
April 15, 2020
Pretty enjoyable sequel! I was a huge fan of the first White Knight because I thought told such a great story about Batman and the Joker! This sequel has Batman fight against Azrael as this book is kind of Sean Murphy's version of Knightfall.
The volume did start a bit slow for the first few issues and it only really kicks into high gear around issue 4. Murphy's art is still stellar as always as there some great scenes where he conveys so much emotion and weight, with no dialogue needed. I also love his rendition of Azrael's bat suit as its probably the best it's ever looked! In terms of the story, a lot happens and you can tell Murphy took full advantage of the creative freedom he was given. Some of the stuff in here I like where as others I didn't really care for. Overall this was a good volume but not as good as the first I feel. Although based on the ending I'm excited to see what a third volume could bring!
The volume did start a bit slow for the first few issues and it only really kicks into high gear around issue 4. Murphy's art is still stellar as always as there some great scenes where he conveys so much emotion and weight, with no dialogue needed. I also love his rendition of Azrael's bat suit as its probably the best it's ever looked! In terms of the story, a lot happens and you can tell Murphy took full advantage of the creative freedom he was given. Some of the stuff in here I like where as others I didn't really care for. Overall this was a good volume but not as good as the first I feel. Although based on the ending I'm excited to see what a third volume could bring!
March 17, 2022
This is a step down from the previous story--primarily because it is an Azrael story. I don't like Azrael, so perhaps my rating is a reflection of that. However, I felt that the twist in the story wasn't that interesting.
October 13, 2020
I don’t think this reaches the heights the first book did, however it was still very well done. I thought the ending kinda approached the original, and I wish irl billionaires would go the Wayne route, but regardless, the comic was still very enjoyable. I think this series is for me what The Dark Knight Returns is for a lot of people. That series is too right-wing for me, and I honestly cannot stand Frank Miller and his bigoted views. This series on the other hand is more inline with my political beliefs (again even tho they very toned down in this volume), and while I definitely don’t feel the need to build an echo chamber, I also don’t care to read/listen to conservative idiocy the likes of which Miller spouts.
I think there is at least one more volume in this series given the ending, which I am still interested in. I think it would be cool to see a similar treatment done for other heroes as well. Definitely a cool elseworlds concept.
I think there is at least one more volume in this series given the ending, which I am still interested in. I think it would be cool to see a similar treatment done for other heroes as well. Definitely a cool elseworlds concept.
April 30, 2021
روایت متفاوت و جدیدی داشت و اون کلیشه های قدیمی ماجراهای بتمنو تا حدودی کنار گذاشته بود بنظرم طرفدارای شوالیه تاریکی از دستش ندن.
February 16, 2023
Murphy v Bílém rytíři prohodil role Batmana/Jokera, ale v závěru stejně najel na klasickou supráckou linku. Bylo to skvěle nakreslený, ale tak vydřenej jako ostatní jsem z toho nebyl. Představa sequelu mi přišla zbytečná, moc žádnej internetovej buzz jsem kolem něj neslyšel a navíc za to chce Crew skoro litr. Pfff. Nakonec jsem to přeci jen zkusil a... wau, tohle bylo super.
Prokletí je výbornej akční Elseworld, kterej připomíná nejlepší Snyderovky. Murphy hezky dotahuje témata kolem gentrifikace (závěrečné odhalení je bohužel poněkud naivní) a přináší moderní verzi Knightfallu, kde dojde i na Banea. :) Každej sešit děsně šlape, je tu skvěle napsaná Harley (zázrak), emoce fungují, Batmanův výoj dává smysl... Dlouho jsem si pláštěnky takhle neužil.
Prokletí je výbornej akční Elseworld, kterej připomíná nejlepší Snyderovky. Murphy hezky dotahuje témata kolem gentrifikace (závěrečné odhalení je bohužel poněkud naivní) a přináší moderní verzi Knightfallu, kde dojde i na Banea. :) Každej sešit děsně šlape, je tu skvěle napsaná Harley (zázrak), emoce fungují, Batmanův výoj dává smysl... Dlouho jsem si pláštěnky takhle neužil.
February 4, 2024
Wow! That was awful. This ONLY got a two-star since I tend to reserve my One-Stars for books I DNF or absolutely hate. So there is that. I looked on GR and saw many of my GR friends, whose opinions I appreciate, have liked this abortion. Lest I be the sole curmudgeon I did find my GR friend, Sam Quixote, also had a similarly jaundiced view.
So some guy named Sean Murphy (I think I ran into this drunkard in Belfast) was allowed to write a Batman story. Sean Murphy doesn't have an original fucking bone in his body. What's a man to do? Why, obviously, look back at "old" comics and steal their ideas. Also, when one is a hack, it's best to cloak oneself in the aura of SJW "woke" bullshit and thus inure (or at least be able to explain away criticism as Nazism/racism/sexism..etc..etc) themselves from criticism. Viola! You have "Curse of the White Knight"!
Apparently, Sean Murphy saw fit to traumatize Batman fans with some White Knight prequel to this shit. Thankfully, for me, I was picking lint out of my belly button and missed this magnum opus. But, unfortunately, my high ass wandered across the sequel. Oh my! It's SO clever and "disturbs the reader's expectations" kind of mindset that brought us the brilliant final season of Game of Thrones and the Star Wars movies. So yes-it's fucking stupid.
So Sean Murphy "reimagines" the Batman story. By that I mean, Sean Murphy lifted the far better done concepts of Knightfall (where Azrael, Bane, etc were introduced), Court of Owls (the whole Wayne's as a historical part of Gotham were already done)...Gods! There are so many rip-offs that I won't spend the rest of this review pointing them out.
What is the gist? Well we have a not very competent, nor very intelligent, version of Batman (in these SJW/woke based stories it's important to be deconstructionist about the main character) who is hanging out with a pregnant Harley Quinn. God's...I loved the JHarley Quinn from the masterful "Harleen" GN by Stjepan Šejić. This annoying pregnant woman? Hard pass. So dumb-Batman, pregger's Harley decide to try to help Joker. Who is also Jack Napier. But only sometimes. When Jack feels like it. Unless the Joker takes over. *sighs*
Meanwhile, Azrael (Jean Paul Valley) is a 65 year old guy with stage three terminal cancer. Uhh wait..what? Your fucking nemesis of choice is a cancer-ridden AARP member? Ok..so Woke/SJW types really ARE as ignorant as they seem. I guess cancer must be a weird concept but yeah..this is fucking dumb.
Now while Azrael tries to redo the Knightfall story arc all over again, we also seem to have a dumbass world (likely inspired by the insipid "Batman Inc" idiocy) where there's an entire group of back ups for Batman. Oh wait, sorry, dumb-Batman who is only 30% as efficient as the real Batman..so he needs a lot of help. BTW why the hell is Nightwing dressed like a SWAT officer? How stupid is the concept of the GTO? Why is detective Bullock, a Grade-A certifiable Neanderthal, congratulating Montoya for becoming Commisoner with the line "..about the time we had a lady at the helm.." Detective Bullock?!!! Are you sure you nailed the character? Yeah sure you did.
Anyways..I can't believe I spent this much time on this vapid story. But I DID change my rating to ONE_STAR since , in retrospect, this turd deserves it. One last thing- apparently Sean Murphy managed to find Klaus Janson. I point this out since I just, less than a week ago, read Miller/Janson's Daredevil. Why did I mention this? I mention it because KJ ought to stick to being a colors guy. His art sucks. At best? Mediocre. Apparently Frank Miller knew this and drew Daredevil sticking KJ to colors. So no- din't like this art either. Not awful but never good. Much the same for this comic.
Oh my edition also had a dumbass Dr. Freeze is really a Nazi story. Yeah cuz Dr. Freeze's story wasn't tragic enough without Nazis. So yeah...this was not good by any stretch. Go read the original works for better versions of this story and the characters Sean Murphy ripped off.
So some guy named Sean Murphy (I think I ran into this drunkard in Belfast) was allowed to write a Batman story. Sean Murphy doesn't have an original fucking bone in his body. What's a man to do? Why, obviously, look back at "old" comics and steal their ideas. Also, when one is a hack, it's best to cloak oneself in the aura of SJW "woke" bullshit and thus inure (or at least be able to explain away criticism as Nazism/racism/sexism..etc..etc) themselves from criticism. Viola! You have "Curse of the White Knight"!
Apparently, Sean Murphy saw fit to traumatize Batman fans with some White Knight prequel to this shit. Thankfully, for me, I was picking lint out of my belly button and missed this magnum opus. But, unfortunately, my high ass wandered across the sequel. Oh my! It's SO clever and "disturbs the reader's expectations" kind of mindset that brought us the brilliant final season of Game of Thrones and the Star Wars movies. So yes-it's fucking stupid.
So Sean Murphy "reimagines" the Batman story. By that I mean, Sean Murphy lifted the far better done concepts of Knightfall (where Azrael, Bane, etc were introduced), Court of Owls (the whole Wayne's as a historical part of Gotham were already done)...Gods! There are so many rip-offs that I won't spend the rest of this review pointing them out.
What is the gist? Well we have a not very competent, nor very intelligent, version of Batman (in these SJW/woke based stories it's important to be deconstructionist about the main character) who is hanging out with a pregnant Harley Quinn. God's...I loved the JHarley Quinn from the masterful "Harleen" GN by Stjepan Šejić. This annoying pregnant woman? Hard pass. So dumb-Batman, pregger's Harley decide to try to help Joker. Who is also Jack Napier. But only sometimes. When Jack feels like it. Unless the Joker takes over. *sighs*
Meanwhile, Azrael (Jean Paul Valley) is a 65 year old guy with stage three terminal cancer. Uhh wait..what? Your fucking nemesis of choice is a cancer-ridden AARP member? Ok..so Woke/SJW types really ARE as ignorant as they seem. I guess cancer must be a weird concept but yeah..this is fucking dumb.
Now while Azrael tries to redo the Knightfall story arc all over again, we also seem to have a dumbass world (likely inspired by the insipid "Batman Inc" idiocy) where there's an entire group of back ups for Batman. Oh wait, sorry, dumb-Batman who is only 30% as efficient as the real Batman..so he needs a lot of help. BTW why the hell is Nightwing dressed like a SWAT officer? How stupid is the concept of the GTO? Why is detective Bullock, a Grade-A certifiable Neanderthal, congratulating Montoya for becoming Commisoner with the line "..about the time we had a lady at the helm.." Detective Bullock?!!! Are you sure you nailed the character? Yeah sure you did.
Anyways..I can't believe I spent this much time on this vapid story. But I DID change my rating to ONE_STAR since , in retrospect, this turd deserves it. One last thing- apparently Sean Murphy managed to find Klaus Janson. I point this out since I just, less than a week ago, read Miller/Janson's Daredevil. Why did I mention this? I mention it because KJ ought to stick to being a colors guy. His art sucks. At best? Mediocre. Apparently Frank Miller knew this and drew Daredevil sticking KJ to colors. So no- din't like this art either. Not awful but never good. Much the same for this comic.
Oh my edition also had a dumbass Dr. Freeze is really a Nazi story. Yeah cuz Dr. Freeze's story wasn't tragic enough without Nazis. So yeah...this was not good by any stretch. Go read the original works for better versions of this story and the characters Sean Murphy ripped off.
March 26, 2020
"How about you--sure you're up for this?
I can step on a gas pedal, if that's what you're asking.
Good.
And wha'll you be doing?
I'll be in the Batmobile.
Azrael destroyed most of them when he attacked the GTO. So there's only one left.
This ones always been my favourite. Azrael's suit is tate of the art, and that thing is decades old. Are you nuts?
Let's get nuts.
Great, better that Batman White Knight, great art, story and what an ending...
I can step on a gas pedal, if that's what you're asking.
Good.
And wha'll you be doing?
I'll be in the Batmobile.
Azrael destroyed most of them when he attacked the GTO. So there's only one left.
This ones always been my favourite. Azrael's suit is tate of the art, and that thing is decades old. Are you nuts?
Let's get nuts.
Great, better that Batman White Knight, great art, story and what an ending...
January 18, 2022
Fitting end to Bruce Wayne’s legacy as Batman. Sean Murphy does a really good job depicting Bruce as guilt ridden with what Batman has become to Gotham City during his tenure as The Dark Knight. The end doesn’t just feel like a fitting end to Batman’s war on crime, but a fresh start with Bruce reconciling with Jason and making amends for his vigilantism.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2022
I’m obsessed with comics
Thank u bri pt 2 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
Thank u bri pt 2 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
April 26, 2020
I was reluctant to read this because the White Knight was so good and I didn't want to ruin it with a mediocre sequel. To the contrary, this builds on the greatness of White Knight and continues to shock and thrill. I can't recommend this highly enough, if you've ever liked Batman then this is a must read!
September 12, 2021
sean murphy i love you i hope youre having a good day sean murphy ❤️
October 21, 2023
I’m a fan of Batman: White Knight, which I find to be a satisfying standalone story, not in need of a sequel. But I was curious what the sequel volumes do with the story, so I checked them out. The first sequel, Curse of the White Knight, picks up the few loose ends from the first volume—what’s under the floorboard in Alfred’s room, and what Napier meant that he discovered the Joker in his original cell in Arkham. Those details lead to what, for me, became an overly convoluted way of exploring the themes of “What is the Wayne legacy?” and “What makes Bruce Wayne a Wayne?” The story goes all the way back to the founding of Gotham City, setting up a conflict between Waynes and Bakkars that culminates in the present-day story. It’s an interesting enough theme, but I was over my head in all the deep-cut details. I’m sure this is no problem for people more steeped in Batman lore, but I didn’t know enough about all the pieces moving around in this story.
This volume is as grisly as the original, but it also gives even more emphasis to the value of life. It’s an odd mix overall. On the one hand, the entire rogues gallery is killed at once. On the other hand, Harley is pregnant, delivers her baby, and finds a redemptive arc that’s nearly powerful enough to allow Napier to overpower the Joker for good. The beauty of life is not always present to counterbalance the despair of a Batman story, so I appreciate it in this one.
I wish the “von Freeze” story had been integrated into the part of the book where it is meant to go, rather than being relegated to an extra feature at the end. I think reading that in proper sequence would have been really excellent. Ironically, that’s the flashback that meant more to me than all the Wayne/Bakkar stuff. Victor is one of most interesting of the Batman villains, and I would have liked to see him play a bigger role in this story than just doing what the plot required at a few points.
With so many characters from all of Batman’s history brought into the White Knight series, it’s a little odd to me that Catwoman is nowhere to be found. Because she’s absent, Harley ends up having to play the “pal who understands and perhaps loves Batman” role that usually belongs to Catwoman. It basically works, but there were moments where I thought, “This should be Selina, not Harleen.”
This volume is as grisly as the original, but it also gives even more emphasis to the value of life. It’s an odd mix overall. On the one hand, the entire rogues gallery is killed at once. On the other hand, Harley is pregnant, delivers her baby, and finds a redemptive arc that’s nearly powerful enough to allow Napier to overpower the Joker for good. The beauty of life is not always present to counterbalance the despair of a Batman story, so I appreciate it in this one.
I wish the “von Freeze” story had been integrated into the part of the book where it is meant to go, rather than being relegated to an extra feature at the end. I think reading that in proper sequence would have been really excellent. Ironically, that’s the flashback that meant more to me than all the Wayne/Bakkar stuff. Victor is one of most interesting of the Batman villains, and I would have liked to see him play a bigger role in this story than just doing what the plot required at a few points.
With so many characters from all of Batman’s history brought into the White Knight series, it’s a little odd to me that Catwoman is nowhere to be found. Because she’s absent, Harley ends up having to play the “pal who understands and perhaps loves Batman” role that usually belongs to Catwoman. It basically works, but there were moments where I thought, “This should be Selina, not Harleen.”
May 19, 2023
Relu dans le bon ordre cette fois. Je n'avais pas compris que c'était une suite et c'est maintenant plus compréhensible. Suite très intense en sentiments avec Gordon qui meurt et Barbara paralysée. Relation privilégiée de Harleen avec Batman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2022
I liked this, and enjoyed the premise a lot. The action was good and the little changes they made to this universe was fun.
Some situations made me shake my head or just say "what?" in confusion, but I dont think it detracted me from enjoying the book. I do think that the ending was a bit rushed to be honest, though I know that there are several sequels.
Willing to read those just to see more of the universe!
Some situations made me shake my head or just say "what?" in confusion, but I dont think it detracted me from enjoying the book. I do think that the ending was a bit rushed to be honest, though I know that there are several sequels.
Willing to read those just to see more of the universe!
June 5, 2020
Sean Murphy continues his revisionist take on the Batman mythos, this time bringing Azrael into the story. Murphy's art throughout is great. He talks in a note near the end of the book about how he was influenced by Klaus Janson and there's a one-shot about Mr. Freeze that is illustrated by Janson himself, and I didn't even realize that it wasn't Murphy's work until after. I'm really not sure why this is part of the Black Label line, since other than a couple of swear words and just a touch more violence, this isn't all that more extreme than the stories Scott Snyder was writing during his run. Also interesting is the presence of Harley Quinn, who seems to almost be taking on the role of Catwoman (love interest) in this. I liked the interplay between the ancient history of Gotham City and how it tied to events in the current day, as Bruce Wayne discovers a massive secret that throws everything he though he knew about himself and his family for a loop. I'm still not entirely sure that the story lives up to the artwork, but this was certainly worth a read and it will be interesting to see where things go next.
February 15, 2021
Impecable continuació del “Caballero blanco”, fins i tot apuja força el llistó amb la trama d’Azrael i la fundació de Gotham, el llegat de la iniciativa Napier i una mort d’un personatge d’aquelles que deixen petja. Definitivament el desenvolupament de personatges tan grans com poden ser Batman tenen la seva raó de ser en les narratives alternatives que se surten de la linealitat de les sèries mensuals. L’edició en blanc i negre d’aquest volum li confereix, encara més, un alè de foscor i de novel·la noir de fa unes dècades que li escau com un guant al dibuix de Murphy (tret del capítol final “Caballero Blanco presenta Von Frío” que m’ha agradat més en la versió en grapa amb entintat de Matt Hollingsworth que la que complementa aquest volum).
November 29, 2020
However much I loved White Knight, ‘curse’ I struggled to get on with. The appeal of the first one to me personally was Joker, how expertly written he was. But he’s a small character here switched in favour of Azrael, whom I don’t think is a good villain/vigilante? At least he isn’t written as a character I liked or hated (for the right reasons).
Star of the show in this book for me was Harley, and I’m happy to hear that she has her own spin off. She carried quite a few issues in this book where it was starting to dull.
I hope as the Murphy-Verse continues it picks back up to White Knight level
Star of the show in this book for me was Harley, and I’m happy to hear that she has her own spin off. She carried quite a few issues in this book where it was starting to dull.
I hope as the Murphy-Verse continues it picks back up to White Knight level
October 1, 2020
"Everything you thought you knew is WRONG"
How original.
How original.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 458 reviews