Batman: The Cult

Deacon Blackfire is a cult leader who has his eyes set on Gotham City. Over the course of several years, Blackfire "recruits" homeless drifters into his organization. After starving them and repeatedly drilling the message that he is their salvation into their heads, Blackfire gains a following that is capable of overthrowing Gotham City. The interesting side note is that Batman is captured when he tries to save a potential kidnap victim. Deacon Blackfire nearly succeeds in recruiting him to "The Cult." As Batman is struggling to break free from the grip of his captors, the city is struggling with how it should deal with the potential threat of Blackfire. Some welcome Blackfire, others are weary. However, the Deacon emerges as one of Gotham's greatest threats. Can Batman get it together and save the city? I think "The Cult" is different from "No Man's Land" even though one probably influenced the other. In "The Cult," there is one large army approaching Gotham. In "No Man's Land," Gotham is divided into feudal territories and the Dark Ages are revisited. "The Cult" offers a unique storyline that is very relevant in the light of recent events, including Jim Jones and Heaven's Gate. I recommend it.

The Cult simply involves a story about Batman the disintergration of Gotham City, Bruce "Batman" Wayne's hometown. After a charismatic cult leader comes into town and influences the homeless people to take over the city. And Batman putting a stop to him. Essentially what this book is, is a condensed precursor to the five volume No Man's Land series which was published in the late 90's. I really enjoyed this book a lot it is interesting and engaging. And shows Batman to be a formidable warrior without turning him into a quasi ominipotent god. Jim Starlin is one of my two favorite Bat writers. In that he has always managed to capture all sides of Batman. By making him a 'man', a three dimensional human being. He's shrewd, formidable but still compassionate. I loved this story so much that I attended a convention, just to make sure Jim Starlin would sign it. This is a must for any true Batman afficianados.

The various graphic novels I've read on Batman vary wildly in quality and artistic style. The Cult happened to be exactly the style I enjoy with Gotham depicted as a twisted nightmare of a city. I was only able to leaf through this leisurely in a bookstore but even with that limited impression I was literally left quesy by how dark this was. The story itself was definitely plausible with the massive cult residing in the catacomb-like sewers of gotham.

batman:the cult is unlike the batman stories most are used to.Extaordinary story-telling that is not for the squeamish!!A good buy if you can get ahold of one.