Video Game Review - Tomb Raider Trilogy (2011)

The PS3 is making a welcomed habit of digitally restoring some PS2 classics to be present in the glorious HD of its system. First up, the first two God of War games were given the makeover following the enormous success of God of War III, and then the Prince of Persia Trilogy was given the same treatment. The most recent franchise to get the glistening overhaul is the Tomb Raider Trilogy, bringing together HD renditions of the PS2's Tomb Raider Legend, Tomb Raider Anniversary and the most recent PS3 Lara Croft release, Tomb Raider Underworld. 

To have all three games on one disc is a real treat and the developers at Crystal Dynamics have taken their time to present them in beautiful new detail, but they have also offered a nice amount of bonus extras with the compilation. There are outfits for Playstation Home, a non-dynamic theme, developer diaries and a vast amount of videos, trailers and concept art. There is also now Trophy Support for all three games, which gives you the extra sense of accomplishment when you successfully traverse a crumbling temple, find a new weapon or shoot a charging gorilla between the eyes. 

The whole trilogy feels like a fresh gaming experience, despite me having completed Legend and Anniversary numerous times on the PS2 and having been fairly familiar with the PS3's Underworld. The reimagining on the first two games is subtle, keeping the core of what makes these Tomb Raider titles so popular in the action-adventure genre. The facelift they have received is simply a better paintjob for an already wonderful piece of machinery and they make the transition to this current console generation with ease. Once you get into the games you soon forget that these are upscalings of past titles and begin to appreciate them for the combination of accomplished level design and gameplay. The dazzling animation holds up as Lara jumps from ledge to ledge, swings from protruding bars and latches her magnetic grapple to hooks on the wall. Even when she falls to her death, her limbs flailing about and her bones breaking horrifically, you have to commend the authenticity of it all.
 

Tomb Raider Legend was Lara Croft's first decent outing on the PS2 (after the underwhelming Angel of Darkness). It's an origin story of sorts, dealing with Lara's past in a way that hasn't been explored in any of the previous games. The beginning shows Lara as a young girl and details how her mother vanished, swallowed by a mysterious portal that's somehow linked to the legend of King Arthur. Cut to present day and an adult Lara is still looking for answers, zipping from one exotic corner of the globe to the next.

It's a departure from the standard Tomb Raider template and it was a risk that certainly paid off, swapping the gigantic labyrinthine levels of earlier titles for short and snappy stages that focus more on action elements than puzzles. The brain-teasers are still there, but they aren't as frequent and they rarely have you scratching your head in frustration for more than a few minutes. That gloomy feeling of being all alone as Lara in a massive ancient tomb is gone as there are now armed mercenaries around every corner. That said, the gunplay has come along leaps and bounds from the early days, with environmental assists and slow-motion headshots making it much more enjoyable and far less frustrating.

Tomb Raider Legend is one of the most exciting Tomb Raider titles to date, and that's because it's been dragged into the 21st Century amidst stunning action set-pieces and exploding gas canisters. That may sound like an obvious and damning change for most Tomb Raider fans, but it doesn't take away from the spirit of Lara Croft. It maintains the essence of what sets the Tomb Raider franchise head and shoulders above many other action-adventure games but pushes it that inch further to keep the newest generation of gamers on their toes. Add to that the already mentioned HD upgrade and you've got a game that will live long amongst the PS3's best titles.
 

Tomb Raider Anniversary is the remade version of the very first Lara Croft adventure, which was the first game I owned on the PSOne and a game that I would say is up there in my top ten video-games of all time. For this game to be reimagined, ten years after its original release, was a brave move by the developers, especially after the success of Legend. There was a chance to take the series in an entirely different direction, but that was put on the back burner until Anniversary could reacquaint gamers with everything that made Tomb Raider a magical experience. The traditional Tomb Raider feel, with lengthy exploration and difficult puzzles appearing one after the other, is back. It is expanded upon using much of the new dynamics from Legend, but the gargantuan levels return with a vengeance, and manipulating the landscape is the only way to get from one area to the next. It's a new spin on the classic set-up and after a few hours of gameplay it's hard to accept that remakes are always cheap rip-offs of the originals. Everything from the soundtrack to the enemies to the sheer scale of the complicated traps and puzzles surpass the original in a way that's both refreshing and fun.

Anniversary is by far my favourite game of the trilogy and that's because it combines every single element of the Tomb Raider experience that has worked well in the past to create a perfect action gaming experience. It has your heart racing just as often as it has your brain ticking, every now and then popping up with a moment that leaves you awe-struck. The HD transition is much more noticeable in this game than it is with Legend, perhaps because the level design is on a much grander scale, relying on the money-shots of mountain exteriors, majestic columned halls and an Egyptian Sphinx within a dusty cavern, which hold up just as well as any graphically superior PS3 release.

The final game in the loosely linked trilogy is Tomb Raider Underworld, the game released on the PS3 in 2008 to conclude the melodrama of Lara Croft's plight in dealing with her now familiar enemy, Jacqueline Natla, an ancient Atlantis ruler with demonic powers. It’s here where the visual potential of these games is thrust into the limelight, with everything from water ripples to blades of long grass bending as Lara walks through looking nothing short of amazing. The game merges together everything that was popular in Legend and Anniversary, two very different approaches to the Tomb Raider idea, and the outcome is a positive one.

There are some problems with Underworld, including a dodgy camera that refuses to play ball at times and an ending that is fairly disappointing, but they aren't massive issues that restrict enjoyment. Highlights in the gameplay include an escape from a burning Croft Manor, an interesting take on a battle with a giant octopus and an escape from a sinking tanker. Loose ends are tied from the other games in the trilogy and all in all, it’s a fitting final chapter with thrilling moments that keep you interested until the credits roll.

With a new, grittier Tomb Raider game in the works, this collection proves that Lara Croft will be a popular video game heroine for years to come. I’ve yet to give the Playstation Network’s Lara Croft – Guardian of Light game a whirl, but I soon will because this trilogy has reignited my love for everything the female Indiana Jones is about.

Tomb Raider Trilogy is worth a go for anybody who has even a passing interest for any of the Tomb Raider games on any platform, because they remain unrivalled by any other games in their genre. And you have to admit, with a central character as charismatic and attractive as Lara (yes, she’s just polygons!), they’re a lot of fun!

Tomb Raider Trilogy gets a superb 9 / 10.

Five of the Best - Biffy Clyro Songs For Sonisphere

The choice to have Biffy Clyro headlining Sonisphere Festival here in the UK was greeted with a symphony of boos from metal fans, claiming that such a band should not be sandwiched between Metallica and Slipknot at a festival where heavy music is prominent. The word 'indie' has been thrown around, along with many other insults aimed towards a band which I think are incredibly original and, despite having many songs accepted into the mainstream, don't pull any punches when it comes to their live show and have plenty of songs in their back-catalogue that will go down a treat at Sonisphere. They can be a heavy-as-fuck band when they need to be, and while that may not be in the vein of thrash metal and the like, they have a punky/grungey sound (especially with songs from their early albums) that verges on hardcore at times. Of course, their trademark melodies are still there, but I think they'll do a good job of winning over some new fans at this year's Sonisphere Festival. Here are five tracks that should appear in their set if they want to do that.

1) There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake



Holy shit, this is one of my favourite Biffy tracks! If this doesn't start a pit on Sonisphere's Saturday night, nothing will! Reminds me of something At The Drive-In would whip out back in the day at a punk rock festival. The best track on 'Infinity Land', without a doubt.

2) Bodies in Flight



Another song that combines the visceral live show of Biffy with the awesome melodies. From the album 'The Vertigo of Bliss'. Scream along now!

3) Stress On the Sky



Another classic, this time from 'Blackened Sky'. The transitions from the heavy parts into the softer verses are mesmerizing.

4) Semi-Mental



Circa 'Puzzle', this song is one of my faves from that album. Along with 'Living Is A Problem...' and 'Saturday Superhouse' this should really get Knebworth bouncing!

5) That Golden Rule



Modern day Biffy, the lead single from 'Only Revolutions', proving that the band still know how to write a fantastic heavy tune. The outro is astounding and my final suggestion for a 'Song for Sonisphere'. However, I will list some honourable mentions.

- Glitter & Trauma
- The Kids From Kibble & The Fist of Light
- Only One Word Comes To Mind
- Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies
- Saturday Superhouse

Album Review - Neo-Ritmo : Experience Precedes Essence (2011)

Neo-Ritmo are one of a fresh wave of alternative rock bands from Bristol that are working hard gigging all over the city and spreading word of their music at a rapid and unrelenting pace, and so far it seems to be paying off for the four-piece, who formed in late 2009. They were recently finalists in the competition to support Bon Jovi at Ashton Gate Stadium, and although they didn’t end up as winners, just to get so far in the contest shows that they are an accomplished band with a sound that is very much their own.

The band’s debut album, ‘Experience Precedes Essence’, is a group of seven songs which live up to the promises made by the title. The guys really do seem to be experienced musicians who have taken their time with their sound and not rushed these songs out. You can hear the care taken with every note played and sung, which shows that valued essence can be gained once heart and soul is poured into a craft.

Album opener ‘A Fraction of Forever’ starts with grungy guitar and quickly becomes a booming heavy track, surprisingly with some thrash metal chugging before the vocals kick in. Once they do, it’s hard not to be taken along on the ride Neo-Ritmo want you to join them on. There are some beautiful solos with interweaving scales for the last minute or so that are a joy to behold.

Next track ‘Between Stars & Dreams’ starts with some top-notch riffing and progressive drums, the whole affair reminding me of something Biffy Clyro would have included on an early album. The vocals are strong here, especially during the chorus, which is a real sing-along affair. There’s definitely something very Myles Kennedy about lead vocalist and guitar player Jason Watts, which lends to the grand scale of the songs. When the song takes a more downbeat turn, it’s still very absorbing to listen to, and fades to a close ceremoniously.

‘Condemned to Be Free’ again shows off the musicianship of everyone involved, and it’s during this point that I realise I can’t get enough of the vocals on these songs. They are striking at times, but never over-done, fitting in humbly amongst the guitars. Every now and then a note is hit that feels like it shouldn’t have been there, but overall it just feels right. This isn’t their strongest song on the album, but it’s good enough as an uplifting rock song with a modest yet proficient solo at the end.

Next on the album is ‘The Great Submission’, which is the shortest song on the album, and for me, the least satisfying. The production values seem a little less graceful on this track, although that could be my imagination. It’s a standard song in the mould Neo-Ritmo have created for themselves, but unfortunately fairly forgettable in my opinion.

Hoping for better things and perhaps something a bit different, I go into ‘Frayed, So Afraid’ positively after hearing the opening acoustic guitar and the brilliantly sung lyrics. As the song kicks in, I can’t help but feel like I’m listening to an early Pearl Jam demo, although of course Eddie Vedder’s voice is way too distinguishable for me to be actually convinced. This is a strong song and shows that the band are as good songwriters as they are musicians. The quiet/loud transitions are perfectly done and by the time the song ends I feel a sudden urge to want to see this band live.

It’s that heavy Biffy Clyro sound that rushes to my ears as ‘Dreaming Infinity’ kick-starts. Think of something that the Scotsmen would have released on ‘Blackened Sky’ or ‘Infinity Land’ coincidently, and you can imagine what kind of Neo-Ritmo song this it. There are stop/start moments here that are done really well, and a softer section in the middle of the song which is impeccably placed. The outro riff is one of my favourite guitar moments on the whole album. It’s not a bombastic solo or an elaborate rock riff, just a delicate solo played over some intense progressive rumbling instrumentals.

Final track ‘Meet Inside’ is the ballad of the album (well for at least the first half of the song) and forgive me if you hate that word. If I was going to stick with the Biffy Clyro analogies then I’d say this is the band’s ‘Machines’, but ignore that last sentence if you think I’ve overdone it with those comparisons. Guitars screech into something a lot more monumental and anthemic, before the album draws to a melodic and serene end.

Neo-Ritmo are a talented band and this album is something they should be proud of, no doubt a group of songs that have the potential to get them far. I would’ve been happy if Neo-Ritmo were chosen to represent Bristol music at the Bon Jovi show, as they really do show off what this city has to offer, but as they weren’t they’ll have to wait until they get a chance to be heard by the masses. ‘Experience Precedes Essence’ is an album that should be listened to if you get the chance to and I’ll be sure to catch them live at one of their gigs in the near future.

Langur - Numbers (Music Video)

After sharing the stage with one of Bristol's best live bands in the last week, I thought it would be a good time to share a music video I made for Langur back in 2007 while I was studying Multimedia at City of Bristol College. It isn't the most polished and professional piece, but it was the first time I had filmed anything of the sort and used much of the editing software to create it. There are a few dodgy cuts, parts that don't synch up and odd choices of effects, but I am proud of it none-the-less (in a way that means I can't watch it without picking it apart every time!) I'd love to make a music video for a band again, perhaps using some better cameras and software, and a little bit more know how, but that's something for the future. For now, enjoy Langur with their song from the album, 'Jokes I Don't Get', a track entitled 'Numbers'.

Koshiro Gig - The Croft (18-05-11)

The latest Koshiro gig was a big one, an 8 band extravaganza that we headlined at Bristol venue The Croft. It was our first gig in 6 weeks so a lot of preparation had gone into putting together a set which included all of our debut EP and much of the newer songs we've been writing over the coming months. It was to be a set of two halves, seperated by a cover of Rise Against's 'Prayer of the Refugee', which explored the evolution our sound has taken. The show was organised by Offbeat Promotions and was one of the busiest nights we have played at since our first gig back in August 2010.

Gathering a roster of bands that would compliment and challenge our sound was a monumental feat, which took much time and thought to bring together. Opening the night at the front bar were one of the stand-out acts for the whole affair, and Ataraxis Vibration left the crowd in awe with their combination of smooth vocals, intricate guitar work and groovy songs. Next up, in the main room of The Croft, with their first official gig, were Above the Skies, Weston-Super-Mare pop-punkers who didn't appear to have a lack of experience on the stage, with a well polished and confident set. Following that were indie four-piece
Make Like Theodore, back at the front bar, before Bristol hardcore quintet Clear The Coast brought the thunder back to the main room in spectacular style, with a set full of heavy, tight and catchy tunes. Row of Ashes were up next, a female fronted heavy metal band that did a good job of melting faces and getting heads banging.

Main support for us in the main room were a band who are good friends of ours and have been regulars on the Bristol circuit since 2006. Langur almost tore the roof from The Croft with a battering-ram of a set, full of thumping drums, guitar feedback and slap bass. There were some new songs in the mix as well as some old favourites, and it was at this point during the night that the atmosphere really started to kick-start, with the crowd beginning to get vocal during this wonderful Langur set. Here are a few pictures of the band in action.

The final band to take to the stage before we got up and did our thing, were Doctor Nut (who sound like Iron Maiden rocking out with Beethoven - Dave Artscare) who took to the front bar stage with a grand hurrah and we watched by many performing their quirky and technically ace songs, and by this point The Croft was really bouncing. It was awesome to appear on the same bill as so many amazing bands, let alone headline the whole night, so we'd like to thank all of the other bands for playing and doing such a great job of it! Here are some images of Doctor Nut's set.

Koshiro took to the stage at 10:30pm, with an ever-growing audience spurring us on as we performed one of our most energetic and enjoyable sets to date. There were a little teething problems (including a confetti fail!) but it was a lot of fun and according to the reaction from the crowd, a successful gig. We also premiered a new song, Telekinesis, towards the end of the set.

The set in full was

- Medicine
- Greater the Void
- Ghosts
- Engage the Enemy
- Dread
- Prayer of the Refugee
- Telekinesis
- Buried At Sea
- Last Chance Saloon

And here are a few photos from our headline set! Taken by Joanna Morris and Anthony Palmer.

Next up for us is an appearance at The Fleece for the Dot to Dot Festival 2011 on Saturday the 28th of May!

Koshiro News (May 2011)

Just a brief blog post to discuss what's new for Koshiro in May and what we have coming up this month and in the near future. After 6 weeks with no gigs, we're itching to get back onto the stage and it will be in less than 2 weeks that we headline The Croft in one of our biggest gigs so far.

On the 18th of May we'll be joined by some fantastic bands to bring a monumental show to The Croft, with 7 bands spanning many genres of heavy music to make this an event to be remembered.

MAIN STAGE SUPPORT

LANGUR

Noisy rock trio, one of Bristol's hardest working and best connoisseurs of feedback, slap-bass and thunderous drums.

CLEAR THE COAST

5 piece post hardcore band, explosive live show and soon to release their debut music video!

ABOVE THE SKIES

Weston-Super-Mare punk band with aspirations to not fall in with the cliched American sound that can hinder bands of their genre.

FRONT BAR

DOCTOR NUT

Quite simply one of the most wonderful and unique live shows to see in Bristol right now. Doctor Nut are like Iron Maiden rocking out with Beethoven (according to Dave Thomas of Artscare Records).

ROW OF ASHES

Face melting female fronted heavy metal.

MAKE LIKE THEODORE

Bristol indie rock dedicating to creating a local following.

It promises to be a great night, with some big surprises in store and new material due to be premiered. If you can make it to The Croft on the 18th, get on down there! £5 for 7 bands, you simply cannot go wrong.

We have also been confirmed for the Dot to Dot Festival, although which Bristol venue we are appearing at has yet to be confirmed. We look forward to playing to a new audience and enjoying what could be some significant exposure. We will confirm the time, date and venue for the show once we receive word.

We will also be getting involved in a 'Battle of the Bands' competition for the first time at Weston-Super-Mare venue Decades. It will take place some time in June and the first prize will be £500! It will also be our very first show outside of our hometown of Bristol.

Finally, here are some live tracks from our last gig at The Fleece at the beginning of April. Enjoy!

EP Review - Goldtrip : I Try (2011)

Goldtrip are a three-piece melodic indie rock band from Bristol, who after recently signing to Steve Levine’s Hubris Records have released a debut E.P titled ‘I Try’, a trio of cinematic and finely tuned songs from the softer side of the indie sphere. They are amassing a huge amount of fans and hype following the release of the tracks on iTunes and the videos on YouTube, and for good reason.

The band are made up multi-instrumentalists Dom (vocals, keyboards and guitar), Alex (drums, bass, guitar), and Joe (guitar) who formed in 2008 at Bristol University. Since that time, they’ve worked hard writing songs, gigging around the city and sharpening their sound up to the polished and festival-friendly. It’s that sound that is perhaps what sets them alongside other bands with which they will have obvious comparisons (Fleet Foxes, Arcade Fire, etc), as they can clearly write a great song, yet the songs aren’t overdone and intensively anthemic; they just coast along positively and precisely, bringing a fresh sense of Americana to the Britpop / Folk combination, which highlights the music they make as original and at times quite magical.

The title track on the EP, ‘I Try’, opens the show in a soft yet assuming way. The whole song cruises along on the wave of a marching beat, the song feeling like it could be a track for Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen to be singing over. But it’s neither of those song-smiths, just a singer for a new generation in Dom Little, who has lyrical care in abundance and combines that with his smooth and convincing style to bring a relaxing piece of acoustic harmony. This lead single highlights much of the bands influences, with many bands being heard in the just over 3 minutes of this track. It’s a great way to open an EP and feels like over forty years of mainstream music pushed together in a way that doesn’t feel outlandish and over-the-top.

The next track, ‘Burn to Fade’, is summer encapsulated, that festival-friendly sound already mentioned being the focal point, reminding me of Glastonbury lights shining through the waving flags of festival goers. The vocals, again, aren’t pushed; just adding what is needed to the acoustics, competent lead electric and other layers of the song. It feels like a slightly more upbeat song from The Smiths, back at a time when the years didn’t seem to be getting so much to Morrissey. The melodies are optimistic and the song feels hymn-like at times, which can put you into a pleasant daydream.

The final track is the band at full force (in comparison to the first two songs), yet ‘Running Out of Love’ sticks to the poppy highs and memorable choruses which is now the recognisable Goldtrip sound. It’s the most memorable chorus of the three tracks, and certainly the most chantable, its sing-along qualities making it the song I enjoyed the most on this EP. The electric rushes, piano chords and choir-like backing vocals bring the debut Goldtrip release to a close, fading into sunshine and leaving you intrigued as to what else this band could be capable of. Without a doubt, a band to watch out for, and if I was a betting man, I’d say they’ll be reaching the heights they are striving for sooner rather than later.

Here are two videos released with the EP.

Five of the Best - Batman Graphic Novels

Batman is a character that many talented artists and writers have tried their luck at by bringing an original and definitive telling of his story, resulting in what have been some of the most mind-blowing graphic novels in history. I would say that of my top 10 graphic novels of all time, at least 5 of which are Batman stories, which goes to show that The Caped Crusader is a character that is timeless and will never run out of stories to appear in. He’s The Greatest Detective of All Time and lives in a world full of fascinating villains (including the most memorable villain of all time) and faces the corrupt underworld of Gotham City head-on, ready to risk everything in the name of justice.

A lot of these stand-alone comics have inspired Christopher Nolan’s recent and most popular Batman movies, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. I am sure that they’re mythos will be key factors in the third movie in Nolan’s Bat-trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, and for that reason I want to explore five of the best Batman graphic novels and examine exactly what it is that makes them so inspirational and iconic.

1) Batman: The Killing Joke

Written by Alan Moore and drawn by Brian Bolland

Batman: The Killing Joke is perhaps the perfect telling of the relationship between Batman and The Joker, exploring the never-ending unstoppable-force versus immovable-object dynamic they have going on and at times acknowledging their similarities as ‘never say never’ obsessive characters. It shows the classic telling of The Joker’s origin, beginning a theme that revolves around the idea that any normal person can go mad after ‘one bad day.’

The plot is focused entirely on the psychological battle between The Dark Knight and The Clown Prince, driving Batman to desperation at times. The Joker is really pulling out all of the stops to make Batman experience the ‘one bad day’ he did before he truly lost his mind.

The Joker is at his most batshit (excuse the pun) crazy as he guns down Commissioner Gordon’s daughter Barbara, kidnaps the Gotham City police officer and urges Batman to come after him, using the Commissioner as a twisted example of how delicate the human mind can be.

It’s the ultimate Batman versus The Joker story, and with Alan Moore writing the panels you just know it’s one of the best graphic novels out there and certainly worth the money, especially for the hardcover edition with brand new colours from the artist.

2) Batman: Year One

Written by Frank Miller and drawn by Dave Mazzucchelli

Arguably the greatest Batman story ever told, depicting the origins of Batman and why Bruce Wayne decided to bulk up and become the masked hero. It has a parallel story with Jim Gordon, as the yet to be Gotham City Commissioner arrives in the city from Chicago. It’s this parallel, with Gordon and Wayne both viewing the city’s corruption and deciding to do something about it, which makes this story unique and sits it alongside the greatest Batman graphic novels.

It isn’t on a grand scale, as many of the best Batman stories are, but it’s the simplicity that really makes this one stand out. Both Gordon and Wayne want to save the city, but both have differing ideas on how to do it, which is why the two characters come against each other in more ways than one. Their humanity is tested and highlighted in such a way that it makes their characters as clear as they ever have been, even against the murky backdrop of Gotham.

This story has a lot in common with Batman Begins, telling an origin story that is full of sincerity and is lodged in reality as opposed to the over-the-top story it could be. Quite simply one of Miller’s most idealistic Batman works, but next up, it’s the one that put him on the map as a comic writer than pushed the boundaries of what Batman could be.

3) The Dark Knight Returns

Written by Frank Miller and drawn by Frank Miller

Frank Miller does the writing and artwork for the futuristic Batman tale that sits comfortably at the top with some of the best graphic novel works that have ever been published (across all genres, not just Batman stories). The 1986 tale puts Batman in the future, long after his first appearance in Gotham and 10 years after Bruce Wayne decided to hang up the cape and retire after the death of Jason Todd, Batman’s ever-loyal sidekick Robin.

It’s Batman without hope, showing Gotham as a city that has well and truly embraced its underlining madness, now without a hero in the shadows watching over it. The youth has revolted, the villains have taken over and the city has fallen into despair.

Batman, now middle-aged and bitter at the world around him, comes out of retirement to fight crime once more, the results of which push the character to new lengths. Read this if you want to see Superman receive the biggest ass-kicking he has ever got, at the hands of Batman of course. This graphic novel will be pondered over for years to come and will make you question everything you ever knew about the Bat.

4) Batman: The Long Halloween

Written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Tim Sale

The Long Halloween is a detective novel spread out across a huge number of comic book pages, hinging entirely on Batman’s ability to solve some of the most complex crimes. This graphic novel is much longer than the others mentioned already and really needs a lot of time and attention for it to really have the desired effect on you.

It’s written fantastically and includes all of the major players in the Gotham City world. It focuses on Batman’s early crime-fighting days with his first mind-boggling challenge coming when a mysterious killer known as The Holiday begins leaving bodies around the city on special days in the calendar. Lame? Hear me out. The breadcrumbs Loeb leaves for Batman are confusing for the hero as well as us and soon you begin to realise that this isn’t just your run-of-the-mill Batman story. It’s a detective story, as mentioned, but one that does a lot more for that genre with a significant labyrinthine plot.

Batman works closely with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Commissioner Gordon (sound familiar) to find the killer, digging up bones from the back-stories of big players in the supervillain world. The origin of Two-Face is retold in wonderful fashion and the conclusion to the story will have you shocked and most certainly scratching your head.

5) Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?

Written by Neil Gaiman and drawn by Andy Kubert

This story was purported to be the last Batman story in his timeline following the events of Final Crisis. Gaiman’s novel is set in a dream-like world, with Batman being displayed in his coffin for his friends, enemies and companions to come and pay their respects. It appears to be Batman’s funeral, and many characters give eulogies, highlighting key factors of their history with the Caped Crusader.

It’s an original tale that is a joy to read and makes the most of each of Batman’s supporting cast and their unique relationship with the Bat. It doesn’t feel like the end, however, and of course it isn’t. But this graphic novel will stand amongst its peers as a classic, and rightly so. 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS