Batman: Nightwalker: The Graphic Novel
By Michael Berry,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Action-packed graphic thriller spotlights young Bruce Wayne.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
As BATMAN: NIGHTWALKER: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL begins, teen billionaire Bruce Wayne pursues a criminal at high speed when the police seem to be losing the car chase. After the crash, Bruce submits to a probationary period to be spent doing janitorial work at Arkham Asylum. There he encounters the mysterious Madeleine, one of a gang of master criminals terrorizing Gotham's elite. Bruce is the only person she'll speak to, and so he's sent by the police to draw her out. But who's gathering information about whom? The more Bruce falls under Madeleine's spell, the more likely he is to be her next victim.
Is It Any Good?
The consequences of trauma are difficult to predict, but this bare-knuckles thriller cleverly shows how a hero is made, not born. With Batman: Nightwalker: The Graphic Novel, author Marie Lu clearly loves her Bat-lore and is having fun imaging Bruce Wayne's formative years. The book, however, miscalculates the appeal of its main villain. Madeleine has her interesting quirks, but she pales in comparison to most of the other antagonists in Batman's rogues gallery. The other Nightwalkers are mostly just ciphers.
Still, there's enough suspense generated to propel readers to the climactic confrontation, which is well choreographed and full of surprises. Stuart Moore neatly adapts the tale to the graphic novel medium, and Chris Wildgoose's art is vibrant, dynamic, and clear in its storytelling choices. Teen Batman still needs to grow up a bit, but Nightwalker is an intriguing look back.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Batman: Nightwalker addresses income inequality. Bruce Wayne has billions of dollars. Should he use some of them to make the city a better place?
Bruce is still traumatized by having witnessed the murder of his mother and father. How does trauma affect children? Where can they turn for help dealing with it?
What do you think of the relationship between Bruce Wayne and his butler, Alfred? Why doesn't Bruce follow his advice sometimes? Who in your life tries to guide you and keep you from danger or from making mistakes?
Book Details
- Authors: Marie Lu , Stuart Moore
- Illustrator: Chris Wildgoose
- Genre: Graphic Novel
- Topics: Superheroes , Adventures , Great Boy Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: DC Ink
- Publication date: October 1, 2019
- Number of pages: 200
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: November 10, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Graphic Novels and Memoirs
Best Superhero Books for Kids
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate