I have always been fascinated by the only super hero without super powers. This graphic novel is well drawn and well written. Comic writers tend to leave much to the imagination and this book is no different. Not sure why that needs to be. Please just tell the story straight up. Give us the details. The book ends with alternative cover ideas that were not used.

Tom King's witty and heartbreaking writing capture the desperation and frustration of Bruce Wayne/Batman as he tries to deal with being left at the altar by Catwoman. Matched by a pop art style juxtaposed with the film noir sensibility of Gotham City and Batman these issues continue to tell the legendary story of Batman but in a manner that is more humane and believable.

Bruce Wayne gets selected as a juror on Mr. Freeze's trial. There he deals with his emotions over Catwoman leaving him at the altar while putting Batman's methods on trial in a variation of 12 Angry Men. It's wonderfully well done. Lee Weeks's art looks great. Then Matt Wagner comes on board as Nightwing tries to help Batman deal with the breakup. Tom King's Dick Grayson is fantastic. He brings a lightheartedness to Batman's world. The quips are witty and perfectly in character. How come no one else at DC seems to be able to write this character? Then Tony Daniel illustrates a KGBeast story that's brutal and raw. I've noticed with this run that King's writing is starting to shift to almost art direction. There's large portions where the art is telling a different story than the dialogue or he almost tells the story completely through the art itself. It's extremely well done. You can almost see the storytelling evolve with each arc of this Batman run. It's really becoming one for the ages.

This is quite dramatic but well worth it. I loved this one. Excellent work. The graphics were well executed and it was a good story line.

Batman always starts his pursuits in night and to draw him there would be a lot of black color. To demonstrate all minor details, emotions and movements is a work of great expertise which illustrators have done aptly.
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you see progressive movement of characters in drawings, like a movie and and backgrounds are awesome.
Story by Tom King is engaging and mixture of various phases and thoughts of characters is spot on.
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Drawings of fight in snow are particularly striking. Page depicting stangulation of a character is absolutely astonishing.
Batman's bond with Robin and attack on him is very emotional.
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Jury members discssing case of Mr Freeze with Wayne is a work of great artistic skill.
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Look forward for more such gems by DC comics.

Full disclosure: Batman is my favorite superhero, even more now than when I was a kid. What I love about this character is how he's evolved over the decades and generations, and how gifted storytellers still find new facets and angles to show us. Tom King is one of them, as this volume collecting issues #51-57 demonstrates. Following the wedding arc, our favorite nocturnal crusader is in a contemplative mood, pondering his complex role in Gotham. King's writing is thought provoking, and the art by Lee Weeks and Tony Daniel is brutally riveting. It helps establish context to have read the volume/issues before this one, but even without, this volume is a brilliant read.

My opinion is that this Batman series keeps getting better and better with every issue. It is very well written, Tom King definitely knows how to drag reader into the story. Though Batman's a bit hyper-emotional after the wedding, I really like his behaviour. The first half was excellent, second left a lot to be desired. My recommendation is: buy it, read it, love it.

Bruce Wayne sits on a jury determining the guilt or otherwise of Mr Freeze, and gets to side against Batman in defense of the nippy nasty. But he's not just playing devil's advocate – or is he? Is he just prolonging a cheap story for no reason (and you'd better hope not) or is he really delving into the real core of the characters' duality, with Bruce almost two-faced (pun intended) about Batman's worth and values? Well, as this only ends up taking up half of the book, the answer is it's more the former than the latter. Damn it, it had conviction, but it didn't quite have the talent to stand out, the ability to conclude in a brilliant fashion, nor the sustained power to make you wish it had been a one-off straight-to-hardback drama. Elsewhere, Dick learns you are what you eat – especially if that's cucumber sandwiches, before we go into a second impressive arc. All told it's a big relief to see things here are so much better than the really disposable wedding album that came before. Opinions about the script for the last episode here will be divided, but all told this is a much stronger book. A strong four stars.

This work of art is complete with masterful illustrations and creative prose. It took an organized team effort to bring about the finished product. Each of the following artists was a contributor: writer, pencils, colors, inks, letters, cover, associated editor, and editor. That's an impressive cast.

The many variant covers were professionally done. The cover sketches were a brilliant glimpse at the forthcoming finishing touches. It was enjoyable watching the birth of the comic come to life. Obvious to me, the work of many produced this standout edition. I would recommend this work of literature to anyone with a desire for an outstanding graphic novel.

I offer my gratitude to NetGalley and DC Entertainment for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Bruce Wayne is on the jury for the trial
Of Mr. Freeze . Confronted with questions about his own ego will he end Batman for good ? To me Tom King is the quintessential Batman writer . His stories are thoughtful, engaging and thrilling

After the compelling finale of the Wedding, I was scared at how the aftermath of Bruce Wayne more so Batman will regain after the ending of Issue 50.

The continuing series of this new Batman story line has been by far the best one i have read in a few years. We are brought back at the enigma of how Bruce Wayne became Batman all over again but though a different kind of loss.
It was crucial to see Batman go through dark emotions but in reality, this is what makes BATMAN ater all.. or is it? Bruce Wayne is the one that sees the mistakes he has done and needs to convince Gotham city of a crime that maybe Batman was to blame.

Story line has been impeccable, highly recommend!!!!! Now... as a catwoman lover, will we be seeing Selina Kyle come back to Gotham!?

Another episodic collection. In one arc, Bruce Wayne bribes his way onto a jury so he can poke some holes in the case, largely developed by Batman, against Mr. Freeze. Why? He has his reasons. Then there's a nice Bruce Wayne-Dick Grayson centric issue, focusing on their relationship over the years, with Dick trying to snap Bruce out of his post-(near) wedding depression. And then another arc featuring the KGBeast, hired to shoot (kill? we don't know yet by the end of the volume) Nightwing. One of the best things King has done is to humanize Bruce Wayne/Batman and get him to lighten up a bit, admit he cares for his friends and the relationships are important to him. And boy does this volume do that, in spades. Excellent artwork throughout from Lee Weeks, Matt Wagner, and Tony S. Daniel. This was a run that, I'll admit, took me some time to warm up to. But it's really paying off now and, hopefully, Tom King will stick around for awhile.

Batman Vol. 8: Cold Days finds Bruce Wayne still reeling from everything that went down with Selina Kyle. The blows just keep coming. While on jury duty, he begins questioning all the decisions that he has made. Dick Grayson tries to lift Bruce's spirits ( I love his puns just the dose of humor needed in this dark spot) in much the same ways Bruce did for him when he lost his family. But an assassin is on the hunt, the Batman will not walk away unscathed yet again in the emotionally hard hitting story. The art work is not the best and not what I would have chosen but it does express the story. The color work is on par. Overall the volume is a moving read but dagnabbit when does Batman get his happily ever after. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been a big DC fan (especially Batman), but I've never been someone who has read all the comics and knows them inside and out. So starting this comic, I had some basic knowledge of Batman dearest, but not nearly enough to be very critical about the way this story connects to everything that has been written about Batman before.

In Batman Vol. 8: Cold Days we have a couple of things going on. Batman is not in a good place; he is hurting, broken. We begin our story with Bruce being on jury duty during the Freeze trial. Next we get a look at the Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson story. And eventually there is the part where Batman goes against KGBeast.

I absolutely loved the mr. Freeze trial. We get to see a Bruce Wayne who is hurting and who reflects on Batman and the things he does. There is literally nothing I disliked. It seemed like a very simple story, but it was a very strong one that made a lot of impact.
After that we dive into the relationship between Bruce and Dick. Also a solid storyline and some humor mixed in with the action.
Last but not least we get to see KGBeast. He decided to piss Batman off and well, naturally, he is going to pay for it. Also great storyline, dark, brutal and action-packed.

All in all this was a great read and a perfect portrayal of Batman. I'm very thankful that I got the opportunity to read this volume!

It feels weird knowing that all of the buildup is finally over – that the Batman/Catwoman plot has finally concluded. But it has, and we’re well on our way to moving past it. This is the first full volume to come out after that plot, and it was kind of nice that they didn’t just pretend it didn’t happen. But more on that below.
Warnings first: There’s a scene that occurs that is kind of hard to describe without possibly giving out major spoilers. Let’s just say that there’s a story being told where a bunch of cartoonish wildlife come together and eventually kill and eat each other. It’s slightly graphic, but not the worst I’ve seen.
This volume is more or less comprised of two different plots. I’ll be honest with you and tell you that the first plot was my favorite. The second one was interesting at times, but I had some qualms with it as well.
The first plot unsurprisingly deals a bit with the aftermath of the wedding that wasn’t. Bruce isn’t exactly the most emotionally stable person out there, so it’s no surprise that he’s taking things a bit hard. That being said, I really love that they were able to turn that raw pain of his into an interesting plot…as well as possibly teaching Bruce a lesson at the same time.
This plot was, in many ways, my favorite in recent times. I absolutely adore plots that will make me think, and ethical/moral debates are a quick and easy way to accomplish that. At first I was put off by the whole Bruce as a juror thing (conflict of interest and all) but I quickly got over that when I realized this was an opportunity to force Bruce out of the rage he’s been hiding behind.
Okay, the fact that Mr. Freeze made an appearance is another reason why I loved the plot so much. But who can blame me there? My only real complaint about the plot is that at the time it ended it didn’t really feel like there was an actual conclusion. Now, I’ve been reading the issues as they come out and I can safely tell you that they’ll be picking this plot up again. Much to my relief.
The second plot was also interesting, but it also picked on a pet peeve of mine. I can’t stand it when they do something major to a character outside of their own story. In this case I’m referring to something that happened to Nightwing in Batman’s plot. Not only is it harsh on Nightwing, but for me it takes away the impact, as odd as that sounds. I always assume that nothing permanent will happen to a character during a cameo. Sometimes there are exceptions to the rule, of course. But it doesn’t happen often enough (in the comics I read) to add a spike of anxiety. Not yet, at least. So it just left me feeling sour in the end.
They did wrap up the plot in an interesting way though, so I have to give them credit for that. The story being told (yes, the animal one) starting off all childlike and innocent, but rapidly growing dark was an interesting comparison for the events unfolding in Batman’s plot. The impact becomes so much stronger at the end, when it’s revealed who is reading the story.
I’ve been really enjoying the last few volumes of Batman. Truth be told I’ll admit that I’m still holding out hope that Catwoman will come back to Gotham…but realistically that probably won’t be anytime soon. It’s also probably for the best if they give that relationship a break all together. Don’t want to overuse anything, right?

Another great look at Batman's psyche through a court case a la Twelve Angry Men, flashbacks from Dick's early times in the Wayne Manor, and on the hunt for a surprising assassin.

I really like the way Tom King is digging deep into the character of Batman: he's no longer "just" the world's greatest detective, but a man who is carrying some deep-seated pain, grief, and probably some PTSD, too.

The artwork was fantastic, and the shocking change of the style in the middle of the book actually added to the flashback, too. Can't wait to see where this goes next!

Batman’s heart is all achy breaky thanks to the Cat lady and he acting maaaad. At the trial of Mister Freeze, one juror decides to tear apart the prosecution’s case, built in large part by Batman: Bruce Wayne! Think he’s suffered enough? Think again! Batman’s about to pain some more as another dickhole targets his nearest and dearest. Cold Days, indeed!

Alriiiight, Tom King coming back STRONG after that last mediocre wedding book! Eight volumes in and the quality is still there - so much to enjoy!

King reunites with his Batman/Elmer Fudd artist, Lee Weeks, for the Mister Freeze storyline which is really about Bruce working through his feels/pulling himself together rather than it is about Freeze. It’s a really clever post-wedding story where Bruce takes “Batman” to task for letting his emotions control him to the point where he became a sloppy crime-fighter who’s been making too many mistakes.

It’s also a stellar analysis of Batman’s psychology, origins and his place within Gotham’s collective mindset. I liked the little snippets of dialogue between Bruce and the various jurors over the battle scenes between Batman and Freeze. I really loved Weeks’ beautiful art, complemented perfectly by Elizabeth Breitweiser’s incandescent and stunning colours. That visual of Batman in the dark alley looking up at Catwoman was a brilliant use of negative space.

The Freeze story is the best one here and is damn near flawless. Everyone on the creative team is positively soaring, producing superb comics. Oh and best of all: Batman’s back in his classic pre-New 52 suit - hells to the YEAH!

Matt Wagner draws an issue and I don’t care for his art. It looks especially crude sandwiched between Weeks’ realistic, cinematic noir style and Tony S. Daniel’s super-slick production. Otherwise it’s another fine issue that explores Bruce and Dick’s relationship. I love that King juxtaposes Bruce helping Dick as a kid in the wake of his parents’ deaths with Dick in the present helping Bruce post-wedding.

The KGBeast storyline is maybe the only time the character has actually seemed remotely credible and not like some laughably cartoony threat. It’s not the strongest storyline and the big thing that happens in it is a bit eye-rolling. Yes, it involves a character “dying” which is a joke when it happens in superhero comics so there was no chance of any kind of emotional impact on me, or any other seasoned comics readers, I suspect.

Anyhoo, it’s still a readable story and King writes the classic team of Bruce and Dick wonderfully - that back and forth referencing Batman ‘66 and “chum” was superb! Tony S. Daniel draws some fantastically eye-popping pages too - so damn polished!

If you’ve been following King’s Batman this long you won’t need any prompting to pick this one up - it’s astonishing that he’s been able to keep to the bi-weekly schedule and still write comics of this quality. But I’d also recommend it to new or lapsed Batman fans as, regardless of the “Volume 8” and the few vague references to prior storylines, Cold Days is perfectly accessible as a standalone, entertaining Batman book.

I really enjoyed it - well done (mostly) everyone! Cold Days is hot stuff!

I love Batman. I was really happy when i saw this volume on Netgalley. Tom King did it again. It was really good and dark. Amazing artworks as always. I couldn't wait next volume.

This is my first graphic novel and I really enjoyed it. Batman is my first cartoon superhero I was watching as a kid.
The graphics are amazing.

Tom King continues his sharp take on the Dark Knight in this new collected volume. The artwork is the professional and detailed quality readers would expect from a DC Comic. When it comes to these characters, the question is: What next?

King proves again that the Batman story will continue, drawing on classic characters like Mr. Freeze and lesser-known villains like KGBeast to create a story that keeps older fans like me intrigued, while inviting new readers to the fold.