Batman: The Cult - Jim Starlin

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This nutso leader type certainly provided a worthy opponent for The Batman.

He sees how far you actually would have to go to actually break The Batman, whether torture, drugs, or whatever, along with some clever PR and spin.

Jason Todd's finest hour

The very late `80s was a time of big changes for Batman. Not only was the caped crusader's image and tone forever altered by Tim Burton's Batman movie, but he lost his sidekick Jason Todd (aka Robin) in a particularly grisly way. Before taking on Robin's demise, Jim Starlin wrote a 4-issue prestige format miniseries titled BATMAN: THE CULT, which took some narrative cues from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns and paved the way for other chaotic tales set in Gotham City, such as Contagion and No Man's Land.

Starlin's story, while full of drama and action, is a bit too over-the-top for even this accepting comic fan to stomach, and it is perhaps the weirdest of the weird Batman stories. I've read all kinds of Batman tales, from golden age craziness to Elseworlds, but this one takes the cake. The Reverend Deacon Blackfire (don't laugh) is purging Gotham of its criminal element once and for all by rallying the homeless to his cause, drugging and brainwashing them, and getting them riled up to murder all the criminals, plus the politicians and police who would dare to get in the way. Batman is captured by Blackfire's goons, given the drug/brainwash treatment, and serves as a rank-and-file goon himself. And even then, with the situation getting so dire that Gotham City becomes first a war zone, and then a disaster area, the media is ambivalent to the situation, and regular citizens seem to feel that the Rev is doing a great job! Errr... yeah. Anyway, Batman must battle both the Rev's minions and his own brainwashing, which is affecting him with instability and paralyzing hallucinations. But that's okay, because who should arrive to pick up the caped crusader's slack and get him back in the action, but Jason Todd! That's right, the Robin that fans deemed worthless and had Jim Starlin later kill off in A Death in the Family is, in THE CULT, a hardcore fighter who saves the mostly-worthless Batman's tail numerous times. It really impressed me, to the point that I seriously wondered why any true fan would have wanted the kid dead.

Bernie Wrightson's pencils provide just the right atmosphere for this kind of story. If you've ever seen his work for Stephen King's The Stand, you know that Wrightson is the perfect artist to depict not only a ruined Gotham City, but a Batman fighting to stay sane. Unfortunately, Wrightson's pencils are almost completely obscured by Bill Wray's sloppy coloring. Muted watercolors with no contrast, and spattered backgrounds that make no sense... it's certainly in the running for the worst coloring job ever in a comic book. DC definitely needs to release a re-colored printing of this trade paperback, and to heck with Wray if he gets his feelings hurt. Sure, it's a dark story, but that's no reason to ruin Wrightson's detailed work.

So, it squeaks by with three out of five stars, but a recolored version of BATMAN: THE CULT would rate a solid 4, at least.

fairly interesting

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.

Batman and Robin take on Deacon Blackfire

The Cult, a miniseries by writer Jim Starlin and artists Berni Wrightson and Bill Gray came out fast on the heals of Miller's "the Dark Knight Returns"" and "Batman: Year One" and tries to capture the psychological tale of Batman, but this time, the fear is placed in Batman as he is captured by the cult leader, Deacon Blackfire. While dressed as a Christian cleric, Deacon Blackfire is anything but - instead, he is a one eyed king leading the down trodden and drugged ones (under, for lack of a better word - his "charm") to wreak havoc on Gotham. Well, my review is a bit simplistic, but the focus is not so much a statement about cults, even though this is an underlying theme, but about Batman's 1. Ordeal, 2. Capture, 3. Escape, 4. Combat (revenge/justice).

This is a great story, and the faults are minimal. The coloring fits this story and Batman's anguished face is ever present as he fights the mind control that he is under. Robin has a strong and thoughtful role for once. The Dynamic Dual go to war against the cult, and every second is worth it.

One of the Best Batman Stories Ever Published.

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.