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Batman Confidential
Batman vs. the Undead
Batman fights alongside the vampire Dimeter to stop a horde of reanimated corpses. When Doctor Herbert Combs escapes from Arkham Asylum, he travels to New Orleans in an attempt to raise the dead. The only ones who can stop him are Dimeter – a vampire with a score to settle – and The Dark Knight. Batman must fight alongside Dimeter in an effort to stop Dr. Combs from unleashing his brand of evil voodoo upon the world.
128 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 20, 2017
Welcome to Advanced Batman Studies, 401! I’m Jeff! Today we’re going to be taking a look at Batman Vs. The Undead.
It seems that Batman has been pursuing Dr. Herbert Combs, who has escaped from Arkham and has a penchant for re-animating dead things. Batman has tracked him to New Orleans and…A question?
Does Batman get flashed by college girls during Mardi Gras?
Did you even read the syllabus? It’s Batman Vs. The Undead.
Does Batman get flashed by undead college girls during Mardi Gras?
How did you get in here?
My counselor said it would be a guaranteed “A” and I wouldn’t have to do any work.
*long pause* Anyway. Batman’s not alone. He’s teaming up with others who have an interest in tracking down Combs – a werewolf and a vampire with his hot girlfriend.
Does the vampire’s hot girlfriend flash Batman during Mardi Gras?
Did you even do of the required supplementary reading?
No.
Can anyone guess who else teams up with Batman? Remember we’re dealing with black magic?
Zatana?
That makes lots of sense, but no.
The Spectre?
Again, reasonable choice, but no.
Deadman?
Good, but “No”.
Aquaman?
What? Did Anne send you? No.
Scooby Doo and the gang?
*sigh* Dr. Fate makes a cameo and makes some garbled prediction, but Batman chooses Superman to help him out.
Yes, you again, security is on its way, so you have time for one more question.
Isn’t Superman magic’s bitch?
Correct. The author’s choice of employing a superhero who has difficulty against magic to fight magical villains makes absolutely no sense whatsoever and Superman is practically useless.
Time’s up. For next class, read Grant Morrison’s more esoteric Batman writings and write a 1000 page term paper: “Ravings of a lunatic or just under the influence.”
It seems that Batman has been pursuing Dr. Herbert Combs, who has escaped from Arkham and has a penchant for re-animating dead things. Batman has tracked him to New Orleans and…A question?
Does Batman get flashed by college girls during Mardi Gras?
Did you even read the syllabus? It’s Batman Vs. The Undead.
Does Batman get flashed by undead college girls during Mardi Gras?
How did you get in here?
My counselor said it would be a guaranteed “A” and I wouldn’t have to do any work.
*long pause* Anyway. Batman’s not alone. He’s teaming up with others who have an interest in tracking down Combs – a werewolf and a vampire with his hot girlfriend.
Does the vampire’s hot girlfriend flash Batman during Mardi Gras?
Did you even do of the required supplementary reading?
No.
Can anyone guess who else teams up with Batman? Remember we’re dealing with black magic?
Zatana?
That makes lots of sense, but no.
The Spectre?
Again, reasonable choice, but no.
Deadman?
Good, but “No”.
Aquaman?
What? Did Anne send you? No.
Scooby Doo and the gang?
*sigh* Dr. Fate makes a cameo and makes some garbled prediction, but Batman chooses Superman to help him out.
Yes, you again, security is on its way, so you have time for one more question.
Isn’t Superman magic’s bitch?
Correct. The author’s choice of employing a superhero who has difficulty against magic to fight magical villains makes absolutely no sense whatsoever and Superman is practically useless.
Time’s up. For next class, read Grant Morrison’s more esoteric Batman writings and write a 1000 page term paper: “Ravings of a lunatic or just under the influence.”
November 17, 2016
As if there weren’t enough terrible Batman comics out there already, here comes one more: Batman Vs The Undead!
The psychiatrists at Arkham Asylum - a place that exists to conveniently release villains for Batman to fight when he needs a story - have conveniently let out a madman called Professor Combs because Batman needs someone to fight in this story. Combs has gone to New Orleans to raise an army of the undead and try to take over the world like an obviously sane person does - Batman follows.
Let’s throw in a vampire, a werewolf, voodoo magic, Superman, and Doctor Fate while we’re at it for a gumbo of incoherent swill that is this book! Kevin VanHook’s script is complete and utter garbage, the story is half-baked at best and Tom Mandrake’s art is scratchy and outdated. There are boring, stupid and forgettable Batman comics and there’s Batman Vs The Undead, a book that is as rotten as the corpses appearing between its covers!
The psychiatrists at Arkham Asylum - a place that exists to conveniently release villains for Batman to fight when he needs a story - have conveniently let out a madman called Professor Combs because Batman needs someone to fight in this story. Combs has gone to New Orleans to raise an army of the undead and try to take over the world like an obviously sane person does - Batman follows.
Let’s throw in a vampire, a werewolf, voodoo magic, Superman, and Doctor Fate while we’re at it for a gumbo of incoherent swill that is this book! Kevin VanHook’s script is complete and utter garbage, the story is half-baked at best and Tom Mandrake’s art is scratchy and outdated. There are boring, stupid and forgettable Batman comics and there’s Batman Vs The Undead, a book that is as rotten as the corpses appearing between its covers!
June 19, 2011
From real New Orleans to "Corto Maltese"? DC, why not just say Haiti? I know you're trying to one-up Marvel about superheroes rebuilding New Orleans after Katrina, but this voodoo zombie storyline is an insult to Batman comics. Please stop throwing vampires into Batman/Superman comics just to be cool.
August 30, 2022
Oh my god.
So, this is a book about Batman and, uh, zombies. And vampires. And werewolves. And curses and voodoo and what the fever dream is going on here?
I don't know if I liked this one because of its over the top, campy, B-movie vibe or if I disliked it because WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? Whole parts of this felt toilet paper-strung together and held in one piece with paperclips and glue sticks. I thought "What the fuck?" several times throughout. I had to put the book down a few times to process the fact that there are zombies, werewolves, vampires, and Batman and Superman. All together in one weird casserole.
That Batman cracks one liners in here (something I always thought I wanted until I read this) makes me realize I prefer the brooding Caped Crusader instead. Stay your emo brooding self forever, Batman.
Whatever the case, I was thoroughly entertained and read this easily in less in a couple of hours. But oh my god, this is definitely one of the more memorable books I've read this year, and probably not for the best reasons.
So, this is a book about Batman and, uh, zombies. And vampires. And werewolves. And curses and voodoo and what the fever dream is going on here?
I don't know if I liked this one because of its over the top, campy, B-movie vibe or if I disliked it because WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? Whole parts of this felt toilet paper-strung together and held in one piece with paperclips and glue sticks. I thought "What the fuck?" several times throughout. I had to put the book down a few times to process the fact that there are zombies, werewolves, vampires, and Batman and Superman. All together in one weird casserole.
That Batman cracks one liners in here (something I always thought I wanted until I read this) makes me realize I prefer the brooding Caped Crusader instead. Stay your emo brooding self forever, Batman.
Whatever the case, I was thoroughly entertained and read this easily in less in a couple of hours. But oh my god, this is definitely one of the more memorable books I've read this year, and probably not for the best reasons.
May 22, 2019
Very good!
March 7, 2016
Why was this released?
Okay, so the art was solid and the action scenes weren't boring, but that's it.
The whole thing felt awkward from the get-go—just not the best writing.
Then characters keep flying into the mix and everything became so convoluted and stupid.
I mean the best words to describe this is pointless and stupid.
I believe this is the only 1 star I've ever given.
Okay, so the art was solid and the action scenes weren't boring, but that's it.
The whole thing felt awkward from the get-go—just not the best writing.
Then characters keep flying into the mix and everything became so convoluted and stupid.
I mean the best words to describe this is pointless and stupid.
I believe this is the only 1 star I've ever given.
December 10, 2019
Batman Confidential: Batman vs. the Undead picks up where the previous trade paperback left off, collecting five issues (Batman Confidential #44–48) of the 2006 on-going series and covers one storyline: "Batman versus the Undead".
"Batman versus the Undead" is a five-issue storyline (Batman Confidential #44–48) has Bruce Wayne as Batman teaming up with vampire Marius Dimeter to face Herbert Combs once again. Combs is released from Arkham Asylum early, which prompts Batman to follow him into a museums, where Combs continue to play with the undead, by unleashing an undead army. Cameo appearance of Clark Kent as Superman and Kent V. Nelson as Doctor Fate help out Batman on his mission to vanquish the zombie army.
Kevin VanHook penned the entire limited series. For the most part, it is written at best rather mediocrity and at worst very poorly. Herbert Combs once again plays with the undead, but instead of vampires and werewolves, this time it is zombies. Marius Dimeter returns again to aid the Dark Knight on his mission to vanquish what Combs had summoned. The narrative is rather clunky and dialogued seemed forced and the momentum of the narrative never took off.
Tom Mandrake penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style – especially the human characters, while the zombie undead are much to be desired. Despite this, Mandrake's art may have been a saving grace for this trade paperback, but not enough to compensate for the narrative.
All in all, Batman Confidential: Batman vs. the Undead is a somewhat poor continuation to what is continually looking as a mediocre and uneven series.
"Batman versus the Undead" is a five-issue storyline (Batman Confidential #44–48) has Bruce Wayne as Batman teaming up with vampire Marius Dimeter to face Herbert Combs once again. Combs is released from Arkham Asylum early, which prompts Batman to follow him into a museums, where Combs continue to play with the undead, by unleashing an undead army. Cameo appearance of Clark Kent as Superman and Kent V. Nelson as Doctor Fate help out Batman on his mission to vanquish the zombie army.
Kevin VanHook penned the entire limited series. For the most part, it is written at best rather mediocrity and at worst very poorly. Herbert Combs once again plays with the undead, but instead of vampires and werewolves, this time it is zombies. Marius Dimeter returns again to aid the Dark Knight on his mission to vanquish what Combs had summoned. The narrative is rather clunky and dialogued seemed forced and the momentum of the narrative never took off.
Tom Mandrake penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style – especially the human characters, while the zombie undead are much to be desired. Despite this, Mandrake's art may have been a saving grace for this trade paperback, but not enough to compensate for the narrative.
All in all, Batman Confidential: Batman vs. the Undead is a somewhat poor continuation to what is continually looking as a mediocre and uneven series.
December 4, 2023
Batman gives a good summary of this story from the book: "Zombies, A Werewolf, and a Vampire... an Alien from a Dead Planet and a Flying, Helmeted Man who Sees the Future. For Once. I'm the Most Normal One Here."
Add in some voodoo and zombies and that about sums up this story pretty good. The question, however, is if the story is a good as Batman's summary. The answer is a pleasing Yes.
The strength of this story is that it does not get bogged down with overly complicated explanations, long boring conversations, or over staying its welcome. The art looks good overall; a few awkward looking faces, but the art fits the story perfectly.
Add in some voodoo and zombies and that about sums up this story pretty good. The question, however, is if the story is a good as Batman's summary. The answer is a pleasing Yes.
The strength of this story is that it does not get bogged down with overly complicated explanations, long boring conversations, or over staying its welcome. The art looks good overall; a few awkward looking faces, but the art fits the story perfectly.
June 18, 2024
I have read the reviews, I dunno why, boredom I guess. Maybe for some and I can why, this Batman tale is a what the...why?
But it's a short ride, it is different; i mean it takes Batman out of Gotham adds a good-ish vampire and werewolf teaming up together to find this mad guy obsessed with death called Herbert Combs which I thought was a clear nod and I liked it.
Throw in a little help from Superman and a whole lot of voodoo and Combs trying to created an undead army...it don't really feel like a Batman but it looks good, some good action and it is pretty fun.
But it's a short ride, it is different; i mean it takes Batman out of Gotham adds a good-ish vampire and werewolf teaming up together to find this mad guy obsessed with death called Herbert Combs which I thought was a clear nod and I liked it.
Throw in a little help from Superman and a whole lot of voodoo and Combs trying to created an undead army...it don't really feel like a Batman but it looks good, some good action and it is pretty fun.
May 27, 2017
Wonderful fun
May 30, 2020
Muy regular.. Eso de batman y superman vs zombies no pega
March 14, 2014
I had every reason to think that I would like this book more. The same creative team that brought Superman and Batman vs. Vampires and Werewolves (best title ever!) brought this. This was a follow-up to that previously mentioned, awesomely titled tale featuring the same villain with so much potential. But I wound up hating it.
The story starts out strong enough. Batman is tracking Prof. Combs (that villain), and that takes him to New Orleans. Great! I'm from Louisiana. I loved the Swamp Thing books and other DC titles for how they handled my home state. The vampire and the werewolf from the previous tale with personal gripes with the villain turn up. Good, so far.
And, that's about where the good ends with the script. After that, VanHook gives us an overweight and stupid Southern cop who delights in abusing his prisoner (like we haven't seen that in a hundred bad movies), and an evil "Voodoo" priest who creates zombies with the greatest of ease and wants to use this talent to conquer the world. Aside from the fact that his exact plan, and why he even bothers with Combs, is never really clear; the fact that the script never makes a point to say that he is a corrupt and atypical Voodoo priest is just insulting. I am not a Voodoo practitioner, nor do I claim to know very much about it. I do know, however, that decades of B-movies and uneducated horror writers have gotten away with perpetuating outright falsehoods about what is a genuine faith and way of life for a lot of people. Sure Marvel messed up years ago by turning the historic Marie Laveau into a super-villain; but they've made up for that a lot with the creation of Brother Voodoo.
VanHook's downward spiral doesn't stop there. Batman calls in Superman for help. Ordinarily a smart call. But Batman, along with every Superman comics fan, knows that Superman is very vulnerable to magic. Shouldn't Batman have used his Justice League connections to call in Zatanna, Captain Marvel, or any other of the dozens of magical heroes he knows to deal with a magical menace. And speaking of our titular character knowing dozens of magical folks, this little exchange was the final nail in the coffin for this book:
Superman: "You know I don't believe in this occult stuff . . ."
Batman: "That makes two of us."
Whatwhatwhat!? How many times have you two fought against demons and ghosts and gods? Fought against and alongside sorcerers and witches and all sorts of other magical and supernatural entities? Yet, I'm supposed to believe that you still don't believe in it. Superman and Batman have never struck me as stupid before. I'm sure they don't like dealing with the occult, but they can't deny what they've experienced so very many times. If VanHook were writing a flashback story, this would be fine, but he wasn't.
The only thing that saves this book from a dismal one-star rating is Tom Mandrake's artwork. I loved his work on the Spectre, and it's always a thrill to see it again. His depiction of Dr. Fate here was particularly great. Incidentally, that's another problem with the script. Dr. Fate gives a lame excuse as to why he can't assist them directly in dealing with this menace. He's Dr. Fate, even if the menace were truly terrifying and beyond him, he would join in the fight.
If you're a Tom Mandrake completist, go ahead and pick this up. If not, no matter how much you enjoyed Superman and Batman vs. Vampires and Werewolves, don't bother.
The story starts out strong enough. Batman is tracking Prof. Combs (that villain), and that takes him to New Orleans. Great! I'm from Louisiana. I loved the Swamp Thing books and other DC titles for how they handled my home state. The vampire and the werewolf from the previous tale with personal gripes with the villain turn up. Good, so far.
And, that's about where the good ends with the script. After that, VanHook gives us an overweight and stupid Southern cop who delights in abusing his prisoner (like we haven't seen that in a hundred bad movies), and an evil "Voodoo" priest who creates zombies with the greatest of ease and wants to use this talent to conquer the world. Aside from the fact that his exact plan, and why he even bothers with Combs, is never really clear; the fact that the script never makes a point to say that he is a corrupt and atypical Voodoo priest is just insulting. I am not a Voodoo practitioner, nor do I claim to know very much about it. I do know, however, that decades of B-movies and uneducated horror writers have gotten away with perpetuating outright falsehoods about what is a genuine faith and way of life for a lot of people. Sure Marvel messed up years ago by turning the historic Marie Laveau into a super-villain; but they've made up for that a lot with the creation of Brother Voodoo.
VanHook's downward spiral doesn't stop there. Batman calls in Superman for help. Ordinarily a smart call. But Batman, along with every Superman comics fan, knows that Superman is very vulnerable to magic. Shouldn't Batman have used his Justice League connections to call in Zatanna, Captain Marvel, or any other of the dozens of magical heroes he knows to deal with a magical menace. And speaking of our titular character knowing dozens of magical folks, this little exchange was the final nail in the coffin for this book:
Superman: "You know I don't believe in this occult stuff . . ."
Batman: "That makes two of us."
Whatwhatwhat!? How many times have you two fought against demons and ghosts and gods? Fought against and alongside sorcerers and witches and all sorts of other magical and supernatural entities? Yet, I'm supposed to believe that you still don't believe in it. Superman and Batman have never struck me as stupid before. I'm sure they don't like dealing with the occult, but they can't deny what they've experienced so very many times. If VanHook were writing a flashback story, this would be fine, but he wasn't.
The only thing that saves this book from a dismal one-star rating is Tom Mandrake's artwork. I loved his work on the Spectre, and it's always a thrill to see it again. His depiction of Dr. Fate here was particularly great. Incidentally, that's another problem with the script. Dr. Fate gives a lame excuse as to why he can't assist them directly in dealing with this menace. He's Dr. Fate, even if the menace were truly terrifying and beyond him, he would join in the fight.
If you're a Tom Mandrake completist, go ahead and pick this up. If not, no matter how much you enjoyed Superman and Batman vs. Vampires and Werewolves, don't bother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2012
A sequel to the god-forsaken crap sandwich that was Superman and Batman vs Vampires and Werewolves, Batman versus the Dead is yet another collection that makes me embarrassed to be a comic book fan. The mad scientist from the first book is released from Arkham for no apparent reason (overcrowding?) and decides he is going to bring an army of zombies back to life in post-Katrina New Orleans. Then the vampire and werewolf duo of Dimeter and Janko show up to force the evil Professor Combs to turn the werewolf back into a human. Then Superman shows up. But he's powerless against Combs' accomplice, a black stereotype voodoo priestess, and her magic. So he can't really do anything but then he pretends to be a mummy. Um, just. I don't know. Still better than Return of Bruce Wayne in that the plot was coherent. Stupid and unforgivable, but I was able to kind of follow what was happening. Grade: F
June 19, 2011
Library copy. I tell ya New Orleans has got to be the worst setting for a story ever since Anne Rice raised the bar so high and did it so well many years ago. It just doesn't make any sense for Batman to fight crime there and deal with voodoo arts, zombies, werewolves, and vampires. My wife reads those Murder She Wrote novels and once complained how one book was set there and it took a lot of discipline--three times longer--to get thru the book and she hated it when she finished. Mandrake's art is reminiscent of Klaus Jansen's style and he's penciled and inked some of my favorite Batman stories. I didn't care for the story. Batman can be thrust into horror stories just fine, but not this time.
December 23, 2011
It's more of an old school take on zombies in this one. Magic is the source of the undead armies. There's not any detective work that can sometimes be found in Batman graphic novels. It's more of a manhunt for the one forming the zombie armies. As usual, I don't rate the artwork because I can't draw this well myself. Recommended for readers ages 14 and up due to a suggestive scene.
January 12, 2015
Nothing special, nothing really different here. It was a one comic story stretched into a five issue arc that just didn't really do much for me. Superman is more like a guest shot, Batman is kinda robotic and the story doesn't really get off the ground, and then suddenly it's over. So much better in the Batman universe than this one.
February 22, 2011
An entertaining cross-over concept, but kind of silly and off-focus when it comes to Batman... and even off base for the Zombies genre. This deals with Voodoo and has some major cheese factor in it. Overall... Meh. I was excited and pretty let down.
1.5 / 5
1.5 / 5
February 8, 2013
Pretty cheesy and silly, I felt it didn't play to any of the strengths of what is great about both Batman and Superman.
It's probably a fun light read for a fanatical fan of either of the two main characters although judging by the reviews here maybe not.
It's probably a fun light read for a fanatical fan of either of the two main characters although judging by the reviews here maybe not.
April 19, 2011
Deliciously ridonkulous. Full of action, gore, voodoo, violence and pulp. YUM!
July 20, 2011
A mildly amusing book that has no re-read value. The appearance of Dr Fate is the coolest part of the book.
May 23, 2012
This was actually a pretty weak Batman story, especially when you consider the other editions of this book series.
March 3, 2012
Stumbled across this one at the library and spent 30 minutes or so reading it. I doubt I will remember this Batman story for very long. It is a bit too much of a mish-mash to really work.
May 21, 2015
So much potential. So little follow through. Sad.
May 13, 2015
Wow, worst comic I've read
July 31, 2014
the end was so rushed! what the hell? also not enough batman
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews