BATMAN: THE LAZARUS SYNDROME (audiobook) by Dirk Maggs






Published by BBC Worldwide Unlimited in 2010.
Multicast Performance
Duration: 44 minutes

Even though I enjoy the comic book movies and I listen to a few comic book-based audiobooks, I am not a serious comics fan. I dabble. I haven't even been into a real comic book store. I know the big names and their backstories and that's about it.

 But, the title of this story ruined the story for me. If you know about the Lazarus Pits then there was no mystery at all. This was just one more problem in a problem-filled audiobook.

 First things first, let me be clear that none of the problems in this audiobook come from the actual performance of the book. It is performed like an old-fashioned radio play and the BBC performers did a great job. Sadly, the story itself does not live up to the performances of the actors.
In Batman: The Lazarus Syndrome, Batman is supposed to be dead. He hasn't been seen in a while and Commissioner Gordon receives a tape from Batman that was to be delivered when he died. In the tape he confesses his true identity. 

 Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne is selling off Batman properties at fire sale prices. Want an old Batmobile? Bruce Wayne will sell it to you.

So, Commissioner Gordon knows there is a problem, Alfred knows there is a problem and any listener familiar with most of Batman's enemies figured it out once they put together these three facts: 

 1) Batman is gone and declared dead,
2) Bruce Wayne is alive but acting weird,
3) The title of the book has the word "Lazarus" in it.

Sadly, this book's plot had real potential. But, the title gives it away and it is way too short. This book could have stretched out for several hours and the listeners could have followed Commissioner Gordon around as he and Dick Grayson try to figure out what is going on. But, instead we got a 44 minute mini-story that tried to do too much in too short of a time and ended up doing not much at all for this listener.

 I rate this audiobook 1 star out of 5.

This audiobook can be found on Amazon.com here: Batman: The Lazarus Syndrome

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