CBI Archive
This Comic Is Good - Batman: Gothic
- by Brian Cronin
- in General
Wednesday, May 31st, 2006 at 6:43 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, May 31st, 2006 at 10:22 PM EST
No new comics this Wednesday, so I’ll fill in the void by discussing a relatively neglected (at least compared to his other early 90s work) Grant Morrison work, Batman:Gothic, which originally appeared in issues #6-10 of Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, with Klaus Janson drawing the book.
This is the type of book that fans of Morrison’s JLA run will enjoy, and serves as a fun stopgap to read until Morrison takes over writing Batman in July.
That this is a fairly straightforward tale doesn’t mean that it is TOO straightforward, as Morrison still manages to put together some interesting concepts, specifically concerning the background of the villain, Mr. Whisper, who comes from the days of the Black Plague, and has sold his soul for extended life, and now has a plan to trick the Devil, and his plan involves wiping out Gotham City.
What I think is fun about this story is the approach Morrison takes to Batman, having him appear recognizable to fans of the Batman from the Super Friends (Batman flies to Europe on the Bat-Gyro at one point) while still keeping it dark enough to be “the Dark Knight.”
He is aided here by Janson’s moody, expressive artwork, which is old school enough to appeal to “classic” Batman fans while still obviously dark enough to appeal to modern fans. I mean, come on, we’re talking Klaus Janson here - he can DO moody!
The invulnerable Mr. Whisper is also a fun villain, and Morrison manages to pull off the near-impossible, tie a new villain into Bruce’s past and not have it turn out completely silly. In fact, I enjoyed the look at Bruce’s past at boarding school. Clever stuff. The only thing I didn’t like was how close it was to his parent’s death. Making it a week or a month later would have been a lot cooler.
The interaction between the mobsters was good, and I loved their relatonship with Whisper. Especially WHY he got revenge upon them at this point. Very clever.
John Constanza’s choice for the older fonts was a bit annoying to read, but it wasn’t that big of a deal.
So, anyhow, this is a fun, quickly-paced Batman story with great art. How can you go wrong?
8 Comments
Greg Burgas
May 31, 2006 at 9:00 pm
I read recently (I think at Dorian’s blog that men getting raped in comics is quietly brushed under the rug, and Bruce’s abuse has been too. It’s been a while since I read this, so I don’t think it’s actually stated that he gets raped in this story, but it’s certainly implied, yet no one has ever mentioned it again. Just a weird little scene in a weird comic. Freakin’ ghost nuns!
T.
May 31, 2006 at 9:28 pm
Is this in trade format?
Brian Cronin
May 31, 2006 at 10:20 pm
Yes, T, it’s available in a trade format.
And Greg, I don’t recall even an implication of rape in the story. It seemed like pretty straightforward flogging. I just re-read it today, so while I could have missed it, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t there.
ninjawookie
May 31, 2006 at 11:58 pm
no it was a good old british kids capital punishment type of thing.
You’d think seeing your friends decapped head in the trash would affect you more though. I don’t really buy it.
Brian Cronin
June 1, 2006 at 12:25 am
Well, I suppose Morrison’s defense is…
A. He convinced himself he was imagining it
and
B. His parents were murdered right after, giving him a whole NEW psychosis.
Shane
June 1, 2006 at 7:07 am
It’s funny you mentioned this. I just read it again last night. I was lucky and picked up this as a trade ultra cheap from Barnes and Noble when Batman Begins came out. I think it cost me all of $2.
Dizzy
June 1, 2006 at 4:31 pm
I have to disagree with you on the link to his past not being silly. I liked the story for the rest, but the connection was unnecessary for the story to work.
Bill Reed
June 4, 2006 at 6:38 pm
I found the first three chapters in the quarter bin! But the last two… nowhere to be found. Bah.