Grim, Gritty And Era-Evocating – Reviewing ‘The Bat-Man: First Knight’ #1

The Bat-Man: First Knight #1 is a story set at the birth of Batman. His first handful of appearances, when Detective Comics, and later his own solo titles, was steeped in gothic foreboding, crime noir shadows and more real-life villains, minus the clown costumes. A grim, gritty and evocative plot that sees the Bat-Man – void of his glorious gadgets and high-tech crime computers – patrolling a Gotham City stinking of Depression-era New York City, with a few other more interesting inspirations thrown in by artist Mike Perkins too. His style of realism in his artwork plays wonderfully with the photo references he utilises in creating the seedy cityscape of this ‘30s thriller. And all against the backdrop of the growth of fascism in Europe and the rise of Hitler. A comic book that looks at crime at home, and the growing crimes abroad. A vulnerable, weak America still reeling from a decade of recession and depression and a future that is unsure. A perfect storm for this tense, suspenseful series.

And in commenting on the rise of fascism in Europe, even if in passing, makes it something of a prescient series too. Art imitating life or history repeating itself? Either way, it’s a far darker, more mature script than I have ever seen writer Dan Jurgens produce. And one that relishes the opportunity to tell such an intelligent, era-evoking story. 

As a Back Label title this has a certain freedom that the mainstream Batman titles could never have. And so, both Jurgens and Perkins are let loose with the resulting debut issue being rather more bloody and brutal than you would maybe expect. A murder victim, who so happens to be a city councilman, minus his head is uncovered. There is an impending sense of something far bigger, and darker is at work in Gotham City. All leading to the Bat-Man hunting for clues and getting into big trouble as a result as he comes face-to-face with the Monster Men. Trouble he only just survives!

What helps fuel this gripping yarn is the art. A suitably mature and realistic style with a masterful use of darks and shadow to sustain the dark, menacing atmosphere of Jurgens’ script. Add to that the deft touch of colours Mike Spicer’s water-colour like art and what you have is a well-crafted comic book that really raises the bar and reminds you how great comics can be. The attention to the minutest detail, the meticulous artwork and moody colours, the inspirations drawn from Silver Age screen stars of the era, and so much more help create a comic book that feels like a rebirth of Batman, if he was invented for today’s more savvy more mature marketplace. All the classic elements are there (well, maybe not the gun he infamously carried around in early outings) of the original, unvarnished Batman, and they are a reminder of what made Batman such a hit with readers in the first place. A dark Batman, possibly reflecting the darkness of the USA at that time. And one with little experience, and it shows. There is a real sense of danger when Batman does come up against the grotesque Monster Men, but that’s only part of a bigger, creeping sense of dread that looms over this book effectively.

This may well be the first issue, but once this series is done and dusted I have a sense that this may not be the last we see of The Bat-Man.

The Bat-Man: First Knight #1 is out now from DC Comics/DC Black Label

And catch ,my interview with artist Mike Perkins, in which we talk about his inspirations, art process and much, much more, here.