Batman - Gargoyle of Gotham #1
Seth A. Romo
Recap
"When you chase your own shadow…it leads you into the abyss." In a Gotham City where every day feels darker and more irredeemable than the last, Batman makes a definitive choice—to kill off the Bruce Wayne identity for good and embrace the cowl full-time. But though he knows the streets of Gotham, Batman will soon come to find that he hardly knows himself. A serial killer is on the loose, and while the murder victims seem random at first, every clue draws Batman closer to the terrifying truth—that they are all connected, not just to each other…but to him… When an all-new rogues gallery of utterly depraved villains begins to emerge from the depths of the city, Batman will have to contend with the very nature of evil—including that which lurks inside in the darkest corners of his own heart—to face what’s coming for his city. Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham brings Rafael Grampá’s twisted vision of both the Dark Knight and the city of Gotham to life in a DC writing debut that will reach its icy black tendrils into the deepest and darkest corners of human nature and leave you gasping for breath—and for more!
Review
Batman – Gargoyle of Gotham #1 is a hard-boiled crime story with intense art and a unique spin on Batman. Rafael Grampa’s story and art make for a gritty experience that will resonate with fans looking for a crime story in Gotham.
There are a lot of Batman stories that exist, and many of those commits to the rule that Batman is the person and Bruce Wayne is the mask. Grampa’s story removes Bruce from the equation, unleashing a Batman with no other persona to impede his mission. It’s a risky move, but issue #1 has a lot of promise as the story is dark and already very memorable.
The issue’s plot is well done as it provides the basis of Grampa’s Batman, the introduction of a serial killer named Crytoon, and the plan to fake Bruce Wayne’s death. The issue struggles with the amount of exposition and text that gets in the way of the gritty art that Grampa does well. Part of the DC Black Label series, this premiere issue is 48 pages, and there is a lot of plot intertwined as Grampa’s world is fleshed out. With tough and dark art, the amount of text takes away from the awesome visual experience of Grampa and colorist Mat Lopes.
Despite that minor complaint, this issue is still worth checking out. There is an exciting energy in this complete experience, and as a longtime Batman fan, I am excited to see how this refreshing story uses such an iconic legacy character. From the stellar cover emphasizing the “bat” in Batman to the tense story and gritty writing, the whole experience is top-notch.
Final Thoughts
Batman fans, crime fans, or anyone looking for a gritty comic on the shelves, be sure to check out this series. Grampa’s story may not be for the faint of heart, but it certainly is worth exploring for the bloody and gritty experience.
Batman – Gargoyle of Gotham #1: Unleash Your Inner Bat
- Writing - 8/108/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9.5/109.5/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10