Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #2
Chad Burdette
Recap
The new era of Elseworlds continues with the return of its crown jewel, the mysterious and gothic world originated by Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – The Kryptonian Age #1: A Return To Earth-19 Worthy Of The Original?
When a mysterious meteor falls on the wide-open plains of the Midwest, it will unleash a chain of events that find Gotham's bizarre Batman contending with not just the twin threats of the Catwoman and a mysterious international assassin but also the emergence of superhuman beings beyond all comprehension!
This second issue expands the 19th-century DC Universe beyond the confines of Gotham City, showcasing bold new visions of once-familiar heroes
Review
This second installment of Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – The Kryptonian Age continues to world-build not only Gotham City and Batman, but introduces this Earth’s versions of Adam Strange, John Constantine, and gives a first look at Wonder Woman in the cliffhanger.
Adam Strange is introduced in the first few pages as the lead of a research team funded by Bruce Wayne in the Arctic. The first part of this sequence gives off some heavy The Doom That Came To Gotham vibes, ending it what will possibly lead to Adam Strange encountering the Zeta Beam while looking for what they think is structures from The Kryptonian Age, the meaning of which still remains a mystery after this issue (which is fine). This Earth’s Adam Strange doesn’t seem much different from his doppelganger in the main DCU at the moment, but that of course, could change.
The story cuts back to where issue #1 ended with Batman fighting The League Of Shadows and Talia on a train speeding across Gotham. The art of the action sequences is intense and makes one feel as if they are actually on the train while the fight is going on. The scene ends with Bruce crashing through a window and disrupting a seance meant to summon Barbados (perhaps an inside reference the Dark Multiverse being from Snyder’s DCU event)
The scene shifts again and John Constantine, who is working for Queen Victoria, is introduced and looks to be an interesting character that will play a major role as the story develops. Not only is it revealed what he is looking for, but there is a brief flashback where it is shown that he was saved from the gallows by the Queen who is in need of his talents.
Next cut is to Wayne Manor where Bruce and Julie Madson reveal that the gala was a trap to draw out those looking for the Kryptonian artifacts and Bruce is studying stuff that hint towards the arrival of Wonder Woman.
The issue does an excellent job of further building and expanding this Earth past the confines of Gotham with the introduction of this Earth’s versions of familiar heroes. This world building works as it clearly is leading to what exactly the Kryptonian Age is and why it is so important.
The artwork continues to compliment the story and enhances the mood and over setting of the world and Victorian Age which serves as the stories setting.
Final Thoughts
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age is Andy Diggle further expanding the world of Earth-19 and continues the slow burn of the story, introducing this Earth's versions of well-known character, while at the same time building the mystery and groundwork for the reveal of what the Kryptonian Age is and why so many different factions want to control and possess the artifacts from it.
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – The Kryptonian Age #2
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10
