When we last left The Bat-Man, he was being electrocuted. Here, we find out how, or even if, he finds his way out of this situation. This three-issue miniseries by Dan Jurgens and Mike Perkins is an exploration of what the first days of Batman’s career would be like if it was told in real-time, while set in the past. This interesting twist has forced the Batman that we know to become far more flawed, human, and smarter than he’s been in current stories. This new depth is because, with limited resources and a non-existent safety net to fall back on, the stakes for the Bat-Man are more lethal and much higher than they are in continuity. So, this miniseries is almost over now; how does this issue compare to the first?
DC Comics
The issue opens up with Bat-Man cornered and running out of options. Seconds feel like hours, if not days for The Caped Crusader. However, as luck might have it, Bat-Man’s time on Earth isn’t ending quite yet. As the story progresses, we get our first experience seeing Bat-Man through the eyes of others. This works out very well at showing the fear Bruce is already fostering in his crusade. Around the midway part of the story, we see Bat-Man end up in the aforementined “shanty town” Dan Jurgens mentioned when he last spoke to AIPT, and it plays out perfectly into the growing perception the world is building around Bat-Man. Additionally, characters like Rabbi Cohen return to show how the rest of Gotham City is reacting to the newest turmoil it’s being put through. His role is imperative to this version of Bat-Man, a man lost amid the turn of the century desperate to find a reason. This dynamic quickly becomes essential to Bruce, as Rabbi Cohen appears to be Bruce’s guide in his early journey.
DC Comics
Part of the story’s strength is its division between showing how Bat-Man’s crusade is affecting Bruce and the rest of Gotham City. As the story progresses, we gain more insight into the mindset of the other key characters in the story. Jurgens does a masterful job world building and breathing life into the issue through its supporting cast. This added drama helps make for an engaging story through these scattered tiny interactions. Characters like Jim Gordon and Julie Madison help this story become more compelling by showing the early stages of Bruce’s world expanding. One of the more unexpected dynamics that continues is Bat-Man’s relationship with Maxie and the continued exchange of information in return for the halted intervention of the law Bat-Man is withholding. As Gotham, and the world, become more polarizing, it’s curious to see how this relationship will end as Bruce’s moral compass is seemingly inching him closer to a conflict with Maxie. By the time our mysterious villain, The Voice, makes an appearance again, it’s just as eerie as before. However, his goal has become more vivid; and with that, more disturbing. It’s through this sequence that Jurgens and Perkins take full reign of this story being a DC: Black Label story and go all in for its gritty nature.
DC Comics
Mike Perkins and Mike Spicer work well together to deliver a beautiful story from cover to cover. Perkins’ thick line work meshes well with the way Spicer’s colors almost blotch across the pages. Their styles combine to depict an issue with both intensity and softness. While some pages appear very striking and lifelike, others seem grainy, almost like an old film. This, although unexpected, works masterfully to balance the somber moments with more mysterious scenes. Additionally, the paneling of this story is masterfully crafted, with some pages having unique circular panels that give this issue a more retro style. Altogether, this issue’s art is brilliantly handled by the pair and overall makes for a riveting story.
All in all, The Bat-Man: First Knight #2 is another strong story in a riveting miniseries. With an unexpected ending, this issue perfectly sets up a thrilling ending by putting many of the remaining pieces in place for the final showdown. It’s clear Bat-Man will have to make a choice to decide what kind of history he’ll make and be remembered for.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.