In a world with more takes on Batman and his origin than ever, Rafael Grampá’s Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham does so much new spinning out of the original origin. For starters, Bruce Wayne is obsessed with being Batman and has shed his Bruce persona, but why did he become the bat? In Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #3, we find that out and more.
If you’ve read anything about Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham, it goes without saying the art is incredible. Grampá spares no expense regarding detail, from a bookshelf on the opening page to every book and spine drawn into the texture of clothing and even faces. The texture and design of Batman’s mask are particularly stunning, which adds volume to the already great colors by Mat Lopes and Valentina Napolitano. The visual aesthetic is so good it practically lifts off the page into animation.
That latter element is present when there’s action, with fight scenes not so much choreographed to perfection but stamped with such striking imagery it’s as if they were carved from wood or stone. It’s hard to pinpoint how striking it is, but characters pop off the backgrounds, be it sound effects laid behind them or environments practically fully drawn with the characters pasted over them. The world feels even more real due to this style. Not since Geof Darrow have I gasped at action and detail this good.
Batman is in big trouble.
Credit: DC Comics
Regarding the story, it’s safe to say a year gap between issues #2 and #3 is a big ask for readers to pop back into this. I’d argue the story is coming together far better after finishing this issue than before, which should renew interest if folks pick this up.
That’s thanks to a major reveal involving the villain and Bruce Wayne’s backstory. The implication of what is revealed that the idea of Batman may not entirely be Bruce’s alone is a shock. Told via black-and-white flashbacks, Grampá riffs off the original origin of Batman with some interesting tweaks. The implication is that Bruce has devoted his life to something misguided, which in turn explains how his brutality and level of violence are also misguided. In this way, Grampá is finding a new way for Batman to discover a noble version of Batman the people deserve.
James Gordon’s role is also further developed, with the character running through this issue unsure of what is going on but finds it by the end. What Gordon and Batman learn in this issue will drive a new direction for both in issue #4.
Two subplots progress, although far less than Gordon and Batman’s. One involves the kid Joker, who is as disturbing and weird as ever. He commits some violent acts that may just stick with you. They’re that weird and gross. The other involves Nia, who gets little attention until the very end. Likely, her story picks up the next issue. The overall story progression feels muddy because these stories are fairly untethered from the main narrative. It’s further proof this series will read best collected.
Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #3 delivers visually stunning artwork and a bold reimagining of Batman’s origin that feels fresh and impactful. While the story struggles with pacing and disjointed subplots, the revelations about Bruce Wayne and James Gordon’s arcs promise exciting developments ahead. This issue reinforces the idea that this series will shine brightest when read as a complete collection.
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