Immortal Legend Batman #1 is a comic that reeled me in from the moment I heard about it. They had me at Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom writing; the duo’s been behind some of my favorite comics in recent years, including Radiant Black, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and Ultraman X Avengers. The entire concept is pulling from Tokusatsu, and I’m a huge fan of toku shows like Kamen Rider. Finally, taking the Batman mythos and giving it a sci-fi spin appealed to my inner Star Trek/Star Wars/Mass Effect fan. But does Immortal Legend Batman #1 live up to the hype? In a word: yes.
In a distant universe, malevolent creatures known as “Shadows” came to life when mankind breached the barrier between universes. The only thing standing between them is Batman, who’s managed to use this energy for good alongside his partners, Robin and Nightwing. Batman’s quest has taken him to a distant planet where he searches for Bruce Wayne, claiming he’s been infected by a Shadow. Wayne, on the other hand, claims that Batman has finally succumbed to the darker half of his nature and started to kill people.
It’s a hell of a twist to kick off an Elseworlds story, but it’s also fitting. If you’re writing a Batman story, you’re writing a mystery first and foremost; this is a character who’s known as “The World’s Greatest Detective”, after all. To their credit, Higgins and Groom keep the reader on their toes throughout Immortal Legend Batman #1, saving some of the biggest reveals for just the right moment while also keeping some cards close to their chest. By the time I reached the final page, I wanted to know more about this world and see their take on other Batman friends and foes.
DC
Higgins and Groom haven’t just brought a sci-fi/Toku vibe to the pages of Immortal Legend Batman #1. They’ve also brought an incredible art team with Erica D’Urso and Igor Monti, who previously worked with Groom on Inferno Girl Red. D’Urso’s design for Batman’s “Immortal Legend” form is incredible. It’s all sleek armor and the harsh angles you might expect from a Batman suit, with a hi-tech flair that fits a Kamen Rider suit, not to mention the action, which crumbles mountains and pits Batman against a darker version of one of his infamous foes. The rest of the fashion feels futuristic as well, and Monti’s colors paint a bright, vibrant picture of space while also throwing up plenty of shadows around each corner. Becca Carey tops it off with her unique lettering, making certain sentences literally glitch out depending on the character.
A backup story features artwork from Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain, digging into the history of this Elseworlds. Not only is it great to see Mora working in Immortal Legend Batman, but it’s also fitting; a long time ago, I saw his Toku-inspired illustrations for the whole Batfamily, which served as an inspiration for this project. Should Immortal Legend Batman take off, I’d love to see Mora give other DC heroes the same treatment or even do a similar comic with his Spider-Man themed Toku drawings.
Immortal Legend Batman #1 mixes high sci-fi, Toku-style action and a compelling mystery into one of the best Elseworlds DC’s done in years. Batman fans will definitely love it, while comic newcomers have the perfect entry point, and Toku fans have a new story to hook fellow fans with.
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