Batman: The Dark Knight #1
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Batman: The Dark Knight #1

Writer: Paul Jenkins Artist: David Finch Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: September 28, 2011 Cover Price: $2.99 Critic Reviews: 15 User Reviews: 5
6.1Critic Rating
7.2User Rating

The Dark Knight struggles against a deadly yet strangely familiar foe in this phenomenal debut issue from superstar writer/artist David Finch (BRIGHTEST DAY, ACTION COMICS)!As a mysterious figure slinks through the halls of Arkham Asylum, Batman must fight his way through a gauntlet of psychos, and Bruce Wayne faces the unexpected legal ramifications of Batman Incorporated!

  • 8.4
    Comic Book Bin - Leroy Douresseaux Oct 4, 2011

    POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: Readers who want The Dark Knight will want Batman: The Dark Knight. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    The Fandom Post - Chris Kirby Sep 29, 2011

    Batman: The Dark Knight is good solid Batman story with character and action. Any Batman junkie will immensely enjoy this book and continue reading because it is a strong story. That is the Batman junkie though. Anyone else is probably a little burntout on Batman by this point. It is just as good as Batman and definitely better than Batman & Robin but it is unnecessary. This is a story that could've been in Batman down the road. But by splitting off into another series that doesn't add anything special, it is simply limiting the number of quality Batman stories that could have been told in the main series. According to the Comixology synopsis, this series is tied into Batman Inc. But I have never read Batman Inc. and neither would have new readers. That is another ding to this series overall, especially considering there is no evidence of this plot point in the book itself! Read Full Review

  • 7.6
    Outer Realm Comics - Alex Penna Dec 25, 2011

    Like every comic I've read so far in the New 52, it has great potential. Though it's not as popular as some of the other bat titles out there, I still recommend picking this one up if you just love hanging out with Bats and the more supernatural side of Gotham City. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    A Comic Book Blog - Mark Hooson Sep 29, 2011

    Oh, and mysterious Flashpoint woman? Yeah, she makes an appearance, as she has in every other #1 of the DCnU so far. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Galactica - Girish Kumar Jun 28, 2012

    It isn't the best batman book on the stands. It could have been made better. But it still is awesome! The new villain is scary and the feel is like a classic comic. Now WHERE IS GORDON?! He was smoked by the boogeyman and then he saw hallucinations of his daughter. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Heretical Jargon - Heretic Oct 6, 2011

    The most interesting aspect to this title is its Alice in Wonderland motif at the end. I thought the random appearance of a gorgeous blond in a white rabbit outfit was out of place, (which it is) but then I began to think about a few of the smaller aspects to this issue and began to see the amazing potential of future issues down the road. Im still a little iffy about this title as of right now, but if Paul Jenkins and David Finch pull through and deliver something truly refreshing, I might just stick with it. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Razorfine - Alan Rapp Jan 5, 2011

    Finch does a good job of jumping Bruce back into the saddle of Batman but still showing some rust (such as his confrontation with Killer Croc in the dark alley). I don't know that I'm ready for the “terrible ramifications” this story is meant to have on Batman's life, but it's a strong beginning. Worth a look. Read Full Review

  • 6.5
    X-Man's Comic Blog - x-man75 Oct 3, 2011

    This comic was the very definition of a forgettable comic. Here's what I mean by that... I actually read this issue last night before going to sleep. Upon sitting down to do this review today, I couldn't remember what happened in this issue for the life of me! Seriously, until I turned to the last page and saw mega-sized Two-Face, I couldn't recall a thing about this issue. It's gonna be fun next month when the second issue arrives and I'm like, “Batman: Dark Knight?! Is this the comic with Joker or is this the one with evil Dick Grayson in it?!?” Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Major Spoilers - Stephen Schleicher Oct 2, 2011

    Batman: Dark Knight is one of those books that would work really well as a new Batman title in the old DCU. It's got a gritty edge to it and encourages Batman's appearance in as many books as possible. As a new title in the new DCU, this one is going to be an interesting one to watch. It's got a gritty edge to it, and the issue encourages questions from new readers, but ultimately I think they'll find those questions were answered over the last couple of years in the old DCU. I'm on board for at least two more issues (partly because of my Batman fanaticism, but also because pre-orders for books releasing in December were do before I read this book), but I feeling hesitant. Batman: The Dark Knight earns 3 out of 5 Stars. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Entertainment Fuse - Nicole D'Andria Sep 29, 2011

    Batman: The Dark Knight #1 might be pretty to look at, but it rehashes many old elements. This is obviously easy to do with so much Batman out there, but most of the things reused are fairly recent and can be enjoyed more elsewhere. Two-Face on massive steroids is also a questionable choice that will have longtime fans of the character upset. The only really enjoyable part of the issue that will have some coming back for more is Jai Hudson, who is both interesting and great eye candy to add to the Batman mythos. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    IGN - Poet Mase Sep 28, 2011

    This isn't the worst of the new 52, but it's certainly not the best. This book has explosions and a James Bond-esque idea of romance. You should check this one out if you're really into Batman, but even die-hard fans will agree that it's mostly fluff. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Crave Online - Iann Robinson Sep 29, 2011

    I suppose The Dark Knight could become an important part of the Batman legacy, but I doubt it. The series had its chance and David Finch blew it. He only really returns here for the art, which is glorious. Finch can draw and has a hell of a sense of movement and action. His style is uncluttered, so every panel has something specific to focus on. I love how Finch draws Batman and I would love for him to be drawing one of the other titles. Here, it seems like a waste of time. DC would have been smarter to add another Superman book or a new title altogether. Batman: The Dark Knight feels like an afterthought. If DC is hell bent on keeping it, then perhaps it can function like Legends Of The Dark Knight and tell Batman tales of old. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    Eye On Comics - Don MacPherson Oct 3, 2011

    I'm guessing the speech Bruce gives in this issue is meant to be the same one as the speech in Batman #1, but the dialogue and the events depicted therein don't jibe at all. Furthermore, another potential breakout at Arkham Asylum in the wake of a similar scene in Detective #1 is redundant and immediately boring. Arkham loses all credibility as a plot element if all of the Batman's enemies are in the midst of breaking out every other day. The scene, however, does serve to punctuate the theme of fear in the narration, and the title character's efforts in conjunction with the cops also serves as an important contrast to the confrontation with the IA investigator. Ultimately, I don't see why this title exists, given the Batman stories that are unfolding in other New 52 titles. Read Full Review

  • 3.0
    Batman-News - Andrew Asberry Oct 4, 2011

    Avoid this book. Read Full Review

  • 2.0
    Comics Bulletin - Ray Tate Oct 3, 2011

    David Finch opens the book with Batman rappelling out of a Batplane. This moment culminates with a double page spread and promises excitement, but Batman's not on his way to stop a madman from blowing up Gotham. No, he makes haste to change clothing. At least he does it quickly. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    myconius Feb 11, 2016

    of all the many Batman books that were out at the launch of The New 52, this was the "Odd-ball". this series (Pre-New 52) was basically created for the sole purpose of artist David Finch. David had Just signed exclusivity with DC Comics, and when asked what he wanted to draw replied Batman. Due to the time it usually takes David to both write and draw a comic, he wasn't always able to meet the monthly deadlines. for this reason the regular Batman series and Detective comics were not on the table, so now he had his very own Batman comic to do as he pleased. the original run had only gotten about 5 issues completed before the relaunch happened. now post re-launch, just where does this series fit in? ...well, it's not exactly the most amazing more

  • 8.5
    VirusVenom Oct 14, 2021

  • 7.0
    ActionCity Aug 5, 2017

  • 7.0
    JuliusMc Jun 13, 2017

  • 5.0
    Adrián Morgades Apr 24, 2020

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