/1.jpg "Batman: One Dark Knight #1")
From high above the sweltering summer streets of Gotham, Batman planned to escort the GCPD as the dangerous metahuman super-villain known as E.M.P. was transferred from a holding cell to his permanent home at Blackgate Prison. E.M.P.’s electrical powers posed a threat, but the situation was in hand-until it wasn’t. Now every light in Gotham is out, the police are in disarray, and a broken, bleeding Batman must fight his way to Blackgate, block by block, dragging E.M.P. behind him. But the dark corners of Gotham hold many surprises…and E.M.P. has many more shocks to deliver before the night is through! One of the most iconic Batman artists of the 21st century, the incomparable Jock (The Batman Who Laughs, Batman: The Black Mirror), has focused all his storytelling powers on the tale of one very, very dark night in Gotham City. It’s always darkest before the dawn-if it ever comes…
I've been awaiting this book with some anticipation, given that lately Batman seems to have much better luck in Black Label books than in in-continuity books and that seems by design. On the other hand, I've never been a fan of artists trying their hand at writing, so I was a tiny bit skeptical all the same. Unfortunately, the latter instinct seemed more right. Sure, it's not bad and for a first issue you could say it's even good as an introduction but the story seemed all over the place to me and it makes even less sense in the grander scheme at DC right now. These days, DC seems to try and tell us that Arkham Asylum is useless and needs to be done with. What will it be replaced with, no one seems to know, just something a bit more soft for the insane criminals seems to be the answer for the writers who aren't right in their heads either, btw. This book seems to tell us that Arkham kinda works, at least partially until a better solution comes along, because Vasquez here actually has a decent idea: stop letting criminals thrive in a revolving door institution and try to actually lock them up. Yeah, I know it's Black Label but DC really seems to make no sense at this point about what security means for Gotham. The narrative gets even weirder when Jock tries to paint Vasquez the villain because while the transfer is done, the truck is getting ambushed by criminals with guns. Vasquez just complained that Gordon isn't doing his job apprehending criminals off the streets but somehow she's the villain here. And why is the transfer done during a hot weather when apparently that plays to E.M.P.'s advantage?
Honestly, there are so many plotholes here I was scratching my head half the time. The art was good, but the story, while setting up an interesting premise, really suffers in the coherence department.
© 2025
Yeah this one sounded like fun so I'll the book a shot. It's kind of a riff on Mile 22 or The Gauntlet. I don't need a Tom King-esque exploration of Batmans psyche. Funnily enough DC has given him another mini that hes calling a heist story. The only ones that will be robbed are the ones that but a Tom King Batman book.
I know. I thought he had enough of Batman, but I guess not. I don't know, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to you. I felt it was pretty weird, you could tell this was an inexperienced writer (who actually isn't a writer). All I can tell is there's a big difference between The Imposter and this one. Maybe bigger than my ratings would suggest, I was pretty generous with this one.
It's a bit like when Daniels took on a Bat title where he wrote and illustrated it. If it's fun I'm willing to accept it as long as the art is good the story is entertaining and it's written decently. Its like McDonalds sometimes you just want to have it even though you know theres better out there. Imposter was the cerebral exercise Tom King wanted to write but didnt have the chops.
I haven't read this one yet, but I completely agree the imposter did a better job exploring the " mentality of Batman " better then Tom king did in 87 issues lol.
I actually enjoyed this one Merlyn. A new villian that actually works in the rogues gallery-unlike the budget priced creations Tynion threw at us in the main book. It's not a bloated pretentious vat of mucus like King offers. It's just a "get EMP to his cell" romp and after Tynion and King for years I'm cool with that. It has its shortfalls but the fun factor is working for me so far.
Yeah, it's not bad, but I couldn't get over the "logic" of Vasquez actually having a point about crime on the streets only to somehow being made the villain and guilty of the fact that Gordon sucks at his job.