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Victorian Batman #1-2
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight
Presenting for the first time the adventures of the Victorian Era Batman in one 112-page edition! This volume includes the breakthrough Elseworlds specials Gotham by Gaslight and Master of the Future that pit the Dark Knight against Jack the Ripper and a death-dealer from the skies over Gotham!
This edition collects the two one-shots: Gotham by Gaslight and Master of the Future.
This edition collects the two one-shots: Gotham by Gaslight and Master of the Future.
112 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 1989
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6,542 people want to read
About the author
Brian Augustyn
340books39followersAugustyn got his start in the industry in 1986 as an editor for Tru Studios' Trollords. He then edited Syphons and Speed Racer for NOW Comics in 1987. In 1988, he joined DC, starting out as a co-editor on Action Comics during its period as a weekly title.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s Augustyn was an editor for DC Comics, where he edited The Flash, Justice League and the Impact Comics line of titles.
Augustyn was recognized for his work in the industry with the Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Editor in 1994.
He served as the managing editor of Visionary Comics Studio.
As editor of The Flash beginning in 1989, Augustyn brought in Mark Waid as writer in 1992, which led to an acclaimed eight-year run. Under Augustyn's stewardship, the Flash was brought out from the shadow of his predecessors and increased his powers dramatically. Other Augustyn-Waid editor-writer partnerships included The Comet (DC/Impact, 1992) and Impulse (DC, 1995�1996).
Augustyn currently works as story editor for publisher Red Giant Entertainment and their Giant-Size Comics line of free print comic book titles which debuted on May 3, 2014 as part of Free Comic Book Day.[
During the late 1980s and early 1990s Augustyn was an editor for DC Comics, where he edited The Flash, Justice League and the Impact Comics line of titles.
Augustyn was recognized for his work in the industry with the Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Editor in 1994.
He served as the managing editor of Visionary Comics Studio.
As editor of The Flash beginning in 1989, Augustyn brought in Mark Waid as writer in 1992, which led to an acclaimed eight-year run. Under Augustyn's stewardship, the Flash was brought out from the shadow of his predecessors and increased his powers dramatically. Other Augustyn-Waid editor-writer partnerships included The Comet (DC/Impact, 1992) and Impulse (DC, 1995�1996).
Augustyn currently works as story editor for publisher Red Giant Entertainment and their Giant-Size Comics line of free print comic book titles which debuted on May 3, 2014 as part of Free Comic Book Day.[
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 619 reviews
March 29, 2018
★★★✬ 3.5 Stars
The Year Is 1889.
Wealthy Gentleman Bruce Wayne has returned from his long and mysterious Europe trip after years of absence. He is a man with a mission, and the mission compels him to don the cape of the bat to fight the evils of the dark. Alas, Just like the bat, someone else has found his home in Gotham. Someone who had a spell of notoriety in London. Someone.... sinister.
Gotham by Gaslight is the very first elsewhere story published by DC, and it's been quoted as one of the best in the set. Penned by Brian Augustyn with art by Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell, this 1989 Batman story is a fun ride, but the one-shot short format of the story didn't allow the plot to mature enough to be a classic. The identity of Jack was easily guessable, and the whole last act was not as good as expected.
This collection also features a second story, The Masters of the future (1991) with arts by Eduardo Barreto. This story also suffers because of the short length, but I really enjoyed the final reveal and the action.
Considering this was written over three decades ago, Gotham by Gaslight is a good collection for Batman fans looking for a unique tale!
The Year Is 1889.
Wealthy Gentleman Bruce Wayne has returned from his long and mysterious Europe trip after years of absence. He is a man with a mission, and the mission compels him to don the cape of the bat to fight the evils of the dark. Alas, Just like the bat, someone else has found his home in Gotham. Someone who had a spell of notoriety in London. Someone.... sinister.
Gotham by Gaslight is the very first elsewhere story published by DC, and it's been quoted as one of the best in the set. Penned by Brian Augustyn with art by Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell, this 1989 Batman story is a fun ride, but the one-shot short format of the story didn't allow the plot to mature enough to be a classic. The identity of Jack was easily guessable, and the whole last act was not as good as expected.
This collection also features a second story, The Masters of the future (1991) with arts by Eduardo Barreto. This story also suffers because of the short length, but I really enjoyed the final reveal and the action.
Considering this was written over three decades ago, Gotham by Gaslight is a good collection for Batman fans looking for a unique tale!
December 20, 2024
Batman takes on Jack the Ripper.
The concept seems kind of old hat now, but in 1989 this was the Elseworld story (though it wasn't called that at the time) that started the Elseworld universe. DC was all like omg! people eat this shit up! and now we have all sorts of reimaginings to keep ourselves from getting bored.
Gotham by Gaslight still holds up as a fun, if predictable, story of Bruce Wayne in a Victorian setting. It's pretty easy to guess whodunnit, even if you don't understand why they dunnit until it's explained.
Master of the Future came out in 1991 and is set several years later in the same universe. Bruce has retired Batman, is engaged to be married, and is ready to settle down.
But Gotham needs a Batman.
And when a techno-terrorist demands that the mayor shut down Gotham's version of a World's Fair, Batman must ride to the rescue or risk this villain burning his city down.
Again, not a bad yarn. And as always, I'm a sucker for a love story getting thrown into the mix.
Mike Mignola is the artist for Gotham by Gaslight but (and I know this is sacrilege) I prefer Eduardo Barreto's art in Master of the Future.
Both are great, though.
Recommended.
The concept seems kind of old hat now, but in 1989 this was the Elseworld story (though it wasn't called that at the time) that started the Elseworld universe. DC was all like omg! people eat this shit up! and now we have all sorts of reimaginings to keep ourselves from getting bored.
Gotham by Gaslight still holds up as a fun, if predictable, story of Bruce Wayne in a Victorian setting. It's pretty easy to guess whodunnit, even if you don't understand why they dunnit until it's explained.
Master of the Future came out in 1991 and is set several years later in the same universe. Bruce has retired Batman, is engaged to be married, and is ready to settle down.
But Gotham needs a Batman.
And when a techno-terrorist demands that the mayor shut down Gotham's version of a World's Fair, Batman must ride to the rescue or risk this villain burning his city down.
Again, not a bad yarn. And as always, I'm a sucker for a love story getting thrown into the mix.
Mike Mignola is the artist for Gotham by Gaslight but (and I know this is sacrilege) I prefer Eduardo Barreto's art in Master of the Future.
Both are great, though.
Recommended.
August 28, 2017
Batman in the Victorian Age!
This TPB edition collects “Batman: Gotham by Gaslight� and “Batman: Master of the Future�, the two part of the elsewords miniseries “Victorian Batman�.
Creative Team:
Writer: Brian Augustyn
Illustrator: Mike Mignola & Eduardo Barreto
Inker: P. Craig Russell
Letterers: John Workman & Willie Schubert
Introduction: Robert Bloch
GOTHAM BY THE GASLIGHT
I’ve known about this story since some years ago, but until now, knowing about the incoming direct-to-video animated movie adaptation is that I pushed myself to read it.
It was a good moment to do it, since last weekend (August 2017), there was a book fair in my country, Costa Rica, so I was able to buy this TPB with a good discount.
I like Batman, and I like to read about Jack, the Ripper topic, so why hadn’t I read it before? Well, so much good books, so little time, I haven’t any better reason to justify myself.
This miniseries is set in an elseworld (parallel dimension) where Batman risen 100 years before, during the Victoriana ge, but still set in Gotham City, USA.
Bruce Wayne suffered the same, with the unfair murder of his parents, BUT I liked a little detail in his origin here, where the bats instead of being something that he fears, it was something that saved his life, since a bunch of bats was the reason that the criminal wasn’t able to shoot him too. It’s wonderful how each new approach to the character of Batman and its themes, allow new angles to ponder about this comic book super-hero.
Bruce Wayne trained himself for 15 years, traveling around the world, consulting with several leading people in relevant fields, like Dr. Freud and certain detective from London, to become the costumed vigilante “Bat-Man� on his own city, Gotham.
Once his training is complete and he started his personal war on crime�
…Jack the Ripper arrives to his city!
The Batman vrs Jack, the Ripper!
What else can you ask?!
The terrible path of blood that started in Whitechapel, London, is beginning once again in the dark streets of Gotham City and it’s up to the Bat-Man to face his baptism of fire in his war on crime.
However, thing won’t be easy, since the citizens of Gotham don’t know who inspire them more fear�
…Jack, the Ripper or this mysterious Bat-Man.
MASTER OF THE FUTURE
A year later of the previous events, in the first part of the miniseries�
Bruce Wayne feels that his personal oath to his parents have been fulfilled and even he has now a fiancé, Julie Madison, so the “Bat-Man� costume hasn’t seen action since a while.
However, Gotham City always is in need of its dark protector�
…especially when a lunatic called himself “Master of the Future� (aka Alexandre LeRoi) is threatening the safety of the incoming cultural fair in Gotham City to celebrate the future of the town.
This “Master of the Future� possess too advance technology, so the regular Police force isn’t able to deal in equal term with this strange new villain�
…only the Bat-Man can.
His war on crime hasn’t end yet.
This TPB edition collects “Batman: Gotham by Gaslight� and “Batman: Master of the Future�, the two part of the elsewords miniseries “Victorian Batman�.
Creative Team:
Writer: Brian Augustyn
Illustrator: Mike Mignola & Eduardo Barreto
Inker: P. Craig Russell
Letterers: John Workman & Willie Schubert
Introduction: Robert Bloch
GOTHAM BY THE GASLIGHT
I’ve known about this story since some years ago, but until now, knowing about the incoming direct-to-video animated movie adaptation is that I pushed myself to read it.
It was a good moment to do it, since last weekend (August 2017), there was a book fair in my country, Costa Rica, so I was able to buy this TPB with a good discount.
I like Batman, and I like to read about Jack, the Ripper topic, so why hadn’t I read it before? Well, so much good books, so little time, I haven’t any better reason to justify myself.
This miniseries is set in an elseworld (parallel dimension) where Batman risen 100 years before, during the Victoriana ge, but still set in Gotham City, USA.
Bruce Wayne suffered the same, with the unfair murder of his parents, BUT I liked a little detail in his origin here, where the bats instead of being something that he fears, it was something that saved his life, since a bunch of bats was the reason that the criminal wasn’t able to shoot him too. It’s wonderful how each new approach to the character of Batman and its themes, allow new angles to ponder about this comic book super-hero.
Bruce Wayne trained himself for 15 years, traveling around the world, consulting with several leading people in relevant fields, like Dr. Freud and certain detective from London, to become the costumed vigilante “Bat-Man� on his own city, Gotham.
Once his training is complete and he started his personal war on crime�
…Jack the Ripper arrives to his city!
The Batman vrs Jack, the Ripper!
What else can you ask?!
The terrible path of blood that started in Whitechapel, London, is beginning once again in the dark streets of Gotham City and it’s up to the Bat-Man to face his baptism of fire in his war on crime.
However, thing won’t be easy, since the citizens of Gotham don’t know who inspire them more fear�
…Jack, the Ripper or this mysterious Bat-Man.
MASTER OF THE FUTURE
A year later of the previous events, in the first part of the miniseries�
Bruce Wayne feels that his personal oath to his parents have been fulfilled and even he has now a fiancé, Julie Madison, so the “Bat-Man� costume hasn’t seen action since a while.
However, Gotham City always is in need of its dark protector�
…especially when a lunatic called himself “Master of the Future� (aka Alexandre LeRoi) is threatening the safety of the incoming cultural fair in Gotham City to celebrate the future of the town.
This “Master of the Future� possess too advance technology, so the regular Police force isn’t able to deal in equal term with this strange new villain�
…only the Bat-Man can.
His war on crime hasn’t end yet.
July 31, 2017
Wait, wait…let me get this straight: you’re going to give me Batman in a Victorian-tinged Gotham? And he’s going to face off against Jack the Ripper? And people will say things like “toff� and “rubbish� and “tartlet�? (Okay, well, maybe just the first two.) Sign me up for those shenanigans!
Sounds pretty good, right? Well, turns out its…fine. Like, it’s better than a cucumber sandwich (then again, what isn’t?), but it’s not exactly a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, you know?
Aside from Mike Mignola making Commissioner Gordon look like drunk Teddy Roosevelt from the Hall of Animatronic Sex Panther Presidents, the art is quite good in the first tale (the book contains two stories, the second of which is not as good—artistically or plotistically—as the first). Bruce’s showdown with Jack the Ripper (whose identity, semi-spoiler alert, is as disappointingly weird as calves� foot jelly, though it did make me feel slightly better about the character’s horrifically misogynistic approach to life when he was revealed to be a man who rips the entrails from prostitutes, though it’s entirely possibly his misogyny was less a product of an exceedingly disturbed mine prone to bouts of unimaginably graphic violence and more a reflection of acceptable dialogue in comics in the late 80s), though, is only mildly diverting, with Bats acting like kind of a ninny as he stews in a prison cell for much of the second half of the story.
Still, there’s enough entertainment value here to make it worth a read if you’re a Batman fan, a Victorian fan who loves comics, or, heaven forbid, both.
Just make sure you cinch your corset before you walk by Commissioner Gordon—that guy just looks like a groper.
Sounds pretty good, right? Well, turns out its…fine. Like, it’s better than a cucumber sandwich (then again, what isn’t?), but it’s not exactly a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, you know?
Aside from Mike Mignola making Commissioner Gordon look like drunk Teddy Roosevelt from the Hall of Animatronic Sex Panther Presidents, the art is quite good in the first tale (the book contains two stories, the second of which is not as good—artistically or plotistically—as the first). Bruce’s showdown with Jack the Ripper (whose identity, semi-spoiler alert, is as disappointingly weird as calves� foot jelly, though it did make me feel slightly better about the character’s horrifically misogynistic approach to life when he was revealed to be a man who rips the entrails from prostitutes, though it’s entirely possibly his misogyny was less a product of an exceedingly disturbed mine prone to bouts of unimaginably graphic violence and more a reflection of acceptable dialogue in comics in the late 80s), though, is only mildly diverting, with Bats acting like kind of a ninny as he stews in a prison cell for much of the second half of the story.
Still, there’s enough entertainment value here to make it worth a read if you’re a Batman fan, a Victorian fan who loves comics, or, heaven forbid, both.
Just make sure you cinch your corset before you walk by Commissioner Gordon—that guy just looks like a groper.
August 25, 2022
This was actually a fun read!
Batman story set in Victorian era and like the first story has a fun villain in Jack the ripper and how Bruce fights him and also false accusations and all and its fun and the twist with the villain was cool and I really like how they explore Bruce here and focus on the detective aspect of him and I really like Mignola's art here!
The second story pits him against a villain named "Leroi" whose a french-man and I guess "Joker" in a way and his objective of killing the mayor for some reason and causing instability in the city and how Batman sort of returns after semi-retirement and I love how he takes a new vow again and the way it ends in happiness this time was so fun omg!
Definitely one of the best Batman collections easily and no wonder its a legendary run! The artwork is great, the writing even more spectacular and one of the best DC elseworlds tale!!
Batman story set in Victorian era and like the first story has a fun villain in Jack the ripper and how Bruce fights him and also false accusations and all and its fun and the twist with the villain was cool and I really like how they explore Bruce here and focus on the detective aspect of him and I really like Mignola's art here!
The second story pits him against a villain named "Leroi" whose a french-man and I guess "Joker" in a way and his objective of killing the mayor for some reason and causing instability in the city and how Batman sort of returns after semi-retirement and I love how he takes a new vow again and the way it ends in happiness this time was so fun omg!
Definitely one of the best Batman collections easily and no wonder its a legendary run! The artwork is great, the writing even more spectacular and one of the best DC elseworlds tale!!
October 24, 2020
Batman AND Jack The Ripper - two of my interests combined! Turns out Gotham City set in the 1800s does make for a decent story. Short and sharp, I give it : 3.5 Stars, rounded down to a 3 overall.
May 8, 2024
A collected edition of both Gotham by Gaslight and the less-favored, though far from terrible sequel, Master of the Future. These two Elseworlds tales bring Batman into the Victorian Era. Gaslight was a much better story in my opinion and was a nice setup for the Victorian setting, whereas Master of the Future was more of a fast-paced action comic, set about a year after Gaslight.
July 4, 2010
I didn't bother with the second story becuase I was so disappointed with the first, and the reviews on here have said that it's honestly not that good. So the rest of this
Listen to that phrase: "steampunk batman." What a lovely phrase it is! What promise it shows! Especially when Jack the Ripper is also involved. Ah, what a gorgeous premise. But ah, what boring execution.
The fact is, the story just isn't all that interesting. We've seen it a million times before (and executed far better) in other Batman tales. The "mystery" regarding Jack the Ripper's identity was predictable and underdeveloped. The villain's mad motives were ridiculous and stupid.
AND WHERE WERE THE *REAL* VILLAINS? While there was a mention of "Harvey" (clearly Dent) and a picture of the captured Joker, neither of these characters had any role in the lackluster plot--they seemed to just be there for fan service. Why not have a steampunk Joker? Or Poison Ivy, who would detest the industrial revolution? 19th Century asylums are very interesting places, and the 19th century version of Arkham--especially a steampunk infused version of it--could be mind-blowingly awesome.
The story, despite being boring, also feels quite rushed, to the point where there are plot holes. How, precisely, does Batman escape from prison? Alfred comes to see him and he is magically freed! It's not fully explained and doesn't quite make sense. What could have been an awesome set piece is wasted. In addition, how does he track down the Ripper following this? Nothing is explained.
I also wasn't that impressed with the artwork. It wasn't that pretty to look at. One could say that this was intentional to better illustrate Gotham's ugliness, but it failed to evoke a particularly dreary tone. Our glimpses of Batman are few and far between and none are particularly cool looking.
In short, this Batman comic was a complete waste of the brilliant potential in terms of both its story and its art. If only the creators had thought bigger!
Listen to that phrase: "steampunk batman." What a lovely phrase it is! What promise it shows! Especially when Jack the Ripper is also involved. Ah, what a gorgeous premise. But ah, what boring execution.
The fact is, the story just isn't all that interesting. We've seen it a million times before (and executed far better) in other Batman tales. The "mystery" regarding Jack the Ripper's identity was predictable and underdeveloped. The villain's mad motives were ridiculous and stupid.
AND WHERE WERE THE *REAL* VILLAINS? While there was a mention of "Harvey" (clearly Dent) and a picture of the captured Joker, neither of these characters had any role in the lackluster plot--they seemed to just be there for fan service. Why not have a steampunk Joker? Or Poison Ivy, who would detest the industrial revolution? 19th Century asylums are very interesting places, and the 19th century version of Arkham--especially a steampunk infused version of it--could be mind-blowingly awesome.
The story, despite being boring, also feels quite rushed, to the point where there are plot holes. How, precisely, does Batman escape from prison? Alfred comes to see him and he is magically freed! It's not fully explained and doesn't quite make sense. What could have been an awesome set piece is wasted. In addition, how does he track down the Ripper following this? Nothing is explained.
I also wasn't that impressed with the artwork. It wasn't that pretty to look at. One could say that this was intentional to better illustrate Gotham's ugliness, but it failed to evoke a particularly dreary tone. Our glimpses of Batman are few and far between and none are particularly cool looking.
In short, this Batman comic was a complete waste of the brilliant potential in terms of both its story and its art. If only the creators had thought bigger!
September 19, 2011
Two alternate stories of the Batman set in the 19th century from such star artists as Mike MIgnola and P Craig Russell. The first, "Gotham by Gaslight" is arguably the best. A retelling of the Jack the Ripper murders with a continuation in Gotham where the Batman confronts him. A great short story with some magnificently gothic drawings by the excellent Mike Mignola it's no wonder his talent took him on to bigger projects like Hellboy and BPRD.
"Master of the Future" is the second and longer story in this collection featuring an alternate origin story for the Joker and another test for the Batman to save Gotham. Eduardo Barreto's drawings are excellent here too and Brian Augustyn, who penned both stories, writes another great script.
An excellent "What If...?" collection of two great Batman stories with some fantastic art thrown in. A must for Batfans.
"Master of the Future" is the second and longer story in this collection featuring an alternate origin story for the Joker and another test for the Batman to save Gotham. Eduardo Barreto's drawings are excellent here too and Brian Augustyn, who penned both stories, writes another great script.
An excellent "What If...?" collection of two great Batman stories with some fantastic art thrown in. A must for Batfans.
April 11, 2021
6.7/10
Batman fits great in the Victorian era
Τι ωραία που ταιριάζει ο Μπάτμαν στην Βικτωριανή εποχή. Μια συνέχεια του Gotham by gaslight, που θα εμβάθυνε στη ζωή του αριστοκράτη Μπρους Γουέιν και το πώς πολεμάει το έγκλημα ως το alter ego του θα είχε μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον. Η ίσως μια μεγαλύτερη σειρά που θα είχε και κάποιους από τους κλασικούς εχθρούς του.
Το συγκεκριμένο graphic novel αποτελείται από δύο ιστορίες και ενώ η πρώτη είναι αρκετά καλή, Batman εναντίον Τζακ του Αντεροβγάλτη, η δεύτερη σίγουρα είναι υποδεέστερη, εξού και τα τρία αστέρια.
Batman fits great in the Victorian era
Τι ωραία που ταιριάζει ο Μπάτμαν στην Βικτωριανή εποχή. Μια συνέχεια του Gotham by gaslight, που θα εμβάθυνε στη ζωή του αριστοκράτη Μπρους Γουέιν και το πώς πολεμάει το έγκλημα ως το alter ego του θα είχε μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον. Η ίσως μια μεγαλύτερη σειρά που θα είχε και κάποιους από τους κλασικούς εχθρούς του.
Το συγκεκριμένο graphic novel αποτελείται από δύο ιστορίες και ενώ η πρώτη είναι αρκετά καλή, Batman εναντίον Τζακ του Αντεροβγάλτη, η δεύτερη σίγουρα είναι υποδεέστερη, εξού και τα τρία αστέρια.
May 12, 2018
Συμπαθητικό άλμπουμ με δυο καλούτσικες ιστορίες, σίγουρα κάτι το διαφορετικό στο σύμπαν του Μπάτμαν, όμως γενικά τίποτα το εξαιρετικά ιδιαίτερο. Βέβαια, κρατούσα σχετικά μικρό καλάθι πριν το αγοράσω και το διαβάσω, οπότε δεν απογοητεύτηκα. Ίσα-ίσα, μπορώ να πω ότι πέρασα καλά. Και οι δυο ιστορίες μου άρεσαν, χωρίς βέβαια να με ξετρελάνουν. Η πρώτη ιστορία -"Gotham By Gaslight"- είναι ένα σκαλί πιο πάνω από τη δεύτερη, τόσο σεναριακά όσο και σχεδιαστικά. Το σενάριο, ελέω Τζακ του Αντεροβγάλτη, είναι σαφώς πιο ενδιαφέρον και σφιχτοδεμένο, αν και νομίζω ότι χρειαζόταν περισσότερος χώρος για καλύτερη και πιο ομαλή εξέλιξη των γεγονότων, ενώ οι διάφορες αποκαλύψεις μου φάνηκαν κάπως προβλέψιμες. Το σχέδιο πολύ καλό, με μετέφερε για τα καλά στο κλίμα της Βικτωριανής Εποχής: Μου φάνηκε όσο σκοτεινό και ατμοσφαιρικό χρειαζόταν, με φοβερό χρωματισμό. Και η δεύτερη ιστορία -"Master Of The Future"- δεν είναι καθόλου άσχημη, το σχέδιο είναι καθαρό και αρκετά όμορφο, απλά κάτι δεν με έπεισε στα κίνητρα του κακού, ενώ η όλη πλοκή δεν με κράτησε όσο η πρώτη, αν και είχε και αυτή το ενδιαφέρον της. Γενικά δηλώνω ικανοποιημένος.
April 17, 2018
We’re at the fin de siècle here in Batman: Gaslight. With (seemingly) well researched history to match, this story would seem unique and enjoyable, until we linger too long and finally read beyond the first ten pages. Just as the initial depiction of Sigmund Freud seems more akin to a cardboard cutout that an actually fleshed out individual, so too does the rest of the story amount more to a visual success than a properly bodied tale.
Just as mentioned, we get the appearance of that (in)famously deranged, cocaine addicted fraudster but none of the personality that (un/)rightfully earned this man his place in the annals of history. And disappointingly the same goes for nigh everyone in the story. Beyond the hackneyed (to death) origin tale of Wayne’s childhood tragedy, characterization and the motivations they bear amount to nothing more than platonic molds of impetus and personality for all involved. From Alfred to The Commissioner, everyone reduces to robots, merely fulfilling their casts of idealism (or programming is you will) rather than responding to the needs and demands of a properly constructed world.
Because the first ten-to-twenty pages are merely world-building, instead of forging a plot with increasing tension, this does nothing than more than establish what we know already with merely altered visages to match the (Sign o� The) Times. Even when delicately administered art allows us plenty of open spaces for our eyes to pander across while we ponder palaverous verbiage, nothing is added, of any importance, to the over-arc. We get it, we’re in the latest of the 1800’s but there’s not much to show for it beyond the pretty visuals. Gaslights befitting of the era (and title) might aptly illustrate moody atmospherics and stun us with a warmth of melodic lighting throughout but, historical contextualizations including the highest of hopes and the most painful of pessimisms of the era were lost on the author first, and us the readers, second.
The hopes and dreams of this profound epoch are disappointingly unseen as montage after montage establish the already known-knowns of the Batman character. Even when well constructed fictionalized newspaper clippings are well applied within, their verisimilitude is watered down due to the comic’s internalized detriments. Instead of touching upon important historical happenings within the contextualized peripheries, their lack of research further degrades their usefulness to the comic with excessive repetitions amounting to vapid redundancies.
Just when I thought my boredom couldn’t be exceeded, a continual panoply of hyper-convenient plot developments and occurrences drag us back into the primordial comic muck our damned platonic casts are unable to escape. So even when a moderately interesting plot twist (or two) pop(s)-up, the motivations themselves, just like the paper-thin characters that support then, are damnedly lame. Tending more toward cheap facsimiles than artful insertions, every aspect beyond the seen ultimately appears cheap and sophomoric.
So much as this comic should have succeeded, the very imprimatur of it’s title: Batman, heralded its demise from its very inception. Choked from birth, the immutable inflexibility of the Caped Crusader’s universe interior rule-book stunted any possibility that something new and fresh could arise from this increasingly stale universe. All the more disappointing while the introductory credits state that this is, “An Alternative History of The Batman,� nothing could be more of the same.
Just as mentioned, we get the appearance of that (in)famously deranged, cocaine addicted fraudster but none of the personality that (un/)rightfully earned this man his place in the annals of history. And disappointingly the same goes for nigh everyone in the story. Beyond the hackneyed (to death) origin tale of Wayne’s childhood tragedy, characterization and the motivations they bear amount to nothing more than platonic molds of impetus and personality for all involved. From Alfred to The Commissioner, everyone reduces to robots, merely fulfilling their casts of idealism (or programming is you will) rather than responding to the needs and demands of a properly constructed world.
Because the first ten-to-twenty pages are merely world-building, instead of forging a plot with increasing tension, this does nothing than more than establish what we know already with merely altered visages to match the (Sign o� The) Times. Even when delicately administered art allows us plenty of open spaces for our eyes to pander across while we ponder palaverous verbiage, nothing is added, of any importance, to the over-arc. We get it, we’re in the latest of the 1800’s but there’s not much to show for it beyond the pretty visuals. Gaslights befitting of the era (and title) might aptly illustrate moody atmospherics and stun us with a warmth of melodic lighting throughout but, historical contextualizations including the highest of hopes and the most painful of pessimisms of the era were lost on the author first, and us the readers, second.
The hopes and dreams of this profound epoch are disappointingly unseen as montage after montage establish the already known-knowns of the Batman character. Even when well constructed fictionalized newspaper clippings are well applied within, their verisimilitude is watered down due to the comic’s internalized detriments. Instead of touching upon important historical happenings within the contextualized peripheries, their lack of research further degrades their usefulness to the comic with excessive repetitions amounting to vapid redundancies.
Just when I thought my boredom couldn’t be exceeded, a continual panoply of hyper-convenient plot developments and occurrences drag us back into the primordial comic muck our damned platonic casts are unable to escape. So even when a moderately interesting plot twist (or two) pop(s)-up, the motivations themselves, just like the paper-thin characters that support then, are damnedly lame. Tending more toward cheap facsimiles than artful insertions, every aspect beyond the seen ultimately appears cheap and sophomoric.
So much as this comic should have succeeded, the very imprimatur of it’s title: Batman, heralded its demise from its very inception. Choked from birth, the immutable inflexibility of the Caped Crusader’s universe interior rule-book stunted any possibility that something new and fresh could arise from this increasingly stale universe. All the more disappointing while the introductory credits state that this is, “An Alternative History of The Batman,� nothing could be more of the same.
May 1, 2023
I was pretty disappointed by this one. It's the first book I've read by Brian Augustyn. It just seems like an easy book to write - Put Batman in the Victorian age and not much more work was put in to making it historically accurate. I kept wishing Alan Moore had used this concept.
This is pencilled by Mike Mignola but its from 1989, so it's still before he developed his distinct style - although it is hinted at here.
P. Craig Russell inks, I guess he's inked hundreds of early Mignola pages. I feel like it's an odd mix. Mignola is brutal and minimalist, Russell is usually decorative although also precise with not a ton of extra linework.
This is pencilled by Mike Mignola but its from 1989, so it's still before he developed his distinct style - although it is hinted at here.
P. Craig Russell inks, I guess he's inked hundreds of early Mignola pages. I feel like it's an odd mix. Mignola is brutal and minimalist, Russell is usually decorative although also precise with not a ton of extra linework.
February 9, 2018
There's a certain expectation when you see something claiming to be Victorian Era Batman, and that expectation is what you mostly get. Unless, of course, you wanted some detective to shine through since there won't be any gadgets... because there isn't any mystery solving in here. Not really. I mean, a mystery or two gets solved, but only between panels. Look, when I see something claiming to be some alternate reality Batman, I immediately assume it will be 'fine'. Because they're never great, are they? And that's precisely what this is. 'Fine.'
September 19, 2015
I've been going back to Mignola's pre-Hellboy work. I read this Batman elseworld ages ago. The art was part Steampunk, part Year One. The story was fantastic: Batman versus Jack the Ripper. I loved it then and I still loved it today.
April 16, 2020
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is a collection of two elseworld Batman stories set in the Victorian era.
The first story, Gotham by Gaslight , is drawn by Mike Mignola. And his art is always a win. He perfectly captures the Victorian vibe and also manages to provide a sense of Gothic atmosphere. The story is mediocre, revolving around murders done by Jack the Ripper, which would have been much better if it hadn't been so predictable.
The second story, Master of the Future swims in the sea of mediocrity as well, but only manages to surpass its predecessor by being less predictable.
The first story, Gotham by Gaslight , is drawn by Mike Mignola. And his art is always a win. He perfectly captures the Victorian vibe and also manages to provide a sense of Gothic atmosphere. The story is mediocre, revolving around murders done by Jack the Ripper, which would have been much better if it hadn't been so predictable.
The second story, Master of the Future swims in the sea of mediocrity as well, but only manages to surpass its predecessor by being less predictable.
July 12, 2014
The foremost thing I have always loved about Batman and his stories is the air of dark mystery and malicious intrigue that surrounds its pages. I also grew up with detective fiction and I remember that the very first Batman comic book I read in passing had the same elements I enjoyed about said genre in the first place. I was so drawn to this brooding and reticent watchful guardian of the night in a very inexplicable sense, and I knew that he needs to be a constant thing in my life from there on.
Reading Bryan Augustyn's self-contained story Gotham by Gaslightunearth those nostalgic feelings. This fifty-paged comic book is set in an alternate universe where Bruce Wayne, Batman and Gotham City are in the nineteenth century. It actually does work well, considering that the general atmospheric theme of a lot of Batman stories belongs to a gothic criteria anyway, and the very essence of the Dark Knight blends with shadows and ghouls running amok in a lawless and godless city. This comic book explored the same events in Bruce's life as we know it in canon but are depicted as if we traveled back to a simpler yet just as malevolent point in time.
Batman's costume is something that could be akin to a steampunk version. I especially loved the mask that resembled a rustic-styled goggles for bird-watching, giving his face a menacing yet old-fashioned look. I also think that the overall visual choices for this comic (the font of the texts, the structural panels and the washed-out color palette) are at par with what the writing is trying to embody. Having a copy of this story is like owning an antique parchment of some sort where the sketches and illustrations are fading and are uneven in some place, but it only adds more to its haunting appeal.
The plot had a good pacing and suspense to it that makes it feel like I'm watching a movie set in the Victorian age that is remarkably well-preserved and true to its time. This is a marvelous, worthwhile read. I'm glad someone thought about writing Batman in this setting and century because it made perfect sense for someone of his nature and origins to fit in such a murky landscape. Gotham City itself after all has that kind of vibe already--something so ancient and dark that you always feel a chill in your spine when you're reading about it. Augustyn's Gotham by Gaslightsings that eerie tune all the way.
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
[DO READ MORE ABOUT MY BATMAN REVIEWS IN ]
Reading Bryan Augustyn's self-contained story Gotham by Gaslightunearth those nostalgic feelings. This fifty-paged comic book is set in an alternate universe where Bruce Wayne, Batman and Gotham City are in the nineteenth century. It actually does work well, considering that the general atmospheric theme of a lot of Batman stories belongs to a gothic criteria anyway, and the very essence of the Dark Knight blends with shadows and ghouls running amok in a lawless and godless city. This comic book explored the same events in Bruce's life as we know it in canon but are depicted as if we traveled back to a simpler yet just as malevolent point in time.
Batman's costume is something that could be akin to a steampunk version. I especially loved the mask that resembled a rustic-styled goggles for bird-watching, giving his face a menacing yet old-fashioned look. I also think that the overall visual choices for this comic (the font of the texts, the structural panels and the washed-out color palette) are at par with what the writing is trying to embody. Having a copy of this story is like owning an antique parchment of some sort where the sketches and illustrations are fading and are uneven in some place, but it only adds more to its haunting appeal.
The plot had a good pacing and suspense to it that makes it feel like I'm watching a movie set in the Victorian age that is remarkably well-preserved and true to its time. This is a marvelous, worthwhile read. I'm glad someone thought about writing Batman in this setting and century because it made perfect sense for someone of his nature and origins to fit in such a murky landscape. Gotham City itself after all has that kind of vibe already--something so ancient and dark that you always feel a chill in your spine when you're reading about it. Augustyn's Gotham by Gaslightsings that eerie tune all the way.
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
[DO READ MORE ABOUT MY BATMAN REVIEWS IN ]
December 16, 2013
There are two stories in here: the original Gotham by Gaslight and a follow up. You could safely ignore the follow up story. It isn't as good as the original, and has Batman in a much more action oriented, pulpy sort of role. The original story pits Batman against Jack the Ripper. Now this was really good. Bruce is at the start of his career as Batman, and the case doesn't come easily to him. This story also felt more authentic, much more like what Batman would have been like in the Victorian era. The second story has an over-the-top villain who just isn't compelling, and a love story that isn't any more compelling. Definitely read the original Gotham by Gaslight story, but you can stop there.
May 16, 2016
Like X-Men Noir, this is a great idea with a kinda pathetic execution. The writing is so-so, the artwork is shabby, but the book's worst crime is that the world of Victorian Gotham is never explored. I wanted to see gaslight versions of our favorite villains, but all I got were paint-by-numbers steampunk hijinks. Selina Kyle as an Irene Adler-like lady thief, Oswald Cobblepott as a vicious new-money social interloper, the Joker as Jack the Ripper: now that would be a comic book. If only.
May 29, 2008
Interesting idea but kind of short and missing elements in the story telling that could have made this really work. There seems like so much more that could have been made between the Batman and Jack the Ripper, but instead the story breezes through to a very unsatisfying but obvious conclusion.
Read
September 1, 2018Çizgi roman kahramanlarını alıştığımız, kemikleşmiş kalıplarının dışına çıkaran ve onları farklı tarihi dönemlere, hatta başka evrenlere taşıyan özgün işleri ayrı bir seviyorum. Aynı şekilde, geçmişte yaşamış gerçek kişileri ve olayları farklı biçimlerde kullanan alternatif tarih romanlarını da her zaman keyifle okumuşumdur. İşte bu yüzden "Batman: Gotham’ın Gaz Lambaları"nı ilk duyduğumda acayip derecede meraklanmış ve bir o kadar da heyecanlanmıştım. Ve ne mutlu ki beklediğimi fazlasıyla aldım.
1889 yılında, Viyana’dayız. Karındeşen Jack sırra kadem basalı altı ay olmuş, Londra polisinin tüm çabalarına rağmen bir türlü yakalanamamıştır. Bu esnada, Bruce Wayne ise annesiyle babasının intikamını alabilmek için yurt dışında çeşitli eğitimler almaktadır. Londra’daki “malum bir dedektifin� yanından yeni dönen Bruce’un son durağı ise kendisine psikoloji dersleri veren Sigmund Freud’tur. Eğitiminin tamamlandığına karar veren Bruce, Gotham’a geri dönme vaktinin geldiğini hisseder ve çok geçmeden soluğu memleketinde alır.
1889’un Gotham’� tıpkı dönemin diğer şehirleri gibi taş binaların yeni yeni yükselmeye başladığı, sokakların gaz lambalarıyla aydınlatıldığı ve yolculukların hâlen faytonlarla yapıldığı bir yer olarak çıkıyor karşımıza. Ama bu demek değil ki tanıdık hiçbir şey yok. Polis şefimiz yine ihtiyar dostumuz James Gordon’un ta kendisi mesela. Alfred ve Wayne Malikânesi de yine Bruce’u bu topraklarda bekleyen şeyler arasında yer alıyor. Hatta bir ara şen dulları zehirleyerek öldüren ama yakalanınca intihar etmeye kalkan ve yüzüne “kalıcı bir sırıtış� yerleşen bir katilden bile söz ediliyor.
Bruce gündüzleri zengin bir aylak rolüne bürünürken geceleriyse Batman olarak sokakları suçtan temizlemeye başlıyor. Tabii döneme uygun bir şekilde, son teknoloji oyuncaklarından mahrum bir Batman bu. Onun yerine belindeki kemere birkaç fırlatma bıçağı asan, binici çizmesi ve eldivenleri giyen, pardösümsü bir yakaya sahip bir pelerin takan ve maskesindeki dikiş yerleri açıkça görülen bir Kara Şövalye var karşımızda.
Gelin görün ki Bruce’un memleketine dönmesiyle birlikte Karındeşen Jack’in de Gotham sokaklarında dehşet saçmaya başlaması bir olur. Hatta bu yüzden Yarasa Adam ile Seri Katil’in aynı kişiler olduğunu düşünenler bile olur. Böylece Batman hem şehrini korumak hem de adını temize çıkarmak için bu ele avuca sığmaz katilin peşine düşer.
Çizgi romanın en sevdiğim yanlarından biri daha en başından itibaren bize birkaç farklı şüpheli vermesi ve katilin kim olabileceğini düşünmemize imkân tanıması oldu. Ki zaten iyi bir polisiyenin olmazsa olmazlarındandır bu benim için. Daha sonraysa olayların hiç beklenmedik bir yön alması ve sürpriz bir sonla bitmesi de ayrı bir keyif oldu doğrusu.
Sonuç olarak, "Gotham’ın Gaz Lambaları" sadece Batman ve Karındeşen Jack efsanelerini başarıyla birleştirmekle kalmıyor, aynı zamanda da tadı damakta kalan bir okuma deneyimi sunuyor bizlere. Eksi olarak değerlendirebileceğim bir yanı varsa o da kısa olması ve çabucak bitmesi. Öyle ki Batman’in bu yeni hâline tam olarak doyamadığınızı hissediyorsunuz. İşte o noktada ciltteki devam hikâyemiz olan “Geleceğin Efendisi� giriyor devreye.
Önceki maceradan yaklaşık bir yıl sonra Bruce pelerinini asmış, Batman’i emekliye ayırmaya karar vermiştir. Artık ailesinin işleriyle ilgilenmesi gerektiğini düşünmektedir. Alfred durumdan memnundur Ancak şehrin hâlâ Batman’e ihtiyacı olduğunu düşünen bazı kimseler de vardır. Komiserliğe terfi eden Gordon gibi�
Derken, yirminci yüzyılın yaklaşması şerefine şehirde verilecek görkemli bir panayırın öncesinde kendisine “Geleceğin Efendisi� diyen, Alexandre LeRoi adında eksantrik bir adam çıkıverir ortaya. Ve talepleri karşılanmadığı takdirde bütün şehri yakmakla tehdit eder Gotham halkını. Belediye başkanı adamın tehditlerine kulak asmaz ve panayırın her ne olursa olsun düzenleneceğini söyler. LeRoi bu durumdan hiç memnun kalmaz elbette. Ve en sonunda onu durdurmak pelerinini yeniden kuşanmaya gönülsüz olan Batman’e düşer.
LeRoi’nın tüm tuhaflıklarına rağmen, bu maceranın "Gotham’ın Gaz Lambaları" kadar etkileyici olduğunu söylemek zor. Son olarak Buffalo Bill ve Thomas Edison göndermelerinin gözlerden kaçmaması gerektiğini belirteyim.
- M. İhsan TATARİ
İncelemenin tamamı için:
1889 yılında, Viyana’dayız. Karındeşen Jack sırra kadem basalı altı ay olmuş, Londra polisinin tüm çabalarına rağmen bir türlü yakalanamamıştır. Bu esnada, Bruce Wayne ise annesiyle babasının intikamını alabilmek için yurt dışında çeşitli eğitimler almaktadır. Londra’daki “malum bir dedektifin� yanından yeni dönen Bruce’un son durağı ise kendisine psikoloji dersleri veren Sigmund Freud’tur. Eğitiminin tamamlandığına karar veren Bruce, Gotham’a geri dönme vaktinin geldiğini hisseder ve çok geçmeden soluğu memleketinde alır.
1889’un Gotham’� tıpkı dönemin diğer şehirleri gibi taş binaların yeni yeni yükselmeye başladığı, sokakların gaz lambalarıyla aydınlatıldığı ve yolculukların hâlen faytonlarla yapıldığı bir yer olarak çıkıyor karşımıza. Ama bu demek değil ki tanıdık hiçbir şey yok. Polis şefimiz yine ihtiyar dostumuz James Gordon’un ta kendisi mesela. Alfred ve Wayne Malikânesi de yine Bruce’u bu topraklarda bekleyen şeyler arasında yer alıyor. Hatta bir ara şen dulları zehirleyerek öldüren ama yakalanınca intihar etmeye kalkan ve yüzüne “kalıcı bir sırıtış� yerleşen bir katilden bile söz ediliyor.
Bruce gündüzleri zengin bir aylak rolüne bürünürken geceleriyse Batman olarak sokakları suçtan temizlemeye başlıyor. Tabii döneme uygun bir şekilde, son teknoloji oyuncaklarından mahrum bir Batman bu. Onun yerine belindeki kemere birkaç fırlatma bıçağı asan, binici çizmesi ve eldivenleri giyen, pardösümsü bir yakaya sahip bir pelerin takan ve maskesindeki dikiş yerleri açıkça görülen bir Kara Şövalye var karşımızda.
Gelin görün ki Bruce’un memleketine dönmesiyle birlikte Karındeşen Jack’in de Gotham sokaklarında dehşet saçmaya başlaması bir olur. Hatta bu yüzden Yarasa Adam ile Seri Katil’in aynı kişiler olduğunu düşünenler bile olur. Böylece Batman hem şehrini korumak hem de adını temize çıkarmak için bu ele avuca sığmaz katilin peşine düşer.
Çizgi romanın en sevdiğim yanlarından biri daha en başından itibaren bize birkaç farklı şüpheli vermesi ve katilin kim olabileceğini düşünmemize imkân tanıması oldu. Ki zaten iyi bir polisiyenin olmazsa olmazlarındandır bu benim için. Daha sonraysa olayların hiç beklenmedik bir yön alması ve sürpriz bir sonla bitmesi de ayrı bir keyif oldu doğrusu.
Sonuç olarak, "Gotham’ın Gaz Lambaları" sadece Batman ve Karındeşen Jack efsanelerini başarıyla birleştirmekle kalmıyor, aynı zamanda da tadı damakta kalan bir okuma deneyimi sunuyor bizlere. Eksi olarak değerlendirebileceğim bir yanı varsa o da kısa olması ve çabucak bitmesi. Öyle ki Batman’in bu yeni hâline tam olarak doyamadığınızı hissediyorsunuz. İşte o noktada ciltteki devam hikâyemiz olan “Geleceğin Efendisi� giriyor devreye.
Önceki maceradan yaklaşık bir yıl sonra Bruce pelerinini asmış, Batman’i emekliye ayırmaya karar vermiştir. Artık ailesinin işleriyle ilgilenmesi gerektiğini düşünmektedir. Alfred durumdan memnundur Ancak şehrin hâlâ Batman’e ihtiyacı olduğunu düşünen bazı kimseler de vardır. Komiserliğe terfi eden Gordon gibi�
Derken, yirminci yüzyılın yaklaşması şerefine şehirde verilecek görkemli bir panayırın öncesinde kendisine “Geleceğin Efendisi� diyen, Alexandre LeRoi adında eksantrik bir adam çıkıverir ortaya. Ve talepleri karşılanmadığı takdirde bütün şehri yakmakla tehdit eder Gotham halkını. Belediye başkanı adamın tehditlerine kulak asmaz ve panayırın her ne olursa olsun düzenleneceğini söyler. LeRoi bu durumdan hiç memnun kalmaz elbette. Ve en sonunda onu durdurmak pelerinini yeniden kuşanmaya gönülsüz olan Batman’e düşer.
LeRoi’nın tüm tuhaflıklarına rağmen, bu maceranın "Gotham’ın Gaz Lambaları" kadar etkileyici olduğunu söylemek zor. Son olarak Buffalo Bill ve Thomas Edison göndermelerinin gözlerden kaçmaması gerektiğini belirteyim.
- M. İhsan TATARİ
İncelemenin tamamı için:
October 26, 2021
So after deciding that I’m going to read the full Knightfall saga, I thought now would be a good time to crack on with my elseworld stories and where else to start than Gotham by Gaslight!
The story is set in the Victorian era and is two short stories, the first a sort of retelling of Batman’s origin for this time period and his run in with Jack the Ripper and the second was a story about a fencing madman wanting to destroy a fair (I’ll just be talking about the first story but this was still enjoyable)
I really enjoyed this story, it’s nice to have a fresh take on Batman and is an interesting concept of having the world’s best detective again the most infamous serial killer and it worked well. The art was nice too, suited the time period the book was portraying nicely.
Overall I think that if you have any interest in Batman this is a must read fun story that I wish was longer than 50 pages!
The story is set in the Victorian era and is two short stories, the first a sort of retelling of Batman’s origin for this time period and his run in with Jack the Ripper and the second was a story about a fencing madman wanting to destroy a fair (I’ll just be talking about the first story but this was still enjoyable)
I really enjoyed this story, it’s nice to have a fresh take on Batman and is an interesting concept of having the world’s best detective again the most infamous serial killer and it worked well. The art was nice too, suited the time period the book was portraying nicely.
Overall I think that if you have any interest in Batman this is a must read fun story that I wish was longer than 50 pages!
July 18, 2018
The concept behind this was so intriguing to me I could not wait to devour the story, and then, it was classic mystery pattern.
Innocuous secondary character, introduced early, forgotten, then is the villain.
Yawn.
The part I really liked, was how well Bruce Wayne was framed and nearly hung for the crimes.
I do hope they do more with this era, but with better long term writing and thought-out plots.
Innocuous secondary character, introduced early, forgotten, then is the villain.
Yawn.
The part I really liked, was how well Bruce Wayne was framed and nearly hung for the crimes.
I do hope they do more with this era, but with better long term writing and thought-out plots.
May 12, 2017
Two parts. The first is much better, specially the parts drawn by Mike Mignola:
I guess it would have been much better if the villains in the first part and the second part were The Joker and Superman (respectively). It was very doable.
I guess it would have been much better if the villains in the first part and the second part were The Joker and Superman (respectively). It was very doable.
March 10, 2021
When you create an alternate universe you get more power to build up interesting backstory and potray the characters differently. But Bryan Augustyn here, couldn't make the most of it. So Gotham By Gaslight ended up pretty typical. It's a shame really.
Illustrations are stunning though.
Illustrations are stunning though.
September 7, 2017
Der Band enthält zwei Stories, in denen Brian Augustyn den Fledermaus-Mann in die Ära der Gaslaternen zurückversetzt.
Beim viktorianischen Zeitalter und bei Jack the Ripper denkt man eigentlich zuerst an London, und hier nimmt die erste Geschichte - GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT - auch ihren Anfang. Bruce Waynes Eltern sind ermordet worden und Bruce verbringt als junger Mann einige Zeit auf dem Kontinent. Er geht in Wien bei Freud in die Lehre und reist später über London zurück nach Gotham. In London treibt der Frauenmörder Jack the Ripper sein Unwesen, und Bruce ist noch nicht lange zurück in Gotham, als sich dort die Mordserie fortsetzt. Und bald gibt es scheinbar Beweisstücke, die den Verdacht begründen, Bruce könne der gesuchte Serienmörder sein. Aber wer immer hier intrigiert hat die Rechnung ohne Batman gemacht ...
Augustyn hat sich fleißig diverser Versatzstücke bedient, die man mit dem ausgehenden 19. Jahrhundert gemeinhin in Verbindung bringt; trotzdem ist es ihm nicht gelungen, daraus eine spannende Geschichte zu weben. Zu oberflächlich, zu trivial schien mir die Erzählung, und am Ende löst sich das Geheimnis um die Identität vom Ripper fast beiläufig auf und überzeugt nicht.
Das beste an dieser Story ist die Artwork von Mike Mignola.
Die zweite Story, MASTER OF THE FUTURE, hat mich da schon mehr überzeugt. In Gotham soll eine Weltausstellung stattfinden, auf der die Zukunft präsentiert wird. Alles gut und schön, wäre da nicht der verrückte LeRoi, der für die Gestaltung der Zukunft ganz andere Pläne hat und den Bürgermeister zwingen will, die Ausstellung nicht stattfinden zu lassen. Als sich dieser nicht beugt, kommt es zur Katastrophe. Das Schlimmste kann natürlich nur von Batman abgewendet werden, der im ersten Teil seine persönliche Mission als Fledermaus-Mann beendet hat und sich nun in diesem Kostüm erstmals für das Gemeinwohl einsetzt.
Hier zeichnet für die Artwork Eduardo Barreto verantwortlich, und er hat eine wirklich guten Job abgeliefert.
Im Fazit ist GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT eine ganz nette Abwechslung von der Kontinuität der Hauptserie, mehr aber leider auch nicht.
Beim viktorianischen Zeitalter und bei Jack the Ripper denkt man eigentlich zuerst an London, und hier nimmt die erste Geschichte - GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT - auch ihren Anfang. Bruce Waynes Eltern sind ermordet worden und Bruce verbringt als junger Mann einige Zeit auf dem Kontinent. Er geht in Wien bei Freud in die Lehre und reist später über London zurück nach Gotham. In London treibt der Frauenmörder Jack the Ripper sein Unwesen, und Bruce ist noch nicht lange zurück in Gotham, als sich dort die Mordserie fortsetzt. Und bald gibt es scheinbar Beweisstücke, die den Verdacht begründen, Bruce könne der gesuchte Serienmörder sein. Aber wer immer hier intrigiert hat die Rechnung ohne Batman gemacht ...
Augustyn hat sich fleißig diverser Versatzstücke bedient, die man mit dem ausgehenden 19. Jahrhundert gemeinhin in Verbindung bringt; trotzdem ist es ihm nicht gelungen, daraus eine spannende Geschichte zu weben. Zu oberflächlich, zu trivial schien mir die Erzählung, und am Ende löst sich das Geheimnis um die Identität vom Ripper fast beiläufig auf und überzeugt nicht.
Das beste an dieser Story ist die Artwork von Mike Mignola.
Die zweite Story, MASTER OF THE FUTURE, hat mich da schon mehr überzeugt. In Gotham soll eine Weltausstellung stattfinden, auf der die Zukunft präsentiert wird. Alles gut und schön, wäre da nicht der verrückte LeRoi, der für die Gestaltung der Zukunft ganz andere Pläne hat und den Bürgermeister zwingen will, die Ausstellung nicht stattfinden zu lassen. Als sich dieser nicht beugt, kommt es zur Katastrophe. Das Schlimmste kann natürlich nur von Batman abgewendet werden, der im ersten Teil seine persönliche Mission als Fledermaus-Mann beendet hat und sich nun in diesem Kostüm erstmals für das Gemeinwohl einsetzt.
Hier zeichnet für die Artwork Eduardo Barreto verantwortlich, und er hat eine wirklich guten Job abgeliefert.
Im Fazit ist GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT eine ganz nette Abwechslung von der Kontinuität der Hauptserie, mehr aber leider auch nicht.
August 2, 2018
Batman günümüzde değil de 1800’lü yıllarda yaşasaydı, ne olurdu? Peki karşısına Karındeşen Jack gibi ele avuca sığmaz bir katil çıkarsa? Kim galip gelirdi?
DC'nin Elseworlds dizisine ait olan, yani alternatif bir evrende geçen Gotham’ın Gaz Lambaları bu soru üzerine kurulu, keyifli bir çizgi roman. Batman'i ve Gotham şehrini alıştığımız kalıplarından çıkarıp 1800'lere uyarlaması kadar o tarihte yaşanmış gerçek olaylara ve kişilere yaptığı göndermelerle de dikkat çekiyor. Hellboy'un yaratıcısı Mike Mignola'nın erken dönem çizimlerine şahit olmak da bir o kadar güzel. Ama en güzeli Karındeşen Jack efsanesini Batman'in karşısında görmek ve bu ikilinin keskin zekâlarını birbirlerini alt etmek için kullandığına şahit olmak elbette.
Ciltte "Geleceğin Efendisi" adında bir devam macerası da bulunuyor. Konu olarak Karındeşen Jack serüveni kadar ilgi çekici olmasa da başka bir çizer tarafından yapılan çizimlerini şahsen daha çok sevdim. Oldukça net, temiz ve detaylı görünüyorlar. Karakterlerin yüzleri bilhassa başarılı.
Tek eksisi her iki serüvenin de çok kısa olması ve cildin çabucak bitmesi. Batman'in bu hâline tam olarak doyamadığınızı, kendisini yeterince göremediğinizi düşünüyorsunuz okumayı tamamladığınızda.
Alternatif tarih hikâyelerini sevenlere tavsiye olunur.
DC'nin Elseworlds dizisine ait olan, yani alternatif bir evrende geçen Gotham’ın Gaz Lambaları bu soru üzerine kurulu, keyifli bir çizgi roman. Batman'i ve Gotham şehrini alıştığımız kalıplarından çıkarıp 1800'lere uyarlaması kadar o tarihte yaşanmış gerçek olaylara ve kişilere yaptığı göndermelerle de dikkat çekiyor. Hellboy'un yaratıcısı Mike Mignola'nın erken dönem çizimlerine şahit olmak da bir o kadar güzel. Ama en güzeli Karındeşen Jack efsanesini Batman'in karşısında görmek ve bu ikilinin keskin zekâlarını birbirlerini alt etmek için kullandığına şahit olmak elbette.
Ciltte "Geleceğin Efendisi" adında bir devam macerası da bulunuyor. Konu olarak Karındeşen Jack serüveni kadar ilgi çekici olmasa da başka bir çizer tarafından yapılan çizimlerini şahsen daha çok sevdim. Oldukça net, temiz ve detaylı görünüyorlar. Karakterlerin yüzleri bilhassa başarılı.
Tek eksisi her iki serüvenin de çok kısa olması ve cildin çabucak bitmesi. Batman'in bu hâline tam olarak doyamadığınızı, kendisini yeterince göremediğinizi düşünüyorsunuz okumayı tamamladığınızda.
Alternatif tarih hikâyelerini sevenlere tavsiye olunur.
February 5, 2018
I picked this up during the holidays when my comics guy recommended it (and yes, after I found out it was being made into an animated feature). The first installment with Jack the Ripper was great. I really liked the smoky streets, muted tones, the bleak noir feel. The second story...not so much. I felt like it was asking too much of me and it was just too out there, but I can't figure out what bothered me about it.
On the whole, the book vaguely reminded me of Doctor Who's The Next Doctor episode with David Morrissey, particularly the "modern" inventions used by Batman (hello air ships!). Now to find out how many liberties were taken with the film...
On the whole, the book vaguely reminded me of Doctor Who's The Next Doctor episode with David Morrissey, particularly the "modern" inventions used by Batman (hello air ships!). Now to find out how many liberties were taken with the film...
June 21, 2015
I have wanted to read this for ages and I'm so happy I finally got my hands on it. It was fantastic, I loved both stories but especially the Jack The Ripper one. Gotham suits this era perfectly and everything fits nicely. The Ripper letter at the beginning as well was really well written.
The next thing I'm going to say is slightly spoilery so stop reading now if you don't want to read it!
Finally someone said what we've all been thinking for years "That mask does not disguise the eyes of the man I love" - Finally!
The next thing I'm going to say is slightly spoilery so stop reading now if you don't want to read it!
Finally someone said what we've all been thinking for years "That mask does not disguise the eyes of the man I love" - Finally!
October 17, 2017
This volume collects three "Elseworlds" Batman stories. They range from decent to pretty impressive. The artwork is, once again, the most consistently satisfying element in these stories.
The first story, "Gotham by Gaslight" was filled to the brim with wasted potencial. While the artwork by Mike Mignola (of Hellboy fame) captured perfectly the victorian setting, sadly the story itself was too basic and short to be particularly memorable. The concept itself is good: Batman faces off Jack the Ripper in a gaslight lit Gotham during the victorian age. But the story (and its conclusion) is very underwhelming. One can't stop thinking how much potencial was wasted.
In the second story "Red Rain", Batman faces off Dracula. Sounds kind of silly, but suprisingly it is far from that. It is a brutal and bloody good story with great artwork from Kelley Jones. There are two other stories set in this world that sadly were not included in this volume. I'll be checking those out to see if they match the one collected here.
The final story in this collection is "Sanctum". It's a dark supernatural Batman tale with a Lovecraftian twist. It is inventive, fun and the best story in this volume. The fact that Mike Mignola provides the artwork is a cherry on top of an already exquisite cake.
Overall, this is a great collection. Ironically, the cover story is the least impressive, altough the artwork somewhat makes up for its narrative shortcomings. I just wish that the other two Batman Vampire stories were included.
The first story, "Gotham by Gaslight" was filled to the brim with wasted potencial. While the artwork by Mike Mignola (of Hellboy fame) captured perfectly the victorian setting, sadly the story itself was too basic and short to be particularly memorable. The concept itself is good: Batman faces off Jack the Ripper in a gaslight lit Gotham during the victorian age. But the story (and its conclusion) is very underwhelming. One can't stop thinking how much potencial was wasted.
In the second story "Red Rain", Batman faces off Dracula. Sounds kind of silly, but suprisingly it is far from that. It is a brutal and bloody good story with great artwork from Kelley Jones. There are two other stories set in this world that sadly were not included in this volume. I'll be checking those out to see if they match the one collected here.
The final story in this collection is "Sanctum". It's a dark supernatural Batman tale with a Lovecraftian twist. It is inventive, fun and the best story in this volume. The fact that Mike Mignola provides the artwork is a cherry on top of an already exquisite cake.
Overall, this is a great collection. Ironically, the cover story is the least impressive, altough the artwork somewhat makes up for its narrative shortcomings. I just wish that the other two Batman Vampire stories were included.
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