A lot can change in a year, especially in a city like Gotham. In The Bat-Man: Second Knight #1, Gotham is once again gripped by fear, and it’s up to the masked vigilante known as the Bat-Man to save the day.
This new comic, written by Dan Jurgens with art by Mike Perkins, colors by Mike Spicer, and letters by Simon Bowland, is set in 1940, a year after the Bat-Man first saved the city from undead monsters. Now, a new vicious killer is pushing Gotham to its breaking point.
The story kicks off with a series of gruesome murders. The killer’s signature is a hangman’s noose, and each victim is found in a theatrically staged scene. One victim, a doctor, is tied to a plane’s propeller, and another is dropped from a hot-air balloon. These murders, which include radio star Pete Cavanaugh, are confusing and brutal, leaving Commissioner James Gordon and the police baffled.
As the police struggle to make sense of the killings, a new villain emerges: the Scarecrow. This new foe has a strange admiration for the Hang-Man, believing his work has inspired the kind of fear he wants to spread. The Scarecrow, a master of fear himself, proposes that he and the Hang-Man team up to turn Gotham into a “playground of the helpless and terrified.”
Meanwhile, a young reporter from the Daily Star, Lois Lane, arrives in Gotham to cover a movie premiere. But she quickly finds herself tangled in the chaos, tasked with reporting on the world premiere of the movie “Night of a Thousand Cuts.”
The comic expertly weaves in real-world events to add to the sense of fear and desperation. The lingering Great Depression and the ongoing war in Europe are a constant backdrop, with headlines mentioning Germany’s invasion of Poland and the Soviet Union’s invasion of Finland. This not only grounds the story in a specific time but also makes Gotham feel like a living, breathing city.
The art by Mike Perkins and colors by Mike Spicer give the comic a gritty, noir feel that’s perfect for the 1940s setting. The art captures the era’s aesthetic, from the characters’ clothes to the city’s architecture. The colors are often muted and earthy, with dramatic lighting and shadows that add to the mood.
Overall, The Bat-Man: Second Knight #1 is a strong start to a new chapter for the Caped Crusader. It shows a Dark Knight who is still finding his way in a world on the brink of war. The creative team does an excellent job of creating a palpable sense of fear, making Gotham a character in its own right, and the introduction of the Scarecrow and Lois Lane promises an exciting and complex story ahead. It’s a great read for anyone who loves Batman or noir-inspired stories.
Scarecrow Rises in ‘The Bat-Man: Second Knight’ #1 Review
The Bat-Man: Second Knight #1 is a strong start to a new chapter for the Caped Crusader. It shows a Dark Knight who is still finding his way in a world on the brink of war.
