Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #1 is written and and illustrated by Rafael Grampá. Colours are by Matheus Lopes and letters by Jonathan Workman. Main cover art (left) is also by Grampá. The book is published by DC Comics.
Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #1 is available now, in print and on digital where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
“When you chase your own shadow…it leads you into the abyss.” In a Gotham City where every day feels darker and more irredeemable than the last, Batman makes a definitive choice-to kill off the Bruce Wayne identity for good and embrace the cowl full-time. But though he knows the streets of Gotham, Batman will soon come to find that he hardly knows himself. A serial killer is on the loose, and while the murder victims seem random at first, every clue draws Batman closer to the terrifying truth-that they are all connected, not just to each other…but to him… When an all-new rogues gallery of utterly depraved villains begins to emerge from the depths of the city, Batman will have to contend with the very nature of evil-including that which lurks inside in the darkest corners of his own heart-to face what’s coming for his city.
Review
What a perfect book to launch on Batman Day 2023. Strap yourselves in Bat-fans, Rafael Grampá is about to take us on a wild ride through a psychological dense, gothic Batman story which is so deserving of a Black Label release.
Before you cry out “another Batman book?” here me out. Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham is a fantastic look at a somewhat extreme version of the Dark Knight. Grampá has done a remarkable job of stripping away parts of his personality to distill him down to this deeply devoted crimefighter who is willing to push his mission to the very edge of morality.
Deconstructing the Dark Knight isn’t necessarily new territory. But what Grampá has done is side-step all of the tropes that generally befall this type of book. Rather that present Batman from a new angle surrounded by all the familiar trappings, Grampá has simply started from scratch. Whilst elements like Gotham, Alfred and the Batcave do still exist, there’s no Joker, no Catwoman and no Penguin. Instead Grampá has introduced new villains, organic to this new original story and who reflect some this new Batman’s commitment to his mission.
RELATED: Watch our SDCC interview with Rafael Grampá right here.
Gotham – as usual – is broken. A new serial killer known as Crytoon is stalking the city’s rich and powerful whilst crime is rampant on the streets. Things are getting desperate and so Batman makes an audacious decision. It’s time to kill off Bruce Wayne and live simply as Batman. Wholly dedicating himself to his mission and removing the trappings of everyday life.
This seemingly simple story choice is the flashpoint for an incredible debut issue. At face value we’ve seen Batman do similar before. Christian Bale and more so Robert Pattinson have played versions of the character with a blind disregard for Bruce Wayne. But the elaborate construction of an unfamiliar city and villain are what makes the Gargoyle of Gotham story truly unique.
Elevating that to even higher heights is Grampá’s incredible art style. Known for his densely packed visuals, Grampá brings a new level of claustrophobia to Gotham. Buildings are tightly packed together, covered in pipes and grime. Likewise villainous hideouts are littered with incredible background detail further building out Grampá’s world. Luckily for us his character designs are equally as well thought out. Batman looks great, it’s a new deign but doesn’t stray too far from convention. Faces are incredibly details so there’s no need to worry about the book becoming so abstract that’s impossible to keep track of who is who.
Verdict
An outstanding debut issue. Rafael Grampá has presented a truly gritty, psychological new gothic take on The Dark Knight that is worthy of a Batman Day launch. This series has Eisner Award-winner written all over it from the outset.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
