The Bat-Man: Second Knight #3 – Dan Jurgens, Writer; Mike Perkins, Artist; Mike Spicer, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: This Black Label series is basically released quarterly, but it’s always worth the wait. A tribute to the Golden Age of DC heroes, infused with the politics and fear of the time, it’s really unlike anything Dan Jurgens has ever done before – and this sequel series is far more ambitious than its predecessor. It’s introduced bigger villains in the form of Scarecrow, here a Nazi sympathizer mad chemist; and his henchman the Hood, a sadistic executioner targeting Gotham’s brightest lights. Together, they’ve turned the city into an experimenting ground for fear, nearly causing massacres right at the start. And this threat has attracted the attention of some bigger players – including a Superman who’s very much inspired by his 1938 version as well, and much more human. And unlike many cases, he and Batman don’t like each other at all – which is a problem for Gotham, as the countdown to Scarecrow’s master plan ticks down.
There are so many things to like in this 50-page comic. From the start, it’s been infused with a deep sense of Jewish ethics, which is highly appropriate for a staunchly anti-Nazi comic. It also treats Batman – and Superman – as much more authentically human than they usually are. Bruce Wayne here is pretty much constantly on the verge of death, with only Julie Madison to patch him – and she’s increasingly been worn down by the horror of his mission as well. The relationship between them winds up playing a bigger role in the story than I expected, with Batman actually being forced to ask himself if this is something he can continue to do long-term. This final issue is essentially two issues in one, so there is a lot of development for both the plot and the characters. Now that it’s complete, this definitely deserves to be recognized as one of the best Batman Elseworlds, kind of a darker counterpart to Superman Smashes the Klan.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
