“Legends of Gotham”
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Karl Mostert
Color Artist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Review by Philip Clark
Batman: Legends of Gotham #1 is certainly different from what I’ve read and reviewed recently for Dark Knight News.
Now let me state that it isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, just… different. Instead of the multiple team members riffing off each other, a lot of the humor in this issue is one-sided.
There’s a lot of exposition and narration, as is to be expected with the first issue of a series. There’s a promise of more to come and a very nice cliffhanger keeping us on the edge of our seats wanting more already.
A Group Of Outsiders
I do have to say that it’s a testament to the writing of Andy Diggle that his Red Hood’s simply perfect! His ‘king of sarcasm’ personality is back in full swing and perfectly counters the stoicism of Katana and Black Lightning’s supporting roles. This is also the first time that I’ve personally seen his costume redesign, and I have to say that I am digging the new look a lot. It pays homage to Jason’s street kid past whilst also being sleek and practical, which is something he would have learned from Bruce.
I’ve always felt like Jason’s always been a little out of place in any team setting, or just with other people, outside of the Bat Family. He definitely leans into the first impressions people get of him as Red Hood instead of trying to correct their opinions. We’ve seen him be a very kind, genuine, and loyal friend to a lot of people, especially those misunderstood characters, like himself.
Conclusion
The first issue’s always the most difficult to both write and review I feel. Legends of Gotham #1 is a very well-written, and drawn piece. The creative team did a great job engaging the reader enough to keep them on their toes until the final page cliffhanger.
All the characters in this book have a lot of promise, and it’s in safe hands with Diggle and the art team. I was impressed with what I read and look forward to any further installments.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
