Eisner Award-winning artist, Rafael Grampa, has announced a Black Label limited series titled Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham.
The series shows an alternate take on the Dark Knight: What if he killed off his Bruce Wayne identity and became Batman full-time? This is a dark and even more driven Caped Crusader, who doesn’t have a human side to ground him anymore. Check out DC’s official description:
“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 cape and cowl full-time.
However, although 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’re all connected. Not just to each other, but to him as well.
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 in the darkest corners of his own heart, to face what is coming for the city he has sworn to protect.”
The Origins of Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham
Rafael Grampa is no stranger to Batman, as he previously worked with Frank Miller on Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child, but now he’s writing and illustrating the comic. He says that went all the way back to Batman’s origin story to get inspiration for this series.
“When his origin was revealed in the 1940s, Bruce Wayne swore revenge by the spirits of his murdered parents and, driven by his belief in an omen, he became Batman.
For me, this subtle aspect of Bruce’s belief system has always been the fundamental core of Batman, and through that lens I recognized this untold story.
Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham explores “who he is and why he came to be.” It makes my dream of bringing my own interpretation of Batman to life a reality as I delve into the darkest corners of his essence. I sincerely hope readers enjoy the ride.”
It’s unclear from the description if this is considered an Elseworlds-type of story, or if it’s something that can potentially fit into modern, main DC continuity. It will be interesting as we get more details of the series.
Batman has given up his secret identity before, in the controversial “Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive” arc (2002).
Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #1 hits comic book shops on September 16, AKA Batman Day.
Source: Dc.com
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment