Robb Ghag reviews Batman Black and White #1…
“The legendary, Eisner Award-winning series BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE returns in a brand-new six-issue miniseries featuring tales of The Dark Knight by some of comics’ greatest writers and artists! This first issue kicks off with stories by Chip Kidd and Michael Cho, Neal Adams, Joe Quinones and Maris Wicks, John Arcudi and Sean Murphy, and Howard Mackie and Chris Samnee!”
Rarely do you get a new spin on a character as iconic as Batman. When Batman Black and White first came out, they were inspiring, artistic narratives and insights into the caped crusader which eventually spun off DC Comics line of Batman Black and White statues. The collections themselves were amazing, and I strongly recommend grabbing the previous 3 trade paperbacks.
Having said all that, the new issue of Batman Black and White had a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, this one issue doesn’t deliver as some of its predecessors. Although the cover by Marc Silvestri is nothing short of epic, the interior stories are somewhat lacking and disjointed.
Fair enough these are all individual stories that simply present Batman in a Black and White setting, while conveying a certain aspect or particular depth. These stories fall short thus far. The very first story by Chip Kidd, with art my Michael Cho is amazingly drawn, but not very original. It takes pieces from Batman: The Animated Series and has a very similar feel. These are more childlike and campy, then the gritty black and white stories I expected.
Surprisingly Neal Adams’ storyline just seemed disjointed, and convoluted for a Batman story. The next story by Joe Quinones and Maris Wicks, while again very well drawn, is reminiscent of Batman: The Animated Series cartoon series, and more fitting I think in The Batman Adventures comics then Batman Black and White. The same could be said about Howard Mackie’s contribution.
The best story in this collection is Driven by Sean Murphy and John Arcudi. I’m hoping issue #2 featuring stories by Dan Didio, Rafael Grampa, Rafael Albuquerque, Jeff LeMire and others steps it up.
Robb Ghag works for an Arts & Entertainment Brokerage in Toronto Canada. An Animation and Film school graduate, he specializes in Risk Management of Animation and VFX studios throughout North America.
Originally published September 6, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
