Review: "Batman: The Dark Knight #1"

Batman: The Dark Knight #1 by David Finch (writer and artist), Scott Williams (inks)

Bruce Wayne has been missing until recently, so David Finch's number goal is to re-establish Batman, Bruce Wayne and reset the stage in Gotham for the Cape Crusader. The first issue is rather simple: someone from Bruce Wayne's childhood is missing so there's a crime to be solved. The new character, Dawn Golden, is palatable, but runs the risk of landing comparisons to Hush (a childhood friend who in turn became another Bat-villain.)

In fact, the dark, gritty feel of the art reminds the reader of the "Hush" storyline as the Finch drawn Batman seems like be inspired by the Jim Lee incarnation. Please don't misintepret my comparisoin: Finch's quality of art lives up to the hype with his detailed panels and sharp lines - all designed to explode off of the page.

The trail leads to Killer Croc, who has been injecting Venom to boost his strength. Finch's version of Croc is simply amazing: a monster reminiscent of the human at birth. While there's another villain who gets a redesign, it's best to leave that spoiler for a later date.

DC is handling the Batman mythology well, especially for fans of the Christopher Nolan film series. Finch's art is still his strength, so if you want a Grant Morrison story, please read "Batman Inc". "The Dark Knight" is rather simple: there has been a kidnapping and Batman will systematically battle through the rogue gallery of Bat villains to find the culprit.

For that reason, to see Finch's interpretation of the Batman universe even if it's in a relatively safe storyline, makes this a recommended read and follow-up in issue #2.

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“The Dark Knight Rises” rumors – Tom Hardy to play Hugo Strange?

Collider.com reported “that the “Dark Knight Rises” is script expected in January and shooting set to start in May of 2011, the rumor mill for The Dark Knight Rises is cranking up. The latest speculation has the movie based on Prey, a story arc in the Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight graphic novel series.

This comic series is widely considered a follow-up to Frank Miller’s “Year One” and would easily be a good fit for the Christopher Nolan series. Nolan has confirmed that the Joker will not return and the Riddler will not be the villain in “Rises.

So, is this a manufactured frenzy to sell some comic book back issues?

Possibly.

At that same time Christopher Nolan describe this as the final chapter in his trilogy: “…complete a story that has begun. This is not starting over, this is not rebooting. We’re finishing something, and keeping a consistency with what’s come before has real value.”

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight # 11-15: Prey

A story by Doug Moench:

Gotham City’s new psychiatrist, Hugo Strange, is obsessed with Batman. He convinces the mayor to prepare a special task force to capture Batman with Commissioner Gordon as its head. Gordon deploys the seemingly not-too-bright, overzealous Sgt. Max Cort to lead the task force. Later, it is found that Strange hates the Batman because he loves what the Batman does, becoming a creature of the night but he can’t do it. He deduces the Batman’s identity and plays psychologically with him by placing life-like mannequins of his parents in Wayne Manor with audio tapes. He then hypnotizes Sgt. Cort into donning a costume & becoming another vigilante, who then kidnaps the mayor’s daughter. Batman rescues the mayor’s daughter, while Hugo Strange is shot several times before falling into Gotham Bay. His body is never recovered.1

So enter Tom Hardy, who is confirmed to be playing a villain, would be a nice fit from the psychopath Dr. Hugo Strange. The human experimentation and mental instability parallel the Scarecrow and the Joker, so I can see the appeal to the Nolan universe.

Read more: http://deskofbrian.com/2010/12/the-dark-knight-rises-rumors-tom-hardy-to-play-hugo-strange/