Comic Review: Batman Black And White #1 (DC Comics)

It’s all there in Black and White, from DC: Batman Black and White #1.

This 48-page comic has a lot going on; there are several short stories told in a variety of styles. Writers James Tynion IV, J.H. Williams III, Emma Rios, Paul Dini, and G. Willow Wilson jump into action alongside artists Tradd Moore, Greg Smallwood, and Andy Kubert, each with widely varied visions of Batman and his foes. J. H. Williams III and Emma Rios illustrate their own stories too!

There are other big names involved in this first issue; a cover by Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion, variants and/or pinups by J.H. Williams III, Peach Momoko, Dexter Soy.

When writing short stories about Batman, a writer naturally has a huge back catalogue to pull from. From pearls dropping on a back street to a long list of baddies, to Batman’s tendency to brood and pout. It’s a gold mine of angst and danger, with plenty of room for improv.

My favourite stories here are: Metamorphosis, written by G. Willow Wilson and illustrated by Greg Smallwood. It’s dark and brooding, with plenty of mystery, twists, and a clearly retro-Batman to boot. Another is from J. H. Williams III, with Todd Klein, where Batman revisits famous moments and infamous villains through his history. It resembles an Alex Toth story, which is not throwing shade on the excellent chameleon-like artwork, rather high praise for its readability.

Sure, buy this one! Some great moments and more to come in future issues!

DC, Batman: Black and White #1, $5.99 for 48 pages of content. Teen