Batman: Gotham Noir
Written by Ed Brubaker; Art by Sean Phillips and Scott Mcdaniel; Cover by Sean Phillips
Don't miss this Elseworlds set in a stylish Gotham City straight out of classic mystery films, starring a down-on-his luck cop called Jim Gordon and the mysterious Bat! Plus, from BATMAN #604, The Dark Knight returns to Crime Alley for an encounter with Catwoman!
My Thoughts
Rating: 
Thoughts: I picked up this book for several reasons. First, and most obvious, because I love Batman. Second, I adore Ed Brubaker. Third, Brubaker and Phillips as a creative team, to me, is a Batman title dream team. Four, I am a sucker for noir. I have been wanting to read this book for a very long time, so when I found out they were re-releasing it, I pounced. With all of that, I had really high hopes for this book, and I was in no way disappointed.
In my humble opinion, Brubaker is a master at writing Batman, and I will pick up pretty much anything he is attached to in the Batman universe. This book was not an exception to either of those things. Even as a writer to a Batman elseworld, he is amazing. Brubaker included all of my favorite characters from the normal world, and put them in positions that both made sense for an elseworld, and let them shine in a different light.
Phillips is always a great complement to Brubakers writing, and this was the perfect example of that. Not only does Phillips’ artwork work perfectly for a noir story, it made this one, in particular, all the more captivating.
All in all, if you have not yet read this book, you should, so go pick it up right now.
Visual Highlights
Gordon on the other side of the Bat
I love how Brubaker throws the reader into the story as if the whole thing is already in progress. I also love seeing Batman chasing after Jim Gordon.
A different side of Jim Gordon
The road that Brubaker took with Jim Gordon, in this book, really please me. Even though this book was an elseworld, it was not so different than how things could have really been in the normal DC world.
Noir Selina Kyle
I was a very happy camper when Brubaker brought Selina Kyle into the story at nearly the beginning, promising she would play a big roll throughout. I also like the implication that Selina and Jim have had a fling in the past.
The Millionaire
This set of panels made me VERY HAPPY. I have always loved the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, and it is introduced very early in this story that they are, at least, an item. I also like how Gordon always refers to him as the "Millionaire."
Batman
How could I not include our first real look at Batman as a highlight. I also want to point out that I like the way that Batman is ALWAYS shown, in this book, as a shadow figure. You never get to see him as more that a mysterious figure of all black and white eyes.
Stupid Crooks
This panel was great. It was great to see Gordon standing up to the scum of Gotham.
He has a tendency to disappear at social functions.
I loved this panel for obvious reasons.
Gordon and Wayne in the war
I thought that this was very interesting. I liked how, to stay within the time of the story, Brubaker made both Gordon and Wayne vets.
Gordon's Flashbacks
Because Gordon is a drunk and a vet, I liked that Brubaker included flashbacks.
Harvey Dent
I was very happy when Harvey Dent was introduced.
The Big Escape
This is one of my very favorite scenes from the entire book. A daring escape.
Trouble in Paradise
I liked that, in this elseworld, Jim and his wife were already separated. It really, for me, showed how closely the two worlds were to each other.
Still Daddy's little girl
I was happy to see Babs in this story, and I was even happier to see that, even in the elseworld, she was still daddy's little girl.
Batman is not a myth
In any Batman book, one of my favorite things is to witness the realization by the bad guys that Batman is NOT a myth.
Squealer
Throughout the entire story, I was hoping that the Joker was going to make an appearance.
We need a ride.
This whole whole scene made me giggle.
A Calling Card
With the addition of Joker to the story, it made my inner geek jump for joy when Gordon and Batman found one of his calling cards.
Good old-fashioned fight
This really made the book a complete win for me. I was so happy to see a good old-fashioned Batman vs. Joker fight.
