Writer: Andy Diggle
Art: Leandro Fernandez
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Simon Bowland
Cover: Leandro Fernandez & Dave McCaig
Variant Covers: Riley Rosmo & Ivan Plascencia; Denys Cowan & Christopher Sotomayor; Ejikure
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: 4.99
Release Date: July 10, 2024
The Ruins
The mysteries of the Kryptonian Age deepen! Even more characters are investigating the ruins and artifacts. The creative team adds intrigue and drives up the urgency in Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #2.
Professor Adam Strange is exploring deep in Antarctica when he finds ruins dating back to the Kryptonian Age. Then Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #2 cuts back to Gotham City and the fight between Batman and Talia on top of a moving train. The fight does not go Batman’s way, and Talia escapes. Meanwhile, in Scotland, someone new is set on the trail of the ruins and artifacts of the Kryptonian Age: John Constantine.
Diggle substantially opens up the Gotham by Gaslight world. The first issue successfully eased readers (especially new readers) into it. Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #2 expands the story well beyond Gotham itself. Widening the series’ scope in this way does take away some of its charm. None of the other settings live up to the close-in and captivating confines of this version of Gotham City. But they do still feel distinct and clearly of a piece with what’s been seen already.
There isn’t a character centric story thread running through Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #2 that can match the effectiveness of the Selina Kyle thread that ran through the first issue. This issue is more plot centric and adds significant world building relating to the Kryptonian Age as a prehistoric civilization. That world building continues to drive the curiosity and anticipation generated by the first issue. As was the case with the first issue, Diggle spreads out new information in a fashion more like clues than actual exposition. The discovery of Kryptonian ruins on the third page gives the issue a sense of outsize importance. An overriding feeling of urgency underscores the entire issue, even in its quieter moments.
Constantine’s introduction adds a welcome source of humor, dark though it is. His inclusion balances what is shaping up to be a deadly serious story. Though it’s worth noting that Batman makes a surprisingly funny joke after his fight with Talia goes bad.
The Cave
The continuing fight between Batman and Talia that opens Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #2 is particularly visceral–much more so than the way that it closed out the first issue. Much of this is owed to the first page when the issue cuts to the fight from the opening scene set in Antarctica. Batman is atop the train, bloody and screaming with his cape blowing in the wind, on what is effectively a splash page. A single panel near the bottom of the page shows a close up on his face with his mouth in almost a snarl. Stewart chooses a very bright red for the blood which contrasts with Gotham’s overall color scheme, especially in a nighttime setting. Fernandez goes heavier with lines and shading on Batman’s costume on the splash page, creating a much more rugged look of heavy cloth and padding. The consequence is that this version of Batman looks much more at home in down and dirty physical fights.
Fernandez envisions a Batcave that borders on steampunk with its various girders, chains, spiral staircases, and steampipes. The splash page introducing it is very detailed, and the setting itself informs the character. After drawing an almost brutal looking Batman for the opening fight, the Batcave reinforces the character’s investigative and intellectual side. Stewart creates pockets of warmth by surrounding the glow of warm yellows from hanging lights with dark greens and grays.
Some of Bowland’s lettering choices feel out of place Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #2. To be sure, this is not entirely Bowland’s fault–the choice of some sound effects, such as “ptoo”, sound almost cartoonish. But Bowland’s choice of font and color, combined with Fernandez adding visible bursts for impacts, at times almost harkens back to the old Batman television show.
Final Thoughts
Anticipation continues to be a major driver in Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #2. Every page feels urgent thanks to Diggle adding new layers to the mystery while simultaneously revealing older ones. The series remains captivating.
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