Summary
- Batman: City of Madness #1 brings a Lovecraftian nightmare to Gotham, delivering a creepy atmosphere and a thrilling story that will captivate superhero and horror fans alike.
- The comic, written and drawn by Christian Ward, serves as a "love letter" to Batman and a "pseudo sequel" to the acclaimed graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.
- Ward's book successfully captures the essence of Lovecraftian horror, with cosmic dread, a gloomy atmosphere, and visually stunning artwork, making it a perfect read for the Halloween season.
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman: City of Madness #1!A Lovecraftian nightmare has come to Gotham in Batman: City of Madness #1. Just in time for the spooky season, writer and artist Christian Ward gives fans a tale packed with mystery, a creepy atmosphere, dread, and a villain in a story that will entertain superhero readers and positively thrill horror fans.
DC Comics revealed its new, mature Black Label series back in July and revealed that Eisner Award-winning comic creator Christian Ward (Blood Stained Teeth, Black Bolt) would be writing and drawing Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean.
The story also d the return of Batman's sinister and elite nemeses, the Court of Owls, the secret society popularized by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's run on Batman. After years of combat, a cosmic threat forces the Court to team up with Batman in order to save Gotham and the world.
Batman: City of Madness is Creepy, Beautiful Horror
In Ward's Batman: City of Madness #1, a rogue member of the Court of Owls opens up a door beneath Gotham that the secret society has been guarding for centuries. A dark and twisted creature escapes from the subterranean prison and grievously injures the Court's Talon in the process. Meanwhile, Batman's longtime nemesis Two-Face is spiraling and asks the Dark Knight for help. While in Arkham, Dent tells Batman that he's begun hearing a new voice in his head, not internally, but from some terrifying void. At the same time, a young man named Jevoney is captured by the monster that was freed earlier: A Cthulhu-like creature called the Batman from Below.
From start to finish, Ward's book captures all the beats that fans want in a Lovecraftian story. The cosmic dread, the gloomy atmosphere, and yes, the slimy, pulsating tentacles are all there. Ward makes Gotham feel far more sinister than it usually does, making the reader question if it's simply the city's inner rot growing worse or if Batman's home turf is being influenced by something horrifying from below. Everything in the book is a visual treat, from its unique color palate to its character designs. Christian Ward's new series has the potential to be the next great horror-themed Batman story.
Batman: City of Madness is Perfect for the Halloween Season
Batman: City of Madness #1 is an eerie opening chapter filled with violence, unsettling environments, and a palpable creepiness that's felt from start to finish. Christian Ward set out to create a book that captured a similar tone to Morrison and McKean's iconic story and he does very well in that regard. With Halloween just around the corner, this book has enough perturbing scenes in it to sate any horror reader's desires. Batman: City of Madness #1 draws fans in with its unique take on Batman lore and creates a hook that will have fans desperate for more. Batman: City of Madness #1 is on sale now.
