The thing about new comic books starring the Caped Crusader is that you never really know when the next Dark Knight Returns or Long Halloween will come around. And while Batman: White Knight certainly did impress us out of the gate, one can never be too sure if that level of quality will continue. Fortunately, not only have the first three issues been solid gold, but it looks like writer/artist Sean Gordon Murphy is most assuredly in the process of crafting the next timeless classic.
For those who’ve been following along, you’ve thus far seen Murphy examine how Batman affects Gotham City in ways that we’re not necessarily accustomed to witnessing. In short, a war on crime has its casualties and collateral damage, and the public’s new darling, Jack Napier, isn’t afraid to pull any punches as he puts the blame squarely on the Caped Crusader.
From the start, we knew the former Joker pursuing a career in politics was a major selling point, and it’s been but one quality that makes each installment in this limited series a compelling read. This time, though, Jack kicks off his revolution in the impoverished neighborhood of Backport, with the backing of a uniquely reinterpreted Duke Thomas, no less.
Call us crazy, but we’re guessing that the appearance put in by Batman, Nightwing and Batgirl near the end of the preview gallery seen above will do nothing but throw even more gasoline on the fire – and we the readers are the ones who’ll get the most out of the escalating situation. Also, if our suspicions are correct, we may even learn more about the enigmatic Neo Joker as this tale reaches its halfway point.
For more, be sure to check out the official synopsis:
NOW AN EIGHT-ISSUE MINISERIES! Jim Gordon and the GCPD are thrown into disarray when Jack Napier leads a show stopping campaign to become councilman of the politically abandoned neighborhood of Backport. Civic backlash brews as Mayor Hill struggles to find creative ways of criminalizing Napier’s democratic aspirations, and Batman’s interference blooms into a liability for the GCPD’s public image. Through it all, the new Joker plots to derail everything—and new secrets about Harley’s past are revealed.
Batman: White Knight #4 arrives in comic shops next Wednesday, January 3.
Writer and Artist: Sean Gordon Murphy
Cover and Variant Cover: Sean Gordon Murphy