“Gotham by Midnight” offers a devilish look at a different type of seedy underbelly of Gotham. The all too often neglected supernatural elements of the Batman universe are brought to the forefront here, and it’s a haunting reminder of just how sinister a place Gotham can be.
WRITTEN BY: Ray Fawkes
ART BY: Ben Templesmith
PUBLISHER: DC Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: November 26, 2014
The Batman renaissance continues this month with something slightly different than all the rest. This is a supernatural book more in the vein of Constantine than of Batman proper. However, you have a little bit of Gotham Central in the mix and a hint of The X-Files and you’ve concocted Ray Fawkes’ recipe for “Gotham By Midnight.”
And while all the ingredients are fantastic, the actual final result feels a little undercooked. It’s not an easy task to launch an all new storyline in an established universe. There is a lot of heavy lifting that needs to be done in order to service the story, and sadly Fawkes’ script concerns itself with the lifting more than anything.
There is a terrible amount of exposition. Even by first issue standards. The pacing is out of wack because of it and it all doesn’t really amount to much either. We’re introduced to the mysterious precinct thirteen through the eyes of newcomer Sergeant Rook. He’s pitted against our Midnight team. The people who clean up the more unsightly monsters in Gotham, or so we’re told. We don’t often get to see much in the way of creepiness in these opening pages. Instead there is a constant reminder of what could lie in wait, and Rook’s incessant disbelief that such a place or concept could exist.
Fawkes’ script is more concerned with telling rather than showing, a shame really, given the incredibly creepy talent Ben Templesmith’s pencils bring to the book. His moody use of color shows a Gotham unlike we’ve ever seen in the New 52. It’s awash in pale moonlight, dirty browns stain the walls and earthy tones constantly unnerve.
Templesmith’s fantastic character designs are as gaunt and unsightly as the city itself. Furrowed brows and pale skin are normal things here. Although one wonders if Rook is capable of smiling… Templesmith’s art does its best to bring the creepy factor up to ten whenever given the opportunity, but doesn’t really let loose until the final page.
“Gotham By Midnight” should be a worthy addition to anyone’s pullist because the premise is just so damn awesome. Yet, Fawkes fails to deliver on the promise of the premise here in the debut issue. He instead offers a by the books introduction to a world we’re already pretty familiar with. Despite this, the dialogue is pointed and chilling. The art is captivates in its depiction of the most horrific parts of the already dreadful Gotham, and Jim Corrigan is an irresistible protagonist.
I can’t wait to see more, if only because I feel shortchanged by this debut issue.