Len Wein's mark on the world of comics is undeniable. His creation of Wolverine and Swamp Thing are just the tip of his iceberg of a resume, and I'm thrilled to see him still active in the industry. I'm even more pleased to see this unconventional super-hero project that focuses on a real man rather than the mythic costumed figure referred to in the book's title. What's really impressive about this book, though, is its remarkable level of accessibility despite being steeped in the real life and writings of an icon of 19th century American literature.
Poet and fiction writer Edgar Allan Poe ekes out a meagre living as a newspaper reporter in 1831 Baltimore, given the dark overtones of his personal writing, he finds himself drawn into a homicide investigation dubbed "the Raven Murders." As he pokes his journalistic nose into the matter, he encounters the elite of Baltimore -- all friends of the murder victims -- as well as an attractive young woman named Lenore. He also stumbles upon a strange, costumed figure lurking upon the city's rooftops.
Is there an artist whose style and sensibilities are better suited to this story than Guy Davis? I don't think so. The gothic horror that's inherent in the Batman concept and Edgar Allan Poe's literary works seem to go hand in hand under Davis's guiding pen, and the artist has proven he's always at home when rendering historical settings, real or fantastic. The Batman redesign is effective and plausible, and Davis captures the average and nervous nature of the legendary American writer who manages to upstage the Dark Knight with his curiosity and quirky personality.
I've read some Poe, even took a 19th century American lit course that covered some of his work. But I have to admit I'm far from well versed on his writings. Fortunately, Wein doesn't make such familiarity a requisite in order to appreciate this story. I picked up on quite a few references to Poe's writings, and I'm sure I missed many others. But the real strength of the story here is Poe's characterization. Aside from his curiosity, he's really an unremarkable figure. He's nobody in this context, really, and it's easy to relate to his anxiety, fear and excitement.
The weird version of the Batman is not the star of this particular show, and that's an interesting new twist on the Elseworlds concept. Yes, Bruce Wayne turns up here, as does the alter ego of one of the Batman's mainstream-continuity enemies. But the story takes most of its cues from Poe's life, not from the Batman mythos. The story is set in Baltimore, not Gotham, and it's Poe's personality and narrative voice that keep the reader involved in the story, not the mysterious activities of a costumed avenger in the night.
