It's amazing that this title, with its rotating creative teams, is still trudging on after all these years. I mean, when was the last time there was a buzz about a Legends of the Dark Knight story? This issue caught my eye because it's penned by Fables and upcoming Robin scribe Bill Willingham. He's been doing the best work of his career on DC and Vertigo titles in recent years, and I was curious what he had in mind for the Darknight Detective. It turns out that he has a fairly predictable story that would have worked better in a tighter format.
A masked, caped figure falls from a Gotham rooftop, and concerned citizens are quick to rush to the aid of the city's famous protector, the Batman. The problem is that the Dark Knight wasn't even aware he was the Dark Knight until he sees his costumed reflection. Despite extensive injuries, he realizes the fight against crime must continue, and he ventures out into the city in search of his arsenal and enemies of the night. His reputation proves to be his most powerful weapon, though, which is fortunately, given that he can barely stand.
Fowler's name is a new one to me. His artwork seems to be clearly influenced by the style of Gene (Daredevil, Tomb of Dracula Colan, though it reminds me a little of Phil (Nevada, Howard the Duck) Winslade's approach as well. It boasts an appropriately gritty tone. The storytelling is capable, but it never really grabs me either. Sinclair's colors capture the dangerous and ugly nature of Gotham City quite well, and I like how he subtly differentiates between the two Batmen in the story.
The story's title is something of a misnomer, as Willingham doesn't delve into the notion of Gothamites belief -- or lack thereof -- in the Batman. His presence in Gotham seems to be accepted. It's his ambiguous nature that Willingham explores. No one if he's one man or thirty, if he has superhuman powers... stuff like that. It's an interesting notion, but the writer really doesn't delve too deeply into it. He explores how powerful the Batman's image is, but in a manner that's a bit farcical, really.
It's pretty clear from the first scene that the figure in the costume isn't the same Batman we've come to know over the years, but the concept is still an intriguing one. My concern is that there isn't sufficient potential in it to sustain a full-length comic-book story. It's pretty clear where the story's headed early on, and that predictability makes for a less-than-ideal read. I get the feeling this piece would have worked better as an eight-page "Batman: Black & White" backup in Batman: Gotham Knights.
