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Victorian Batman #1-2
Batman: Gotham a luz de gas
En una época de misterio y superstición, ¿cómo reaccionaría la gente de Gotham a una extraña criatura de la noche, un vigilante vestido de murciélago temido por los culpables y los inocentes por igual? Algunos vivirían aterrorizados. Otros descansarían más tranquilos. Solo un hombre podría no darse cuenta de nada... un hombre con otras cuestiones de las que preocuparse. ¿Su nombre? Nadie lo sabe a ciencia cierta. La mayoría de la gente lo conoce tan solo como Jack. Jack el Destripador.
Batman: Gotham a luz de gas recopila la clásica aventura del encuentro del Batman de la era victoriana con el carnicero de Whitechapel, junto con su aclamada secuela El amo del futuro, donde el Caballero Oscuro se enfrenta con un profeta loco decidido a impedir que Gotham City entre en el Siglo XX.
Esta mezcla inolvidable de historia, fantasía, ciencia ficción y acción demuestra por qué Batman sigue siendo uno de los héroes más populares del mundo.
Batman: Gotham a luz de gas recopila la clásica aventura del encuentro del Batman de la era victoriana con el carnicero de Whitechapel, junto con su aclamada secuela El amo del futuro, donde el Caballero Oscuro se enfrenta con un profeta loco decidido a impedir que Gotham City entre en el Siglo XX.
Esta mezcla inolvidable de historia, fantasía, ciencia ficción y acción demuestra por qué Batman sigue siendo uno de los héroes más populares del mundo.
120 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1989
About the author
Brian Augustyn
371 books45 followersAugustyn got his start in the industry in 1986 as an editor for Tru Studios' Trollords. He then edited Syphons and Speed Racer for NOW Comics in 1987. In 1988, he joined DC, starting out as a co-editor on Action Comics during its period as a weekly title.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s Augustyn was an editor for DC Comics, where he edited The Flash, Justice League and the Impact Comics line of titles.
Augustyn was recognized for his work in the industry with the Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Editor in 1994.
He served as the managing editor of Visionary Comics Studio.
As editor of The Flash beginning in 1989, Augustyn brought in Mark Waid as writer in 1992, which led to an acclaimed eight-year run. Under Augustyn's stewardship, the Flash was brought out from the shadow of his predecessors and increased his powers dramatically. Other Augustyn-Waid editor-writer partnerships included The Comet (DC/Impact, 1992) and Impulse (DC, 1995–1996).
Augustyn currently works as story editor for publisher Red Giant Entertainment and their Giant-Size Comics line of free print comic book titles which debuted on May 3, 2014 as part of Free Comic Book Day.[
During the late 1980s and early 1990s Augustyn was an editor for DC Comics, where he edited The Flash, Justice League and the Impact Comics line of titles.
Augustyn was recognized for his work in the industry with the Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Editor in 1994.
He served as the managing editor of Visionary Comics Studio.
As editor of The Flash beginning in 1989, Augustyn brought in Mark Waid as writer in 1992, which led to an acclaimed eight-year run. Under Augustyn's stewardship, the Flash was brought out from the shadow of his predecessors and increased his powers dramatically. Other Augustyn-Waid editor-writer partnerships included The Comet (DC/Impact, 1992) and Impulse (DC, 1995–1996).
Augustyn currently works as story editor for publisher Red Giant Entertainment and their Giant-Size Comics line of free print comic book titles which debuted on May 3, 2014 as part of Free Comic Book Day.[
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December 10, 2024
Batman takes on Jack the Ripper.
The concept seems kind of old hat now, but in 1989, this was the Elseworld story (though it wasn't called that at the time) that started the Elseworld universe. DC was all like omg! people eat this shit up! and now we have all sorts of reimaginings to keep ourselves from getting bored.
Gotham by Gaslight still holds up as a fun, if predictable, story of Bruce Wayne in a Victorian setting. It's pretty easy to guess whodunnit, even if you don't understand why they dunnit until it's explained.
Master of the Future came out in 1991 and is set several years later in the same universe. Bruce has retired Batman, is engaged to be married, and is ready to settle down.
But Gotham needs a Batman.
And when a techno-terrorist demands that the mayor shut down Gotham's version of a World's Fair, Batman must ride to the rescue or risk this villain burning his city down.
Again, not a bad yarn. And as always, I'm a sucker for a love story getting thrown into the mix.
Mike Mignola is the artist for Gotham by Gaslight, but (and I know this is sacrilege) I prefer Eduardo Barreto's art in Master of the Future.
Both are great, though.
Recommended.
The concept seems kind of old hat now, but in 1989, this was the Elseworld story (though it wasn't called that at the time) that started the Elseworld universe. DC was all like omg! people eat this shit up! and now we have all sorts of reimaginings to keep ourselves from getting bored.
Gotham by Gaslight still holds up as a fun, if predictable, story of Bruce Wayne in a Victorian setting. It's pretty easy to guess whodunnit, even if you don't understand why they dunnit until it's explained.
Master of the Future came out in 1991 and is set several years later in the same universe. Bruce has retired Batman, is engaged to be married, and is ready to settle down.
But Gotham needs a Batman.
And when a techno-terrorist demands that the mayor shut down Gotham's version of a World's Fair, Batman must ride to the rescue or risk this villain burning his city down.
Again, not a bad yarn. And as always, I'm a sucker for a love story getting thrown into the mix.
Mike Mignola is the artist for Gotham by Gaslight, but (and I know this is sacrilege) I prefer Eduardo Barreto's art in Master of the Future.
Both are great, though.
Recommended.
March 29, 2018
★★★✬ 3.5 Stars
The Year Is 1889.
Wealthy Gentleman Bruce Wayne has returned from his long and mysterious Europe trip after years of absence. He is a man with a mission, and the mission compels him to don the cape of the bat to fight the evils of the dark. Alas, Just like the bat, someone else has found his home in Gotham. Someone who had a spell of notoriety in London. Someone.... sinister.
Gotham by Gaslight is the very first elsewhere story published by DC, and it's been quoted as one of the best in the set. Penned by Brian Augustyn with art by Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell, this 1989 Batman story is a fun ride, but the one-shot short format of the story didn't allow the plot to mature enough to be a classic. The identity of Jack was easily guessable, and the whole last act was not as good as expected.
This collection also features a second story, The Masters of the future (1991) with arts by Eduardo Barreto. This story also suffers because of the short length, but I really enjoyed the final reveal and the action.
Considering this was written over three decades ago, Gotham by Gaslight is a good collection for Batman fans looking for a unique tale!
The Year Is 1889.
Wealthy Gentleman Bruce Wayne has returned from his long and mysterious Europe trip after years of absence. He is a man with a mission, and the mission compels him to don the cape of the bat to fight the evils of the dark. Alas, Just like the bat, someone else has found his home in Gotham. Someone who had a spell of notoriety in London. Someone.... sinister.
Gotham by Gaslight is the very first elsewhere story published by DC, and it's been quoted as one of the best in the set. Penned by Brian Augustyn with art by Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell, this 1989 Batman story is a fun ride, but the one-shot short format of the story didn't allow the plot to mature enough to be a classic. The identity of Jack was easily guessable, and the whole last act was not as good as expected.
This collection also features a second story, The Masters of the future (1991) with arts by Eduardo Barreto. This story also suffers because of the short length, but I really enjoyed the final reveal and the action.
Considering this was written over three decades ago, Gotham by Gaslight is a good collection for Batman fans looking for a unique tale!
July 31, 2017
Wait, wait…let me get this straight: you’re going to give me Batman in a Victorian-tinged Gotham? And he’s going to face off against Jack the Ripper? And people will say things like “toff” and “rubbish” and “tartlet”? (Okay, well, maybe just the first two.) Sign me up for those shenanigans!
Sounds pretty good, right? Well, turns out its…fine. Like, it’s better than a cucumber sandwich (then again, what isn’t?), but it’s not exactly a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, you know?
Aside from Mike Mignola making Commissioner Gordon look like drunk Teddy Roosevelt from the Hall of Animatronic Sex Panther Presidents, the art is quite good in the first tale (the book contains two stories, the second of which is not as good—artistically or plotistically—as the first). Bruce’s showdown with Jack the Ripper (whose identity, semi-spoiler alert, is as disappointingly weird as calves’ foot jelly, though it did make me feel slightly better about the character’s horrifically misogynistic approach to life when he was revealed to be a man who rips the entrails from prostitutes, though it’s entirely possibly his misogyny was less a product of an exceedingly disturbed mine prone to bouts of unimaginably graphic violence and more a reflection of acceptable dialogue in comics in the late 80s), though, is only mildly diverting, with Bats acting like kind of a ninny as he stews in a prison cell for much of the second half of the story.
Still, there’s enough entertainment value here to make it worth a read if you’re a Batman fan, a Victorian fan who loves comics, or, heaven forbid, both.
Just make sure you cinch your corset before you walk by Commissioner Gordon—that guy just looks like a groper.
Sounds pretty good, right? Well, turns out its…fine. Like, it’s better than a cucumber sandwich (then again, what isn’t?), but it’s not exactly a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, you know?
Aside from Mike Mignola making Commissioner Gordon look like drunk Teddy Roosevelt from the Hall of Animatronic Sex Panther Presidents, the art is quite good in the first tale (the book contains two stories, the second of which is not as good—artistically or plotistically—as the first). Bruce’s showdown with Jack the Ripper (whose identity, semi-spoiler alert, is as disappointingly weird as calves’ foot jelly, though it did make me feel slightly better about the character’s horrifically misogynistic approach to life when he was revealed to be a man who rips the entrails from prostitutes, though it’s entirely possibly his misogyny was less a product of an exceedingly disturbed mine prone to bouts of unimaginably graphic violence and more a reflection of acceptable dialogue in comics in the late 80s), though, is only mildly diverting, with Bats acting like kind of a ninny as he stews in a prison cell for much of the second half of the story.
Still, there’s enough entertainment value here to make it worth a read if you’re a Batman fan, a Victorian fan who loves comics, or, heaven forbid, both.
Just make sure you cinch your corset before you walk by Commissioner Gordon—that guy just looks like a groper.
August 28, 2017
Batman in the Victorian Age!
This TPB edition collects “Batman: Gotham by Gaslight” and “Batman: Master of the Future”, the two part of the elsewords miniseries “Victorian Batman”.
Creative Team:
Writer: Brian Augustyn
Illustrator: Mike Mignola & Eduardo Barreto
Inker: P. Craig Russell
Letterers: John Workman & Willie Schubert
Introduction: Robert Bloch
GOTHAM BY THE GASLIGHT
I’ve known about this story since some years ago, but until now, knowing about the incoming direct-to-video animated movie adaptation is that I pushed myself to read it.
It was a good moment to do it, since last weekend (August 2017), there was a book fair in my country, Costa Rica, so I was able to buy this TPB with a good discount.
I like Batman, and I like to read about Jack, the Ripper topic, so why hadn’t I read it before? Well, so much good books, so little time, I haven’t any better reason to justify myself.
This miniseries is set in an elseworld (parallel dimension) where Batman risen 100 years before, during the Victoriana ge, but still set in Gotham City, USA.
Bruce Wayne suffered the same, with the unfair murder of his parents, BUT I liked a little detail in his origin here, where the bats instead of being something that he fears, it was something that saved his life, since a bunch of bats was the reason that the criminal wasn’t able to shoot him too. It’s wonderful how each new approach to the character of Batman and its themes, allow new angles to ponder about this comic book super-hero.
Bruce Wayne trained himself for 15 years, traveling around the world, consulting with several leading people in relevant fields, like Dr. Freud and certain detective from London, to become the costumed vigilante “Bat-Man” on his own city, Gotham.
Once his training is complete and he started his personal war on crime…
…Jack the Ripper arrives to his city!
The Batman vrs Jack, the Ripper!
What else can you ask?!
The terrible path of blood that started in Whitechapel, London, is beginning once again in the dark streets of Gotham City and it’s up to the Bat-Man to face his baptism of fire in his war on crime.
However, thing won’t be easy, since the citizens of Gotham don’t know who inspire them more fear…
…Jack, the Ripper or this mysterious Bat-Man.
MASTER OF THE FUTURE
A year later of the previous events, in the first part of the miniseries…
Bruce Wayne feels that his personal oath to his parents have been fulfilled and even he has now a fiancé, Julie Madison, so the “Bat-Man” costume hasn’t seen action since a while.
However, Gotham City always is in need of its dark protector…
…especially when a lunatic called himself “Master of the Future” (aka Alexandre LeRoi) is threatening the safety of the incoming cultural fair in Gotham City to celebrate the future of the town.
This “Master of the Future” possess too advance technology, so the regular Police force isn’t able to deal in equal term with this strange new villain…
…only the Bat-Man can.
His war on crime hasn’t end yet.
This TPB edition collects “Batman: Gotham by Gaslight” and “Batman: Master of the Future”, the two part of the elsewords miniseries “Victorian Batman”.
Creative Team:
Writer: Brian Augustyn
Illustrator: Mike Mignola & Eduardo Barreto
Inker: P. Craig Russell
Letterers: John Workman & Willie Schubert
Introduction: Robert Bloch
GOTHAM BY THE GASLIGHT
I’ve known about this story since some years ago, but until now, knowing about the incoming direct-to-video animated movie adaptation is that I pushed myself to read it.
It was a good moment to do it, since last weekend (August 2017), there was a book fair in my country, Costa Rica, so I was able to buy this TPB with a good discount.
I like Batman, and I like to read about Jack, the Ripper topic, so why hadn’t I read it before? Well, so much good books, so little time, I haven’t any better reason to justify myself.
This miniseries is set in an elseworld (parallel dimension) where Batman risen 100 years before, during the Victoriana ge, but still set in Gotham City, USA.
Bruce Wayne suffered the same, with the unfair murder of his parents, BUT I liked a little detail in his origin here, where the bats instead of being something that he fears, it was something that saved his life, since a bunch of bats was the reason that the criminal wasn’t able to shoot him too. It’s wonderful how each new approach to the character of Batman and its themes, allow new angles to ponder about this comic book super-hero.
Bruce Wayne trained himself for 15 years, traveling around the world, consulting with several leading people in relevant fields, like Dr. Freud and certain detective from London, to become the costumed vigilante “Bat-Man” on his own city, Gotham.
Once his training is complete and he started his personal war on crime…
…Jack the Ripper arrives to his city!
The Batman vrs Jack, the Ripper!
What else can you ask?!
The terrible path of blood that started in Whitechapel, London, is beginning once again in the dark streets of Gotham City and it’s up to the Bat-Man to face his baptism of fire in his war on crime.
However, thing won’t be easy, since the citizens of Gotham don’t know who inspire them more fear…
…Jack, the Ripper or this mysterious Bat-Man.
MASTER OF THE FUTURE
A year later of the previous events, in the first part of the miniseries…
Bruce Wayne feels that his personal oath to his parents have been fulfilled and even he has now a fiancé, Julie Madison, so the “Bat-Man” costume hasn’t seen action since a while.
However, Gotham City always is in need of its dark protector…
…especially when a lunatic called himself “Master of the Future” (aka Alexandre LeRoi) is threatening the safety of the incoming cultural fair in Gotham City to celebrate the future of the town.
This “Master of the Future” possess too advance technology, so the regular Police force isn’t able to deal in equal term with this strange new villain…
…only the Bat-Man can.
His war on crime hasn’t end yet.
February 8, 2018
Thought I would read this little gem again.
Gotham By Gaslight gives us Gotham City over a hundred years ago & imagines how Batman would be viewed by the people of the time.
And which villain would the Caped Crusader fight against so long ago ? The answer is, of course, Jack The Ripper. Yes, it sounds pretty silly I know but it does work extremely well. Don't take my word for it, read it yourself.
Gotham By Gaslight gives us Gotham City over a hundred years ago & imagines how Batman would be viewed by the people of the time.
And which villain would the Caped Crusader fight against so long ago ? The answer is, of course, Jack The Ripper. Yes, it sounds pretty silly I know but it does work extremely well. Don't take my word for it, read it yourself.
August 24, 2022
This was actually a fun read!
Batman story set in Victorian era and like the first story has a fun villain in Jack the ripper and how Bruce fights him and also false accusations and all and its fun and the twist with the villain was cool and I really like how they explore Bruce here and focus on the detective aspect of him and I really like Mignola's art here!
The second story pits him against a villain named "Leroi" whose a french-man and I guess "Joker" in a way and his objective of killing the mayor for some reason and causing instability in the city and how Batman sort of returns after semi-retirement and I love how he takes a new vow again and the way it ends in happiness this time was so fun omg!
Definitely one of the best Batman collections easily and no wonder its a legendary run! The artwork is great, the writing even more spectacular and one of the best DC elseworlds tale!!
Batman story set in Victorian era and like the first story has a fun villain in Jack the ripper and how Bruce fights him and also false accusations and all and its fun and the twist with the villain was cool and I really like how they explore Bruce here and focus on the detective aspect of him and I really like Mignola's art here!
The second story pits him against a villain named "Leroi" whose a french-man and I guess "Joker" in a way and his objective of killing the mayor for some reason and causing instability in the city and how Batman sort of returns after semi-retirement and I love how he takes a new vow again and the way it ends in happiness this time was so fun omg!
Definitely one of the best Batman collections easily and no wonder its a legendary run! The artwork is great, the writing even more spectacular and one of the best DC elseworlds tale!!
March 4, 2026
Maybe a 3.5
May 8, 2024
A collected edition of both Gotham by Gaslight and the less-favored, though far from terrible sequel, Master of the Future. These two Elseworlds tales bring Batman into the Victorian Era. Gaslight was a much better story in my opinion and was a nice setup for the Victorian setting, whereas Master of the Future was more of a fast-paced action comic, set about a year after Gaslight.
October 24, 2020
Batman AND Jack The Ripper - two of my interests combined! Turns out Gotham City set in the 1800s does make for a decent story. Short and sharp, I give it : 3.5 Stars, rounded down to a 3 overall.
February 6, 2010
I didn't bother with the second story becuase I was so disappointed with the first, and the reviews on here have said that it's honestly not that good. So the rest of this
Listen to that phrase: "steampunk batman." What a lovely phrase it is! What promise it shows! Especially when Jack the Ripper is also involved. Ah, what a gorgeous premise. But ah, what boring execution.
The fact is, the story just isn't all that interesting. We've seen it a million times before (and executed far better) in other Batman tales. The "mystery" regarding Jack the Ripper's identity was predictable and underdeveloped. The villain's mad motives were ridiculous and stupid.
AND WHERE WERE THE *REAL* VILLAINS? While there was a mention of "Harvey" (clearly Dent) and a picture of the captured Joker, neither of these characters had any role in the lackluster plot--they seemed to just be there for fan service. Why not have a steampunk Joker? Or Poison Ivy, who would detest the industrial revolution? 19th Century asylums are very interesting places, and the 19th century version of Arkham--especially a steampunk infused version of it--could be mind-blowingly awesome.
The story, despite being boring, also feels quite rushed, to the point where there are plot holes. How, precisely, does Batman escape from prison? Alfred comes to see him and he is magically freed! It's not fully explained and doesn't quite make sense. What could have been an awesome set piece is wasted. In addition, how does he track down the Ripper following this? Nothing is explained.
I also wasn't that impressed with the artwork. It wasn't that pretty to look at. One could say that this was intentional to better illustrate Gotham's ugliness, but it failed to evoke a particularly dreary tone. Our glimpses of Batman are few and far between and none are particularly cool looking.
In short, this Batman comic was a complete waste of the brilliant potential in terms of both its story and its art. If only the creators had thought bigger!
Listen to that phrase: "steampunk batman." What a lovely phrase it is! What promise it shows! Especially when Jack the Ripper is also involved. Ah, what a gorgeous premise. But ah, what boring execution.
The fact is, the story just isn't all that interesting. We've seen it a million times before (and executed far better) in other Batman tales. The "mystery" regarding Jack the Ripper's identity was predictable and underdeveloped. The villain's mad motives were ridiculous and stupid.
AND WHERE WERE THE *REAL* VILLAINS? While there was a mention of "Harvey" (clearly Dent) and a picture of the captured Joker, neither of these characters had any role in the lackluster plot--they seemed to just be there for fan service. Why not have a steampunk Joker? Or Poison Ivy, who would detest the industrial revolution? 19th Century asylums are very interesting places, and the 19th century version of Arkham--especially a steampunk infused version of it--could be mind-blowingly awesome.
The story, despite being boring, also feels quite rushed, to the point where there are plot holes. How, precisely, does Batman escape from prison? Alfred comes to see him and he is magically freed! It's not fully explained and doesn't quite make sense. What could have been an awesome set piece is wasted. In addition, how does he track down the Ripper following this? Nothing is explained.
I also wasn't that impressed with the artwork. It wasn't that pretty to look at. One could say that this was intentional to better illustrate Gotham's ugliness, but it failed to evoke a particularly dreary tone. Our glimpses of Batman are few and far between and none are particularly cool looking.
In short, this Batman comic was a complete waste of the brilliant potential in terms of both its story and its art. If only the creators had thought bigger!
November 6, 2024
This review is for Master of the Future
While I didn't like this quite as much as the first story, I did like that we saw a continuation of the story.
And we saw Bruce give up the mantle of the Dark Knight! I wasn't expecting that but I thought that was such a cool aspect.
It also means that this Bruce has emotionally grown more than the main continuity one, in my opinion.
So much so that he's able to foster a healthy relationship!
This review is for Gotham by Gaslight
I thought this would be perfect for a spooky season read. And it was!
I really liked the art, I thought it fit the story well. I loved studying the city landscapes and seeing the little details.
The 'mystery' was a little obvious. I knew who 'Jack the Ripper' was as soon as I saw the character. I'm also not sure if I loved the reasoning behind all the killings but I think that's a matter of opinion.
*SPOILERS*
My favourite part was when Bruce chose to stay in the cell to solve the case.
While I didn't like this quite as much as the first story, I did like that we saw a continuation of the story.
And we saw Bruce give up the mantle of the Dark Knight! I wasn't expecting that but I thought that was such a cool aspect.
It also means that this Bruce has emotionally grown more than the main continuity one, in my opinion.
So much so that he's able to foster a healthy relationship!
This review is for Gotham by Gaslight
I thought this would be perfect for a spooky season read. And it was!
I really liked the art, I thought it fit the story well. I loved studying the city landscapes and seeing the little details.
The 'mystery' was a little obvious. I knew who 'Jack the Ripper' was as soon as I saw the character. I'm also not sure if I loved the reasoning behind all the killings but I think that's a matter of opinion.
*SPOILERS*
My favourite part was when Bruce chose to stay in the cell to solve the case.
July 24, 2011
Two alternate stories of the Batman set in the 19th century from such star artists as Mike MIgnola and P Craig Russell. The first, "Gotham by Gaslight" is arguably the best. A retelling of the Jack the Ripper murders with a continuation in Gotham where the Batman confronts him. A great short story with some magnificently gothic drawings by the excellent Mike Mignola it's no wonder his talent took him on to bigger projects like Hellboy and BPRD.
"Master of the Future" is the second and longer story in this collection featuring an alternate origin story for the Joker and another test for the Batman to save Gotham. Eduardo Barreto's drawings are excellent here too and Brian Augustyn, who penned both stories, writes another great script.
An excellent "What If...?" collection of two great Batman stories with some fantastic art thrown in. A must for Batfans.
"Master of the Future" is the second and longer story in this collection featuring an alternate origin story for the Joker and another test for the Batman to save Gotham. Eduardo Barreto's drawings are excellent here too and Brian Augustyn, who penned both stories, writes another great script.
An excellent "What If...?" collection of two great Batman stories with some fantastic art thrown in. A must for Batfans.
August 9, 2024
Set before the time of high tech gadgets, it's brain vs brain with very little brawn. Whilst the gritty crime vibes are expertly portrayed through Mignola's visual flair, the story leaves a little to be desired. It is nice to see actual detective work, but its predictability doesn't work for the genre. Short, self-contained and simple, it has recently been republished for a good price and is worth picking up if its caught your eye.
October 19, 2024
I last read this about a thousand years ago and didn't remember much about it. Turns out that it's because it's a great looking book without a lot of substance to it. Mignola and PCR did great work on the art but the story doesn't have a lot of meat to it. Jack the Ripper comes to Gotham, people think Bruce Wayne is the Ripper but he's really Batman and has to clear his name. That's about it.
April 10, 2021
6.7/10
Batman fits great in the Victorian era
Τι ωραία που ταιριάζει ο Μπάτμαν στην Βικτωριανή εποχή. Μια συνέχεια του Gotham by gaslight, που θα εμβάθυνε στη ζωή του αριστοκράτη Μπρους Γουέιν και το πώς πολεμάει το έγκλημα ως το alter ego του θα είχε μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον. Η ίσως μια μεγαλύτερη σειρά που θα είχε και κάποιους από τους κλασικούς εχθρούς του.
Το συγκεκριμένο graphic novel αποτελείται από δύο ιστορίες και ενώ η πρώτη είναι αρκετά καλή, Batman εναντίον Τζακ του Αντεροβγάλτη, η δεύτερη σίγουρα είναι υποδεέστερη, εξού και τα τρία αστέρια.
Batman fits great in the Victorian era
Τι ωραία που ταιριάζει ο Μπάτμαν στην Βικτωριανή εποχή. Μια συνέχεια του Gotham by gaslight, που θα εμβάθυνε στη ζωή του αριστοκράτη Μπρους Γουέιν και το πώς πολεμάει το έγκλημα ως το alter ego του θα είχε μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον. Η ίσως μια μεγαλύτερη σειρά που θα είχε και κάποιους από τους κλασικούς εχθρούς του.
Το συγκεκριμένο graphic novel αποτελείται από δύο ιστορίες και ενώ η πρώτη είναι αρκετά καλή, Batman εναντίον Τζακ του Αντεροβγάλτη, η δεύτερη σίγουρα είναι υποδεέστερη, εξού και τα τρία αστέρια.
December 22, 2019
I really enjoyed this inspired story. Augstyn is able to combine the Batman mythos and the Jack The Ripper mythos into a very nice story.
It is Victorian Era Gotham. The city is a buzz as wealthy heir Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham. But along with him comes Jack the Ripper. This becomes a great Victorian themed Batman story, with a great emphasis of the more detective side of Batman. A fun and truly interesting take on Batman.
The setting, the story and the overall "style" of the story from the lettering to the art style make "Gotham by Gaslight" one of the more unique comics I've read. I would recommend this to anyone that likes Batman in different settings. Augustyn certainly pulls it off in this classic comic.
It is Victorian Era Gotham. The city is a buzz as wealthy heir Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham. But along with him comes Jack the Ripper. This becomes a great Victorian themed Batman story, with a great emphasis of the more detective side of Batman. A fun and truly interesting take on Batman.
The setting, the story and the overall "style" of the story from the lettering to the art style make "Gotham by Gaslight" one of the more unique comics I've read. I would recommend this to anyone that likes Batman in different settings. Augustyn certainly pulls it off in this classic comic.
April 28, 2023
I was pretty disappointed by this one. It's the first book I've read by Brian Augustyn. It just seems like an easy book to write - Put Batman in the Victorian age and not much more work was put in to making it historically accurate. I kept wishing Alan Moore had used this concept.
This is pencilled by Mike Mignola but its from 1989, so it's still before he developed his distinct style - although it is hinted at here.
P. Craig Russell inks, I guess he's inked hundreds of early Mignola pages. I feel like it's an odd mix. Mignola is brutal and minimalist, Russell is usually decorative although also precise with not a ton of extra linework.
This is pencilled by Mike Mignola but its from 1989, so it's still before he developed his distinct style - although it is hinted at here.
P. Craig Russell inks, I guess he's inked hundreds of early Mignola pages. I feel like it's an odd mix. Mignola is brutal and minimalist, Russell is usually decorative although also precise with not a ton of extra linework.
May 12, 2018
Συμπαθητικό άλμπουμ με δυο καλούτσικες ιστορίες, σίγουρα κάτι το διαφορετικό στο σύμπαν του Μπάτμαν, όμως γενικά τίποτα το εξαιρετικά ιδιαίτερο. Βέβαια, κρατούσα σχετικά μικρό καλάθι πριν το αγοράσω και το διαβάσω, οπότε δεν απογοητεύτηκα. Ίσα-ίσα, μπορώ να πω ότι πέρασα καλά. Και οι δυο ιστορίες μου άρεσαν, χωρίς βέβαια να με ξετρελάνουν. Η πρώτη ιστορία -"Gotham By Gaslight"- είναι ένα σκαλί πιο πάνω από τη δεύτερη, τόσο σεναριακά όσο και σχεδιαστικά. Το σενάριο, ελέω Τζακ του Αντεροβγάλτη, είναι σαφώς πιο ενδιαφέρον και σφιχτοδεμένο, αν και νομίζω ότι χρειαζόταν περισσότερος χώρος για καλύτερη και πιο ομαλή εξέλιξη των γεγονότων, ενώ οι διάφορες αποκαλύψεις μου φάνηκαν κάπως προβλέψιμες. Το σχέδιο πολύ καλό, με μετέφερε για τα καλά στο κλίμα της Βικτωριανής Εποχής: Μου φάνηκε όσο σκοτεινό και ατμοσφαιρικό χρειαζόταν, με φοβερό χρωματισμό. Και η δεύτερη ιστορία -"Master Of The Future"- δεν είναι καθόλου άσχημη, το σχέδιο είναι καθαρό και αρκετά όμορφο, απλά κάτι δεν με έπεισε στα κίνητρα του κακού, ενώ η όλη πλοκή δεν με κράτησε όσο η πρώτη, αν και είχε και αυτή το ενδιαφέρον της. Γενικά δηλώνω ικανοποιημένος.
August 27, 2017
Pretty great book! Ever wandered what batman would have been like in the 1800s? Here's your answer! This book starts where Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham after his training, and becomes batman! What villain does fight first? Jack The Ripper! This was a pretty solid read, this book is the love child of Batman and Sherlock Holmes fans!
December 13, 2024
Kind of a disappointment overall, I think the only proper Batman story in here I enjoyed was the second one that sees him go up against a lunatic frenchman with a dirigible. The initial story featuring Bruce Wayne vs Jack the Ripper was kind of paint by numbers, and the volumes with sundry Teen Titan characters and Captain Marvel and Co. felt incidental to the whole project.
April 17, 2018
We’re at the fin de siècle here in Batman: Gaslight. With (seemingly) well researched history to match, this story would seem unique and enjoyable, until we linger too long and finally read beyond the first ten pages. Just as the initial depiction of Sigmund Freud seems more akin to a cardboard cutout that an actually fleshed out individual, so too does the rest of the story amount more to a visual success than a properly bodied tale.
Just as mentioned, we get the appearance of that (in)famously deranged, cocaine addicted fraudster but none of the personality that (un/)rightfully earned this man his place in the annals of history. And disappointingly the same goes for nigh everyone in the story. Beyond the hackneyed (to death) origin tale of Wayne’s childhood tragedy, characterization and the motivations they bear amount to nothing more than platonic molds of impetus and personality for all involved. From Alfred to The Commissioner, everyone reduces to robots, merely fulfilling their casts of idealism (or programming is you will) rather than responding to the needs and demands of a properly constructed world.
Because the first ten-to-twenty pages are merely world-building, instead of forging a plot with increasing tension, this does nothing than more than establish what we know already with merely altered visages to match the (Sign o’ The) Times. Even when delicately administered art allows us plenty of open spaces for our eyes to pander across while we ponder palaverous verbiage, nothing is added, of any importance, to the over-arc. We get it, we’re in the latest of the 1800’s but there’s not much to show for it beyond the pretty visuals. Gaslights befitting of the era (and title) might aptly illustrate moody atmospherics and stun us with a warmth of melodic lighting throughout but, historical contextualizations including the highest of hopes and the most painful of pessimisms of the era were lost on the author first, and us the readers, second.
The hopes and dreams of this profound epoch are disappointingly unseen as montage after montage establish the already known-knowns of the Batman character. Even when well constructed fictionalized newspaper clippings are well applied within, their verisimilitude is watered down due to the comic’s internalized detriments. Instead of touching upon important historical happenings within the contextualized peripheries, their lack of research further degrades their usefulness to the comic with excessive repetitions amounting to vapid redundancies.
Just when I thought my boredom couldn’t be exceeded, a continual panoply of hyper-convenient plot developments and occurrences drag us back into the primordial comic muck our damned platonic casts are unable to escape. So even when a moderately interesting plot twist (or two) pop(s)-up, the motivations themselves, just like the paper-thin characters that support then, are damnedly lame. Tending more toward cheap facsimiles than artful insertions, every aspect beyond the seen ultimately appears cheap and sophomoric.
So much as this comic should have succeeded, the very imprimatur of it’s title: Batman, heralded its demise from its very inception. Choked from birth, the immutable inflexibility of the Caped Crusader’s universe interior rule-book stunted any possibility that something new and fresh could arise from this increasingly stale universe. All the more disappointing while the introductory credits state that this is, “An Alternative History of The Batman,” nothing could be more of the same.
Just as mentioned, we get the appearance of that (in)famously deranged, cocaine addicted fraudster but none of the personality that (un/)rightfully earned this man his place in the annals of history. And disappointingly the same goes for nigh everyone in the story. Beyond the hackneyed (to death) origin tale of Wayne’s childhood tragedy, characterization and the motivations they bear amount to nothing more than platonic molds of impetus and personality for all involved. From Alfred to The Commissioner, everyone reduces to robots, merely fulfilling their casts of idealism (or programming is you will) rather than responding to the needs and demands of a properly constructed world.
Because the first ten-to-twenty pages are merely world-building, instead of forging a plot with increasing tension, this does nothing than more than establish what we know already with merely altered visages to match the (Sign o’ The) Times. Even when delicately administered art allows us plenty of open spaces for our eyes to pander across while we ponder palaverous verbiage, nothing is added, of any importance, to the over-arc. We get it, we’re in the latest of the 1800’s but there’s not much to show for it beyond the pretty visuals. Gaslights befitting of the era (and title) might aptly illustrate moody atmospherics and stun us with a warmth of melodic lighting throughout but, historical contextualizations including the highest of hopes and the most painful of pessimisms of the era were lost on the author first, and us the readers, second.
The hopes and dreams of this profound epoch are disappointingly unseen as montage after montage establish the already known-knowns of the Batman character. Even when well constructed fictionalized newspaper clippings are well applied within, their verisimilitude is watered down due to the comic’s internalized detriments. Instead of touching upon important historical happenings within the contextualized peripheries, their lack of research further degrades their usefulness to the comic with excessive repetitions amounting to vapid redundancies.
Just when I thought my boredom couldn’t be exceeded, a continual panoply of hyper-convenient plot developments and occurrences drag us back into the primordial comic muck our damned platonic casts are unable to escape. So even when a moderately interesting plot twist (or two) pop(s)-up, the motivations themselves, just like the paper-thin characters that support then, are damnedly lame. Tending more toward cheap facsimiles than artful insertions, every aspect beyond the seen ultimately appears cheap and sophomoric.
So much as this comic should have succeeded, the very imprimatur of it’s title: Batman, heralded its demise from its very inception. Choked from birth, the immutable inflexibility of the Caped Crusader’s universe interior rule-book stunted any possibility that something new and fresh could arise from this increasingly stale universe. All the more disappointing while the introductory credits state that this is, “An Alternative History of The Batman,” nothing could be more of the same.
February 9, 2018
There's a certain expectation when you see something claiming to be Victorian Era Batman, and that expectation is what you mostly get. Unless, of course, you wanted some detective to shine through since there won't be any gadgets... because there isn't any mystery solving in here. Not really. I mean, a mystery or two gets solved, but only between panels. Look, when I see something claiming to be some alternate reality Batman, I immediately assume it will be 'fine'. Because they're never great, are they? And that's precisely what this is. 'Fine.'
August 20, 2014
I have already this graphic novel a few years back but in this reread I've myself enjoying it much more, especially after reading Alan Moore's Jack the Ripper opus, From Hell.
I saw a lot of hidden Easter eggs that I would have otherwise missed had it not for my newly earned knowledge of the Ripper legends from Moore's work. It gave me more suspects to choose from.
Mike Mignola does a superb job here. It is gothic and brooding and fine preview of things to come in Mignola's own Hellboy. I may as well look for physical copy of this one, if only to have tactile experience of this seminal graphic novel.
I saw a lot of hidden Easter eggs that I would have otherwise missed had it not for my newly earned knowledge of the Ripper legends from Moore's work. It gave me more suspects to choose from.
Mike Mignola does a superb job here. It is gothic and brooding and fine preview of things to come in Mignola's own Hellboy. I may as well look for physical copy of this one, if only to have tactile experience of this seminal graphic novel.
July 23, 2012
Like X-Men Noir, this is a great idea with a kinda pathetic execution. The writing is so-so, the artwork is shabby, but the book's worst crime is that the world of Victorian Gotham is never explored. I wanted to see gaslight versions of our favorite villains, but all I got were paint-by-numbers steampunk hijinks. Selina Kyle as an Irene Adler-like lady thief, Oswald Cobblepott as a vicious new-money social interloper, the Joker as Jack the Ripper: now that would be a comic book. If only.
August 23, 2008
I've been going back to Mignola's pre-Hellboy work. I read this Batman elseworld ages ago. The art was part Steampunk, part Year One. The story was fantastic: Batman versus Jack the Ripper. I loved it then and I still loved it today.
April 16, 2020
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is a collection of two elseworld Batman stories set in the Victorian era.
The first story, Gotham by Gaslight , is drawn by Mike Mignola. And his art is always a win. He perfectly captures the Victorian vibe and also manages to provide a sense of Gothic atmosphere. The story is mediocre, revolving around murders done by Jack the Ripper, which would have been much better if it hadn't been so predictable.
The second story, Master of the Future swims in the sea of mediocrity as well, but only manages to surpass its predecessor by being less predictable.
The first story, Gotham by Gaslight , is drawn by Mike Mignola. And his art is always a win. He perfectly captures the Victorian vibe and also manages to provide a sense of Gothic atmosphere. The story is mediocre, revolving around murders done by Jack the Ripper, which would have been much better if it hadn't been so predictable.
The second story, Master of the Future swims in the sea of mediocrity as well, but only manages to surpass its predecessor by being less predictable.
September 23, 2026
Honestly as far as plot is concerned it's nothing that exciting, but the setting and Mike Mignola's artwork carry it far. Three and a half.
June 30, 2014
The foremost thing I have always loved about Batman and his stories is the air of dark mystery and malicious intrigue that surrounds its pages. I also grew up with detective fiction and I remember that the very first Batman comic book I read in passing had the same elements I enjoyed about said genre in the first place. I was so drawn to this brooding and reticent watchful guardian of the night in a very inexplicable sense, and I knew that he needs to be a constant thing in my life from there on.
Reading Bryan Augustyn's self-contained story Gotham by Gaslight unearth those nostalgic feelings. This fifty-paged comic book is set in an alternate universe where Bruce Wayne, Batman and Gotham City are in the nineteenth century. It actually does work well, considering that the general atmospheric theme of a lot of Batman stories belongs to a gothic criteria anyway, and the very essence of the Dark Knight blends with shadows and ghouls running amok in a lawless and godless city. This comic book explored the same events in Bruce's life as we know it in canon but are depicted as if we traveled back to a simpler yet just as malevolent point in time.
Batman's costume is something that could be akin to a steampunk version. I especially loved the mask that resembled a rustic-styled goggles for bird-watching, giving his face a menacing yet old-fashioned look. I also think that the overall visual choices for this comic (the font of the texts, the structural panels and the washed-out color palette) are at par with what the writing is trying to embody. Having a copy of this story is like owning an antique parchment of some sort where the sketches and illustrations are fading and are uneven in some place, but it only adds more to its haunting appeal.
The plot had a good pacing and suspense to it that makes it feel like I'm watching a movie set in the Victorian age that is remarkably well-preserved and true to its time. This is a marvelous, worthwhile read. I'm glad someone thought about writing Batman in this setting and century because it made perfect sense for someone of his nature and origins to fit in such a murky landscape. Gotham City itself after all has that kind of vibe already--something so ancient and dark that you always feel a chill in your spine when you're reading about it. Augustyn's Gotham by Gaslight sings that eerie tune all the way.
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
[DO READ MORE ABOUT MY BATMAN REVIEWS IN http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/]
Reading Bryan Augustyn's self-contained story Gotham by Gaslight unearth those nostalgic feelings. This fifty-paged comic book is set in an alternate universe where Bruce Wayne, Batman and Gotham City are in the nineteenth century. It actually does work well, considering that the general atmospheric theme of a lot of Batman stories belongs to a gothic criteria anyway, and the very essence of the Dark Knight blends with shadows and ghouls running amok in a lawless and godless city. This comic book explored the same events in Bruce's life as we know it in canon but are depicted as if we traveled back to a simpler yet just as malevolent point in time.
Batman's costume is something that could be akin to a steampunk version. I especially loved the mask that resembled a rustic-styled goggles for bird-watching, giving his face a menacing yet old-fashioned look. I also think that the overall visual choices for this comic (the font of the texts, the structural panels and the washed-out color palette) are at par with what the writing is trying to embody. Having a copy of this story is like owning an antique parchment of some sort where the sketches and illustrations are fading and are uneven in some place, but it only adds more to its haunting appeal.
The plot had a good pacing and suspense to it that makes it feel like I'm watching a movie set in the Victorian age that is remarkably well-preserved and true to its time. This is a marvelous, worthwhile read. I'm glad someone thought about writing Batman in this setting and century because it made perfect sense for someone of his nature and origins to fit in such a murky landscape. Gotham City itself after all has that kind of vibe already--something so ancient and dark that you always feel a chill in your spine when you're reading about it. Augustyn's Gotham by Gaslight sings that eerie tune all the way.
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
[DO READ MORE ABOUT MY BATMAN REVIEWS IN http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/]
November 20, 2013
There are two stories in here: the original Gotham by Gaslight and a follow up. You could safely ignore the follow up story. It isn't as good as the original, and has Batman in a much more action oriented, pulpy sort of role. The original story pits Batman against Jack the Ripper. Now this was really good. Bruce is at the start of his career as Batman, and the case doesn't come easily to him. This story also felt more authentic, much more like what Batman would have been like in the Victorian era. The second story has an over-the-top villain who just isn't compelling, and a love story that isn't any more compelling. Definitely read the original Gotham by Gaslight story, but you can stop there.
Re-read 2026: This hasn't just held up, it's improved. The original Gotham by Gaslight story is still a wonderful take on the character of Batman, with an excellent storyline. It's the second half, Master of the Future, that I like much more now. I really appreciated the pulpy tone this time, and although I still think the villain is over the top, I didn't mind it. I do wish the romance had been with Selina or even Vickie Vale instead of Julie, who I think was invented just for this book?
Re-read 2026: This hasn't just held up, it's improved. The original Gotham by Gaslight story is still a wonderful take on the character of Batman, with an excellent storyline. It's the second half, Master of the Future, that I like much more now. I really appreciated the pulpy tone this time, and although I still think the villain is over the top, I didn't mind it. I do wish the romance had been with Selina or even Vickie Vale instead of Julie, who I think was invented just for this book?
October 26, 2021
So after deciding that I’m going to read the full Knightfall saga, I thought now would be a good time to crack on with my elseworld stories and where else to start than Gotham by Gaslight!
The story is set in the Victorian era and is two short stories, the first a sort of retelling of Batman’s origin for this time period and his run in with Jack the Ripper and the second was a story about a fencing madman wanting to destroy a fair (I’ll just be talking about the first story but this was still enjoyable)
I really enjoyed this story, it’s nice to have a fresh take on Batman and is an interesting concept of having the world’s best detective again the most infamous serial killer and it worked well. The art was nice too, suited the time period the book was portraying nicely.
Overall I think that if you have any interest in Batman this is a must read fun story that I wish was longer than 50 pages!
The story is set in the Victorian era and is two short stories, the first a sort of retelling of Batman’s origin for this time period and his run in with Jack the Ripper and the second was a story about a fencing madman wanting to destroy a fair (I’ll just be talking about the first story but this was still enjoyable)
I really enjoyed this story, it’s nice to have a fresh take on Batman and is an interesting concept of having the world’s best detective again the most infamous serial killer and it worked well. The art was nice too, suited the time period the book was portraying nicely.
Overall I think that if you have any interest in Batman this is a must read fun story that I wish was longer than 50 pages!
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