Batman: Haunted Gotham

Batman: Elseworlds #Haunted

by Doug Moench, Kelley Jones (Illustrator)

The popular BATMAN creative team that produced TALES OF THE MULTIVERSE: BATMAN -- VAMPIRE reunite for a haunting graphic novel that pits an all-too-human Dark Knight against supernatural villains who are blends of classic horror characters and Batman's familiar gallery of foes.

Written by Doug Moench, with chilling, stylized art by Kelley Jones and John Beatty, HAUNTED GOTHAM finds a very mortal Bruce Wayne in a Gotham City that has become an isolated hunting ground, cut off from the rest of the world by evil, unearthly beings that prey on humanity. Trained from birth to combat the dark forces, only Wayne can hope to prevail against an army of twisted creatures that includes werewolf assassins, ghosts, demons, zombies, and a patchwork Joker (wearing the head of Bruce Wayne's father) among its members. But to gain the power he needs, must Batman sacrifice his parents' souls?

Collects the miniseries BATMAN: HAUNTED GOTHAM #1-4.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Batman, Comics, Dc Comics, Horror, Superheroes, Fantasy

204 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok. Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. (He also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986.)

Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.

Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.

Reviews

[Ill D · Rating 2 out of 5]

When reality is bent, and Gotham becomes unto its own world, a title as simplistic as Haunted Gotham, performs anything short of justice for this mind-stretching yarn. Spooling forth across an Odyessean 200 page mark, Moech’s most bizarre creation is epic in nature and epic in size. Rivaling only the length of mental power available to you, Haunted Gotham is an illustrated horror comic of the time-warping essence.

And while I appreciate the mind-bending ferocity of the tale itself (especially the 3rd one) the very best aspect of Batman (his wordliness) becomes debased to decreasingly effective effect. Given that our BatMan’s greatest characteristic is his pure humanity, when he’s placed alongside the super and the supra, what makes him great gets watered down. Place a man without intrinsic powers in a world of the occult and the cosmic and Batman becomes something less than great.

Which isn’t to say that there isn’t some good stuff here, because there certainly is. But, overall it’s a wonky mess that spends two issues telling one chopped story (that took 50 some pages to finally decide if it was going to take place in the 20th or the 19th century). Clearly produced under the psychedelic influence of things, bright colors match the Picasso-crushing mindscape of someone who has absolutely flown out of their gourd. For everyone else tethered to reality, skimming is the best way to enjoy yet another silly cape tale.

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a soft spot for Doug Moench and especially Kelley Jones. I picked up Batman as a kid in the 90s in the middle of their run. This had its nostalgic moments, but I couldn't oversee something like the talking baby...

[Owen Townend · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like this approach to Batman. The artwork is grim but in a farcical way.

Haunted Gotham is full of bug-eyed, screaming characters with over-the-top poses that sometimes defy physics. That being said the plot premise was intriguing: a world where Gotham City is at the mercy of demons and Batman a crusader bred to fight supernatural evil. It was entertaining to see how iconic characters like Joker and Catwoman were approached in this vein, though I'm relieved this isn't canon (at least to the best of my knowledge).

Nevertheless Moench and Jones' passion for hellish madness and violence kept me flipping pages. Though Jones' bodily proportions are absurd and Moench's storytelling unironically cheesy, these creators' dedication to their world-building and genre is undeniable.

I don't relish knocking long-time comics professionals, I just think this style is wrong for the Dark Knight. That being said, I can see Moench and Jones churning out some thoroughly-entertaining horror comics, which perhaps they already have. Unfortunately I don't think I'll look into this.

I recommend Batman: Haunted Gotham to those who like Moench and Jones' output and when Batman goes fully gothic.

[Rodrigo Tello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman y un escuadrón de monstruos, zombis, hombres lobo y criaturas demoníacas como sólo el buen y viejo Kelley Jones puede ilustrar. El guión está un poco por encima de la media de los elseworlds, así que se disfruta

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork is the greatest redeeming factor of this book--reminiscent of the old E.C. Comics. Haunted Gotham provides some entertainment, but lacks depth. In this alternate storyline, Gotham has fallen prey to dark demonic forces. It is not unusual to see the walking dead, talking skeletons or even werewolves, but Gotham's inhabitants are unable to flee it's borders and escape to safer ground. Bruce Wayne's parents are still very much alive and have been preparing him for a future of fighting demons, although they have kept the nature of his destiny from him.

This is the part that greatly disappointed me. Bruce Wayne appears to be 30 years of age, is still living in Wayne Manor with his parents as he trains regularly for intense physical combat. But this perfection of body and fighting technique stands in stark contrast to his demeanor--whining like a 12 year old "I resent this lifelong mystery masquerading as my life" and "what is the point". C'mon Bruce, you're 30 years old--if that's really the way you feel, grow a spine, move out of the house and move on with your life.

Bruce's father is only willing to discuss with Bruce the nature of his destiny as The Batman after he has been murdered. Although his spirit form looks remarkably robust, those who have passed on into the afterlife are still vulnerable to the demons, as the elder Wayne panics over the fate of his dead wife "I can't find her!...They could be tormenting and perverting her goodness even now! They can't devour a noble soul, you see--they have to ruin it before they can feast!" Good grief--even the battle between mortals and demons boils down to "they'll defile our women"...

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprisingly good read after what felt like a slow start. Gotham is ruled by demons, and zombies are common. No one can leave with their souL intact. A different take on batman, the individual stories were fun. just a feeling of a battle that can't be won makes it only 3 stars. A good read.

[Mohammed Hamdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kelley Jone's art was great,I like his long pointy ears Batman..but I can't say the same about the story.it wasn't well constructed and lacks depth.

[Ben Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman: Haunted Gotham is a four-issue Elseworlds miniseries that has a very human Batman fighting against his supernatural villains who are blends of classic horror characters and Batman's Rouge Gallery. It is written by Doug Moench and penciled by Kelley Jones and is inspired by Batman fighting a hybrid of classical monsters with his Rouge Gallery. The trade paperback collects all four issues of the 2000 miniseries.

Gotham City is one of the last bastions of human civilization as the rest of the world is overrun by evil, unearthly beings that prey on humanity. Train from birth to combat the dark forces, only the Waynes can hope to prevail against an army of twisted creatures that includes classical supernatural monsters as werewolves, ghosts, demons, and zombies. In addition, there is a patchwork Joker that has the face of his father – Thomas Wayne.

Doug Moench penned the entire series and for the most part, it was written somewhat well – I think. It was an odd and weird series so I am not sure how to rate it. The plot was rather confusing with many threads that seemed to be unconnected or unresolved. However, Bruce Wayne's depiction bothered me, he has the body and fighting techniques of Batman, we all know, because he has been training since a child to fight these supernatural forces. However, he whines like a pre-adolescent, which seems disingenuous with his age and talents.

Kelley Jones penciled to the entire trade paperback and because he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. I just wished that the penciling were better, for the most part, it was much to be desired. Actually, it was rather dated and not the date it was published, but a couple decades earlier. However, I do like the coloring that gave the series a Gothic atmosphere, but the penciling style was too dated.

All in all, Batman: Haunted Gotham is written and conceived moderately well. It had so much promise mixing Batman's Rouge Gallery with the classical film monsters. However, the promise had failed to be realized and what was produced was a mediocre story with equally mediocre art.

[Ανδρέας Μιχαηλίδης · Rating 1 out of 5]

So... looking back at my reviews of other similar works, I am coming to an awkward conclusion: Batman mixed with Hammer / slasher horror simply doesn't work for me. Whatever novelty this amalgam had to offer seems to have been exhausted in "Red Rain". Anything further has seemed campy to a cringe-worthy degree at best, and simply badly written at worst. I have now read works from three creative teams tackling this theme (Doug Moench/Kelley Jones, Steve Niles/Kelley Jones, Kevin van Hook/Tom Mandrake), and none has proven especially good (except the aforementioned "Red Rain).

That leads me to believe there is either a problem with the idea that Batman and horror "simply writes itself", or the mix is incredibly liable to go down certain tropes that make for an often impressive EC Comics-clone depiction, but with very little to the story.

However, Haunted Gotham is a bit worse than that, as it often repeats things and even whole phrases, seemingly in an attempt to either fill out the books, or simply provide more room for Jones' art. The result is bloated, verbose, and at times incoherent. As always with Jones' art, it's kind of fun to look at (yet this too falls a bit apart, with characters having inconsistent looks), but you don't really need to read the panels.

As a final gripe, the cover is one of the most bland and uninteresting I have ever seen.

[Ramón Nogueras Pérez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es una historia muy extraña, que plantea un mundo alternativo donde Gotham es una ciudad hechizada de la que es literalmente imposible escapar. Muertos vivientes, demonios y hombres lobo por las calles. Un Bruce Wayne adulto ha pasado toda su vida entrenando sin saber para qué, hasta que un hombre lobo asesina a sus padres y el fantasma de su padre le explica que pertenecía a una sociedad secreta dedicada a salvar Gotham y que debe asumir el manto de Batman. Y toca pelear contra demonios, espíritus y demás, con versiones bastante originales de algunos personajes.

El dibujo es excelente en la mayoría de páginas (en algunas parece a medio hacer) y especialmente adecuado para el tipo de historia que se quiere contar, y la historia se desarrolla de modo completamente fiel a los tropos de ese terror gótico al que homenajea. Pero no termina de encajar, al final todo es demasiado excesivo y yo creo que las mejores historias de Batman son historias mundanas, donde lo sobrehumano se mantiene al mínimo. Novela negra mucho más que terror gótico. Hay excepciones estupendas como Lluvia Roja, de los mismos autores, pero esta no es una. Por ello se queda con tres estrellas: no es un mal tomo, algunas ideas son buenas, pero se ve lastrado por el exceso.

[Ryan Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun Elseworlds Batman story by the best horror duo in comics history; Doug Moench and Kelley Jones. Whereas their previous Elseworlds trilogy had Batman warring with Dracula and the undead, this time they retell Batman's origin as part of a shadowy conspiracy to rid Gotham of demonic forces. I particularly loved the skull design on this Batman's utility belt. Little touches like that are simple but cool ways to set Elseworlds variants apart from the classic versions of DC characters. You can tell Doug and Kelley wanted to use the rest of the iconic Gothic monsters now that they'd had their fill of vampires (we get werewolves, ghosts, demons and a variation on Frankenstein's monster here). Great reading if you like your Batman stories spooky and supernatural!

[Matthew Boyette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge Batman fan. I am also a huge horror fan. With that being said, I loved Kelley Jones’s art in this book. He really brought the Haunted to Gotham. However, the story just wasn’t enough to be compelling or give me a reason to be interested. Bruce is older when his parents ya are killed and presented with his future. Werewolves, Zombies, and a skeleton named Cal were probably the high point of this book.

[Sheila Moreno Moreno · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me ha costado muchísimo leer este cómic. Entiendo muchas de sus referencias y me hacen gracia ciertas situaciones, pero no soy su público. No me convencen además muchas de las situaciones ni Bruce de adulto perdiendo a sus padres (¿por qué no pudo entonces vencer al hombre lobo la primera vez?). Ni el Bruce bebé hablando (me río solo de pensarlo). No me ha gustado, pero lo he podido acabar.

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although I found it interesting at the beginning, it quickly turned into the worst Batman comic I have ever read. It’s kinda like a medieval retelling of Batman and I just didn’t enjoy it. Would not recommend….

[Lilith Leedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The structuring is a bit confusing but if you bite through it you can unearth a kind of mediocre story that changes a lot about the original batman story in a way that ranges from neutral to interesting.

[Ronnie Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wrote me review here -

http://www.thegothamarchives.com/revi...

[Todd Glaeser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman, what big ears you have!

[Stark Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off you need to remember that this is an Elseworlds novel so normal rules don't apply. An interesting tale but not a stand out one

[John Funderburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique take, but an Elseworlds tale that's just okay.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Bruce Wayne’s parents are killed by a werewolf, he dons cape and cowl to become The Batman!

I was skeptical about how haunted Haunted Gotham could be since the standard DC Universe Gotham City is already pretty spooky. But this Elseworlds series clears the bar, presenting a Gotham City with ghouls, talking skeletons, and snake men. This Gotham doesn’t appear on any maps and if you enter it, you can never leave. Even death brings no respite with Dark Gods hunting down souls of the dead.

Here an adult Bruce Wayne has been trained by his parents so he can assume his destiny. With their murder at the hands of a werewolf assassin, Bruce becomes Batman and a pawn in a much larger game. Dr. Thomas Wayne was a member of the “Invisible College,” a league of mortals aligned against the Dark Gods and The Batman was their ultimate weapon, but can Bruce fight evil without becoming evil?

Imaginary stories usually change the setting while the basic hero versus villain story plays out like normal. Bruce Wayne might be Batman in the Old West or he might be fighting against a vampiric Joker, but there’s no real surprise in store. This Batman seems less sure of himself and his ability to take on the supernatural. He’s challenged in ways his DCU counterpart isn’t – ways that make for a compelling – and dark – read.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should almost create a Batman shelf (done), as his books take up most of the "graphic novel" shelf anyway.
This is cheesy but totally fun: Gotham--neo-victorian, here--is cut off from the outside world, as well as from heaven. Souls of those who've died are trapped, to be hunted down by the Dark Lords and devoured. Bruce Wayne is a young adult and his parents, specifically his father, are still alive at the beginning and have been training Bruce for a destiny they will not tell him of. When a werewolf kills his parents, it sets Bruce on a path tot he Batman and the fight against the demons to free Gotham.
A completely new take on the Batman and he gets to fight zombies, werewolves, and demons. Can't go wrong there, man. I did warn you about the cheesiness factor, though. Over-the-top evil pronouncements ending in exclamation points! Agonized utterances in the face of evil mommy soul! Stuff like that.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book having read Moench & Jones's Batman vs Dracula series (Red Rain, Crimson mist & Bloodstorm). Granted it is hard to follow up on such an excellent series, but I thought Haunted Gotham was going to be better... and it could have been.

The story (set in an alternate reality, so it doesn't mess up the current Batman continuity) was a little too weak. Batman doesn't appear to be calculating but too emotional at times (ok, nice departure from the character but not what you would expect).

I can't put my finger on it, but I found it wanting... lacking coherence and in need of a better argument. Ghosts, demons, resurrected bodies, shapeshifters... it seemed a little bit too much. If you want a decent Frankestein-meets-Batman story, I would recommend Castle of the Bat instead.

[Kaitie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haunted Gotham is a strange book...

I'm used to Bruce Wayne's parents being long dead and Gotham having its share of bad guys, but nothing quiet like this version.

Instead, we have the Bruce's parents very much alive at the start of the book and a Gotham overrun with demons, werewolves, zombies, and all sorts of supernatural beings. It was an interesting concept and something different is always fun, but the story never really won me over.

The book was long, but not interesting enough to justify the length, in my opinion at least. I love zombies and such as much as the next person, but it got a little old and I didn't care much, especially because Batman was a little whiny and unsympathetic.

[Anya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alternate Universe, demons, zombies, werewolves, Frankenstein's monster, sorcery, shapeshifting, seances, possession, and complete stupidity.

The artwork was awful. The artists/authors couldn't seem to settle on any particular time period, so Thomas and Martha Wayne look like early Victorian middle class, Cat Majik (Catwoman a.k.a. "gypsy trash") fell out of an '80s Madonna music video, some mid-90s cop show is missing the stereotypical female cop Cassandra Knight, and while surgical theatres are in vogue, but an ambulance drives up to pick up the corpses of the Wayne family, and Batman constantly looks like a jackrabbit (take a look at the cover for a small sample).

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Granted, I haven't read many Batman books (I usually stay away from superhero comics) but this has got to be the worst. It is in a alternate timeline/universe which could have been pretty interesting. The alternate take on the Joker was at least interesting. The artwork was sometimes ok but sometimes i just wondered if the artist were drunk. The perspectives, proportions, poses and other things were really wonky. Batman's cape can apparently alter it's size depending on the dramatic flare of the scene.
The writing was generally pretty terrible as well.
Kind of disappointed I read it I think.

[Duncan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sure Moench had a good story to tell - he always does, after all. This wasn't it, sadly. The pacing was disjointed, the dialogue stilted and stolen from better, earlier stories, and the characters, far from being original to the story, regurgitated (and that violently) from his stories about vampires. I would've liked to have seen his version of an unholy Riddler, Penguin, and Mad Hatter. We got NONE of that. Just more werewolves and zombies and vampires. Sad. The art, well within the range of Kelly Jones, was, sadly also largely taken from their earlier collaboration in Elseworlds.
Give us something NEW, please.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in an alternate, almost steampunk, "haunted" Gotham the book opens with the Wayne family in training Bruce for his future, but as yet still secret to him life. This changes when he witnesses his parents murder at the claws of a werewolf.
I purchased this because it felt similar to Batman:Red Rain, a series I rather enjoyed. This wasn't as good, but still enjoyable. Some of the traditional cast are here, but not in immediately recognizable forms. If you are a fan of alternate Batman stories, I would recommend it.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman fighting the supernatural is not something unheard of. In early issues of Detective Comics, he fought a vampire called The Monk and its werewolf servants. Like Batman: Red Rain, in which Batman fights vampires, this is set in an alternate universe. In this particular universe, Bruce Wayne's parents are still alive well into his adult life. The story contains werewolves, zombies, and serpent-like creatures. The concept was interesting, but I did not like what was done with Martha and Thomas Wayne. And Gordon knowing Batman's identity is rather strange.

[Robert Bussie · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading Batman: Unseen I was excited to pick up this book. It has the same writer Doug Moench, and artist Kelly Jones. I am not a fan of the Else Worlds Stories, but the premise of Gotham City being a supernatural entity sounded promising.

Well, I was highly disappointed. The story is boring and does not make sense at times. The art work does not capture the macabre atmosphere.

[Jake Kilroy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's long and kind of all over the place, without ever really offering up depths of Batman. It has moments of being a wild, totally unique look at the Batman existence, but, for the most part, it's just kind of supernatural and silly. Couldn't rock it.