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Batman: Urban Legends (2021)
Batman: Urban Legends, Vol. 1
Two of Gotham City's edgiest heroes, Red Hood and Grifter, cross paths with Batman himself in this collection of stories from the new anthology series Batman: Urban Legends. Two top comics writers, Matthew Rosenberg and Chip Zdarsky, enter the world of Gotham City with new tales of Batman, Red Hood, and Grifter in the first volume collecting stories from the thrilling new anthology series Batman: Urban Legends. First, writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Eddy Barrows chronicle Red Hood's investigation of a new drug in Gotham City called Cheerdrops. But this night will NOT go as planned--and as a result, he will end up back in Batman's crosshairs! Then, writer Matthew Rosenberg joins forces with artist Ryan Benjamin for a new tale of Cole Cash--better known as Grifter. Picking up story points from recent Batman issues, readers will learn why Cole is in Gotham to begin with. Plus, discover the truth about the mysterious organization known as HALO, and witness round two of Batman versus Grifter.
This title collects stories from Batman: Urban Legends #1-6.
This title collects stories from Batman: Urban Legends #1-6.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2021
509 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
About the author
Chip Zdarsky
872 books864 followersChip Zdarsky is a Canadian comic book artist and journalist. He was born Steve Murray but is known by his fan base as Chip Zdarsky, and occasionally Todd Diamond. He writes and illustrates an advice column called Extremely Bad Advice for the Canadian national newspaper National Post's The Ampersand, their pop culture section's online edition. He is also the creator of Prison Funnies and Monster Cops.
Source: Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
June 24, 2022
4.5 stars
"Bruce! Where are you?! It's [about] Jason! He's in trouble! It's Mr. Freeze!" -- Barbara 'Oracle' Gordon, on an emergency transmission to Batman, in the opener 'Red Hood: Cheer'
A fair amount of GR friends or even just fellow reviewers have given this volume only adequate or mediocre praise, but I enjoyed the hell out of Batman: Urban Legends. What the two stories - which are different in tone, like tragedy / comedy masks hanging on a wall, but are paired well because of their dissimilarities - may lack in actual depth they more than make up for in their brisk pacing, copious amount of action scenes, and some dramatic / heartfelt moments (especially in the first story 'Red Hood: Cheer') or humorous dialogue (more so in the next story 'Grifter: The Long Con'). However, I will agree with others that the Batman / Red Hood team-up tale - in which the masked duo uneasily (they have obvious differences in their respective crime-fighting styles) but effectively team up to combat the entry of a dangerous new drug, called 'Cheer Drop,' flooding the streets of Gotham City - to be the superior of the two, but even the subsequent narrative, which features con-artist / mercenary Cole 'The Grifter' Cash, to be a ridiculously fun and quip-laden adventure.
"Bruce! Where are you?! It's [about] Jason! He's in trouble! It's Mr. Freeze!" -- Barbara 'Oracle' Gordon, on an emergency transmission to Batman, in the opener 'Red Hood: Cheer'
A fair amount of GR friends or even just fellow reviewers have given this volume only adequate or mediocre praise, but I enjoyed the hell out of Batman: Urban Legends. What the two stories - which are different in tone, like tragedy / comedy masks hanging on a wall, but are paired well because of their dissimilarities - may lack in actual depth they more than make up for in their brisk pacing, copious amount of action scenes, and some dramatic / heartfelt moments (especially in the first story 'Red Hood: Cheer') or humorous dialogue (more so in the next story 'Grifter: The Long Con'). However, I will agree with others that the Batman / Red Hood team-up tale - in which the masked duo uneasily (they have obvious differences in their respective crime-fighting styles) but effectively team up to combat the entry of a dangerous new drug, called 'Cheer Drop,' flooding the streets of Gotham City - to be the superior of the two, but even the subsequent narrative, which features con-artist / mercenary Cole 'The Grifter' Cash, to be a ridiculously fun and quip-laden adventure.
April 17, 2022
Time for DC to throw out another Batman title to the already absurd amount out there right now because those are the only books they publish that sell! The series concept for Urban Legends is limited arcs featuring lesser characters with Batman somewhere in the background. This book’s characters are Batman first pairing up with Red Hood and then in the second half mixing it up with Grifter.
The Batman/Red Hood story isn’t unreadable, it’s just not very interesting. A new drug has hit the streets called Cheer and Red Hood has taken it upon himself to remove it. Along the way he picks up an orphaned kid - orphaned because Red Hoo’s temper got the better of him and he shot the kid’s stepdad! The story plays out predictably but with some decent scenes exploring Bruce and Jason’s complex relationship.
The problem is there isn’t any real mystery or tension over the story - the villain of the week is putting this drug of the week out there and we know who it is early on and, of course, we know the threat will be neutralised after the six issues are up - so all we’re doing is treading water while what we know is going to happen, happens.
Chip Zdarsky might not have any surprises up his sleeve but at least his story is coherent and not wholly boring. He even manages to make Jason’s behaviour understandable given his own troubled childhood and where it ended up - the sequences referencing A Death in the Family are drawn differently too; not exactly like Jim Aparo’s style but a 21st century equivalent.
Compared to the second and final arc in this book though, Zdarsky’s effort is the greatest comic ever written - that’s how bad a writer Matthew Rosenberg is! (And please nobody message me to check out We Can Never Go Home or 4 Kids Walk into a Bank - I’ve read those and they’re garbage, just like everything else I’ve read by this guy.) Worse, he’s picked one of the dreariest characters DC has to write about: Grifter. What’s special about Grifter? Nothing. He’s a douchebag with guns who wears a hanky over his face. Send him back to the trash-heap of crap characters where he belongs forever, DC!
The Long Con should be called The Long Yawn. It’s an unnecessarily convoluted mess of a story about Grifter being Lucius Fox’s security chief, or something contrived, which is why Batman’s there. And it’s all in service of bringing back even less popular characters than Grifter for a series I’m not even going to bother looking up to see if it’s materialised or not, but I’m betting if it did, it’s already cancelled - that’s how little appetite I’m certain people have for that bunch of cheesy ‘90s dross.
There’s nothing noteworthy about Batman: Urban Legends, Volume 1, a book that only further undermines the word “legend” by applying it to such forgettable rubbish. Not worth checking out, Batman fan or otherwise.
The Batman/Red Hood story isn’t unreadable, it’s just not very interesting. A new drug has hit the streets called Cheer and Red Hood has taken it upon himself to remove it. Along the way he picks up an orphaned kid - orphaned because Red Hoo’s temper got the better of him and he shot the kid’s stepdad! The story plays out predictably but with some decent scenes exploring Bruce and Jason’s complex relationship.
The problem is there isn’t any real mystery or tension over the story - the villain of the week is putting this drug of the week out there and we know who it is early on and, of course, we know the threat will be neutralised after the six issues are up - so all we’re doing is treading water while what we know is going to happen, happens.
Chip Zdarsky might not have any surprises up his sleeve but at least his story is coherent and not wholly boring. He even manages to make Jason’s behaviour understandable given his own troubled childhood and where it ended up - the sequences referencing A Death in the Family are drawn differently too; not exactly like Jim Aparo’s style but a 21st century equivalent.
Compared to the second and final arc in this book though, Zdarsky’s effort is the greatest comic ever written - that’s how bad a writer Matthew Rosenberg is! (And please nobody message me to check out We Can Never Go Home or 4 Kids Walk into a Bank - I’ve read those and they’re garbage, just like everything else I’ve read by this guy.) Worse, he’s picked one of the dreariest characters DC has to write about: Grifter. What’s special about Grifter? Nothing. He’s a douchebag with guns who wears a hanky over his face. Send him back to the trash-heap of crap characters where he belongs forever, DC!
The Long Con should be called The Long Yawn. It’s an unnecessarily convoluted mess of a story about Grifter being Lucius Fox’s security chief, or something contrived, which is why Batman’s there. And it’s all in service of bringing back even less popular characters than Grifter for a series I’m not even going to bother looking up to see if it’s materialised or not, but I’m betting if it did, it’s already cancelled - that’s how little appetite I’m certain people have for that bunch of cheesy ‘90s dross.
There’s nothing noteworthy about Batman: Urban Legends, Volume 1, a book that only further undermines the word “legend” by applying it to such forgettable rubbish. Not worth checking out, Batman fan or otherwise.
October 13, 2024
A good book. It contains the six issues of the Urban Legonds mini seties. The main story is the now and then between Jason/Robin and Bruce/Batman and the now relationship between Red Hood and Batman. A new drug is hitting the streets of Gotham it will force Red Hood to face issues he long thought buried.
Jason always felt second best as Robin, now the rebel and the bad boy of the Bat family he needs once again, proves himself again and also punishes and helps some people along the way.
The second story, (I am glad they separated them two so each one could be read as a whole), is about Grifter. I was surprised to see Grifter in the main DC universe. I did not follow Wild C.A.T.S but he seems to be a great fit. Big thing to come.
A good book with two good story arcs, and both can be built on in the main books. Good artwork and good character development.
Jason always felt second best as Robin, now the rebel and the bad boy of the Bat family he needs once again, proves himself again and also punishes and helps some people along the way.
The second story, (I am glad they separated them two so each one could be read as a whole), is about Grifter. I was surprised to see Grifter in the main DC universe. I did not follow Wild C.A.T.S but he seems to be a great fit. Big thing to come.
A good book with two good story arcs, and both can be built on in the main books. Good artwork and good character development.
April 24, 2022
I picked this up based on the cover, figuring a Batman book by decent writers Chip Zdarsky and Matthew Rosenberg would be . . . decent. But once I cracked the cover I found this is actually a Gotham City mullet, with Red Hood/Jason Todd all business in the front and Grifter/Cole Cash having a party in the back.
Jason Todd's tale is a sequel to Batman: A Death in the Family, with Jason having repeated flashback to the events of that title, as he copes with how he and his foster father Bruce Wayne have failed to fully and mutually process their feelings about what happened. Jason is also having second thoughts about his use of lethal force in stopping criminals when he is confronted with some repercussions he has previously ignored. And there's a new villain named Cheer running around who isn't particularly important.
I've never liked Jason Todd, and though Zdarsky comes as close as anyone to changing that, he still falls short and I would be happiest if Jason just walked off panel one day and never returned. But at least I don't actively hate Jason Todd the way I do Grifter. I really dislike the decision to shove him into Gotham City in the "Future State" books and continue with him here, a bad character in a bad story. Unreadable garbage.
Batman: Urban Legends is basically a revival of the old Batman Family giant-size comic book anthology I enjoyed as a kid back in the 1970s. Each issue has four stories featuring different characters, so even though I didn't much like this first collection, it's only half of the material that appeared in the first six issues, and I'll probably still try the next collection since it will have a different mix of characters and creators.
FOR REFERENCE:
Collects only the Red Hood and Grifter features originally published in single magazine form in Batman: Urban Legends 1-6. Does not include all material published in those issues. (The excluded stories featured Harley Quinn, Outsiders, Oracle, Lady Shiva, Batwing, Tim Drake, Batgirls, Zealot, and Black Canary.)
Contents:
Red Hood: Cheer
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 1 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows with Eber Ferreira, artists; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); Hicham Habchi, cover art
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 2 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows, pencils; Eber Ferreira and Julio Ferreira, inks; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); Hicham Habchi, cover art
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 3 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira with Jesus Merino, artists; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson, cover art
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 4 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows, pencils; Eber Ferreira, inks; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); Jorge Molina, cover art
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 5 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira and Diogenes Neves, artists; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); David Finch and Danny Miki, cover art
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 6 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira and Scott Eaton and Julio Ferreira with Oclair Albert, artists; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); Nicola Scott, cover art
Grifter: The Long Con
• Grifter: The Long Con, [Part One] / Matthew Rosenberg, writer; Ryan Benjamin, artist; Kael Ngu, variant cover art
• Grifter: The Long Con, Part Two / Matthew Rosenberg, writer; Ryan Benjamin, artist; Francesco Mattina, variant cover art
• Grifter: The Long Con, Part Three / Matthew Rosenberg, writer; Ryan Benjamin, artist; David Marquez, variant cover art
• Grifter: The Long Con, Part Four / Matthew Rosenberg, writer; Ryan Benjamin, artist
• Grifter: The Long Con, Part Five / Matthew Rosenberg, writer; Ryan Benjamin, artist
Jason Todd's tale is a sequel to Batman: A Death in the Family, with Jason having repeated flashback to the events of that title, as he copes with how he and his foster father Bruce Wayne have failed to fully and mutually process their feelings about what happened. Jason is also having second thoughts about his use of lethal force in stopping criminals when he is confronted with some repercussions he has previously ignored. And there's a new villain named Cheer running around who isn't particularly important.
I've never liked Jason Todd, and though Zdarsky comes as close as anyone to changing that, he still falls short and I would be happiest if Jason just walked off panel one day and never returned. But at least I don't actively hate Jason Todd the way I do Grifter. I really dislike the decision to shove him into Gotham City in the "Future State" books and continue with him here, a bad character in a bad story. Unreadable garbage.
Batman: Urban Legends is basically a revival of the old Batman Family giant-size comic book anthology I enjoyed as a kid back in the 1970s. Each issue has four stories featuring different characters, so even though I didn't much like this first collection, it's only half of the material that appeared in the first six issues, and I'll probably still try the next collection since it will have a different mix of characters and creators.
FOR REFERENCE:
Collects only the Red Hood and Grifter features originally published in single magazine form in Batman: Urban Legends 1-6. Does not include all material published in those issues. (The excluded stories featured Harley Quinn, Outsiders, Oracle, Lady Shiva, Batwing, Tim Drake, Batgirls, Zealot, and Black Canary.)
Contents:
Red Hood: Cheer
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 1 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows with Eber Ferreira, artists; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); Hicham Habchi, cover art
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 2 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows, pencils; Eber Ferreira and Julio Ferreira, inks; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); Hicham Habchi, cover art
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 3 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira with Jesus Merino, artists; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson, cover art
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 4 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows, pencils; Eber Ferreira, inks; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); Jorge Molina, cover art
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 5 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira and Diogenes Neves, artists; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); David Finch and Danny Miki, cover art
• Red Hood and Batman: Cheer, Part 6 of 6 / Chip Zdarsky, writer; Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira and Scott Eaton and Julio Ferreira with Oclair Albert, artists; Marcus To, artist (flashbacks); Nicola Scott, cover art
Grifter: The Long Con
• Grifter: The Long Con, [Part One] / Matthew Rosenberg, writer; Ryan Benjamin, artist; Kael Ngu, variant cover art
• Grifter: The Long Con, Part Two / Matthew Rosenberg, writer; Ryan Benjamin, artist; Francesco Mattina, variant cover art
• Grifter: The Long Con, Part Three / Matthew Rosenberg, writer; Ryan Benjamin, artist; David Marquez, variant cover art
• Grifter: The Long Con, Part Four / Matthew Rosenberg, writer; Ryan Benjamin, artist
• Grifter: The Long Con, Part Five / Matthew Rosenberg, writer; Ryan Benjamin, artist
June 20, 2022
This only collects the 2 main stories from Batman: Urban Legends #1-6. I presume the rest will make a later cut.
Red Hood by Chip Zdarsky, Eddy Barrows & Marcus To
There's a new drug in town, both the Red Hood and Batman are working separately to track it down. Jason comes across a kid who was in a similar situation as he was growing up and it strikes a nerve. So the story flashes back and forth between now and then as the Jason and Batman reexamine their relationship. It's solid.
Grifter by Matthew Rosenberg and Ryan Benjamin
The Wildstorm character whose return no one was clamoring for. Cole Cash is a reckless motor mouth who somehow gets things to work out for him. The story has so much double-dealing that it's hard to follow. This is really just an excuse to bring Grifter's team from the Wildstorm universe as well. Something Probably only Jim Lee is a fan of.
Red Hood by Chip Zdarsky, Eddy Barrows & Marcus To
There's a new drug in town, both the Red Hood and Batman are working separately to track it down. Jason comes across a kid who was in a similar situation as he was growing up and it strikes a nerve. So the story flashes back and forth between now and then as the Jason and Batman reexamine their relationship. It's solid.
Grifter by Matthew Rosenberg and Ryan Benjamin
The Wildstorm character whose return no one was clamoring for. Cole Cash is a reckless motor mouth who somehow gets things to work out for him. The story has so much double-dealing that it's hard to follow. This is really just an excuse to bring Grifter's team from the Wildstorm universe as well. Something Probably only Jim Lee is a fan of.
December 13, 2022
The Jason Todd story alone makes this 5 stars. Easily the best Red Hood story I’ve read so far! 5/5 stars and a new favorite graphic novel.
August 12, 2021
Just rating the Chip Zdarsky story Red Hood and Bats: Cheer!
It starts with Red hood investigating some new drug named Cheerdrops and he comes across this boy Tyler and he saves him and finds his dad and does some extreme things to him and then its Bruce vs Jason in an epic fight because of his action and then team up and they investigate connection to fear gas, coming of Mr Freeze and a new villain named Cheer and we follow what he does, his origin and the ultimate rescue of Bruce. Meanwhile in the past we see Jason and Bruce's father-son dynamic and in the present when he is changed because of his adoptive father and I love the way Chip writes him, he redeems the character in such a great way!
This story was so good and like heartful and impacts and hits in the right places and tells about this weird and brutal history of JASON and Bruce but by the end redeems him and even Bruce to a bit, when he is kidnapped it is Jason who rescues him and finally after all this time of being secluded he accepts the family and thats such a great and natural change and I love the way Chip does it. And the art is next level. Eddy has always been good but here he unleashes it all and its just a blessing to read it. One of the best modern day Batman stories ever!
It starts with Red hood investigating some new drug named Cheerdrops and he comes across this boy Tyler and he saves him and finds his dad and does some extreme things to him and then its Bruce vs Jason in an epic fight because of his action and then team up and they investigate connection to fear gas, coming of Mr Freeze and a new villain named Cheer and we follow what he does, his origin and the ultimate rescue of Bruce. Meanwhile in the past we see Jason and Bruce's father-son dynamic and in the present when he is changed because of his adoptive father and I love the way Chip writes him, he redeems the character in such a great way!
This story was so good and like heartful and impacts and hits in the right places and tells about this weird and brutal history of JASON and Bruce but by the end redeems him and even Bruce to a bit, when he is kidnapped it is Jason who rescues him and finally after all this time of being secluded he accepts the family and thats such a great and natural change and I love the way Chip does it. And the art is next level. Eddy has always been good but here he unleashes it all and its just a blessing to read it. One of the best modern day Batman stories ever!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2025
First half was really good but you lost me in the second story 😭😬
January 30, 2022
This is a weird collected edition, as it only collects the 6 Red Hood issues by Chip Zdarsky, and the 6 Grifter issues by Matthew Rosenberg. None of the other Urban Legends stories make it through, so if you want to read Tim Drake coming out, you’ll have to track down the single issues.
The main reason I got this was Zdarsky’s Red Hood series, which doesn’t disappoint and is reason enough to buy this collection. Jason Todd is finally given a decent story with some proper character development, which is a blessing because between that terrible nonsense by Scott Lobdell, or Geoff Johns making him an incel in Three Jokers, Jason has frankly been shafted over the years. For the longest time, I thought he should just go back to being a Batfamily villain like he was during Grant Morrison’s run, but this book has shown why Jason can still work as a hero. Thank you Zdarsky.
Now the grifter story is honestly pretty forgettable. I read this collection this morning and honestly couldn’t tell you a single thing that happens in this story besides Grifter fighting Batman at one point. Pretty forgettable, which is a shame because I usually like Rosenberg, and the Wildstorm characters aren’t completely uninteresting, but this story is.
4.5 stars for the Red Hood story, and 2 for the Grifter one.
The main reason I got this was Zdarsky’s Red Hood series, which doesn’t disappoint and is reason enough to buy this collection. Jason Todd is finally given a decent story with some proper character development, which is a blessing because between that terrible nonsense by Scott Lobdell, or Geoff Johns making him an incel in Three Jokers, Jason has frankly been shafted over the years. For the longest time, I thought he should just go back to being a Batfamily villain like he was during Grant Morrison’s run, but this book has shown why Jason can still work as a hero. Thank you Zdarsky.
Now the grifter story is honestly pretty forgettable. I read this collection this morning and honestly couldn’t tell you a single thing that happens in this story besides Grifter fighting Batman at one point. Pretty forgettable, which is a shame because I usually like Rosenberg, and the Wildstorm characters aren’t completely uninteresting, but this story is.
4.5 stars for the Red Hood story, and 2 for the Grifter one.
January 26, 2022
60% | C+ | Good
"Guns are a coward's weapon...and we will not be cowards"
The first story featuring Jason Todd is bloody brilliant. It's an exploration of the relationship between Bruce and Jason, whilst also serving as a character study for Red Hood. Unfortunately, the second story centred around the Grifter does not live up to the standard that is set. Sometimes Batman stories with very little to no Batman work, sometimes they don't. This is the latter. Cole is not an interesting protagonist, and his story is extremely forgettable and somewhat bland. A book definitely worth reading for the Red Hood story alone, but be prepared for a let down if you plan on reading the whole thing. As a complete sidenote, WildC.A.T.S is an awful team name and I know it was made before High School Musical, but my brain keeps thinking of Troy Bolton...
"Guns are a coward's weapon...and we will not be cowards"
Two separate stories, one featuring Red Hood investigating a new drug called Cheerdrops, the other a story revolving around Cole Cash A.K.A Grifter.
The first story featuring Jason Todd is bloody brilliant. It's an exploration of the relationship between Bruce and Jason, whilst also serving as a character study for Red Hood. Unfortunately, the second story centred around the Grifter does not live up to the standard that is set. Sometimes Batman stories with very little to no Batman work, sometimes they don't. This is the latter. Cole is not an interesting protagonist, and his story is extremely forgettable and somewhat bland. A book definitely worth reading for the Red Hood story alone, but be prepared for a let down if you plan on reading the whole thing. As a complete sidenote, WildC.A.T.S is an awful team name and I know it was made before High School Musical, but my brain keeps thinking of Troy Bolton...
Read
March 4, 2022Not going to rate as in truth I only read the first half which covered the Batman/Red Hood story by Zdarsky, which in fairness I'd probably rate 4 stars on the strength of the writing and art.
I honestly couldn't summon any interest into the one about Grifter, now or ever.
I honestly couldn't summon any interest into the one about Grifter, now or ever.
December 3, 2021
DC are collecting this in some bizarre ways. This first volume only includes the Red Hood and Grifter stories that ran through the first few issues of the run, rather than everything, which is a shame because it's definitely lopsided in terms of quality as a result.
The Red Hood story is absolutely brilliant. Chip Zdarsky's deep-dive into Red Hood's past and the simple-yet-effective story land extremely well, and it looks beautiful since the artwork's shared between Eddy Barrows and Marcus To. Batman and Red Hood have some actually meaningful conversations and breakthroughs as well, and there's still some good ol' fashioned superheroics involving Mister Freeze.
The Grifter story however is utterly naff. I just couldn't bring myself to care, because it goes around and around in circles. Cole moans about Lucius, Lucius moans about Cole, there's some shooting, and then we do it all again next time. It's unnecessary, and it's boring. Ryan Benjamin's art is serviceable, but nothing to write home about.
Urban Legends is an anthology series so you're always going to get some good and some bad. It's just a shame that the good in this volume is so good because it makes the bad look even worse, which is a mean feat.
The Red Hood story is absolutely brilliant. Chip Zdarsky's deep-dive into Red Hood's past and the simple-yet-effective story land extremely well, and it looks beautiful since the artwork's shared between Eddy Barrows and Marcus To. Batman and Red Hood have some actually meaningful conversations and breakthroughs as well, and there's still some good ol' fashioned superheroics involving Mister Freeze.
The Grifter story however is utterly naff. I just couldn't bring myself to care, because it goes around and around in circles. Cole moans about Lucius, Lucius moans about Cole, there's some shooting, and then we do it all again next time. It's unnecessary, and it's boring. Ryan Benjamin's art is serviceable, but nothing to write home about.
Urban Legends is an anthology series so you're always going to get some good and some bad. It's just a shame that the good in this volume is so good because it makes the bad look even worse, which is a mean feat.
December 31, 2021
My last comic book read of 2021!
I've read a couple of the Batman: Urban Legends issues with my DC Universe app. For the most part they were interesting. A handful of stories centering on certain Bat-Family characters. But I was really only interested in one story arc, so I never felt like buying the book. That is until I found out that this book only contains the 2 main stories in the collection. "Cheer" and "The Long Con".
"The Long Con" is a very entertaining Grifter story that is a build up to introducing the WildC.A.T.S. into the current DC continuity. I don't know enough about the Wildstorm Universe to fully understand most of these characters. But I was thoroughly entertained with Grifters interactions with the Bat-Fam.
Now the main reason why I got this book is for the "Cheer" story. A Red Hood and Batman team up story that literally had me hooked from issue 1. This story was far better, and did far more for the character of Red Hood, than anything that's been published since his debut in "Under the Red Hood". After years of pointless plot lines by Scott Lobdell seemingly undoing everything that made Jubb Winnick's character great; this was like a godsend for Red Hood fans. I really hope Chip Zdarsky gets put in charge of Red Hood for the foreseeable future.
I've read a couple of the Batman: Urban Legends issues with my DC Universe app. For the most part they were interesting. A handful of stories centering on certain Bat-Family characters. But I was really only interested in one story arc, so I never felt like buying the book. That is until I found out that this book only contains the 2 main stories in the collection. "Cheer" and "The Long Con".
"The Long Con" is a very entertaining Grifter story that is a build up to introducing the WildC.A.T.S. into the current DC continuity. I don't know enough about the Wildstorm Universe to fully understand most of these characters. But I was thoroughly entertained with Grifters interactions with the Bat-Fam.
Now the main reason why I got this book is for the "Cheer" story. A Red Hood and Batman team up story that literally had me hooked from issue 1. This story was far better, and did far more for the character of Red Hood, than anything that's been published since his debut in "Under the Red Hood". After years of pointless plot lines by Scott Lobdell seemingly undoing everything that made Jubb Winnick's character great; this was like a godsend for Red Hood fans. I really hope Chip Zdarsky gets put in charge of Red Hood for the foreseeable future.
February 6, 2022
This is very good. There are two really exciting stories. The first one is about Red Hood, the second one is about the former Wildcats character, Grifter. With really high-quality writing from Matt Rosenberg and Chip Zdarsky, we also got some pretty stellar art from Ryan Benjamin, Eddie Darrows, Marcus To, Jesus Metino, Diogenes Nieves, and Scot Eaton. All in all, it made me want to read more Red Hood and more Grifter. The characterization and dialogue was really spot on. Definitely worth reading.
May 12, 2024
Zdarsky very clearly has not read Jason’s time as Robin or his relationship with Bruce, but at least I got Jason good with kids.
January 19, 2022
I primarily picked this up because I've been enjoying most of what Zdarsky has been doing over at Marvel. This volume contains two 6 part stories, one by Zdarksy and the other by Rosenberg.
Zdarksy's stars the Red Hood and Batman. It primarily delves into some of Jason's history and difficulties with Bruce all while both are investigating a new villain and a new drug that is killing Gothamites. The first three issues explain a lot about Jason's past and just what is making him pursue the sort of "justice" which puts him at odds with Batman. Zdarksy writes some strong stuff when it comes to the personalities of the two, however, the main plot had a few incongruous moments that didn't flow well. The character stuff was excellent but the crime plot needed some polishing.
Rosenberg's story mostly deals with Grifter. Batman is in it a minor bit and there is reference to their previous meeting(s) which I had not read or was aware of. He writes a small bit of background on Cole and showcases Grifter's attitude and "humor". It also serves as a reintroduction of the WildCATS to the DCU. Overall, it's...ok. I just don't care about the character so it didn't interest me that much. Fans of the character will probably like it though. From what I can tell the WildCATS still didn't get brought back. The art isn't bad though.
Zdarksy's stars the Red Hood and Batman. It primarily delves into some of Jason's history and difficulties with Bruce all while both are investigating a new villain and a new drug that is killing Gothamites. The first three issues explain a lot about Jason's past and just what is making him pursue the sort of "justice" which puts him at odds with Batman. Zdarksy writes some strong stuff when it comes to the personalities of the two, however, the main plot had a few incongruous moments that didn't flow well. The character stuff was excellent but the crime plot needed some polishing.
Rosenberg's story mostly deals with Grifter. Batman is in it a minor bit and there is reference to their previous meeting(s) which I had not read or was aware of. He writes a small bit of background on Cole and showcases Grifter's attitude and "humor". It also serves as a reintroduction of the WildCATS to the DCU. Overall, it's...ok. I just don't care about the character so it didn't interest me that much. Fans of the character will probably like it though. From what I can tell the WildCATS still didn't get brought back. The art isn't bad though.
December 23, 2021
So this was two big stories in one.
The first deals with Red Hood. Interesting way of how Jason views Bruce. How his anger gets the better as him. Dealing with that and going back and forth between his child life, it was pretty interesting to see. Also to see Bruce have a heart is always a plus. Together they must stop the villains and it works well for character growth. Second story is about Grifter who kind of comes off really...boring.
Overall the first half is pretty solid though it felt like a little "Been there done that" for me. But the second half really soured the book and I got really bored by the second half of the second story.
A 3 out of 5.
The first deals with Red Hood. Interesting way of how Jason views Bruce. How his anger gets the better as him. Dealing with that and going back and forth between his child life, it was pretty interesting to see. Also to see Bruce have a heart is always a plus. Together they must stop the villains and it works well for character growth. Second story is about Grifter who kind of comes off really...boring.
Overall the first half is pretty solid though it felt like a little "Been there done that" for me. But the second half really soured the book and I got really bored by the second half of the second story.
A 3 out of 5.
January 16, 2022
Not bad. This was an anthology series with 3-4 different mini-stories in each issue. The main story was a 6 part Red Hood story by Chip Zdarsky. It featured a new villain named Cheer that used a modified version of Scarecrow’s fear toxin. It was good. I liked it. Focused a lot on Jason and Bruce’s relationship. The other story I read was a Grifter story by Matt Rosenberg. It wasn’t bad. Grifter toes the line of being funny and annoying.
Other stories featured The Outsiders, Tim Drake, and The Batgirls.
Other stories featured The Outsiders, Tim Drake, and The Batgirls.
March 30, 2022
These were good stories, not great though. The stories do not feel canon they seem more like elsewhere stories. I read these in single issues and re-reading them here is interesting. The Red-Hood redemption story was good and probably better read all at once. The Grifter story was just not that good almost like it was trying to hard. Oh well, the collection was a quick read.
March 13, 2024
It's fun! But doesn't feel like anything that hasn't been done before.
January 27, 2026
Batman: Urban Legends, Vol. 1 by Chip Zdarsky (with Matthew Rosenberg)
Batman: Urban Legends, Vol. 1 is not a traditional Batman story so much as a grim anthology about the emotional fallout of living in Gotham. Instead of centering Bruce Wayne as the singular lens, this volume shifts focus to characters orbiting the Bat — most notably Jason Todd — and asks an uncomfortable question: what happens when Batman’s moral code isn’t enough?
The book is split into two very different halves: Chip Zdarsky’s devastating Red Hood arc, “Cheer”, and Matthew Rosenberg’s chaotic, off-kilter Grifter story, “The Long Con.” Together, they make for an uneven but emotionally resonant collection that feels more like Gotham overheard at street level than Gotham viewed from a gargoyle.
General Thoughts
Zdarsky’s writing is the real standout here. His take on Jason Todd is raw, angry, and heartbreakingly human. This isn’t Red Hood as a cool anti-hero — this is a deeply traumatized man lashing out at a system he believes has already failed the most vulnerable. Gotham feels oppressive, dirty, and cruel in a way that perfectly matches the story’s themes.
The Grifter arc, by contrast, is intentionally messy. It’s funny, violent, and unpredictable, but it lacks the emotional weight of Cheer. Whether that tonal whiplash works will depend entirely on the reader. For me, it mostly works — but it never reaches the same heights.
Issue-by-Issue Breakdown (Major Plot Twists)
Batman: Urban Legends #1 — “Cheer, Part One”
Batman: Urban Legends #2 — “Cheer, Part Two”
Batman: Urban Legends #3–4 — “Cheer” (Midpoint)
Batman: Urban Legends #5–6 — “The Long Con” (Grifter)
Final Verdict
What works:
- Deep, painful character work for Jason Todd
- A Gotham that feels lived-in and cruel
- Zdarsky’s willingness to let actions have consequences
What doesn’t always work:
- Tonal whiplash between Cheer and Grifter
- The anthology structure limits emotional payoff for side stories
Overall: Batman: Urban Legends, Vol. 1 is messy, ambitious, and often devastating. The Cheer arc alone makes this volume worth reading, standing as one of the strongest Red Hood stories in years. The Grifter material won’t be for everyone, but it reinforces the book’s central theme: in Gotham, everyone is compromised — some just admit it sooner.
Recommended for: readers who enjoy morally complex Batman stories, character-driven drama, and aren’t afraid of seeing the Bat-family at their breaking point.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⚝
January 16, 2024
Batman: Urban Legends Vol. 1 collects the Red Hood and Grifter storylines from issues 1-6 of the DC Comics series. The Red Hood storyline is written by Chip Zdarsky with art by Eddy Darrows, Marcus To, Jesus Merino, Diogenes Neves, and Scot Eaton. The Grifter storyline is written by Matthew Rosenberg and art by Ryan Benjamin.
3.5/5⭐️ Red Hood: Cheer - There is a new drug making the rounds of Gotham's streets that makes people hallucinate feelings of joy and happiness. These users end up putting themselves in harm's way while under the influence. When a mother overdoses and the father wants nothing to do with his son, Red Hood takes matters into his owns hands to protect a young boy and get this drug off the street by any means necessary.
2.5/5⭐️ The Grifter: The Long Con - The Grifter is working as the personal guard of WayneTech CEO Lucius Fox, but his motives come in to question as he continuously pushes the boundaries and is sneaking around Wayne Tower.
The Red Hood story was solid and I was impressed with how quick Zdarsky got a feel for these Batfamily characters. As someone who knows nothing about the WildCATS universe, I was very confused reading the Grifter issues. I thought the person he was talking to the whole time was an inner voice like Deadpool, not someone on a radio. But as it continued, I enjoyed pieces of it even though it makes zero sense that Lucius and Bruce would trust Grifter in Wayne Tower snooping around. The Superman cameo is fun. Overall this was good and I like the idea of the book to give Gotham characters further exposure and storylines.
3.5/5⭐️ Red Hood: Cheer - There is a new drug making the rounds of Gotham's streets that makes people hallucinate feelings of joy and happiness. These users end up putting themselves in harm's way while under the influence. When a mother overdoses and the father wants nothing to do with his son, Red Hood takes matters into his owns hands to protect a young boy and get this drug off the street by any means necessary.
2.5/5⭐️ The Grifter: The Long Con - The Grifter is working as the personal guard of WayneTech CEO Lucius Fox, but his motives come in to question as he continuously pushes the boundaries and is sneaking around Wayne Tower.
The Red Hood story was solid and I was impressed with how quick Zdarsky got a feel for these Batfamily characters. As someone who knows nothing about the WildCATS universe, I was very confused reading the Grifter issues. I thought the person he was talking to the whole time was an inner voice like Deadpool, not someone on a radio. But as it continued, I enjoyed pieces of it even though it makes zero sense that Lucius and Bruce would trust Grifter in Wayne Tower snooping around. The Superman cameo is fun. Overall this was good and I like the idea of the book to give Gotham characters further exposure and storylines.
May 12, 2022
A decent enough first volume. The Red Hood story was much stronger than the Grifter one, but the end to the Grifter one had a very exciting revelation that signals cool things to come for 90s Image fans. Recommended.
January 30, 2023
[4/5] Red Hood Story
This one was great. It really develops red hood as a character and shows his complex relationship with Bruce.
[2/5] Grifter Story
This one boring as hell, and honestly I felt like grifter didn’t do anything/had no purpose. Idk, maybe I just don’t know enough about him?
This one was great. It really develops red hood as a character and shows his complex relationship with Bruce.
[2/5] Grifter Story
This one boring as hell, and honestly I felt like grifter didn’t do anything/had no purpose. Idk, maybe I just don’t know enough about him?
April 16, 2023
The first part of this volume was probably the best Red Hood and Batman story I’ve ever read. Truly loved the dynamic and growth in this version. This would have gotten 5 stars easily if that was the only story in this edition. However, there was a second story which sadly was a bit more boring. Which is a shame, I tend to love it when comics focus on lesser known characters rather than just retelling the same 5 batman and Superman stories again and again. But I just didn’t care about grifter at all. There was some humor and the ending made me curious though, so there is that at least.
January 24, 2025
Jason Todd my Sheila😔💔
August 4, 2025
Artist try not to make 23 year old Jason Todd look like he’s 40 challenge
Difficulty: impossible
Difficulty: impossible
May 12, 2024
It was good, but I’m mainly here for Red Hood😅
March 9, 2024
Thought this was pretty good but seems every year or two we get another story about the relationship between Bruce ND Jason. Just doesn't seem all that new these days.
The Grifter story was a confusing mess, though. I really don't have much knowledge of him or Wildcats so that couldn't have helped.
The Grifter story was a confusing mess, though. I really don't have much knowledge of him or Wildcats so that couldn't have helped.
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