Batman: The Order of Beasts

Batman: Elseworlds

by Eddie Campbell, Daren White

Eddie Campbell and Daren White's _ The Order of the Beasts_ is another of DC Comics' Elseworlds graphic novels. Set in 1939, this story features a young Bruce Wayne in London about a year after he assumed the mantle of Batman, and Wayne makes use of both his identities to thwart a deranged plot to kill off the members, who include Winston Churchill, of an exclusive gentleman's club prior to the outbreak of World War Two.

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

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Eddie Campbell is a British comics artist and cartoonist whose work has shaped the evolution of modern graphic storytelling. He is widely known as the illustrator and publisher of From Hell, his long collaboration with Alan Moore that reimagines the Jack the Ripper case through an ambitious and meticulously researched narrative. Campbell is also the creator of the long-running semi-autobiographical Alec series, later collected in Alec: The Years Have Pants, and the satirical adventure cycle Bacchus, which follows a handful of Greek gods who have wandered into the contemporary world. His scratchy pen-and-ink technique draws on impressionist influences and early masters of expressive line art, while his writing blends humor, candor, and literary ambition in a manner that critics have compared to Jack Kerouac and Henry Miller.
Campbell began developing autobiographical comics in the late 1970s before expanding the Alec stories throughout the following decades, publishing early instalments through small press networks in London and later with major independent publishers. After moving to Australia in the mid-1980s, he continued to produce both Alec and Bacchus stories while contributing to a range of international anthologies. His partnership with Moore on From Hell, initially serialised in the anthology Taboo, became one of the most acclaimed graphic novels of its era and further cemented his reputation for grounded, character-driven illustration.
Across a varied career Campbell has worked as a creator, editor, publisher, and occasional court illustrator. His contributions to comics have earned him numerous industry awards, including the Eisner Award, the Harvey Award, the Ignatz Award, the Eagle Award, and the UK Comic Art Award. He continues to produce new work while maintaining a strong presence in both literary and comics circles.

Reviews

[Ill D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright. We got some cool stuff going on here. Pretty watercolors that are unadorned as they are pleasing to the eyes are warmly effective. Drifting languidly throughout a WIII era set and setting of Britain (circa 1939 to be exact) the imperial hubris of a bygone era is as redolent as it is pungent in it’s quiet superiority. With the fringes of her Majesty’s Empire ever menacing toward war, Yankee businessman Bruce Wayne shows up on business in the British Isles.

After the where and when is set (surprisingly devoid of the ever present origin tale) our conflict slowly unfolds with sheets of convolution and clearly unthought out consequences fraying at the edges from the half-way point unto the end. Sartorially arrayed with animal masks (recalling an Illuminati gathering) a secret society reveling in the pagan roots of Merrie England does some bad stuff cuz [sic] we need some bad guys to do their bad guy telos. Never really growing into anything well-constructed, the conflict is lip-swishingly more meh than ah.

A 3 star rating is apropos.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was printed under DCs Elseworlds imprint, which were alternate realities which deviated from the established continuity of DC's regular comics. This had been done before with DC “imaginary stories” in some of the 1950s and 60s and the Marvel title What If - BTW why haven’t they collected any of the second volume of What If which came out in the late 80s? All mine where destroyed by a flood, I remember them being pretty good. Elseworlds however went above and beyond, putting the characters into radically different scenarios and settings.

This could almost count as a regular Batman story, except that it takes place in 1939. Which actually is within the timeline of all Batman stories, but as we know the characters origin has to be retconned every few decades, so this is beyond the current Batman’s timeline. The scene takes place in pre-WWII London, about a year into when Batman first begins his vigilante career. It’s nice to see Eddie Campbell’s art put to color for once, which is far beyond the norm.

The plot itself is actually a little silly, while in London, Batman stumbles across a secret society called The Order of the Beasts - a member of which is apparently Winston Churchill - who dress up like animals, just like Batman. Their mission is apparently to try and influence England back to a similar time, but it’s mostly spent in hedonistic pleasure. One by one the members are murdered and their bodies displayed according to an old nursery rhyme. Naturally, Batman has to save the day and does so with gusto.

[Alasondro Alegré · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★½

[Michael Norwitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddie Campbell's Elseworlds tale features a very close analogue to the original 1930's Batman (save for the modern interpretation of Alfred), in this case a character still early in his career getting used to the techniques he is developing as a crimefighter. The story is full of typical British eccentricity (including Batman getting used to Cockney rhyming slang), and ludicrous villains (a men's club who wear animal heads at their meetings) who'd not be out of place in a Batman story of the era. Campbell's artwork continues his tendency to be realistic when he portrays average people but stiff and awkward when portraying heroic types. I enjoyed this book and fans of Campbell who are willing to delve into the superhero world would likely enjoy it as well.

[Ralph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have become a fan of the Elseworlds line. I would have liked to known of them when first run but eBay is slowly rectifying that. This is my third Elseworlds volume & my second such Batman title.

I find the art work rudimentary with a poorly hidden mix of traditional & digital tools. Some panels look like an art student dress them.

I enjoyed the storyline. The secret society that was really ment to be a supper club was a ironic plot. I found the observations of Mr. Goat to be the most telling when I came to the end.

[Jason Holtzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok story set in a new environment for Batman. A fun detective romp, I ultimately can't give it a good faith review because it took me quite a bit to get through this one-shot due to a busy life schedule but, oh well. It was fun with some neat art.

[Rodrigo Tello · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un elseworld totalmente olvidable, de los peores, sin duda

[drown_like_its_1999 · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the eve of WW2, Bruce Wayne visits London for an event and while on patrol as Batman stumbles along two men trying to transport a dead body. The caped crusader discovers the dead man is a high profile mob boss whom appears to have been murdered by a fellow member of a secret society known as the 'Order of Beasts'. Soon he finds himself wrapped up in an investigation into a tangled conspiracy involving high society and an underground network of nazi sympathizers.

As always, Campbell delivers a smart and well constructed tale but one that feels a bit bland and inconsequential given the high stakes premise. I also found Campbell's art less expressive than other works of his like From Hell but there is an enjoyable personality to the art direction, especially in the depiction of the 'order' whom each wear taxidermy masks.

[Andrew Ives · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the gouache art style rather novel, and the cover/back is very atmospheric. Being from London as I am, a Batman story set in London should appeal to me more than most, but it all turned out rather silly. The artwork was very ropey in places, the writing quite ropey throughout with the rhyming slang becoming quickly tiresome. The idea of setting this Elseworlds in 1939, just after Batman appeared in comics, was interesting and the story's style is vaguely reminiscent of those early Bill Finger episodes. The Order of the Beasts is not terrible, but it's certainly not good either. 3/5

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was pretty neat having it take place in another country, but the story telling was sub par. The artwork was unique but seemed very rough and unpolished. This may be percieved as a good thing or a bad thing, for me it is neither. The Order of beasts are an interesting foe that made for wuite a peculiar story.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes with Batman, I wonder why more people don't know he's Bruce Wayne (sorry to spoil it for you). Reading this, it is unlikely many wouldn't know who he is. How convenient that Batman shows up in England at the same time as Wayne. The book has a secret society in it which is fun but for 48 pages, it took me forever to read.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman goes to 1930's London, where a secret society is being killed off to a nursary rhyme. A good little adventure and the artwork is pretty.

[Epeeblade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty silly.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but not quite "there."

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice alternate universe Batman story. Good art and plot. Recommended