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Batman One-Shots
Batman & Demon: A Tragedy
Something is stalking the streets of Gotham. A mysterious being is brutally slaying the villains that normally prey on the city's innocents ? a supernatural, demonic creature that looks strangely like a bat. Billionaire Bruce Wayne confronts the menace of the "bat-Demon" and learns a shocking secret about himself and those closest to him in BATMAN/DEMON: A TRAGEDY, a dramatic Elseworlds one-shot in the Prestige Format written by Alan Grant (veteran writer of both characters) with lavish painted art by Jim Murray (BATMAN/JUDGE DREDD: DIE LAUGHING). Discovering that not only his beloved manservant Alfred, but even his own memories, cannot be trusted, Wayne uncovers a startling connection between himself and the Demon. When he realizes there is only one way to stop the creature's disturbing murders, will Wayne make the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of Gotham's villains? This project is supported with house ads. BATMAN/DEMON: A TRAGEDY is a 48-page one-shot in the Prestige Format, edited by Dennis O'Neil.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
85 people want to read
About the author
Alan Grant
1,726 books143 followersAlan Grant was a Scottish comic book writer known for writing Judge Dredd in 2000 AD as well as various Batman titles during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is also the creator of the character Anarky.
Alan Grant first entered the comics industry in 1967 when he became an editor for D.C. Thomson before moving to London from Dundee in 1970 to work for IPC on various romance magazines. After going back to college and having a series of jobs, Grant found himself back in Dundee and living on Social Security. He then met John Wagner, another former D.C. Thompson editor, who was helping put together a new science fiction comic for IPC, 2000 A.D., and was unable to complete his other work. Wagner asked Grant if he could help him write the Tarzan comic he was working on; so began the Wagner/Grant writing partnership.
The pair eventually co-wrote Judge Dredd. They would work on other popular strips for the comic, including Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog using the pseudonym T.B. Grover. Grant also worked on other people's stories, changing and adding dialogue, most notably Harry Twenty on the High Rock, written by Gerry Finley-Day. Judge Dredd would be Grant's main concern for much of the 1980s. Grant and Wagner had developed the strip into the most popular in 2000AD as well as creating lengthy epic storylines such as The Apocalypse War. Grant also wrote for other IPC comics such as the revamped Eagle.
By the late 1980s, Grant and Wagner were about to move into the American comic market. Their first title was a 12-issue miniseries called Outcasts for DC Comics. Although it wasn't a success, it paved the way for the pair to write Batman stories in Detective Comics from issue 583, largely with Norm Breyfogle on art duties across the various Batman titles Grant moved to. After a dozen issues, Wagner left Grant as sole writer. Grant was one of the main Batman writers until the late 1990s. The pair also created a four issue series for Epic Comics called The Last American. This series, as well as the Chopper storyline in Judge Dredd, is blamed for the breakup of the Wagner/Grant partnership. The pair split strips, with Wagner keeping Judge Dredd and Grant keeping Strontium Dog and Judge Anderson. Grant and Wagner continue to work together on special projects such as the Batman/Judge Dredd crossover Judgement on Gotham. During the late 1980s, Grant experienced a philosophical transformation and declared himself an anarchist. The creation of the supervillain Anarky was initially intended as a vehicle for exploring his political opinions through the comic medium. In the following years, he would continue to utilize the character in a similar fashion as his philosophy evolved.
Grant's projects at the start of the 90s included writing Detective Comics and Strontium Dog, but two projects in particular are especially notable. The first is The Bogie Man, a series co-written by Wagner which was the pair's first venture into independent publishing. The second is Lobo, a character created by Keith Giffen as a supporting character in The Omega Men. Lobo gained his own four issue mini series in 1990 which was drawn by Simon Bisley. This was a parody of the 'dark, gritty' comics of the time and proved hugely popular. After several other miniseries (all written by Grant, sometimes with Giffen as co-writer), Lobo received his own ongoing series. Grant was also writing L.E.G.I.O.N. (a Legion of Super-Heroes spin-off) and The Demon (a revival of Jack Kirby's charac
Alan Grant first entered the comics industry in 1967 when he became an editor for D.C. Thomson before moving to London from Dundee in 1970 to work for IPC on various romance magazines. After going back to college and having a series of jobs, Grant found himself back in Dundee and living on Social Security. He then met John Wagner, another former D.C. Thompson editor, who was helping put together a new science fiction comic for IPC, 2000 A.D., and was unable to complete his other work. Wagner asked Grant if he could help him write the Tarzan comic he was working on; so began the Wagner/Grant writing partnership.
The pair eventually co-wrote Judge Dredd. They would work on other popular strips for the comic, including Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog using the pseudonym T.B. Grover. Grant also worked on other people's stories, changing and adding dialogue, most notably Harry Twenty on the High Rock, written by Gerry Finley-Day. Judge Dredd would be Grant's main concern for much of the 1980s. Grant and Wagner had developed the strip into the most popular in 2000AD as well as creating lengthy epic storylines such as The Apocalypse War. Grant also wrote for other IPC comics such as the revamped Eagle.
By the late 1980s, Grant and Wagner were about to move into the American comic market. Their first title was a 12-issue miniseries called Outcasts for DC Comics. Although it wasn't a success, it paved the way for the pair to write Batman stories in Detective Comics from issue 583, largely with Norm Breyfogle on art duties across the various Batman titles Grant moved to. After a dozen issues, Wagner left Grant as sole writer. Grant was one of the main Batman writers until the late 1990s. The pair also created a four issue series for Epic Comics called The Last American. This series, as well as the Chopper storyline in Judge Dredd, is blamed for the breakup of the Wagner/Grant partnership. The pair split strips, with Wagner keeping Judge Dredd and Grant keeping Strontium Dog and Judge Anderson. Grant and Wagner continue to work together on special projects such as the Batman/Judge Dredd crossover Judgement on Gotham. During the late 1980s, Grant experienced a philosophical transformation and declared himself an anarchist. The creation of the supervillain Anarky was initially intended as a vehicle for exploring his political opinions through the comic medium. In the following years, he would continue to utilize the character in a similar fashion as his philosophy evolved.
Grant's projects at the start of the 90s included writing Detective Comics and Strontium Dog, but two projects in particular are especially notable. The first is The Bogie Man, a series co-written by Wagner which was the pair's first venture into independent publishing. The second is Lobo, a character created by Keith Giffen as a supporting character in The Omega Men. Lobo gained his own four issue mini series in 1990 which was drawn by Simon Bisley. This was a parody of the 'dark, gritty' comics of the time and proved hugely popular. After several other miniseries (all written by Grant, sometimes with Giffen as co-writer), Lobo received his own ongoing series. Grant was also writing L.E.G.I.O.N. (a Legion of Super-Heroes spin-off) and The Demon (a revival of Jack Kirby's charac
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 17, 2019
While the back-cover states this is, “a tale of love, betrayal, and ultimate redemption,” that’s really only a third true. There really isn’t much in the way of love here. And there is a little bit of redemption but, not too much. It’s really betrayal that overshadows all.
Binding the beginning to the end, which stretches across a few pages short of a measly 50, betrayal is melded with a relatively uncreative take on the Batman mythos. While most of which that has tragically fallen under the Elseworlds imprimatur reeks of illustrated crud, this one manages to redeem a small amount of its vast list of sins. Multitudes of which are covered by particularly floral art that is as delicate as it is pretty to the eyes. Yet, the gunk of its vast malfeasances still tethers it down to the comic muck of which its came.
So what’s to be said? The good hardly outweighs the bad but there are some truly creative modulations going on here. And some relatively well done, not matter how brief, reduplications of known-known will provide minor titillations (Huntress mmm). Yet, for any of the good, like the spice of Middle Ages past covering up rotted meat, what is obfuscated underneath is undeveloped at best and utterly puerile at worst.
If you can turn off your thinking facilities and merely take in what’s in front of you, you just might be tickled pink… for a while at least. If you stretch your mind a bit more, you’ll still find some stuff to sorta enjoy. But, for those of us desiring a full course deserving of all our capacities, you’ll just have to look elsewhere.
Get it? A pun on elseworlds. Hah.
Binding the beginning to the end, which stretches across a few pages short of a measly 50, betrayal is melded with a relatively uncreative take on the Batman mythos. While most of which that has tragically fallen under the Elseworlds imprimatur reeks of illustrated crud, this one manages to redeem a small amount of its vast list of sins. Multitudes of which are covered by particularly floral art that is as delicate as it is pretty to the eyes. Yet, the gunk of its vast malfeasances still tethers it down to the comic muck of which its came.
So what’s to be said? The good hardly outweighs the bad but there are some truly creative modulations going on here. And some relatively well done, not matter how brief, reduplications of known-known will provide minor titillations (Huntress mmm). Yet, for any of the good, like the spice of Middle Ages past covering up rotted meat, what is obfuscated underneath is undeveloped at best and utterly puerile at worst.
If you can turn off your thinking facilities and merely take in what’s in front of you, you just might be tickled pink… for a while at least. If you stretch your mind a bit more, you’ll still find some stuff to sorta enjoy. But, for those of us desiring a full course deserving of all our capacities, you’ll just have to look elsewhere.
Get it? A pun on elseworlds. Hah.
October 28, 2017
A cheesy elseworlds tale of Bruce Wayne being Etrigan the Demon and Alfred as Merlin. The ending kind of ruins the story though
December 4, 2020
Otro elseworld porquería de Alan Grant. Le doy dos estrellas por los dibujos que me recordaron a Richard Corben y por las masacres que se manda el Demonio. Una "tragedia" de elseworld, sin duda
December 19, 2013
بغض النظر عن الزياطة فتصميم الكفر وسخافة الحوار احياناً الا انها ممتعة فشخ وخصوصا التصوير الحي لبروس واين ديمونز
October 9, 2014
Oops, I got the wrong title from my previous (not-really) review. That being said, it's worth making this proper:
I think it's a good idea for a movie. Better than that Batman vs. Superman thing.
I think it's a good idea for a movie. Better than that Batman vs. Superman thing.
October 20, 2018
Batman/Demon: A Tragedy is a one-shot Elseworlds issue that has Bruce Wayne, unbeknownst to him, becomes Etrigan, the Demon in his sleep and battles evil in a medieval-like world. This particular world is rather peculiar as it has modern technology such as guns, but the architecture and clothing are distinctly medieval and that there is a full moon every night, which is explained as an orbital eccentricity. It is written by Alan Grant and penciled by Jim Murray.
Batman/Demon: A Tragedy has Merlin disguised as Alfred Pennyworth looking after Bruce Wayne who becomes Etrigan, the Demon instead of Jason Blood. Every morning, Bruce Wayne has inexplicable and violent nightmares, the same ones he has had since his parents were murdered. Doctors have been unable to cure him of this or his allergy to moonlight. Alfred Pennyworth finds Bruce Wayne's clothes in tatters, and suggests that he has been sleepwalking again.
Bruce Wayne's girlfriend Glenda Mark arrives at Wayne Manor, while searching for a cure to his mysterious allergy. The portraits of his ancestors unsettle Glenda as they all look exactly like Bruce Wayne. She reveals that while doing research at City Hall, she was unable to find a record of his parents. Bruce Wayne assumes this is bureaucratic incompetence. In reality, Alfred Pennyworth as Merlin has been casting memory charms on Bruce Wayne so that he does not remember Etrigan, the Demon and that he is immortal.
Alan Grant penned the entire series and for the most part, it was written rather well. It is divided into five chapters with both a prologue and epilogue. It details this incarnation of Bruce Wayne as Etrigan, the Demon. He manages to learn who he is, but to prevent a death of a love one, he chooses to forget and become Bruce Wayne again.
Jim Murray penciled to the entire trade paperback and because he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I rather enjoyed the penciling style. It a peculiar mix of the modern and Gothic nature, yet it was pulled off rather well.
All in all, Batman/Demon: A Tragedy is written and conceived rather well and merged Bruce Wayne, Etrigan, and an odd world that juxtaposes the new and Gothic.
Batman/Demon: A Tragedy has Merlin disguised as Alfred Pennyworth looking after Bruce Wayne who becomes Etrigan, the Demon instead of Jason Blood. Every morning, Bruce Wayne has inexplicable and violent nightmares, the same ones he has had since his parents were murdered. Doctors have been unable to cure him of this or his allergy to moonlight. Alfred Pennyworth finds Bruce Wayne's clothes in tatters, and suggests that he has been sleepwalking again.
Bruce Wayne's girlfriend Glenda Mark arrives at Wayne Manor, while searching for a cure to his mysterious allergy. The portraits of his ancestors unsettle Glenda as they all look exactly like Bruce Wayne. She reveals that while doing research at City Hall, she was unable to find a record of his parents. Bruce Wayne assumes this is bureaucratic incompetence. In reality, Alfred Pennyworth as Merlin has been casting memory charms on Bruce Wayne so that he does not remember Etrigan, the Demon and that he is immortal.
Alan Grant penned the entire series and for the most part, it was written rather well. It is divided into five chapters with both a prologue and epilogue. It details this incarnation of Bruce Wayne as Etrigan, the Demon. He manages to learn who he is, but to prevent a death of a love one, he chooses to forget and become Bruce Wayne again.
Jim Murray penciled to the entire trade paperback and because he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I rather enjoyed the penciling style. It a peculiar mix of the modern and Gothic nature, yet it was pulled off rather well.
All in all, Batman/Demon: A Tragedy is written and conceived rather well and merged Bruce Wayne, Etrigan, and an odd world that juxtaposes the new and Gothic.
December 18, 2020
You know, more like a 3, but for such a relatively short Elseworlds, it manages to both contain a backstory, an actual mystery and of course plenty of bloody action. Also, part of its allure is actually false advertising on the back cover. There IS no redemption. This is about endless torment.
Above all else though, what truly won me over was Jim Murray's art, sort of like Slaine meets Terry Pratchett: robust, dynamic, dark and at times intentionally silly.
A good, honest Batman Elseworlds.
Above all else though, what truly won me over was Jim Murray's art, sort of like Slaine meets Terry Pratchett: robust, dynamic, dark and at times intentionally silly.
A good, honest Batman Elseworlds.
January 9, 2022
Art is horrifically bad. I can only assume Jim Murray has never seen a woman before. The story is also not good.
October 8, 2023
Pas mauvais.. mais c’est dans la catégorie vite lu, vite oublié!
C’est p-e le format, mais l’histoire me semble un peu superficielle.
Les dessins sont très beaux! 🤩
C’est p-e le format, mais l’histoire me semble un peu superficielle.
Les dessins sont très beaux! 🤩
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews