America was at a turning point when Batman first appeared in 1939. Despite this, the social issues of the day were not a part of the earliest Dark Knight adventures. A new series from DC Black Label, The Bat-Man: First Knight, offers a modern take on the origins of the World’s Greatest Detective. Rather than fighting generic thugs, however, this Bat-Man must contend with corrupt officials and Nazi collaborators.
Written by Dan Jurgens, with art by Mike Perkins, The Bat-Man: First Knight presents a Gotham City that mirrors the New York City of the 1939s. The nation is in recovery following The Great War and the Great Depression. War looms in Europe, while the United States is in danger of being conquered from within by the same fascists dominating Germany and Italy. Batman, however, is more concerned with a brutal killer, who is targeting the politicians of Gotham City, and sowing unrest.
The cover and first seven pages of The Bat-Man: First Knight can be viewed below.
Warning: This comic preview contains violent imagery intended for mature readers.
First Knight Offers a Historic Look at Batman
The Bat-Man: First Knight is not the first comic to reexamine Batman within the context of another time period. Various comics have imagined the Dark Knight in times ranging from the Industrial Age to Prohibition Era Chicago. Indeed, the very first Elseworlds, Gotham By Gaslight, placed Batman in the Victorian Era.
However, the Bat-Man: First Knight, is notable for its timeliness. While the background is different, the United States of 2024 faces similar turmoil stemming from police corruption and overseas conflict. It will be interesting to see how future issues draw parallels between the politics of yesteryear and today, within the context of Batman’s battles.
The Bat-Man: First Knight #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on March 5, 2024.
