Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight is a comic book with a lineage that goes back to the late 80s. The original series was the third Batman ongoing that was launched after the 1989 Batman film proved to be a smash hit success. The goal was to create a book where the creators could rotate periodically, and everyone could get their own Batman story out that they wanted to tell.
The idea behind this comic was revived when the series was relaunched by DC earlier this year. The series releases weekly and gives readers a chance to see some of the most talented creators of this decade work on Batman, one of the most popular superheroes of all time.
10 It Has A Story Written By Darick Robertson
The first story of Legends of the Dark Knight is a six-part comic written and drawn by Darick Robertson. People might remember Darick Robertson from his time working on Transmetropolitan and The Boys, but if anyone’s looking for his run to be anything like those they’re going to be sadly mistaken. “Bad Night, Good Knight” is about as classic a Batman story as anyone’s ever written—it feels like a modern version of a Batman comic from the late 1990s or the early 2000s. Batman’s just a good guy in a bad city, trying to do his best to help people.
9 It's A Digital First Comic
People who are buying these stories as a collection or as they come out in the stores might not be aware that this is one of DC’s many Digital First comic books. The Digital First initiative has included a wide variety of titles like Superman: The Man of Tomorrow and Wonder Woman: Agent of Peace. These comics are usually published ten pages at a time as single issues then later collected two at a time into full issues.
8 None Of The Bat-Family Appear
How people feel about the Bat-Family is one of the most divisive topics within Batman fandom. Some people think the Bat-Family makes Batman less cool while other people think the Bat-Family makes Batman more likable, more human, and shows a willingness for him to reach out to others.
But people looking for characters like Robin, Nightwing, and the rest should look elsewhere than Legends of the Dark Knight. The story focuses strictly on Batman, with Alfred making the occasional appearance while the rest of the family is rarely even mentioned.
7 Shows A More Human And Vulnerable Batman
The opening Batman story, “Bad Night, Good Knight” is the most human Batman has been in a long time. The character isn’t facing off against massive organizations like Leviathan or the Court of Owls. He’s not going on impossible adventures and wearing armor built by the Justice League. He can get shot, stabbed, hurt, and push himself beyond his limits. While this book doesn’t have the Bat-Family, this Bruce is by no means some unfeeling, unstoppable deity.
6 Not In Continuity
It doesn’t seem like most of these Legends of the Dark Knight storylines are in continuity at all. The original six-part story takes place at a time where Riddler has worn his classic Silver Age costume, but it also doesn’t seem like the present day. It takes place after No Man’s Land, as they do mention the earthquake, but the Joker isn’t the Joker of the current era either. These stories seem to take place in their own world, and just serve as a method for fans to get more Batman.
5 Introduces A New Villain
“Bad Night, Good Knight” introduces a brand-new villain that’s never been seen in Gotham before but people might not find him all that impressive when the story’s done. The villain is known as Gas-Mask, and he goes around selling a version of Saran gas to Gotham’s most dangerous villains.
He betrays one set of villains and seems to have plans to betray Scarecrow as well until Scarecrow rips off his mask and subjects him to the fear toxin. In the end, the character is still out there for others should they want to use him.
4 Riddler Gets A Girlfriend
The love lives of villains is something that isn’t often thought about, even though it seems to generate a lot of discussion whenever it comes up. The Joker’s relationships with Harley Quinn and Punchline have certainly been major successes for DC. “Bad Night, Good Knight” decides to do that with another character, introducing a love interest for the Riddler in a young woman known as Quiz. Quiz was someone who managed to trick Riddler during one of his capers and got him to take her with him from then on. Though not as experienced, she seems to be just as smart as Edward.
3 Changes Bruce's Family Lineage
The second major storyline with Legends of the Dark Knight adds a major change to Bruce’s lineage. In the storyline “Haunted” by Stephanie Phillips and Max Dunbar, we learn a bit about Henry Wayne, Bruce’s great-great uncle. Henry was a judge who helped Charles Cobblepot, the Penguin's ancestor, get away with abusing several women in the past. Most of the time, Bruce’s family is seen as perfect even in the past, but this time one of Bruce’s family members was more devoted to power than justice. After Batman discovers the truth though, he immediately exposes what happened to let the women who were abused get the justice they deserved.
2 Alfred Gets To Pilot The Batmobile
None of the Bat-Family thus far have made an appearance in Legends of the Dark Knight, with one major exception: Alfred. The character has been present in his usual role of looking after Bruce and helping him whenever he goes too far and is clearly too reckless. In “Haunted," Penguin’s men come to attack Wayne Manor after Bruce buys an artifact Penguin would rather stay hidden because of what it says about his great-grandfather’s past. To help scare them off, Alfred hops into the Batmobile and captures Penguin’s men with its weapons.
1 Calender Man Becomes Part Martian, Gets Superpowers
Within the third story, “The Consultant," Batman gets to team up with Martian Manhunter to stop one of his oldest villains from completing a dangerous Martian ritual. And while they are successful, Calendar Man still attains special powers from a dark being from Martian history. Transformed and given Martian abilities, the pair’s only way to win is by knocking him out and keeping him from using his powers until they wear off after a year.
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