Batman: White Knight

It's been nearly two months since I last posted anything on here and this is due to no other reason that a lack of free time, as new addition preparation, Christmas shopping and some dedicated work on another project I currently have in the pipeline have effectively chewed up every spare minute I've had.

However, I've decided that I want to get back into a bit of a groove regarding a lot of things in 2019, including writing on here. I also figured that, with my birthday just a couple of weeks prior and a nice little haul of graphic novels received as a result, it would be a good idea to get some practice to achieving said groove as 2018 winds down, with a quick ramble of thoughts on one of these new titles.

Batman: White Knight TPB

That title was Sean Gordon Murphy's Batman: White Knight.

Now, this was a series which had developed a lot of goodwill in my mind over the course of it's release. Everywhere I read and everything I listened, I would constantly hear positive words used in respect to this book. Couple this with the fact that I have a tremendous love for Murphy's prior series, Punk Rock Jesus, and what you realise that this book was never going to be a 'if I bought it' but rather when.

Well, when arrived at 35 years and, I've got to say, the good vibes were not exaggerating (well, much anyway).

A basic breakdown of the story goes like this: After years of battling it out across the Gotham landscape, the War between Batman and the Joker comes to an unexpected end when, after being chased and beaten by the Dark Knight, the Clown Prince of Crime discovers a cure to being the Joker. Now back to being 'Jack Napier', the former super-criminal turns over a new leaf to help Gotham city; by ridding it of the increasingly dangerous Batman.

Going into this I really didn't know what to expect, apart from the obvious spoiler that Joker would be the hero and Batman the villain. However, I found this series to be incredibly enjoyable and, while not as fast or as action-packed as I'd expect from a Batman comic, it came with a lot of deep, thought provoking moments about the dynamic its two leads.

A lot of the things which were weaved into this really spoke as I read through this, such as how this was written from the perspective of a failed relationship as Joker pointed out how much Batman needed him, something which would become more apparent as the series progress, as well as how Batman is actually an incredibly ludicrous and dangerous concept when you look at him without an equally maddening opposite to bounce off of.

Throughout this read I found myself struggling to align myself completely with either character as both characters, despite reasons to like them, continued to delve in questionable actions ask seek to finally defeat the other. I enjoyed this writing as a result, as it left the story ambiguous with no clear distinction as to was right and who was wrong, making it all the more compelling.

This is just glorious art. The black
and white feel but mixed with a
splash of colour.

I think it's this, along with the stance against corruption by Jack, makes this very much a spiritual successor to Punk Rock Jesus, which I had (coincidentally) read just a few days prior to starting this.

Speaking of Punk Rock Jesus, I really love the art in that series and, although rough on a couple of panels, is a real highpoint to that book. I say this because in White Knight, Murphy brings me the same glorious style, but with much cleaner and smoother lines. The art is fantastic, how Joker doesn't look like Jack, despite them practically identical (and I really scanned his face throughout to be sure), the Gotham Landscape, the villains, everything. This is only cemented by Matt Hollingsworth colours, which despite being mostly muted tones, rapidly change from scene to scene along with the bold, wacky colours some of the villains sport (Two Face's bold red stands out).

There are a few other things I loved about this series, but fear saying them here would spoiler it for any who haven't read it. There are also a couple of things which feel pointless and shoehorned in to this story for the sake of it (again, can't say without spoilers), but in the grand scheme of things I think they are easy to forgive and let go of.

This is because, all in all, I really, REALLY loved Batman: White Knight as not only a story but also a commentary on so many aspects of life which constantly come to my mind..

So, with that in mind, I've really got to thank my cousin for getting this for me. I have already, but it was too good a read not to go and drive home that fact!