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Batman: Elseworlds #/ Demon
Batman: Demon
Batman is forced into an unholy alliance with Etrigan the Demon when a rash of ritual murders sweeps through Gotham, the work of another demon who has orchestrated these lethal black-magic slayings! Gothic terror and infernal schemes abound in a tale that takes the Dark Knight into the Abyss itself to fight for the lives of Gotham's people.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Alan Grant
1,769 books145 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 28, 2017
Surprisingly this Batman/Etrigan team up is not bad. Great art and an interesting story of Batman visiting Hell. It’s a bit cheesy, but at the same time it does a good job of exploring Batman’s failures and guilt. Sort of like Dante’s Inferno with Batman.
February 9, 2025
Batman: Demon is a story written by Alan Grant and illustrated by David Roach in a prestige format. I had put off reading this book because I am not a fan of Etrigan—I don’t like how he speaks in rhyme. This story takes place after Knightfall, as it contains references to the event.
The plot revolves around a power struggle in Hell that gets resolved in a rather anti-climactic way. However, it is still a quick, fun read. I really enjoyed Batman’s journey through Hell. The one thing I did not like was Batman’s statement that he does not kill, even if it is a demon from Hell—I don’t think that’s accurate.
David Roach’s art captures the nightmarish realm of Hell and the creatures that reside in it. James Sinclair’s colors could have been better, though.
My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page
The plot revolves around a power struggle in Hell that gets resolved in a rather anti-climactic way. However, it is still a quick, fun read. I really enjoyed Batman’s journey through Hell. The one thing I did not like was Batman’s statement that he does not kill, even if it is a demon from Hell—I don’t think that’s accurate.
David Roach’s art captures the nightmarish realm of Hell and the creatures that reside in it. James Sinclair’s colors could have been better, though.
My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page
November 18, 2017
Batman faces down demons, with the help of the DCU's own Demon, Etrigan. An unlikely team up but one that works in a story this compact. The art could be a little sharper but it doesn't get in the way of the writing.
November 7, 2020
I have a really good feeling when I think a comic is going to be a big pile of shit, but after I read it, I realize it isn't. I just didn't like Batman being a little scared about the situations, but ok.
I really liked it.
I really liked it.
May 20, 2019
Alan Grant was writing Batman and Demon comics at the time, so this seemed like a logical thing to do. It's not amazing or anything, but it's definitely a cool mashup.
September 27, 2020
This crossover is a quick read and there were pages which were absolutely brilliant. However the end was not as good as I had expected it to be.
June 27, 2021
A quick and entertaining read. Which feels weird to say about a comic when one of its major themes is Batman being tortured by his own guilt, but there it is.
May 29, 2022
Not really much of a story and nothing memorable. On the otherhand the visuals are amazing, tempting to keep in my collection just because it's so aesthetically pleasing.
October 28, 2026
When writing Etrigan the rhyming demon, you must take care. If you don't do it exactly right, the reader will despair.
March 29, 2016
A serial killer stalks the streets of Gotham. Each of the twelve murders had occult overtones. Little do they know Batman is stalking them. In the course of his hunt Batman encounters the demon, Etrigan. Etrigan takes Batman through Hell to confront the demon who orchestrated the murders.
As he journeys through Hell, Batman faces all his regrets and fears; the deaths of his parents, the death of Robin, the effects of his vow to kill, and the countless lives he couldn’t save. The psychological torture inflicted causes what must be one of the rarest things in comics, Batman with tears rolling down his face. The allusions to Dante’s Inferno are clear, and like Dante Batman overcomes the torture to confront the demon at the centre of Hell. This book is a solid tale of overcoming subconscious fears and guilt, although it’s not entirely clear what the wider effects on Batman’s psychological state are. I think that gets to my two main issues with this story, the first being that there’s not more of it (it’s only 48 pages) and the second, rather trivially, is that Grant doesn’t make more of Etrigan’s rhyming speeches, something that comes across in different DC and Vertigo stories featuring the demons.
All that being said, I think Batman Demon is a strong story with good art and I truly enjoyed the delving into Batman’s psychology. I’d recommend it to anyone who can pick it up, especially if you’re interested in the more supernatural side of the DC universe.
As he journeys through Hell, Batman faces all his regrets and fears; the deaths of his parents, the death of Robin, the effects of his vow to kill, and the countless lives he couldn’t save. The psychological torture inflicted causes what must be one of the rarest things in comics, Batman with tears rolling down his face. The allusions to Dante’s Inferno are clear, and like Dante Batman overcomes the torture to confront the demon at the centre of Hell. This book is a solid tale of overcoming subconscious fears and guilt, although it’s not entirely clear what the wider effects on Batman’s psychological state are. I think that gets to my two main issues with this story, the first being that there’s not more of it (it’s only 48 pages) and the second, rather trivially, is that Grant doesn’t make more of Etrigan’s rhyming speeches, something that comes across in different DC and Vertigo stories featuring the demons.
All that being said, I think Batman Demon is a strong story with good art and I truly enjoyed the delving into Batman’s psychology. I’d recommend it to anyone who can pick it up, especially if you’re interested in the more supernatural side of the DC universe.
November 26, 2012
COVER:
A "Prestige"-format Graphic novel.
While this is not gonna gonna blow your socks off by any stretch of the imagination, it's not a bad short tale about the Batman teaming up with Etrigan the Demon. Only 48 pages but feels longer (in a good way).
The art is better than the dialog. I didn't think Alan Grant gave the Demon a strong enough rhyming prowess. If Etrigan was an emcee in this book he wouldn't win any freestyle battles. Still a nice dose of two very cool DC characters. I guess it could have been far worse
A "Prestige"-format Graphic novel.
While this is not gonna gonna blow your socks off by any stretch of the imagination, it's not a bad short tale about the Batman teaming up with Etrigan the Demon. Only 48 pages but feels longer (in a good way).
The art is better than the dialog. I didn't think Alan Grant gave the Demon a strong enough rhyming prowess. If Etrigan was an emcee in this book he wouldn't win any freestyle battles. Still a nice dose of two very cool DC characters. I guess it could have been far worse
January 18, 2013
Batman and Etrigan the Demon, what an odd but interesting team up. When I bought this book I really didn't have the highest expectations for it, but since it was only a couple bucks I figured at the very least it will pad my collection. However as it turned out, the book was a pretty good read and the art wasn't to shabby either. This book was like a miniature version of Dantes trip into the inferno, which I enjoyed as I am currently re-reading the Divine comedy.
September 5, 2007
I love The Demon, unless he's humorless like this... also, the writer clearly is only vaguely familiar with Batman. This only gets a three star for a pretty decent portrayal of hell, and a creepy bersion of Baal.
February 6, 2017
Its a good solid story. I do wish it focused more on Etrigan than it did.
November 29, 2010
Great artwork. The story isn't that good though, seems to be just an excuse for the artwork. The Demon is totally out of character.
February 20, 2011
Batman versi Naruto: tubuhnya merupakan sangkar demon, yang tiap malam keluar mencari mangsa.
Moral of the story: Ignorance is bliss.
Moral of the story: Ignorance is bliss.
November 10, 2013
Este libro contiene dos historias. Me gustó más el guion de la primera pero el dibujo de la segunda. Batman y Demon son como el agua y el polvito tang.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews