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Batman: Miniseries
The Bat-Man: First Knight
From legendary comics writer Dan Jurgens and superstar Batman artist Mike Perkins comes a pulp-influenced noir take on the caped crusader set in his debut year, 1939.
It’s 1939, fascism is on the rise, and Batman is in his early days, labeled by those in Gotham as “the vigilante”. At the center of a series of crimes, Batman comes to the conclusion that their prime suspect in each case were deceased. With the Caped Crusader’s only ally being Detective James Gordon of the Gotham City Police Department, both detectives must uncover who these “reanimated criminals” are and how to stop them.
It’s 1939, fascism is on the rise, and Batman is in his early days, labeled by those in Gotham as “the vigilante”. At the center of a series of crimes, Batman comes to the conclusion that their prime suspect in each case were deceased. With the Caped Crusader’s only ally being Detective James Gordon of the Gotham City Police Department, both detectives must uncover who these “reanimated criminals” are and how to stop them.
168 pages, Hardcover
Published November 5, 2024
16 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Dan Jurgens
2,229 books285 followersDan Jurgens is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for his work on the DC comic book storyline "The Death of Superman" and for creating characters such as Doomsday, Hank Henshaw, and Booster Gold. Jurgens had a lengthy run on the Superman comic books including The Adventures of Superman, Superman vol. 2 and Action Comics. At Marvel, Jurgens worked on series such as Captain America, The Sensational Spider-Man and was the writer on Thor for six years. He also had a brief run as writer and artist on Solar for Valiant Comics in 1995.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
January 21, 2025
I liked his costume?
I didn't think it was bad but I probably won't go out of my way to recommend it to anyone.
It's kind of like a Batman without anyone recognizable in it, other than Bruce and Jim Gordon.
Well, Julie Madison is his love interest, but I don't know how many people are familiar with her. She was Bruce's first love interest, but she didn't last long and she has been (mostly) forgotten except for a few revivals here and there.
So, Bruce is living in his dirty mansion, all alone.
No Alfred? <--I assume you asked
No, there is a passing mention of the old family butler who used to double as the chauffeur leaving years ago.
So. Like I was saying, Bruce is living in his dirty mansion, all alone. And yes, it looks filthy. For whatever reason, that bothered me so much.
Just get a cleaning crew in there once in a while and stand in front of your little Batcave entrance while they dust and sweep. Straighten up, it's looking gross, man!
Ok, so this is a first-year Batman story, so he's still all urban legend to the general population, and the newspapers are asking if he's friend or foe.
But that's all about to change because there's been this rash of murders where the victims were high-profile community leaders. The attempt on the mayor's life was thwarted (barely) by Batman and they discover that the assassins are some kind of souped-up zombies.
Meanwhile, Blackgate is revving up the electric chair for another prisoner, Bruce is trying to decide what to do with his dad's old gun collection, and there's an actress who keeps showing up at his house at the most inopportune times.
Can Batman win the trust of Commissioner Gorden in time to stop these monsters and the man who is creating them?
Yeah, probably.
I don't know. It sounds more exciting than it actually was.
But...? It wasn't awful or anything. I was flipping the pages pretty quickly.
And the art was very cool. Bruce looked like Cary Grant to me and I just thought that was such a great choice.
Maybe worth a read just to look at the panels.
I didn't think it was bad but I probably won't go out of my way to recommend it to anyone.
It's kind of like a Batman without anyone recognizable in it, other than Bruce and Jim Gordon.
Well, Julie Madison is his love interest, but I don't know how many people are familiar with her. She was Bruce's first love interest, but she didn't last long and she has been (mostly) forgotten except for a few revivals here and there.
So, Bruce is living in his dirty mansion, all alone.
No Alfred? <--I assume you asked
No, there is a passing mention of the old family butler who used to double as the chauffeur leaving years ago.
So. Like I was saying, Bruce is living in his dirty mansion, all alone. And yes, it looks filthy. For whatever reason, that bothered me so much.
Just get a cleaning crew in there once in a while and stand in front of your little Batcave entrance while they dust and sweep. Straighten up, it's looking gross, man!
Ok, so this is a first-year Batman story, so he's still all urban legend to the general population, and the newspapers are asking if he's friend or foe.
But that's all about to change because there's been this rash of murders where the victims were high-profile community leaders. The attempt on the mayor's life was thwarted (barely) by Batman and they discover that the assassins are some kind of souped-up zombies.
Meanwhile, Blackgate is revving up the electric chair for another prisoner, Bruce is trying to decide what to do with his dad's old gun collection, and there's an actress who keeps showing up at his house at the most inopportune times.
Can Batman win the trust of Commissioner Gorden in time to stop these monsters and the man who is creating them?
Yeah, probably.
I don't know. It sounds more exciting than it actually was.
But...? It wasn't awful or anything. I was flipping the pages pretty quickly.
And the art was very cool. Bruce looked like Cary Grant to me and I just thought that was such a great choice.
Maybe worth a read just to look at the panels.
October 22, 2025
As a fan of both Batman and 1930's movies, I was intrigued by this graphic novel, which takes the reader to Gotham City as it appeared in 1939.
The Bat-Man is called the "Vigilante" and mistrusted by the citizens he fights to protect from the villains and their army of monsters. Added to the mix is a growing fear over the conflict in Europe and the power of Hitler.
The illustrations are excellent and truly convey the look of the period. Give this great book a try!- Louisa A.
The Bat-Man is called the "Vigilante" and mistrusted by the citizens he fights to protect from the villains and their army of monsters. Added to the mix is a growing fear over the conflict in Europe and the power of Hitler.
The illustrations are excellent and truly convey the look of the period. Give this great book a try!- Louisa A.
November 18, 2024
This "grounded" version of Batman in the late 1930s just felt like a well-intentioned history lesson with some salty language thrown in for the sake of the Black Label brand. It would have been nice to see other versions of familiar Gotham characters than Bruce and Jim Gordon but not even poor old Alfred was invited to this particular party.
In any era this guy knows how to make an entrance. The "ears" are pretty silly, though.
In any era this guy knows how to make an entrance. The "ears" are pretty silly, though.
March 1, 2025
3.3 stars
November 14, 2024
Excellent job recreating the 1930s pulp feel to the Batman story. Perfect art for the setting. Plus they got the purple gloves right for the costume! Very recommended
June 27, 2024
I was picking up the single issues for this title each month because I was so excited about the concept. As someone who has read a good deal of golden age Batman I love that this series exists and that it's actually done well.
The series takes place in 1939, when Batman was first published, and pulls a lot of ideas from that first year of publication. Batman has his purple gloves and his iconic red car that existed before the Batmobile. He uses buildings around Wayne Manor in place of the Batcave. The comics feature characters such as Jim Gordon and Julie Madison, who were actually recurring characters back in 1939 stories before Dick Grayson and Alfred Pennyworth were introduced in the 1940s.
I hope to see a continuation of this series. Whether it's the same timeline carrying onto the 1940s and introducing the Bat-canon that came along with that, or even another imagining of the silver age or bronze age of Batman.
The series takes place in 1939, when Batman was first published, and pulls a lot of ideas from that first year of publication. Batman has his purple gloves and his iconic red car that existed before the Batmobile. He uses buildings around Wayne Manor in place of the Batcave. The comics feature characters such as Jim Gordon and Julie Madison, who were actually recurring characters back in 1939 stories before Dick Grayson and Alfred Pennyworth were introduced in the 1940s.
I hope to see a continuation of this series. Whether it's the same timeline carrying onto the 1940s and introducing the Bat-canon that came along with that, or even another imagining of the silver age or bronze age of Batman.
July 10, 2024
I loved this so much. I require a sequel immediately.
November 22, 2024
A decent offering of a Batman series set in 1939. A world on the brink of war, when it has not recovered from the last one, and a city in its own crisis. The artwork fits perfectly with the story.
Gotham City is in a crisis. The police and officials are either on the take or being beheaded by big brutish monster thugs. On top of that, there is a bat creature the size of a man running/flying around the streets of the city.
The story and artwork are very good, but what lets this book down for me is Batman. In 1939, he had on real technology advantage, and even his fighting skills are more brawling than precise martial arts attacks. He is basically a guy in a bat costume. Is he even up to the challenge of Gotham?
He is overmatched and gets beaten up a lot he might need to change his moral choice to even or tip the odds in his favour. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery.
Gotham City is in a crisis. The police and officials are either on the take or being beheaded by big brutish monster thugs. On top of that, there is a bat creature the size of a man running/flying around the streets of the city.
The story and artwork are very good, but what lets this book down for me is Batman. In 1939, he had on real technology advantage, and even his fighting skills are more brawling than precise martial arts attacks. He is basically a guy in a bat costume. Is he even up to the challenge of Gotham?
He is overmatched and gets beaten up a lot he might need to change his moral choice to even or tip the odds in his favour. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery.
March 1, 2025
I know leftism has ruined me now - Batman is my favorite superhero but all I can see now is the hammer of the bourgeoisie dishing out vigilante justice on the proletariat. After all, what makes Batman great? He’s rich - and the citizens of the corrupt and bureaucratic Gotham City have little recourse but to turn to crime to survive. Maybe the Riddler was right? What can save Gotham? Only the biggest Capitalist of them all of course…
Yes, I AM fun at parties - please invite me to more!
Yes, I AM fun at parties - please invite me to more!
October 4, 2024
This was like watching a really great old movie about one big city in darkness during WW2 with a scary creature fighting the bad guys.
Mike Perkins is the absolute top when it comes to bringing the feeling of old times in the art.
Mike Perkins is the absolute top when it comes to bringing the feeling of old times in the art.
December 16, 2024
The Bat-Man: First Knight collects issues 1-3 of the DC Comics Black Label series is written by Dan Jurgens, art by Mike Perkins, and colors by Mike Spicer.
1939 Gotham City. The country is recovering from the Great Depression while Europe is engulfed in war. The U.S. is beginning to see signs that the country is on verge of a major change. Mysterious monster men are attacking Gotham leaders and Commissioner Gordon is struggling to find police he can trust to help solve the case. But there is one man who has joined the case who refuses to have his ideals be corrupted. He operates from the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he appears. The press have dubbed him The Bat-Man.
This was an interesting look at Batman’s earliest adventures, revisiting the era when Detective Comic #27 was originally released (May 1939). To me it felt like a reimagined Monster Men story, which has been told many times over the course of Batman’s publication history. I liked the mixing of real world history into this story. There are some interesting changes to Batman mythos in this retelling: Alfred Pennyworth left the mansion while Bruce was still in school so Bruce Wayne is completely alone in his mission. I loved the art in this book and to me that is one of the best parts. It does a fantastic job of capturing the time period and they kept Batman’s original look with the wider cowl, purple gloves, and more bat-like cape.
While I did enjoy this book, there is a lack of excitement and thrill that keeps the book from getting to that next level. If you are a fan of pulp stories, noir storytelling, and early Batman adventures, definitely give this book a read.
1939 Gotham City. The country is recovering from the Great Depression while Europe is engulfed in war. The U.S. is beginning to see signs that the country is on verge of a major change. Mysterious monster men are attacking Gotham leaders and Commissioner Gordon is struggling to find police he can trust to help solve the case. But there is one man who has joined the case who refuses to have his ideals be corrupted. He operates from the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he appears. The press have dubbed him The Bat-Man.
This was an interesting look at Batman’s earliest adventures, revisiting the era when Detective Comic #27 was originally released (May 1939). To me it felt like a reimagined Monster Men story, which has been told many times over the course of Batman’s publication history. I liked the mixing of real world history into this story. There are some interesting changes to Batman mythos in this retelling: Alfred Pennyworth left the mansion while Bruce was still in school so Bruce Wayne is completely alone in his mission. I loved the art in this book and to me that is one of the best parts. It does a fantastic job of capturing the time period and they kept Batman’s original look with the wider cowl, purple gloves, and more bat-like cape.
While I did enjoy this book, there is a lack of excitement and thrill that keeps the book from getting to that next level. If you are a fan of pulp stories, noir storytelling, and early Batman adventures, definitely give this book a read.
March 20, 2025
Despite a classic but not uninteresting retro-background, supported by very good drawing, Jurgens manages to miss the mark.
The context and secondary characters are far more interesting than this flabby story revolving around the monster men and their creator's 2-bit Machiavellian plan. Mwah ah ah... duh!
I could have pushed it to 3* if it wasn't for the atrocious scenes where the characters talk to themselves out loud. Who still writes like that these days?
Dan Jurgens, that's who.
Mike Perkins does a superb job on the drawing board- though admittedly his bat-costume is an acquired taste- and I got used to Spicer's sometimes garish colours after a while. But that's not enough.
The context and secondary characters are far more interesting than this flabby story revolving around the monster men and their creator's 2-bit Machiavellian plan. Mwah ah ah... duh!
I could have pushed it to 3* if it wasn't for the atrocious scenes where the characters talk to themselves out loud. Who still writes like that these days?
Dan Jurgens, that's who.
Mike Perkins does a superb job on the drawing board- though admittedly his bat-costume is an acquired taste- and I got used to Spicer's sometimes garish colours after a while. But that's not enough.
December 3, 2024
A decent story if Batman took place in the 30's. I liked the idea, themes, and even the suit (Old as hell, corny, but cool none the less for being different). And I liked Jurgen writing a more mature story for once, it felt good. However, overall, the pacing was very stilted, slow, and felt like it took forever to get things done in this story. Some great moments including Batman being tortured, a beatdown like no other, and some great art but overall not a must read I was hoping for. A 3 out of 5.
May 16, 2025
The story is fine. The art is detailed, but the characters have very limited facial expressions. That includes limited micro expressions. It makes the story bland when each character has only maybe three facial expressions total.
February 2, 2025
A very solid book well worth checking out, especially if you’re into pulp pastiches like me. The core mystery isn’t that interesting but everything else is. I really liked the subplots interacting with Bruce Wayne’s Judaism (something not really said out loud here, but is established to a degree in the main comics) and how that manifests in 1939. The Rabbi and the pimp…great stuff. That was the best stuff here, as well as its handling of Julie Madison, in a form that engaged with contemporary Hollywood politics. (That said, she deserved a page or so at the end for resolution. Maybe a sequel?)
The art by Mike Perkins here is lovely. Very gritty, dark and moody, with gross details on the Monster Men. The colors by Mike Spicer really elevate it, giving things a real vivid pop that makes the book sing. Well worth checking out for that alone.
While not up to Matt Wagner’s Monster Men, it’s a solid read in its own right. Would love either a sequel or a Superman counterpart to it.
The art by Mike Perkins here is lovely. Very gritty, dark and moody, with gross details on the Monster Men. The colors by Mike Spicer really elevate it, giving things a real vivid pop that makes the book sing. Well worth checking out for that alone.
While not up to Matt Wagner’s Monster Men, it’s a solid read in its own right. Would love either a sequel or a Superman counterpart to it.
December 15, 2024
Jeg havde virkelig set frem til at læse denne Batman miniserie. Den er sat i mellemkrigstiden med nazismen der vinder frem overalt. Skurken i tegneserien hedder "The Voice" og er en mystisk fyr der kommunikerer med sine henchmen gennem en radio. Nogle af hans henchmen er kriminelle der har fået en tur i den elektriske stol, men alligevel er overlevet grundet noget stads der er sprøjtet i dem.
Den er fortalt så plain, simple and heavy handed at jeg overvejede at stoppe undervejs. Flere pointer i historien bliver gentaget først af den ene biperson, så af en anden. Der er ikke rigtigt nogle tolkningslag, ikke nogle spændende takes på karakterer, spændnigskurven er HELT flad og vi får tilmed lige Batmans origin story forklaret endnu engang for Prins Knud. Udover gimicken med Batmans oldschool, lilla handsker, er der ikke meget at komme efter her.
Den er fortalt så plain, simple and heavy handed at jeg overvejede at stoppe undervejs. Flere pointer i historien bliver gentaget først af den ene biperson, så af en anden. Der er ikke rigtigt nogle tolkningslag, ikke nogle spændende takes på karakterer, spændnigskurven er HELT flad og vi får tilmed lige Batmans origin story forklaret endnu engang for Prins Knud. Udover gimicken med Batmans oldschool, lilla handsker, er der ikke meget at komme efter her.
August 7, 2025
A fun re-imagining of Batman's origin.
Set in 1939, before the US entered WWII, Bat-Man is just starting out.
This time, he has Big Ears, purple gloves, and a bitchin' red car!
I liked this take on the Batman! I liked that he doesn't have any crazy technology to use and just uses a random red car to remain inconspicous. It makes it believable that no one would suspect Billionaire Bruce Wayne to be Batman.
I thought the story was fine. It was an okay mystery with a fairly lackluster reveal.
What really makes this book stand out is the amazing art by Mike Perkins and colorist Mike Spicer. The art is absolutely phenomenal! So many amazing splash pages and cool, shadowy, mysterious panels!
Worth a read!
3,5☆
Set in 1939, before the US entered WWII, Bat-Man is just starting out.
This time, he has Big Ears, purple gloves, and a bitchin' red car!
I liked this take on the Batman! I liked that he doesn't have any crazy technology to use and just uses a random red car to remain inconspicous. It makes it believable that no one would suspect Billionaire Bruce Wayne to be Batman.
I thought the story was fine. It was an okay mystery with a fairly lackluster reveal.
What really makes this book stand out is the amazing art by Mike Perkins and colorist Mike Spicer. The art is absolutely phenomenal! So many amazing splash pages and cool, shadowy, mysterious panels!
Worth a read!
3,5☆
February 25, 2025
Very exposition heavy and so incredibly on the nose about the current political climate, in relation to the days of yesteryear (1940s). It's so on the nose about anti-Semitism that in today's day in age, it might be considered hateful. Not because it is, but people with anti-Semitic views might downvote this book.
The art is AMAZING
The art is AMAZING
May 12, 2025
Spannend ist hier, wie Bat-man im Konflikt mit sich selbst steht, wie er Verbrechen bekämpfen soll und ob er doch zur Waffe greifen soll. Vor allem weil er in seinen ersten Wochen auf die harte Tour lernt, was es bedeutet, der Bat-man zu sein. Sein Cowl ist etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig und manche Gadgets scheinen nicht so vorteilhaft. Eine gute Geschichte, die gegen Ende der 1930er Jahre angesiedelt ist.
March 24, 2025
The story is of mediocre quality. The theme is interesting, but the execution could have been much better. The main antagonist is uninteresting. This is a comic you'll forget you’ve read because it offers nothing that would stay in your memory
January 10, 2025
Bit of a mixed bag this one. The plot is compelling and convincing but the characters are a trite cliché with some of their dialogue very on the nose.
The artwork doesn't always work for me either. The world of Gotham is rich in detail with depth but the character close-up sometimes look a little rushed.
It's good enough to encourage me back to this Black Label Bat-channel should they want to return to this pulpy Noir iteration.
The artwork doesn't always work for me either. The world of Gotham is rich in detail with depth but the character close-up sometimes look a little rushed.
It's good enough to encourage me back to this Black Label Bat-channel should they want to return to this pulpy Noir iteration.
February 14, 2025
I've always been fascinated by the style of the debut Batman comics and am glad to see it explored and hope they do more while at the same time treading new ground Would Recommend
August 26, 2025
Batman without his rogues gallery and set right before the US steps into WW2 is a near perfect recipe. Boiling the character down to what makes him so enduring. Beautiful and intriguing.
August 28, 2025
Solid time for Batman story to take place and like the similarities it pulls from Batman first appearance.
November 17, 2024
3.5 Stars
April 26, 2025
I loved the hardboiled, gritty take on the Caped Crusader. If you like 1940s crime novels, pulp fiction and Batman (as I do) you’ll dig this! Also loved how they didn’t lean too hard on established members in Batman canon in this one.
September 1, 2025
"Unnecessary" was kind of the only word to describe this. It's apparently a modern redo of an early Batman run... but why?
It felt like a generic hard-boiled protagonist wearing a cape and punching mutant zombie mobsters... and it's boring.
It felt like a generic hard-boiled protagonist wearing a cape and punching mutant zombie mobsters... and it's boring.
March 31, 2025
An out-of-continuity, alternate take on the Batman mythos, whereby the Caped Crusader lives in the gritty, pulpy world of a 1939 Gotham City that is subject to the growing threads of fascism both domestic and abroad, the ripples of the Great Depression, and the impending world war. A conspiracy involving Blackgate Prison and some recently deceased Gotham power brokers leads back to suspects recently executed by the electric chair, which kicks off this version of The Bat-Man's crusade on crime. Working alongside Commissioner Gordon, the two try to untangle the web of criminality that spews from the depths of Blackgate.
By concept, this is fine. The grim '30s backdrop makes for an intriguing setting, and the world-building around the story itself is pretty good. Mike Perkins' sharp artwork coupled with the seedy and murky color palette does a lot to elevate the atmosphere and setting of this comic. The central mystery itself is rather bland unfortunately, and there isn't too much here to differentiate from similar ideas. Though the concept of domestic fascism on the rise was intriguing to explore in a Batman comic, it was done mostly at surface level. All in all, The-Batman: First Knight is a pretty standard fare DC Black Label title that doesn't really achieve much with its intriguing premise.
By concept, this is fine. The grim '30s backdrop makes for an intriguing setting, and the world-building around the story itself is pretty good. Mike Perkins' sharp artwork coupled with the seedy and murky color palette does a lot to elevate the atmosphere and setting of this comic. The central mystery itself is rather bland unfortunately, and there isn't too much here to differentiate from similar ideas. Though the concept of domestic fascism on the rise was intriguing to explore in a Batman comic, it was done mostly at surface level. All in all, The-Batman: First Knight is a pretty standard fare DC Black Label title that doesn't really achieve much with its intriguing premise.
October 1, 2024
There was a lot of work in this graphic novel, from an old fashioned background set in 1939, to the beginnings of the Bat, through a very detailed art. Bruce was lonely in his big house but luckily found time for some new relationships (Gordon, a woman, a rabbi…). Between the social events and dressed with a strange pointy cap and purple gloves, he spent most of his time outside punching villains. He seemed a little distressed by all of this, so I’m not sure he’ll continue this kind of fight in the future. The art was dark and moody and old fashioned, it probably took days to draw and color a single page. I didn’t really like it but appreciated the work put in it. Otherwise, there was too much text for me, especially as I found it boring. The story was ok, I wasn’t interested in the villains but I enjoyed the atmosphere. As usual, I noticed that I don’t really like Batman as a lonely hero, I prefer when he has a sidekick and a family.
May 22, 2025
An adequate alternate Batman adventure, mostly saved by the big Black Label format and superior artwork. There's not much to set this apart from any other early Batman story though: Bruce Wayne is still figuring out how to do the Bat-stuff while Gotham is under attack by seemingly undead horrors. There's lots of punching, being curt with Commissioner Gordon, and generally escaping from dangerous scenarios with so many bruises.
The driving idea is that someone wants to use the zombies to ascend the political ladder in Gotham, which is terrifically dumb if you think about it for more than five seconds. The only real difference here from the mainline Batman series is that Arthur has been replaced by a friendly rabbi, which I suppose ties into the 1939 setting. Lots of reminders about the coming genocidal horrors, which is not untrue, but also somewhat out of place in a zombies vs. Batman book. Why not cut to the chase and set the book in pre-war Germany with Batman punching Nazis? Who wouldn't like that? Bestseller, easy.
The driving idea is that someone wants to use the zombies to ascend the political ladder in Gotham, which is terrifically dumb if you think about it for more than five seconds. The only real difference here from the mainline Batman series is that Arthur has been replaced by a friendly rabbi, which I suppose ties into the 1939 setting. Lots of reminders about the coming genocidal horrors, which is not untrue, but also somewhat out of place in a zombies vs. Batman book. Why not cut to the chase and set the book in pre-war Germany with Batman punching Nazis? Who wouldn't like that? Bestseller, easy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews