Batman Black And White #1

The Team
Writers Chip Kidd, Neal Adams, Joe Quinones, Maris Wicks, John Arcudi, and Howard Mackie
Art Michael Cho, Joe Quinones, Neal Adams, Sean Murphy, Chris Samnee

Batman Black And White is a title that definitely has a fairly big legacy thanks to DC Comics. An anthology style is something that is not explored very often in current media. Thankfully with the ongoing success of the digital first series, it seems like the publisher has a renewed interest in this type of series. With three initial volumes the format has a set expectation that writers and artists usually follow. It is slightly disheartening to think about there being four volumes of one series over one span of time. This newer addition to the toybox of the New 52 can definitely add some different flavors than what the company has produced lately. This new addition of something interesting is going to reach out to those uninterested in the publisher at large. As with most titles names are a huge factor of whether or not fans are willing to purchase this title. Fortunately on the art side there are some of the best artists working in the industry.

Michael Cho is the first artist to grace the pages of this title. The penciller does a great job drawing a more classic interpretation of the caped crusader. Silhouettes and different styles of shading make his work look excellent in black and white. The goofier tone is achieved very well in this story with the comedic timing of the art hitting the perfect notes. Neal Adams contributes his pencils to a zombie Batman story. Whoever made this decision is absolutely genius, the pencils are dialed up here to insane amount of craziness that could only suit the this particular artist. The color scheme also adds to the finer points of the strangeness that he draws in the title. Faces still have the distinct Neal Adams look. The new took on Bruce Wayne and a few of the different rogues are also very exciting.

Joe Quinones renders a gorgeous Harley Quinn that shows off his fantastic style. There is no consistent tone in this book, which actually works to the advantage of the spontaneity of the title. Quinones draws gorgeous women whichcreate a great sort of foil when compared to Batman himself. Sean Murphy has quickly risen to become one of the very best artists at DC Comics. His astounding sense of style makes for an incredible looking Batman story that should get the interest of readers. The best thing about the artist is the way his sense of storytelling makes the characters look as if they are in motion. Panels from Murphy do not exist in a static plane. It is wonderful to watch veteran artist Chris Samnee tackle the Bat. The artist’s regal sense of style is given a nostalgia infused story to play with. Everything seems to fit into place seamlessly throughout this entire first issue of Batman Black And White. Speaking purely artistically, this is some of the the best talent that the industry has to offer.

In the first story featured in this anthology Chip Kidd gives readers a simple feel good story, that seems tailored towards the artwork. It may be one of the very best stories in the collection as it has a simple plot, but twists the expectations of the reader. While interesting, the Neal Adams story seems to only paint an amusing picture. I was hoping for a deeper outlook on the character of Batman than the one presented here. It is another story that is really geared around the awesome pencils. The Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy tale by Maris Wicks is another really beautiful simple story that plays with preconceived notions. While the narrative is not complex, once again yet the playful dialogue and wonderful personalities of the story make it really fun to read. The chapter handles three distinct personalities very well in the course of a couple of pages. John Arcudi tackles a tale with the Dark Knight featuring quite a twist towards the end. The eccentricities of Bruce Wayne are explored in quite a lovely manner. Readers will also appreciate Alfred in a more comedic role. Howard Mackie does some great things in his narrative based around the topic of friendship. Bruce isolates himself in a ridiculous manner as a human being. The issue does a great job of showing how Alfred can ground him where he might otherwise sink into depression.

This is a great package for those who love to read about the caped crusader who became a bat. At times these stories can feel like strange art projects or showcases for pencillers, but all of the stories in these pages are at the very least interesting. This is a great read to know what some of your favorite pencillers look like in black and white, or for fans that want a different take on Batman.