Gotham by Gaslight (1989, 1991 - Augustyn, Mingola, Barreto, DC)

This is the series that apparently gave rise to the concept of Elseworld in the DC Universe. Batman has always been about being Gothic (hence Gotham city) and the title literally takes the settings of the Dark Knight to its very inspirational roots. Set during the late 19th Century and featuring a Bruce Wayne, returning back to Gotham from London, where the recent Jack the Ripper killings have caused much havoc, he is forced to put on a cape and mask in an effort to solve similar killings that start to occur in his hometown. One part Alan Moore's From Hell and another part classic detective tale, the title works more in concept than in execution. The writing by Brian Augustyn is suitably classical. He is able to, with great ease, transport Batman from gothic to Dickensian and he is aided by the greatly textured art work by Mike Mingola (who would later go on a make...Hellboy!). The story features familiar faces in this unfamiliar territory - Commissioner Gordon, Harvey Dent, an early Joker like Madman - and a Batman who fights using knives. The Graphic Novel features a second story, written 2 years later no doubt in response to the success of Gotham by Gaslight, called Master of the Future also written, rather weakly I might add, by Augustyn, but without the benefit of Mingola (here substituted by the inferior Eduardo Barreto). He fails to pick on the excellent concepts first given light to Gotham by Gaslight and eventually not only lightens the pace, but brings it down overall. Worth picking up only for the more impressive first part.

Rating: 4/5