Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (Elseworlds)

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is a short Elseworlds collection, answering the question: What if Bruce Wayne became Batman in 1888? First, Batman sets off against Jack the Ripper, who has taken up residence in Gotham, but then Bruce Wayne is arrested as Jack the Ripper, himself. Next is a tale about the World Fair at Gotham, when the sinister Alexandre LeRoi threatens the fair with his magnificent flying machine and mysterious weapons, but the Bat-man is nowhere to be seen. Will he show up in time to save Gotham?

Written in 1988/1989, Gotham by Gaslight is one of the spectacular Batman titles of the 1980s. The artwork takes a little while to get used to, as modern DC artwork is much different, but it's very good on its own. I definitely liked the "Jack the Ripper" arc more than the "Gotham World Fair" arc, although the ending of the latter was good. Alexandre LeRoi's motivations simply aren't clear enough for me to consider it a good arc. For 25+year-old Batman, this is a pretty good pair of tales, but I didn't love it. ***3/4

Being a big fan of Victorian-era literature and films, I can't think of a better pairing than my favorite super hero and that time period. The only way it could get any better is if he's teamed up with Sherlock Holmes or pitted against Jack the Ripper. That's exactly what "Batman: Gotham by Gaslight" gives readers.

"Batman: Gotham by Gaslight" contains what is referred to as the first "Elseworlds" title and its 1991 sequel, "Master of the Future." The "Elseworlds" books took the super heroes from the DC Universe and put them into alternate realities and timelines. In this case, the Dark Knight is placed in the late 1800s at the turn of the century and we see how the character plays out in that era.

Our first story, "Gotham by Gaslight" introduces us to the aristocratic Bruce Wayne, whose parents die at the hands of a gunman robbing their carriage. This drives Bruce to don a cape and cowl and take on the persona of a bat at night to battle against the criminals of Gotham City. Several prostitutes turn up dead in the same fashion as those butchered in England by Jack the Ripper. Are the killings the work of a copycat or has the Ripper made his way to Gotham City to carry on his work?

"Master of the Future" takes place in 1892. Gotham City is on the verge of entering the 20th Century. Everyone is happy about it except air pirate Alexandre LeRoi. The misguided genius is set on keeping Gotham from entering the industrial age and ushering in what he believes will be an era of technological pollution. Batman must find a way to stop the extremist before he destroys the city with a solar-powered death ray. Is there someone else working with LeRoi and, if so, what's their motivation?

Writer Brian Augustyn penned both "Gotham by Gaslight" and "Master of the Future." He perfectly captures the spirit of gothic mysteries like those Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and others wrote. Instead of transporting the modern day Batman to the past, he takes the character and drops him into turn-of-the-century Gotham City as if he's always been there. Augustyn's tales are engaging and keep you wondering what exciting twists and turns we'll experience as we franticly flip pages to the very end.

Mike Mignola lends his unique artistic style to "Gotham by Gaslight." Eduardo Barreto elegantly penciled "Master of the Future." Their styles couldn't be more different and I was distracted by this at first. After a while, I became adjusted to the changes between books. Both artists are talented and bring their own individual take on how to visualize Augustyn's writing.

If you've yet to pick it up, DC Comics' new edition of "Batman: Gotham by Gaslight" is the perfect way to collect these two fabulous "Elseworlds" tales. Both stories are great examples of suspense yarns and the detective work the Dark Knight is known for. Brief cameos by Thomas Edison, Sherlock Holmes, and a Victorian-era Joker just add to the enjoyment of this highly recommended book.

This book collects two comics of Batman fighting evil in Victorian era in two stories, "Gotham by Gas Light" and "Master of the Future."

The first story features Batman going up against Jack the Ripper who has begun to commit a whole new series of murders in Gotham. The second is just a traditional Batman story but set in Victorian times as Batman has to thwart a villain who is trying to stop Gotham's World Fair because he believes that the future belongs to him.

Each story does a great job of creating atmosphere and art is superb. Augustyn does a good job of capturing of how Batman would act or behave if he'd begun in his career in the Victorian era. At the same point, it's hard to say these stories are truly great Batman tales. They're good, but they don't live up to the hype and the conclusion of the first one doesn't really stand up to what you would expect of a Batman meets Jack the Ripper comics.

However, it's still worth reading and for better or worse this comic marked the beginning of DC Elseworld stories that would imagine all sorts of alternate takes on heroes from Superman crashing in the Soviet Union to Batman being around in the days of King Arthur. That alone makes this book worth a look.

What I found most impressive about Gotham by Gaslight is how much story Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola fit into such a short amount of space. This is an entire trade's worth of plot development smashed into a novel that's scarcely bigger than two single issues, but it doesn't feel hurried, rushed or any shorter than it needs to be. The concept of a Victorian Batman works even better than you'd expect, although he only appears in-costume for a few short scenes. Though I wasn't entirely taken by the whole Bats vs. Jack the Ripper dynamic, it's refreshing to see a one-shot Bruce Wayne period piece with only a fleeting mention of the Joker, so kudos for that. And Mignola, naturally, is Mignola. This came fairly early in his career, so his work isn't quite as refined as it later became, but I wouldn't trust these characters in this era to any other artist and he firmly delivers. A very solid book, good for a short afternoon's entertainment, that doesn't overstay its welcome.

DC Comics had a line of stories called Elseworlds. In these comics, "heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places--some that have existed or might have existed, and others that can't, couldn't or shouldn't exist." [Inside cover] In this particular book, Gotham by Gaslight, Batman is put back into the Victorian era. He's still in Gotham City which is in America, but he lives in the late 1800s.

The first story in the book pits Batman against Jack the Ripper. After committing his series of crimes in London, the Ripper comes to Gotham and starts killing again. Can Batman take him down? The resolution has a measure of brains and brawns involved, making for a good Batman tale. Mignola's drawings are evocative of the Victorian era with a Gothic feel.

The second story is called "Master of the Future" and pits Batman against a madman determined to stop the mayor's city fair. Bruce Wayne struggles with retiring. He's already caught his parents' killer and now has no personal vendetta to pursue. But does he have a public duty, to protect the city? The issue is resolved in a way readers can easily guess but at least the discussion makes the story more interesting. This art is by Eduardo Barreto and also evokes the Victorian vibe but with a more colorful, optimistic look.

Overall, this is a good, not great, book. I was interested in it as a Mignola fan (he's the writer/artist for Hellboy) and was satisfied to see some of his early work. The flashbacks in his story are very much in his style.

Written by terrific writer, brilliant editor (Other than the underrated series THE SHADOW STRIKES, he brought Mark Waid to DC and helped to reinvigorate THE FLASH with Wally West) and all-around good man Brian Augustyn, and with sublime, scary-good art by Mike Mignola, GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT is really the first official entry into DC's ELSEWORLDS titles ("Stories that couldn't, wouldn't or shouldn't exist"), and it's a doozy as a turn-of-the-century Batman goes up against Jack the Ripper as he comes to Gotham.

Little easter eggs are peppered throughout, like Bruce Wayne studying the mind with Sigmund Freud, one of the potential suspects of the real Jack the Ripper being on the boat that Bruce returns to Gotham on, and so on. The design of Gotham and The Batman as done by Mignola is gorgeous and frightening (and what most people would refer to nowadays as "steampunk"). The action isn't the thing here, and is much more concentrated on the story and the detective work, and it's something that most Batman writers ignore.

Sure this review might be a tad sycophantic because I know Mr. Augustyn and consider him a friend, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong.

This is one of the best of the ELSEWORLDS tales out there, and I wish this type of storytelling continued.

An interesting take on Batman for sure, this story sets Bruce Wayne and his collegues in the Victorian era Gotham. It was cool to see what the city looked like 100 years ago and how the people of that time would have reacted to the dark knight.

There are two seperate stories in here, both written by Brian Augustyn. The first finds Bruce returning home from London after his travels and resuming the role of Batman. It is at this time that a serial killer known as Jack the Ripper appears in Gotham and is continuing to murder women in the same fashion as the murders in London. It is assumed by the commishioner that Batman is the man behind this. Wayne is framed for the killings and has no alibi, since by revealing how he really spends his nights would most likely further incriminate him. It is a pretty interesting story, however I caught the killer long before the trained detective which always dissapoints me. Batman should always have it figured it out before the reader in my opinion otherwise it ruins the suspense.

The second story surprised me because I doubt I would have picked this up seperately if they weren't collected together in this edition, but it turned out to be better than the first. The villain is more interesting and the whole story and villain could have easily been an adventure of Zorro. In the first story after Bruce has found the man responsible for his parents murder he quits his crusade. This seems very out of character for him. The newly appointed Commishioner Gordan knows there is a need for Batman still and when a new villain pops up to terroize the city, Bats answers the call. Julie Madison also makes an apperance as Bruce's love interest.

After reading the second story "Master of the Future", I wouldn't be opposed to picking another copy of this version of Batman. Although this Batman of the past won't ever top the Batman of the future for me, it's still a worthy attempt and a good spin on the character.

Presenting a new edition of the title collecting the adventures of the Victorian era Batman. This volume includes the breakthrough Elseworlds epics GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT and MASTER OF THE FUTURE, which pit the Dark Knight against Jack the Ripper and a death-dealer from the skies over Gotham. This title features artwork by Mike Mignola (HELLBOY) and P. Craig Russell (THE SANDMAN).it's batman in a different time and a different wolrd showing that he is just as good in any time period or world the story is told during the 1800s.

This is the first in a series called elseworlds where heroes are placed in alternative times and settings. The story is about a 19Th century Batman hunting Jack the Ripper as he continues his killing spree in Gotham city. I found this a fun and engaging read. A DVD movie was recently released based on this work and I must say that while I enjoyed the show more than the book I encourage you to read it because there are many differences right down to who done it.?

It is my opinion that Batman is the greatest comic book hero ever! I know that is a very popular opinion to the point that it is almost a cliche, but that is how I feel. On top of that, I am a huge history buff, so I am a very big fan of DC's Elseworlds comics where they take your heroes, and throw them into different situations or different time periods from when/where their stories take place.

With all that being said, Batman: Gotham By Gaslight is the best of the Elseworlds series ever! There have been some really great ideas and concepts, but the simple idea of taking Batman, and putting him 1889 Gotham City, and then having Jack the Ripper relocate from London to Gotham is just a match made in heaven. The basic lore and formula of the Batman origin stays in tact...young Bruce sees his parents murdered, traveled the globe to train, and now has his personal quest to rid Gotham City of it's criminals...but just as soon as he starts, the most notorious and elusive serial killer starts a killing spree.

So, I have established that the concept and story are amazing...now let's discuss the artwork. It is GORGEOUS!!! It has a style that is so fitting for the Victorian Era. You can almost smell the damp wood, chimney smoke, and hear horse hooves clip-clopping on cobblestone as you read it.

The only thing negative I can say about this book, is that I wish they would've made it a 2 or 3 part series to further explore the story. It is short, and they manage to tell the story and fit everything in without it feeling too rushed...I just would have loved it if they had expanded the story. Also, watch for the quick mention of The Joker (so brilliant)!!!

This is a must own for any Batman fan. It perfectly captures the essence of the character, and the true atmosphere of the Victorian Era.

DC Comics' Elseworlds imprint has been around a number of years. This imprint probably would not have gotten started "officially" had it not been for the first story in this TPB: Gotham By Gaslight. In it, Brian Augustyn shows a Gotham City highly unlike the one we are so used and yet still awkwardly familiar. This is Victorian Gotham. And Jack The Ripper has come calling for it. Enter Bruce Wayne, a rich man whose parents met with a tragic end in front of him only to be saved from his would-be killer by a swarm of bats. He becomes the Batman we all know and love. I'll stop the story here as I don't want to give too much away.

One thing that must be commented on is the artwork. Mike Mignola, of Hellboy fame, did the pencils in Gotham by Gaslight and P. Craig Russell mastermind behind the comic adaption of Richard Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung, inks. The combination of these excellent artists makes for a graphic story seldom seen these days. There is a steampunk feel to both stories that is rather interesting to see in a Batman story. It almost feels like one is reading Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen only with Batman as the main character.

If there is any real qualm I have with this TPB is the fact that Mignola does not do the artwork for Batman: Masters of the Universe although his replacement in quite good nonethless.

This book is sure to entertain any Batman fan out there and is also a very good read for anyone wanting to be entertained without thinkning of that nasty word we all know as "continuity."

The premise for Gotham by Gaslight was so really intriguing, so I was pretty excited to read it. That excitement pretty much evaporated after about the first two or three pages. The artwork was really bland and the dialogue was very forgettable. The plot was so obvious that anyone with half a brain could have figured out exactly what was going to happen after about the first five pages. Another flaw I found was that it was too short for any of the characters to develop whatsoever. To sum up, great premise, very poor execution.

The BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT trade paperback collects 2 prestige format Elseworlds books - Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, and the sequel, Batman: Master of the Future (in fact, Gotham by Gaslight was DC's first Elseworlds tale). Both stories are written by Brian Augustyn, with art for the first by Mike Mignola & P. Craig Russell, and the second handled by Eduardo Barreto. Both feature the Victorian Era Batman as he battles first Jack the Ripper, and then Alexarndre LeRoi, the self-styled Master of the Future. Gotham by Gaslight is an exceptional tale that provides a true mystery, as Batman pursues the Ripper through late 19th century Gotham. But even more than a mystery, it's an excellent retelling of the origin of Batman. Master of the Future, however, is a bland and contrived tale, solely designed to cash in on the success of the first story. LeRoi is just a knock-off of Jules Verne's Robur the Conqueror, right down to designing his appearance after Vincent Price, who played Robur in the 1961 movie "Master of the World". Better to just use Robur and bring the whole of Verne's universe into this alternate DCU - what a time that would have been! Both Mignola and Barreto do excellent work, but as Mignola put his definite artistic stamp on Gotham by Gaslight, I wish he would have illustrated both stories. So, the BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT trade is really just a much-needed reprint of the title story, with Master of the Future thrown in as an uninspired addendum.

Fun transplant of Bats to Victorian Gotham. Moody art. I'm a bit jaded by stories where this particular bad guy keeps coming back. Perhaps most telling is that I bought this a long time ago (I think I mis-clicked something to wind up on this review page) and I haven't felt compelled to read this one again since I got it.

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is a great retelling of the Jack the Ripper murders.

Mike Mignola's artwork, masterful in its use of shade and shadow, is a perfect match for Batman. The story is compelling and offers a great twist at the end.

Unlike some techno-nerds who bitterly bewail the absence of a 19th century "Bat-Carriage" or "Bat-musket" or whatever, I am glad to see this stripped down Batman.

The premise of a Victorian-era Batman stalking the streets, using steampunk gadgets and matching wits with Jack the Ripper is pretty neat, but sadly the concept is far more interesting than anything that this Elseworlds tale offers. Even the beautiful artwork of Mike Mignola can't distract from the fact that this story is as straightforward as can be, with stiff dialogue and a "twist" so obvious it will have anyone who's ever heard of Chekov's Gun laughing at its inadequate setup. The second part, a tale about a madman attacking Gotham's technology fair, doesn't even have Mignola's art to fall back on and is even more one-note, just a Batman-fights-the-bad-guy tale with very little creativity on show whatsoever.

Honestly, I can't think of a single reason to recommend this book. Even if you're a Mignola fan, his work in Hellboy and BPRD is much stronger. Disappointing.

Excellent Elsewhere story. This is almost like Year One taking place in the 1800s. The writing is excellent and you really feel transported into 19th century Gotham City. What amazed me was how well this all worked. I can read this one again and again. Essential for the Batman fan.

(Spoilers below)
I really was hoping for a great work here. The concept of moving the already-grim Batman to the Victorian era seemed perfect, and pitting him against Jack the Ripper was a stroke of genius. Ultimately it's good, but it has problems:

the good:
*As mentioned previously, the concept is great.
*The art by Mike Mignola is first rate and nicely contributes to the mood and feel of the piece.
*The characters are, without exception, integrated into this elseworld well. Gordon now has the title of "Inspector?" Joker was a poisoner who paralyzed his face into smile? Bruce studied criminal psychology with Freud? All good.

The bad:
*My criticisms for "Gotham by Gaslight" essentially boil down to "it's too darn short!" The story is only about as long as a standard issue comic book, maybe twice as long. It should be TPB length - about 10 comic books. As a result, the entire thing is extremely rushed. There's very little plot development, the story can accurately be summarized as:

1. Bruce returns to Gotham after studying abroad in Europe.
2. He begins his war on crime as Batman right around the time that Jack the Ripper starts operating in Gotham.
3. He is accused of being Jack the Ripper.
4. He escapes from prison and finds the real serial killer.

That's pretty much it. The investigation never really develops. We only see Batman in action twice. There are no twists or turns, much less subplots. The entire story is very rushed. With work, "Gotham by Gaslight" could have been as good or better than "Superman: Red Son." Instead, it just feels like the author phoned it in. Decent, but underwhelming.

I was nothing but impressed by this book. The artwork was great, & the story really was top notch. The design for the 1880's Batman costume was extremely cool. Definately a must-read for fans of the Bat & for any comic fans.

Really baffled as to what all the fuss about. The underlying concept is great: Batman in the 19th century versus Jack the Ripper. This really should work; Batman fits in perfectly into a typical dark, squalid Victorian-era city with its Gothic architecture. Unfortunately the execution is poor; the story lacks any real depth or excitement and the identity of the Ripper is incredibly obvious. It's all over too quickly, and I think that's the problem. For this experiment to work, to create a believeable alternate world for Batman as well as strong characterisation and plot development, it really needs to be much longer.

This is an awesome story.  I love the Batsuit design, it is just so cool.  Here is a more detailed review (and a little video too) here:  http://thetalkinggeek.com/gotham-gaslight/
If you don't have this book GET IT.

Gotham at the turn of the century, the steam era, that great cover- it looks awesome, doesn't? The idea is great. It starts off great. But the story seems to loose track of itself and fall from what it could have been to an awkward attempt to push a Jack the Ripper mystery into the Batman backstory. The art was attractive and fitting, and there were definite little highlights sprinkled about but on a whole, I can't recommend this book.

This is an awesome story.  I love the Batsuit design, it is just so cool.  Here is a more detailed review (and a little video too) here:  http://thetalkinggeek.com/gotham-gaslight/
If you don't have this book GET IT.

Artwork in comic books is one of the most important features to me, right behind story of course. Sometimes the artwork in a comic book can be so good that it can even make up for a mediocre story. When I first heard of Gotham by Gaslight I was excited to know a Victorian age, 19th century Batman could exist. This is all thanks to a DC series line called Elseworlds that, in my opinion, doesn't get enough attention. With the great idea of Batman in another era I did in fact expect to be wowed.

As soon as I open the book I'm already apprehensive because of the old fashioned style comic book illustrations and coloring, granted the book is a bit old (1989). What's more is that there is a healthy amount of dialogue, which is all good and well, but when you look at pages of bland drawings filled with text boxes everywhere it can take away some of the excitement. I personally like a better ratio of artwork to dialogue.