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| Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight | |
|---|---|
 Cover of Legends of the Dark Knight #2 (Dec 1989). Art by Dean Motter. |
|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly with a few bi-weekly runs. |
| Format | Completed ongoing series |
| Publication date | (Legends of the Dark Knight) November 1989 - Late August 1992 (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight) September 1992 - March 2007 |
| Number of issues | 215 (225 with annuals and specials) |
| Main character(s) | Batman |
| Collected editions | |
| Shaman | ISBN 1563890836 |
| Gothic | ISBN 1563890283 |
| Prey | ISBN |
| Venom | ISBN 1563891018 |
| Faces | ISBN 1563891263 |
| Collected Legends of the Dark Knight | ISBN |
| Other Realms | ISBN 1852869771 |
| Dark Legends | ISBN |
| KnightsEnd | ISBN |
| The Ring, The Arrow and The Bat | ISBN 1401201261 |
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, commonly referred to as simply Legends of the Dark Knight is a DC comic book featuring Batman. It was launched in 1989 with the popularity of the Batman movie, following on from Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. It differs from other Batman titles in that it has constantly rotating creative teams, and the stories are not necessarily part of the current events of the other Batman comics. Initially the title was promoted as running only stand alone self contained five issue stories of graphic novel quality. However, after issue 20, stories of different lengths started to appear. While some stories have tied in with the other titles, generally this has not been the case.
Most of the stories featured in Legends are set in the early years of Batman's career, though a few have been set in the present and even the future. Stories set at the beginning of Batman's career are referred to as taking place during Year One, meaning Bruce Wayne's first year (or first several years in some cases) of crime fighting as Batman[1]. The title had been initially promoted as only doing stories from before Robin, but Dick Grayson, the first Robin, did appear in issue 23, though he was still a circus performer. The title was discontinued with issue #214, in January 2007, to make way for a new Batman anthology series, Batman Confidential, which focuses on more personal events in Batman's life (first encounters, building of new technology etc.), rather than early crime-fighting tales.
Some of the creative talent who have worked on the series include Dennis O'Neil, Grant Morrison, Mike Mignola, Bill Willingham, Matt Wagner, and Doug Moench.
Contents |
Story Arcs
- Shaman (1-5)
By Dennis O'Neil, Ed Hannigan, and John Beatty
Bruce Wayne and a bounty hunter climb a mountain in Alaska as they try to capture a murderer named Thomas Woodley. Woodley quickly manages to kill the bounty hunter before falling off the cliff after a small fight with Wayne. Wayne's supplies are lost with Woodley which nearly results in Wayne's death when a Native American with her grandfather discover him. The grandfather is able to save Wayne's life by taking Wayne to his cabin and tells him a story on how The Bat gained its wings, while wearing a mask of a bat. After he recuperates and leaves, Wayne is warned by the granddaughter never to tell anyone the story.
Upon his return to Gotham City shortly after, Wayne attempts to fight crime but fails miserably. That night after he fails a bat flies into the room and reminds Wayne of the Native American's story from years earlier and so he decides to create a costume for himself and become Batman.
- Gothic (6-10)
By Grant Morrison and Klaus Janson
- Prey (11-15)
By Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy, and Terry Austin
Gotham City's new psychiatrist, Hugo Strange, is obsessed with Batman. He convinces the mayor to prepare a special task force to capture Batman with Commissioner Gordon as its head. Gordon deploys the seemingly not-too-bright, overzealous Sgt. Max Cort to lead the task force. Later, it is found that Strange hates the Batman because he loves what the Batman does, becoming a creature of the night but he can't do it. He deduces the Batman's identity and plays psychologically with him by placing life-like mannequins of his parents in Wayne Manor with audio tapes. He then hypnotizes Sgt. Cort into donning a costume & becoming another vigilante, who then kidnaps the mayor's daughter. Batman rescues the mayor's daughter, while Hugo Strange is shot several times before falling into Gotham Bay. His body is never recovered.
- Venom (16-20)
By Dennis O'Neil, Russell Braun, Trevor Von Eeden, and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
When Batman fails to save the life of a young girl held for ransom, he decides to try a new experimental drug designed by her father called Venom.
- Faith (21-23)
By Mike W. Barr, Bart Sears, and Randy Elliott
A drug addict is rescued from a fatal beating by Batman, which inspires him to organize a group of neighborhood vigilantes to take up Batman's cause. However, his addled dreams convince him that he must supplant Batman. Meanwhile, Dr. Leslie Thompkins discovers Bruce Wayne's secret identity.
- Flyer (24-26)
By Howard Chaykin and Gil Kane
One of the officers who was injured during the siege against Batman in Year One resurfaces in a mechanized combat suit, targeting Batman for death.
- Destroyer (part 2 of 3) (27)
By Dennis O'Neil, Chris Sprouse, and Bruce Patterson
A miscreant is blowing up Gotham's newer buildings, which according to him, have overshadowed the old Gotham & his destruction leads to Art. The other parts appear in Batman & Detective Comics.
- Faces (28-30)
By Matt Wagner
Two-Face takes over a small island and forces plastic surgeons to create a society in his scarred image.
- Family (31)
By James D. Hudnall and Brent Anderson
After Bruce forces Alfred to take a vacation to Corto Maltese, he must rescue him from kidnappers.
- Blades (32-34)
By James Robinson and Tim Sale
While the Batman is distracted with a serial killer who targets senior citizens, a new vigilante, the swashbuckling Cavalier, begins his own war on crime.
- Destiny (35-36)
By Bo Hampton and Mark Kneece
Batman meets another costumed vigilante from Norway who dresses like a Viking, and learns an ancient tale of a Norse hero known as the Bat Man.
- Mercy (37)
By Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Colin MacNeil
In his early days, Batman trained a female rookie cop, Mercedes "Mercy" Stone, to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Five years later, he must rescue her from a pit-fighting ring.
- Legend of the Dark Mite (38)
By Alan Grant and Kevin O'Neill
An asylum inmate claims to be tormented by an imp who idolizes Batman. The first Post-Crisis appearance of Bat-Mite.
- Mask (39-40)
By Bryan Talbot
Batman wakes up in a hospital bed surrounded by Doctors who tell him he is an alcoholic bum who dresses in a batsuit made of garbage. Is it some sort of hallucination or is his life as Batman the real illusion?
- Sunset (41)
By Tom Joyner, Keith S. Wilson, and Jim Fern
- Hothouse (42-43)
By John Francis Moore and P. Craig Russell
Pamela Isley is out of the asylum after her first encounter with Batman. But when one of her colleagues dies under mysterious circumstances her rehabilitation is called into question.
- Turf (44-45)
By Steven Grant and Shawn McManus
- Heat (46-49)
By Doug Moench and Russ Heath
When a cat-themed killer starts "hunting" young women Batman and Catwoman form an uneasy alliance to stop him. The story features an alternate origin and characterization of Thomas Blake, modern versions of the character tend to ignore the version from this story.
- Images (50)
By Dennis O'Neil and Bret Blevins
A retelling of the first encounter between Batman and the Joker, based on the story in Batman #1, with elements from Year One.
- Snitch (51)
By Robert Loren Fleming and David G. Klein
- Tao (52-53)
By Alan Grant and Arthur Ransom
- Sanctum (54)
By Dan Raspler and Mike Mignola
- Watchtower (55-57)
By Chuck Dixon and Mike McMahon
- Storm (58)
By Andrew Donkin, Graham Brand, and John Higgins
- Quarry (59-61)
By Dennis O'Neil, Ron Wagner, Eduardo Barreto, and Ron McCain
Part of the second act of the Knightfall trilogy
- KnightsEnd (62-63)
By Chuck Dixon, Barry Kitson, Ron Wagner, and Ron McCain
Part of the final act of the Knightfall trilogy
- Terminus (64)
By Jamie Delano, Chris Bachalo, and Mark Pennington
- Going Sane (65-68)
By J.M. DeMatteis, Joe Staton, and Steve Mitchell
- Criminals (69-70)
By Steven Grant and Mike Zeck
- Werewolf (71-73)
By James Robinson and John Watkiss
- Engines (74-75)
By Ted McKeever
- Sleeping (76-78)
- Favorite Things (79)
By Mark Millar, Steve Yeowell, and Dick Giordano
- Idols (80-82)
By James Vance, Dougie Braithwaite, and Sean Hardy
- Infected (83-84)
By Warren Ellis and John McCrea
- Citadel (85)
By James Robinson and Tony Salmons
- Conspiracy (86-88)
By Doug Moench, J.H. Williams III, and Mick Gray
- Clay (89-90)
By Alan Grant and Quique Alcatena
- Freakout (91-93)
By Garth Ennis and Will Simpson
- Stories (94)
- Dirty Tricks (95-97)
By Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Anthony Williams
- Steps (98-99)
By Paul Jenkins and Sean Phillips
- Choices (100)
By Dennis O'Neil and Dave Taylor
A retelling of the origins of the first Robin, Dick Grayson. Based on the story in Detective Comics #38.
- The Incredible Adventures of Batman (101)
By John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra
- Spook (102-104)
By James Robinson and Paul Johnson
- Duty (105-106)
By C.J. Henderson, Trevor Von Eeden, and Josef Rubenstein
- Stalking (107-108)
By Lee Marrs and Eddy Newell
- The Primal Riddle (109-111)
By Steve Englehart, Dusty Abell, and Drew Geraci
- Shipwreck (112-113)
By Dan Vado, Norman Felche, and Frank Cirocco
- Playground (114)
By James Robinson, Dan Brereton, and Tim Bradstreet
- The Darkness (115)
By Darren Vincenzo and Luke McDonnell
- No Man's Land (116-126)
Part of the "No Man's Land" storyline
- The Arrow and the Bat (127-131)
By Dennis O'Neil, Sergio Cariello, and Matt Ryan
- Siege (132-136)
By Archie Goodwin, Marshall Rogers, and Bob Wiacek
Set in the timeframe during which Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth lived in a downtown penthouse instead of Wayne Manor (in Batman publications from 1970 to 1982). An aging mercenary (and former protege of Bruce's grandfather Jack Wayne) uses a manufactured gang war and a mercenaries' convention as cover for an attack on Gotham and Wayne Manor. Silver St. Cloud briefly returns to Bruce's life as well.
"Siege" was one of the final stories written by Archie Goodwin before his death.
- Terror (137-141)
By Doug Moench, Paul Gulacy, and Jimmy Palmiotti
Spiritual sequel to the earlier Legends storyline "Prey". Prof. Hugo Strange resurfaces and breaks Dr. Jonathan Crane (the Scarecrow) out of asylum to terrorize Batman and Catwoman. Strange enhances Crane's fear toxin with a hallucinogen and gives him subconscious hatred of Batman, in addition to a "haunted" house as base of operations.
- The Demon Laughs (142-145)
By Chuck Dixon, Jim Aparo, and John Cebollero
- Bad (146-148)
By Doug Moench and Barry Kitson
- Grimm (149-153)
By J.M. DeMatteis, Trevor Von Eeden, and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
- Colossus (154-155)
By Mike Baron and Bill Reinhold
- Blink (156-158)
By Dwayne McDuffie, Val Semeiks, and Dan Green
Batman teams up with a man who can see through the eyes of others in order to track down the leader of an underground snuff film ring.
- Loyalties (159-161)
By John Ostrander, David Lopez, and Dan Green
- Auteurism (162-163)
By John Arcudi and Roger Langridge
- Don't Blink (164-167)
By Dwayne McDuffie, Val Semeiks, and Dan Green
- Urban Legend (168)
By Bill Willingham and Tom Fowler
- Irresistible (169-171)
By Tom Peyer, Tony Harris, and Wade von Grawbadger
- Testament (172-176)
By John Wagner and Chris Brunner
- Lost Cargo (177-178)
By Devin Grayson, Jean-Jacques Dzialowski, and George Rodriguez
- Full Circle (179)
By A.J. Lieberman and Greg Scott
- The Secret City (180-181)
By Dylan Horrocks, Ramon Bachs, and Jon Holdredge
- War Games (182-184)
Part of the "War Games" storyline
- Riddle Me That (185-189)
By Shane McCarthy, Tommy Castillo, and Rodney Ramos
- Cold Snap (190-191)
By J. Torres, David Lopez, and Fernando Blanco
Mr. Freeze is acting strangely; Batman fears he may be preparing for suicide.
- Snow (192-196)
By J.H. Williams III, Dan Curtis Johnson, and Seth Fisher
When Captain Gordon refuses to give him access to GCPD files on a major criminal, Batman takes things into his own hands and assembles a private team of investigators. At the same time, researcher Victor Fries suffers tragedy and goes on a rampage against his employers.
- Blaze of Glory (197-199)
By Will Pfeifer and Chris Weston
- Emergency (200)
By Eddie Campbell, Daren White, and Bart Sears
- Cold Case (201-203)
By Christos N. Gage, Ron Wagner, and Bill Reinhold
- Madmen of Gotham (204-206)
By Justin Gray and Steven Cummings
- Darker than Death (207-211)
By Bruce Jones and Ariel Olivetti
- Chicks Dig the Bat (212)
By Adam Beechen, Steve Scott, and Nathan Massengill
- Otaku (213)
By Matt Wayne and Steven Cummings
- Superstitious and Cowardly (214)
By Christos N. Gage and Phil Winslade
- Viewpoint (0)
Bridging art by Vince Giarrano, plus excerpts from other issues
- Duel (Annual 1)
By Dennis O'Neil, Jim Aparo, Keith Giffen, Malcolm Jones III, Joe Quesada, Josef Rubenstein, Tom Lyle, Ty Templeton, Dan Spiegle, James Blackburn, and Michael Golden
- Vows (Annual 2)
By Dennis O'Neil, Michael Netzer, and Luke McDonnell
- Transformation (Annual 3)
By Dennis O'Neil, Mike Manley, Luke McDonnell, Gray Morrow, and Ricardo Villagran
- Citizen Wayne (Annual 4)
By Brian Augustyn, Mark Waid, Joe Staton, and Horacio Ottolini
- Wings (Annual 5)
By Chuck Dixon and Quique Alcatena
- Executioner (Annual 6)
By Alan Grant, Barry Kitson, and Vince Giarrano
- I Am A Gun (Annual 7)
By James Robinson, Steve Yeowell, and Russ Heath
Continuity
Technically, most of the stories in LOTDK are in the accepted Batman continuity, albeit with a number of exceptions. These include stories set in the year 3000, Batman being a cyborg, certain Joker or Clayface stories that just don't fit chronologically, and many more. Many of the stories share a lot of elements with the regular Batman and Detective Comics and have often been referenced in modern continuity, notably Leslie Thompkins' discovery of Batman's identity, the origin of Bane's venom, the characterization of Hugo Strange, the origin of the BatCave, and others. Whereas most comic book titles move forward chronologically, Legends tells stories in random order, mainly focusing on Years One through Five, but sometimes including canonical stories after that time as well,[2] Batman Confidential, which has replaced Legends, utilizes a similar literary format.
Specials
In the 90s, writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale collaborated on three Halloween specials that led them to create Batman: Haunted Knight: Choices (1993), Madness (1994) and Ghosts (1995). In the last, based on A Christmas Carol, Bruce is visited by three spirits on Halloween, that of Poison Ivy (the spirit of Halloween Past), The Joker (the spirit of Halloween Present), and a cloaked, skeletal version of Batman (the spirit of Halloween Yet To Come). Having been immersed so much in stopping crime for nearly two years (the time being Year Two in which the story takes place), Bruce undergoes a change, much like Ebenezer Scrooge, in which he is reminded what it is to be human.
Crossovers
- The Destroyer - #27
- KnightQuest - #59-61
- Knight's End - #62-63
- No Man's Land - #116-126
- War Games - #182-184
Collected editions
Several of the stories from the title have been collected into trade paperbacks including the following:
- Batman: Shaman (#1 - 5), by Dennis O'Neil and Ed Hannigan, ISBN 1-56389-083-6
- Batman: Gothic (#6 - 10), by Grant Morrison and Klaus Janson, ISBN 1-40121-549-1
- Batman: Prey (#11 - 15), by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy, ISBN 0-44639-521-8
- Batman: Venom (#16 - 20), by Dennis O'Neil, Trevor Von Eeden, and José Luis García-López ISBN 1-56389-101-8
- Batman: Faces (#28 - 30), by Matt Wagner ISBN 1-56389-126-3
- Batman: Collected Legends of the Dark Knight (#32 - 34, 38, 42 - 43), ISBN 1-56389-147-6
- Batman: Other Realms (#35 - 36, 76 - 78), by Bo and Scott Hampton, ISBN 1-85286-977-1
- Batman: Dark Legends (#39 - 40, 50, 52 - 54), ISBN 1-56389-266-9
- Batman: KnightsEnd (reprints #62-63 along with material from other titles)
- Batman: Going Sane (#65 - 68, 200)
- Batman: Monsters (#71-73, 83-84, 89-90)
- Batman: The Ring, The Arrow and The Bat (reprints Legends of the DC Universe 7 - 9 and Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight 127 - 131), by Dennis O'Neil ISBN 1-4012-0126-1
- Batman: Terror (#137 - 141), by Doug Moench, ISBN 1-4012-0125-3
- Batman: Snow (#192 - 196), written by Dan Curtis Johnson and J.H. Williams III, art by Seth Fisher, ISBN 1-40121-265-4
Awards
Issues 116 through 126 of the series were part of the No Man's Land storyline, which won the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Story for 2000.
Specials and spin-offs
There are three annual Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Specials written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale; the popularity of these led to the limited series Batman: The Long Halloween.
The short lived series Legends of the DC Universe was based on the concept of Legends of the Dark Knight. But instead of Batman, it featured a rotating roster of other DC superheroes.
The Mitefall special used a modern version of Bat-Mite who first appeared in Legends of the Dark Knight to parody the Batman Knightfall storyline.
See also
- "Legends of the Dark Knight" is also the title of an episode from The New Batman Adventures era of Batman: The Animated Series.
- Batman Confidential - a monthly comic series that also tell tales from Batman's past but deals with more personal events in his career.
References
External links
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