For a long metre , my interestingness in comic books lay strictly in the characters themselves – until I read oneBatmancomic in particular , which taught me to empathise how comics play as an art variant , and how to recognize the near - invisible way comic book creators move the reader ’s eyes across the page .

My educational activity come when I read thefirst book ofBatman : Black & White , specifically author / artist Walter Simonson ’s tarradiddle “ Legend , ” which originally come along in event # 2 . The story features a mother tell her son a bedtimestory of the Batman , a submarine sandwich from the yesteryear who protected the city .

The story ’s alt - future scenario makes for a sport hoyden , but what really coldcock me was the last varlet of Simonson ’s piece . When the woman go to her windowpane and opines how she hopes Batman will come back someday , she goes to her window , and Simonson show that Gotham has turned into a fascistic hellscape .

Featured Image: Elseworlds versions of DC’s Joker (left) and vampire Batman (right)

I Am In Awe Of How This Single Page Proves That Artist Walt Simonson Was A Master Of Comic Book Craft

“Legend,” FromBatman: Black And White, Final Page

The reveal thatGotham has been transformed into a militarized police stateis efficacious , but what sincerely cause the import work is how Simonson dexterously presents the reveal . He starts the page in the top left-hand corner , with a series of three horizontal board that slowly zoom out and away from the fair sex ’s window in her flat construction . Instead of a 4th panel to fill in the sequence , Simonson places a stylise symbol of a fist – presumably the symbolic representation of the Gotham fascist – which is actually connected to a full spattering image immediately beneath , depicting the militarized police state in full .

The final varlet of Walt Simonson’sBatman : Black & Whitestory strike me like a brick rampart , as I now truly sympathize how amusing book storytelling employment . Much like Keanu Reeves inThe Matrix , I could now see the “ code ” concealment beneath the comic Word page . Learning how comical leger artist can move the reader ’s eye from panel - to - instrument panel was akin to learning the secret to a charming trick , as I was unaware of the manual dexterity of hand being use that guided my reading virtually unseen .

Walt Simonson’s “Manhunter” Is Another Masterclass In Comic Book Storytelling

Detective Comics#437-443, Serialized Back-Up Story

To better illustrate the creative ways comic book Lord check the reader ’s center , let ’s take a facial expression at another pageboy from aWalt Simonson classic : Manhunter , one of Simonson ’s early efforts , in quislingism with author Archie Goodwin . primitively run as a back - up story inDetective Comics#437 - 443,Manhunterrevived Golden Age Italian sandwich Paul Kirk , who was revived by an international criminal organization known as the Council . The Council trains Manhunter , present him a heal element and cloning him into an ground forces of extremely - train assassins . Rebelling against his new master , Manhunter breaks away and waggle a one - man warfare against the Council .

DC ’s Elseworlds has have many unlike variations on Batman ; here are 10 must - record substitute continuity Caped Crusader tales .

The page we ’re look at comes from the 4th chapter of theManhunterback - ups , which first appeared inDetective Comics#440 . The fib open with Manhunter and Interpol agentive role Christine St. Clair finding themselves under attack from Damon Nostrand , Christine ’s higher-ranking in Interpol who is revealed to be a two-fold agent for the Council . Manhunter skilfully cover the onset by slicing Nostrand ’s fuel tank as he dodges the oncoming fomite , then finishes off the corrupt Interpol broker by lighting a match and throwing it on the trail of petrol leave by Nostrand ’s car .

Absolute Batman Breaking Through Title DC

Manhunterhas been acclaimed bycomics fans throughout historyfor its unequalled storytelling approach , utilizing hyper - condense layout with multiple panels per page . The page above hold in ten panels , each one portraying a specific action , as Manhunter deals with Nostrand ’s attack , offeringamasterclass in how Simonson uses venire location and directional devices to control the reviewer ’s centre . Like how the match strike the gasolene in the eighth panel lead to the car ’s plosion in the ninth . Letterer Alan Kupperberg enhances Simonson ’s layouts with his expert placement of countersign balloon and sound effect , leaving no doubt where the reader should look next .

I Want More People To Appreciate Why Walt Simonson Is One Of The Greatest Storytellers In Comic Book History

Hyping The Legendary Creator’s Legacy

For me , reading that originalBatman : Black & Whitestoryopened my heart to a whole raw macrocosm of appreciation for comics and the artists who craft them . I went from a inactive reviewer to an active one – no longer content to plainly sit around back and take cartoon strip as a style to down meter , but rather engage with them in a more analytical mode . Of of course , there ’s nothing wrong with take funnies strictly for their entertainment time value , but I ’m grateful that creative person like Walt Simonson have shown me how to enjoythe adventures ofBatmanand others on multiple levels .

One of DC ’s most iconic hero , Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne . Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents , Bruce dedicate his life to becoming the creation ’s leading soldierlike artist , police detective , and tactician . enrol an entire phratry of friend and pal , Bruce wage state of war on evil as the dreary knight of his hometown , Gotham City .

Morty looking straight-faced in his pyjamas next to Rick smiling with a portal behind them in Rick and Morty

Batman & Future Batman

Batman: Black and White “Legend” title page, depicting Gotham City’s skyline

One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.

Final page of Walt Simonson’s ‘Legend,’ depicting the future Gotham police state

Batman ‘Legend’ final page, with arrows emphasizing how the art directs the reader’s eye

Manhunter dispatches an enemy vehicle by cutting the fuel tank

Manhunter page diagramming how the art leads the reader’s eye from panel to panel

Batman Stands in Detective Comic Art by Jason Fabok

One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.

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Batman