Batman: Gotham by Gaslight- “The Kryptonian Age” #4 and the New Gilded Age of Elseworlds Comics
From DC Comics
Written by Andy Diggle
Art by Leandro Fernandez
“The Kryptonian Age” is the latest entry into the world of Gotham By Gaslight which is one of, if not THE seminal, “Elseworlds” story from DC written in 1989 by Brian Augustyn with art by legend Mike Mignola. Gotham by Gaslight famously took the concept and mythos of Batman and rooted it back in time in the turn of the 20th century, allowing for a more antiquated, gilded age, and steampunk aesthetic. It is truly the kind of celebrated “Elseworlds” story that all other “Elseworlds” in the modern era desire to emulate.
However, “The Kryptonian Age” has had a few factors going against its critical reception. The first, and greatest of which is, adding to a beloved series that has been left untouched for the last thirty three years. Second, and equally damning, the series being penned by a new writer, rather than Brian Augustyn who just so happened to have passed away in 2022, which smells just a little bit too overtly like capitalistic greed. Finally, the series itself, once released, has been progressing at a deliberately slow pace, making it difficult for fans to comment on what the overall narrative goal of this new series even is.
Taking an objective step back from the emotional implications of this series’ release, I think it is important for fans to consider that it makes all the sense in the world for DC Comics to return to one of the most popular and celebrated worlds that they have ever fostered, though the timing may feel a little gross and large corporations shouldn’t profit off of artists intellectual property for free (for more information on this practice watch the latest Sony trailer for Venom: The Last Dance and google Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman).
Moreover, with the release of Issue #4, I think that it is high time for the “The Kryptonian Age” to be judged by its merits, rather than by inherently biased nostalgic comparison.
I can definitely understand if you gave this series a chance with Issue #1 and promptly jumped ship, due to the narrow, conspicuous nature of that first offering, which provided no indication of the sheer magnitude of narrative scope this series would inevitably develop. Because the brand name of Gotham By Gaslight ultimately does this far reaching series a disservice, as in actuality, it is set to encompass the entire world of the DC universe in a bold, stylized, fresh context. Additionally, this is the kind of rewarding, intelligent writing that such a respected series deserves, as well as the kind of unique, genre-specific, alluring artwork that fans have come to expect from this title.
For the uninitiated, “The Kryptonian Age” begins with our early 1900’s iteration of Catwoman attending an exhibition put on by the Wayne Foundation entitled, “The Kryptonian Age,” featuring numerous priceless artifacts from around the world from a lost ancient era only recently discovered by archaeologists. The most prized artifact present is a strange green ring that, wouldn’t you know it, is stolen by Catwoman and unwittingly delivered to a group of foreign mercenaries in disguise called the “League of Shadows.” However, Batman is hot on Catwoman’s tail, having used Selina as bait to deliver a fake ring in order to reveal the League’s true purpose for the ring. As I stated earlier, this was just the tip of the iceberg, as the series has begun to develop multiple evolving plot lines with unexpected and familiar characters such as archaeologist Adam Strange’s expedition to Antarctica and rural pioneers Jonathon and Martha Kent encountering a strange meteorological event, and much more.
If you are looking for the next big, epic, enriching superhero series with a unique twist, then I suggest you catch up on Batman: Gotham by Gaslight- The Kryptonian Age, though it is a mouthful to say.
Let’s talk more in depth about issue #4, which means-
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!
Issue #4 begins with the horrific imagery of a train crash in the mountains of Colorado, picking back up from the cliffhanger ending of Issue #3 where we were introduced to the eccentric aerialist, Alan Scott, and the charming Mrs. Silverton the possessor of the real green ring, the ring of Jong Li, as the train was set upon by the League of Shadows. Cleverly, this scene seamlessly integrates the origin story of the original Green Lantern in the context of the early 1900’s with Alan Scott obtaining the fateful ring from the dying Mrs. Silverton, who assures him that he is a good man regardless of his past con-man ways. With the ring in hand, Scott attempts to stealthily flee the train wreckage but is spotted by the capable members of the League, and is forced to wield the power of the ring to defend himself, resulting in the League members melting in hellish green flame. Fernandez frames this scene so well on the page, creating yet another unabashed, iconic moment for this “Elseworlds” series.
We then cut back to Gotham where, instead of the classic, “corrupt cops and generic goon smugglers at the docks scene” that has become a defining aspect of Batman comics, we get, “corrupt cops and generic goons on a sailing smuggling ship just outside Gotham’s port,” which is honestly much more fun. Here, we see Batman act in classic “force of nature,” fashion, hanging the smuggling captain from the sails as he takes out the whole ship like a demon from hell. Batman then interrogates the ship’s captain about the League of Shadows that he helped deliver to Gotham’s shores.
I highlight this scene because it properly showcases just how select the scenes with Batman and Gotham have been in this series to date, with the investigation into the League only just beginning really. I can see how people might find this pacing distracting or meandering, but I find it exciting to feel just how much of this story is yet to unfold.
Next, we head back to Antarctica where Wonder Woman and Adam Strange venture out of the frigid wasteland and arrive at the docks, headed for home. This section of the story has been, by FAR, the most interesting and expressive, delving into the deep hollow earth where the mythical, ancient land of Themyscira exists in this universe. I for one want an entire series devoted just to that- everything we saw in Issue #3, in all of its Dante’s Inferno inspired glory. Additionally, these chapters have offered the bulk of the relevant, core information regarding this series direction, as Adam Strange explores the ruins of the “lost” Kryptonian civilization and learns from Diana about a prophecy regarding the return of the Kryptonians and the potential apocalyptic aftermath.
In the latter half of this already wonderfully dense and adventurous issue, we cut to a brand new ensemble cast and perspective in Metropolis, as Lois Lane rants to Jimmy Olsen and her boss at the Daily Planet about business mogul, Lex Luthor’s, history of corruption. Chief Editor Perry White fires back at Lois that she has no proof of Lex Luthor’s misdeeds, and that if she wants to make the board reconsider Luthor’s offer to buy the Daily Planet, she will need to do some thorough journalism. Lois, typically, is way ahead of Perry, and produces a map of Luthor’s railroad purchases that all center around a po-dunk town called, “Smallville.”
It is so much fun seeing familiar DC settings and characters transformed by the inherent “time appropriate” style of Gotham by Gaslight in a seamless, intelligent way. For instance, we don’t waste any time with backstory for why Lois Lane makes sense in this bygone world, she just kicks in the door and her personality erases any doubt about her authority or position in this story. There is a palpable, inherent trust in the comics fandom that their knowledge of DC comics and characters will fill in any unexplained gaps in the story, where a lesser story would feel the need to over-explain.
Finally, the issue concludes with the introduction of Victor Stone, an intelligent young man sent by his company to Lex Luthor’s railroad operation in order to examine his ingenuitive production practices. However, after meeting Luthor, Stone is informed that he has really been recruited by Luthor to become his assistant for his latest revolutionary experiment. Which we get a glimpse of in the final page, featuring an electrical man (maybe Black Lightning?) stuck in a glass generator box of some kind.
This series is a passionate, audacious, monumental production that I definitely think is worth exploring for any fan of the iconic DC cast of characters. Playing with unique, exciting narrative threads, utilizing the long canon of DC Comics, while still presenting the familiar stylings of Gotham by Gaslight.
Please support your local comic book stores and delve into the storied history of, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight- The Kryptonian Age #4, on shelves now.
-Nicholas Aaron Hodge
