Review: Batman: Legends of Gotham #1

Overview: In Batman: Legends of Gotham #1, Red Hood and the Outsiders team up to go after the Leviathan Horde, but unsurprisingly, Red Hood has an ulterior motive.

Synopsis (spoilers ahead): As Batman: Legends of Gotham #1 begins, Red Hood infiltrates the Batcave and tries to access the Batcomputer. Access is denied and he is confronted by Black Lightning. They argue heatedly, in part about firearms, until Katana appears behind Red Hood and calms the situation down; the Soultaker Sword at the throat tends to have that effect. Red Hood confesses that he is searching for evidence pertaining to Leviathan’s theft of sensitive data from most of the world’s top intelligence agencies. Red Hood points out that the presence of members of the Outsiders there confirms that Batman would not want the information being circulated within the Bat-Family.

Black Lightning does have the right computing protocols and learns from the Batcomputer that the data in question is being brokered for sale on Gamorra Island by “Myriad.” Black Lightning and Katana want to intercede but Red Hood expresses disinterest. They request his aid, pointing out that the auction is for outlaws only and that Red Hood fits the bill. After some banter and dispute, Black Lightning captures Red Hood’s attention by noting how harmful it might be for information regarding Superman’s fatal weakness to fall into the hands of Bane. Red Hood has a flashback to Alfred giving him some counsel.

Flying above the Pacific in the Outsider, the team makes their plans. The plane dives into submarine mode and inserts Red Hood into Gamorra as per their plan. Although Gamorra has recently overthrown their tyrant ruler, the regime’s soldiers are now working as mercenaries for crypto-banks and money laundering schemes. Red Hood tries to enter the site for the auction and is rebuffed. Killer Croc appears and initiates a fight before the host at the entrance intercedes. Killer Croc promises to behave but drags a limp Red Hood in, explaining to the host that is refusing to let Red Hood out of his sight.

Inside, Bane appears and mocks Killer Croc. Red Hood, apparently conscious, again flashes back to Alfred. He makes his way to the auditorium where the “Leviathan Hoard” is being auctioned. Lexcorp, Bane, and Red Hood bid competitively. Black Lightning grows frustrated and orders Katana in. Bane wins the auction and heads to a suite of complimentary armed vehicles. Red Hood reveals himself and fires his guns at Bane. One bullet is stopped and embedded in the bulletproof glass. Bane drives off. Red Hood pursues outside on foot only to be confronted by a phalanx of armed men. They fire in unison but Red Hood is protected by a shield cast by Black Lightning. Along with Katana, they make short work of the foes and Red Hood reveals that the bullet he fired was a tracker.

Red Hood wants to take Bane out but Black Lightning reminds him that the mission objective is the data cache. The Outsider soars up to orbit and attempts to block the data transfer from the orbital crypto-bank. As the team infiltrates, Myriad unleashes a horde of robots. Red Hood chases down the physical data chip to an escape pod. He escapes as Myriad detonates the orbital bank. On top of a speeding truck, Katana chases him down and attacks him as a traitor. Red Hood defends and then happily destroys the data chip in front of her. Katana is confused and Red Hood explains that he was going after Bane, not the Leviathan Hoard. Red Hood wants vengeance for Alfred.

He flashes back again to the complete memory of Alfred, explaining Batman and comforting a young Jason.

In the sewers beneath Gotham, Red Hood hands a book to Killer Croc. It is “La Bête humaine” (“The Beast In Man”), by Emile Zola. Red Hood promises never to reveal that Killer Croc loves classic French literature and Killer Croc points out that Bane is owed retribution.

Back in Gamorra, the tech from whom Red Hood obtained the data chip is cast into prison. She is communicating with Myriad and it is revealed that the chip Red Hood destroyed was a decoy. The inmate hands a glowing cube to a gloved hand which turns out to belong to Talia al Ghul.

Analysis: At the outset, it feels strange to have a story about the Outsiders that is not written by Brandon Thomas. I have consistently been impressed with Thomas’s deft narrative work and a keen eye for team dynamics in the Outsiders stories he authored in Urban Legends, and remain surprised that DC has yet to reward Thomas with a separate book or at least a mini-series. The team feels important enough to justify attention; as Red Hood himself notes in this book, the Outsiders fill a crucial role for Batman by essentially acting as a Black Ops squad that is somewhat compartmentalized from the rest of the Bat-Family. Red Hood suggests that even Oracle may not know all of what Batman and the Outsiders do.

My disappointment at Thomas’s absence notwithstanding, Batman: Legends of Gotham #1 is a solid book. The narrative is well-plotted and the pacing is excellent. Scenes switch at just the right moment and there is little filler. Thus, when Black Lightning and Katana arrive at a plan with Red Hood in the Batcave, they move, just as I would expect the heroes to do. There are no lengthy expositions on the emotional tensions nor indulgent banter for banter’s sake. This is Red Hood and two of the Outsiders – characters of vigor and action, sometimes to a fault (especially for Red Hood, obviously).

Bane has been having a bit of a moment in the Batman Universe; between the death of Alfred in “City of Bane,” the almost-astonishing depth his character is provided in Batman: One Bad Day: Bane, and his role as a prime mover in this book, readers are receiving a sustained exploration of what to me remains one of the most fascinating villains in the DC Universe. Red Hood’s focus on eliminating Bane as vengeance for Alfred’s death is a compelling narrative move and one that is highly believable; of all the Bat-Family or near Bat-Family, who would have more motive and be more inclined to take revenge than Red Hood? The flashback sequences effectively drive home the point.

Artist Karl Mostert’s linework is adequate if not inspirational, but do check out Nathan Szerdy’s stunning variant cover that features Katana suspended upside-down amidst falling cherry blossoms. All in all, this is a solid book that does not disappoint, even if, like me, you do not read widely in Greater Gotham. Finally, the reveal that Killer Croc has a passion for modern French literature is both cute and effective, reminding the readers of the basic humanity of even the more monstrous Rogues (and that Bane is not the only well-read Rogue).

Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with a copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Comixology through Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.