Rob reviews Batman: Beyond The White Knight...
Taking place 10-years after the events seen within Batman: Curse of the White Knight, writer Sean Murphy brings us a version of Bruce Wayne - and Gotham City - that's very alien to the one we already know. Now known as "Neo-Gotham", Derek Powers has utilised the Wayne Families fortune - and Bat-Tech - to turn the once metropolis into a police state.
With Bruce Wayne currently in prison, Batman is now a symbol of Powers' totalitarian regime. Neo-Gotham needs someone to give it hope. But is it Bruce Wayne or could it be Terry McGinnis?
Batman: Beyond The White Knight sets off on its journey in a blockbuster fashion. We join Terry McGinnis as he's led into the ruins of Wayne Manor in search of the one Batman suit Bruce was too scared to use. Naturally, this turns out to be the Batman Beyond suit, and as such McGinnis unwittingly uses powers to effortlessly dispatch the G.T.O. team sent in to investigate his break-in. This then puts him into direct conflict with G.T.O. Commander; Dick Grayson.
Meanwhile, we catch up with a remorseful Bruce Wayne, who's still locked up inside Stonegate Penitentiary. Since his incarnation, Bruce has pushed away those he was once close to and spends his time quelling riots as he struggles to leave his past behind. During the latest riot from the 'Sons of Azrael', Bruce hears news of Derek Powers' misuse of Wayne Enterprises, and that someone claiming to be Batman is stalking Neo-Gotham's streets. With help from Jason Todd (who's now a guard at Stonegate), Bruce escapes the Penitentiary to confront Powers and this new Batman. However, his past comes back to haunt him in the form of Jack Napier.
Sean Murphy sets the ball rolling for 'Beyond White Knight' in a spectacular way. While it does require some understanding of past events, there's enough exposition for new readers to jump on board without turning this first issue into a total recap. The dynamic between Bruce and Jason Todd is further explored as Todd recalls what being Robin meant to him - and how the Joker took it all away. While we don't get full closure on the subject, it does confirm that Bruce has at least one ally left on the outside.
The atmosphere and world-building are exceptional. Both Murphy and Dave Stewart paint Neo-Gotham as a traditional cyberpunk world - with a Batman twist. It's pretty much how you will expect a world where Batman's technology was made public would behave. High-tech drones are patrolling the streets, whilst it's private police stamping down on any form of injustice. If anything it's Batman's raison d'etre taken to the extreme.
The weaker side to this story is the subplot with Harley Quinn. With Joker out of the picture, she's left picking up the pieces. Her daughter has turned into a rebellious teenager, who's displaying all the hallmarks of siding with "Dad" when he makes his return. At the moment it does seem a little tacked on, but I'm hoping it's fleshed out more in future instalments.
It's so far, so good for Batman: Beyond The White Knight. Whilst Sean Murphy is essentially telling us an 'otherworld' story, it's still steeped in that rich Batman history. Having elements of Batman Beyond is a pretty bold step. Not only does this allow for the 10-year time jump, but also introduces newer, more advanced enemies to the Dark Knights rogues gallery. With Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood #1 also on the horizon, this dystopian world is going to get a whole lot darker before the dawn!
Rating: 8/10
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