Quick, fun detective story. ( )

I thought this was going to be so much better than it is. Sad face. Doesn't really take advantage of the victorian era really. Boring story in whatever background. ( )

This is a short graphic novel that takes the 'what if...' approach to one of DC's most famous characters. What if Bruce Wayne had lived in the Victorian era rather than in the modern day, and had taken a similar path to becoming Batman? And of course, what if he set out to find that most villainous of Victorian villains, Jack the Ripper?

Its a fair enough story, though the detective work Batman engages in is rather straightforward and facile. What sets this work above the run of the mill is the wonderfully moody artwork. It had been illustrated by Mike Mignola, who would go on to become the creator of Hellboy. Here the dark, earthy tones, and heavy use of shadows fits the gothic setting perfectly. ( )

Gotham by Gaslight is an Elseworlds tale, meaning that it takes place outside of DC's standard monthly titles continuity.
The artwork in this volume is by Mike Mignola, the creator of Hellboy. Fans of the Hellboy series will recognize Mignola's high contrast, shadowy, industrial era evoking style. Mignola's art wonderfully conveys the time period in which Gotham by Gaslight takes place.
The premise of Gotham by Gaslight is placing Bruce Wayne as Batman in the late 1800s, specifically the 1890s. The story is a retelling of the Batman origin story with Jack the Ripper taking the place of the character's typical rogues gallery. There seems to have been somewhat of an attempt to inject a Sherlock Holmes style mystery into the story but honestly I found it's execution lacking.
If you are a fan of Mignola's art or a regular Batman reader this book is a fun read, otherwise I would suggest picking up one of the more lauded Batman trades. ( )

A quick, fun read with an interesting premise. Enjoyable for Batman fans, but not really exceptional in its own right. ( )