REVIEW: ‘Knight Terrors: Batman,’ Issue #1

Knight Terrors: Batman #1 from DC attempts to create a horror atmosphere against the Dark Knight. This issue is a double feature written by DC’s omnipresent Joshua Williamson. The first story involving Batman is penciled by Guillem March, with colors by Tomeu Morey. Troy Peteri letters both stories.

The issue sets off on a basic — not bad or great — premise with old foe Dr. Destiny who has hidden the obviously named Nightmare Stone inside the dreams of a superhero. But a new supervillain named Insomnia wants it and has taken to invading their nightmares to find it. The name is admittedly eyeroll inducing as it lacks in originality and fails to even accurately describe the villain. 

We begin with Batman during a flashback as he is trying to find some radical way to fight back in his head should someone once again manage to overcome him with his deepest fear. Flash forward to now as he’s already submberged in said nightmare. As might’ve been expected, the nightmare involves him as a child, once again in Crime Alley. The story doubles down on the idea that no matter how many enemies he’s come across as the Batman, the only fear that continues to haunt him is the death of his parents.

It makes perfect sense, and any random person knows Batman’s origin like the back of their hand. While it’s cool to see young Bruce drawn and colored with a modern, emo aesthetic, there’s no denying that Crime Alley is overdone. Yes, we know a nightmare story for this character will drop us right there and nowhere else. But hasn’t the Joker instilled in Batman a fear of unpredictability? Didn’t Bane shake him? Or what about Failsafe, for crying out loud. He’s currently terrified of losing his family over in the Batman title, but I suppose he got over that real fast because it’s used against him here to no avail. 

The sole redeeming feature of the main story is the sudden, unexpected, turnaround at the end of it. Just trust in Williamson to throw in a twist you’ll never see coming, but I so hope it leads to some disturbing drama for Bruce and isn’t just a jump scare. Elsewhere, the art by March is an absolute blast of enjoyable and animated, detail, along with the emo-centric inky goodness in Morey’s colors. Peteri organizes the letters to a tee throughout the issue. The art is wonderful in this one shot.

Knight Terrors: Batman #1 next journeys across the world for a Damian Wayne tale, courtesy of David LaFuente on art, and Rex Lokus on many shades of brown colors. Damian has searched out an old seer who knew Ra’s al Ghul. This man is a keeper of the rarest of artifacts, scrolls, books containing the dreams of others. In a way, they are prophecies of the nightmares of people who hadn’t been born yet in the time they were written down. Damian is looking for something to help his dear old Dad, but of course, he has to prove to the seer he is worthy of viewing this library first. LaFuente draws fun art, the colors are perfectly fine. The story is fair, it connects to Knight Terrors.

Knight Terrors: Batman #1 exemplifies why crossovers so often miss the mark, their stories too frequent and redundant. With a dull threat, cheap recycling of character and narrative beats, and a lack of depth, the issue is an overall let down. The only worthwhile parts are the extraordinary artwork, and that surprise last page.

Knight Terrors: Batman #1 is available wherever comic books are sold.