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The Murphyverse
Batman: White Knight
From visionary creator Sean Murphy (Punk Rock Jesus, American Vampire) comes this new graphic novel featuring a radical take on the greatest rivalry in comics in Batman: White Knight!
After years of epic battles, the Dark Knight finally finds a way to cure the twisted mind of his archenemy. The Joker...is now sane. The Clown Prince of Crime has now changed his ways, fighting for good in Gotham City, and it may just cause Batman to go over the edge of his own sanity.
Writer/artist Sean Murphy takes the helm of this Batman/Joker story like no one else could, delivering an alternative examination of the relationship between the greatest rivals in the DC Universe, exploring the darkest corners of justice and madness. This new graphic novel is the latest in great stand-alone stories from DC Comics.
After years of epic battles, the Dark Knight finally finds a way to cure the twisted mind of his archenemy. The Joker...is now sane. The Clown Prince of Crime has now changed his ways, fighting for good in Gotham City, and it may just cause Batman to go over the edge of his own sanity.
Writer/artist Sean Murphy takes the helm of this Batman/Joker story like no one else could, delivering an alternative examination of the relationship between the greatest rivals in the DC Universe, exploring the darkest corners of justice and madness. This new graphic novel is the latest in great stand-alone stories from DC Comics.
232 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2018
About the author
Sean Gordon Murphy
82 books388 followersAfter breaking into the industry at a young age, Sean Gordon Murphy made a name for himself in the world of indie comics before joining up with DC. In his tenure, he has worked on such titles as Batman/Scarecrow: Year One, Teen Titans, Hellblazer, Joe The Barbarian, and the critically acclaimed miniseries American Vampire: Survival Of The Fittest and The Wake with Scott Snyder. Murphy also wrote and illustrated the original graphic novel Offroad and the popular miniseries Punk Rock Jesus.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,626 reviews
August 22, 2022
(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: A deconstruction and amalgam, it’s a clever, catchy ditty, with a punky, fresh aesthetic: sooty, grim and gritty-pretty.
Notes: A deconstruction and amalgam, it’s a clever, catchy ditty, with a punky, fresh aesthetic: sooty, grim and gritty-pretty.
July 27, 2021
If this is any indication of what DC's Black Label will be putting out, I'm all in.
Black Label is apparently a mature audience version of the Elseworlds stories, which means this doesn't take place in the regular DC universe. <--so, no harm, no foul.
I like this kind of stuff because writers can screw with the characters and whatnot...without futzing up everyone's day.
The gist is that the Joker takes some anti-crazy pills to prove a point, gets sane, and then sets about proving that he could fix Gotham's problems better than Batman.
Like Hell, you say!
And that was my first reaction, as well, Random Goodreader. I'm not a huge fan of Joker as this human-yet-somehow-superhuman villain. To me, his mythos is almost out of control at this point. Yes, he's clever and psychotic. BUT. At the end of the day, he's just a dude with a lipstick fetish that fell in a vat of skin-bleaching acid. Realistically, he's not going to take down the Justice League with fart bombs and hand buzzers.
So, yeah. I'm not in awe of all things Joker.
Which is why it shocked the piss out of me that I loved this.
Now, I don't want to spoil stuff, but I'd like to point out a few of the things I thought were cool about this one.
First, and most impressive to me, was the way Murphy reconciled the two versions of Harley Quinn. I mean, she started off as the loopy sweetheart of Mistah J in a jester costume, and she morphed into a psychotic ninja with big titties, baby shorts, and a baseball bat.
And I won't ruin it for those of you who haven't read this, but I thought the explanation surprisingly fun and creative.
Another thing I enjoyed seeing addressed was the real-life problems with the way Batman operates. Now, that's not to say that this comic sucked the joy out of suspending disbelief for our Caped Crusader. But it took a lot of the things that we're all thinking in our heads when we're reading about stuff like the way the Batmobile screams down the street in Gotham, and goes: Hey, that's fucking dangerous! You're causing more problems than you're fixing! - then gives a more obvious and, quite frankly, better solution.
Kudos, Jack!
Lastly, I loved the way the entire story came full circle. You pretty much end up where you started when it comes to your feeling about Batman, but the journey you take to get there is well worth it.
Highly Recommended!
Black Label is apparently a mature audience version of the Elseworlds stories, which means this doesn't take place in the regular DC universe. <--so, no harm, no foul.
I like this kind of stuff because writers can screw with the characters and whatnot...without futzing up everyone's day.
The gist is that the Joker takes some anti-crazy pills to prove a point, gets sane, and then sets about proving that he could fix Gotham's problems better than Batman.
Like Hell, you say!
And that was my first reaction, as well, Random Goodreader. I'm not a huge fan of Joker as this human-yet-somehow-superhuman villain. To me, his mythos is almost out of control at this point. Yes, he's clever and psychotic. BUT. At the end of the day, he's just a dude with a lipstick fetish that fell in a vat of skin-bleaching acid. Realistically, he's not going to take down the Justice League with fart bombs and hand buzzers.
So, yeah. I'm not in awe of all things Joker.
Which is why it shocked the piss out of me that I loved this.
Now, I don't want to spoil stuff, but I'd like to point out a few of the things I thought were cool about this one.
First, and most impressive to me, was the way Murphy reconciled the two versions of Harley Quinn. I mean, she started off as the loopy sweetheart of Mistah J in a jester costume, and she morphed into a psychotic ninja with big titties, baby shorts, and a baseball bat.
And I won't ruin it for those of you who haven't read this, but I thought the explanation surprisingly fun and creative.
Another thing I enjoyed seeing addressed was the real-life problems with the way Batman operates. Now, that's not to say that this comic sucked the joy out of suspending disbelief for our Caped Crusader. But it took a lot of the things that we're all thinking in our heads when we're reading about stuff like the way the Batmobile screams down the street in Gotham, and goes: Hey, that's fucking dangerous! You're causing more problems than you're fixing! - then gives a more obvious and, quite frankly, better solution.
Kudos, Jack!
Lastly, I loved the way the entire story came full circle. You pretty much end up where you started when it comes to your feeling about Batman, but the journey you take to get there is well worth it.
Highly Recommended!
August 22, 2024
This is an awesome story. This is the best comic mini series I have read in a long time. The blurb at the back said that this was
"Unlike anything we've seen before."
For once, this is not just hype. This is truly unlike any Batman story I have ever read. Every Batman fan has heard of the Joker, and everyone has an option on him. Now I met Jack Napier, and he could be even more dangerous than the Joker.
Removing the Joker' s insanity was one thing that made this comic great. The second ingredient was removing Batman's conscience and support system. This makes for a much darker, dangerous, and reckless Batman. The artwork is great and suits the story perfectly. It is a great mix of old gothic artwork and new technology at the same time. The surprises are actually surprising. They were definitely not things I saw coming. Everything was great from beginning to end. Even though this was an elseworld like miniseries but I would love to see where this story goes from here.
Every chapter starts with the issue cover, and then the cover gallery at the end has the varient covers of issues 1 to 8.
I loved this series, if I had one complaint about this book it would be that I would have liked more of Batman in the story, but the way the story is set out I know why it was done this way. Super awesome story, and I can think of someone who should be the next White Knight. Read this book, then join me in begging for a sequel, please!!
"Unlike anything we've seen before."
For once, this is not just hype. This is truly unlike any Batman story I have ever read. Every Batman fan has heard of the Joker, and everyone has an option on him. Now I met Jack Napier, and he could be even more dangerous than the Joker.
Removing the Joker' s insanity was one thing that made this comic great. The second ingredient was removing Batman's conscience and support system. This makes for a much darker, dangerous, and reckless Batman. The artwork is great and suits the story perfectly. It is a great mix of old gothic artwork and new technology at the same time. The surprises are actually surprising. They were definitely not things I saw coming. Everything was great from beginning to end. Even though this was an elseworld like miniseries but I would love to see where this story goes from here.
Every chapter starts with the issue cover, and then the cover gallery at the end has the varient covers of issues 1 to 8.
I loved this series, if I had one complaint about this book it would be that I would have liked more of Batman in the story, but the way the story is set out I know why it was done this way. Super awesome story, and I can think of someone who should be the next White Knight. Read this book, then join me in begging for a sequel, please!!
May 24, 2018
The Joker takes some magic pills and is no longer “crazy”. In his newly sober state, he decides to help Gotham by ridding it of its greatest scourge: Batman!
Oh boy, White Knight is all kinds of hot garbage! I knew Sean Murphy wasn’t a good writer after reading his laughable book Punk Rock Jesus but I thought he might’ve improved after five years – nuh uh! If anything he’s gotten worse.
The only way Murphy can make his feeble story work is by writing everyone out of character. So Batman is suddenly brain-dead, idiotically playing into Joker’s obvious ploys like an unbelievable moron. He literally drives the Batmobile over residential tiled rooftops, giving Joker the reason he needs to show people Batman’s recklessness. Batman – on camera – chokes Joker half to death before emptying a bottle of pills down his throat and forcing him to swallow. He also choke-holds him – again on camera – later on, while, as Bruce Wayne, he knocks out a businessman in the middle of a party.
Dick Grayson and Jason Todd suddenly hate Bruce and have always hated Bruce while Gordon is ready to throw away years of friendship, cooperation and arrests the instant the Joker needs him to – it’s too much. There’s suspension of disbelief and there’s this.
And then the biggest flaw: Joker himself. He’s calling himself Jack Napier here, as in Jack Nicholson’s character from Batman ’89, who was insane until he was suddenly cured with pills. This is just a personal preference but I’ve never liked the “Joker is crazy” perspective which is far too shallow and dull an explanation. I much prefer Heath Ledger’s Joker, a cool, calculating sociopath – certainly unhinged mentally – but smart, thoughtful, articulate, and deadly serious about, and more than capable of achieving, his goals. Not some gibbering lunatic randomly doing whatever, whenever, whyever.
Apparently Joker being crazy was the only thing holding back the people of Gotham from embracing him. Quick as you like they’re able to forgive the years and years of murders, explosions, poisonings, and everything else the Joker’s done!
I mention all those spoilers to point out how contrived, lazy and stupid Sean Murphy’s writing and plotting is. Everything is far too damned convenient and that’s why I didn’t buy any of it, even as an Elseworlds tale (which is the only thing this book could be). Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for Elseworlds and different takes on characters – so long as they’re done well, ie. the story makes sense within its own logic, it’s fun and/or thoughtful, or says something new about the characters; except White Knight is anything but. Joker’s “sane” motivations for everything don’t make a lick of sense. He wants to show Gotham that they don’t need Batman, using the tired “costumed crazies weren’t there until he showed up” argument, because there’d be no crime without him – and has to break the law numerous times to show that?? And what does he think anyway – that with Batman locked up all of Gotham’s performance artist villains would just slink away?
Joker’s origin here is largely the Killing Joke’s which is another problem with this book: everything is lifted from somewhere else. It’s such an unoriginal comic. The origin is Alan Moore’s Killing Joke, Jack Napier is from Batman ’89, Joker believing he’s Batman’s best friend is from Scott Snyder’s Death of the Family, the brutal Batman here is taken from Frank Miller’s Batman books, the Joker/Harley relationship is from Batman: The Animated Series, and the visuals are taken from the full spectrum of Batman books, movies and TV shows over the last 75+ years. The one arguably “new” addition Murphy brings is a crappy slant on Harley: It’s just pandering to fandom. Perhaps if you’re someone who reads Batman books for Easter eggs and references you’ll love this. And you’re a drooling idiot.
Even though I don’t believe it exists, given that Murphy was going for the “Joker is crazy” angle, I’d hoped for a book examining the Jekyll/Hyde duality to Joker – maybe Murphy’s Jack Napier/Joker could be a fascinating, complex relationship like Smeagol/Gollum or Jack/Tyler Durden. Or maybe a story like this could work if the plot points didn’t hinge so much on convenience – the Clayface/Hatter mind control was ridiculous, as was Freeze’s big gun. But if you can’t make it work without having to be stupid about it – because Batman and Joker are too defined at this point – then maybe don’t write it. Maybe write a different story with different characters to avoid this many blunders.
Ultimately though it comes down to Murphy’s lack of ability as a writer. If you rely this much on contrivance, you’re a hack. The book is way too long at eight issues (that Freeze subplot was so pointless and tying in the Nazis was distasteful and unnecessary), the pages are packed full of too much bad writing and exposition, none of it interesting to read and most of it nonsensical anyway; it is an absolute bore to slog through. I’d forgive a lot if the story was entertaining or if all of this useless table-setting went anywhere unique or clever; but no, it’s another predictable load of uninsightful, unmemorable nothing.
Murphy’s a fine artist – many pages looked awesome, particularly the numerous Batmobiles – but he’s a terribly inept writer. Batman: White Knight is a derivative, sloppy, tediously drawn-out mess and joins the embarrassing likes of Going Sane, Lovers and Madmen, and The Joker’s Last Laugh as among the worst Batman/Joker books ever.
Oh boy, White Knight is all kinds of hot garbage! I knew Sean Murphy wasn’t a good writer after reading his laughable book Punk Rock Jesus but I thought he might’ve improved after five years – nuh uh! If anything he’s gotten worse.
The only way Murphy can make his feeble story work is by writing everyone out of character. So Batman is suddenly brain-dead, idiotically playing into Joker’s obvious ploys like an unbelievable moron. He literally drives the Batmobile over residential tiled rooftops, giving Joker the reason he needs to show people Batman’s recklessness. Batman – on camera – chokes Joker half to death before emptying a bottle of pills down his throat and forcing him to swallow. He also choke-holds him – again on camera – later on, while, as Bruce Wayne, he knocks out a businessman in the middle of a party.
Dick Grayson and Jason Todd suddenly hate Bruce and have always hated Bruce while Gordon is ready to throw away years of friendship, cooperation and arrests the instant the Joker needs him to – it’s too much. There’s suspension of disbelief and there’s this.
And then the biggest flaw: Joker himself. He’s calling himself Jack Napier here, as in Jack Nicholson’s character from Batman ’89, who was insane until he was suddenly cured with pills. This is just a personal preference but I’ve never liked the “Joker is crazy” perspective which is far too shallow and dull an explanation. I much prefer Heath Ledger’s Joker, a cool, calculating sociopath – certainly unhinged mentally – but smart, thoughtful, articulate, and deadly serious about, and more than capable of achieving, his goals. Not some gibbering lunatic randomly doing whatever, whenever, whyever.
Apparently Joker being crazy was the only thing holding back the people of Gotham from embracing him. Quick as you like they’re able to forgive the years and years of murders, explosions, poisonings, and everything else the Joker’s done!
I mention all those spoilers to point out how contrived, lazy and stupid Sean Murphy’s writing and plotting is. Everything is far too damned convenient and that’s why I didn’t buy any of it, even as an Elseworlds tale (which is the only thing this book could be). Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for Elseworlds and different takes on characters – so long as they’re done well, ie. the story makes sense within its own logic, it’s fun and/or thoughtful, or says something new about the characters; except White Knight is anything but. Joker’s “sane” motivations for everything don’t make a lick of sense. He wants to show Gotham that they don’t need Batman, using the tired “costumed crazies weren’t there until he showed up” argument, because there’d be no crime without him – and has to break the law numerous times to show that?? And what does he think anyway – that with Batman locked up all of Gotham’s performance artist villains would just slink away?
Joker’s origin here is largely the Killing Joke’s which is another problem with this book: everything is lifted from somewhere else. It’s such an unoriginal comic. The origin is Alan Moore’s Killing Joke, Jack Napier is from Batman ’89, Joker believing he’s Batman’s best friend is from Scott Snyder’s Death of the Family, the brutal Batman here is taken from Frank Miller’s Batman books, the Joker/Harley relationship is from Batman: The Animated Series, and the visuals are taken from the full spectrum of Batman books, movies and TV shows over the last 75+ years. The one arguably “new” addition Murphy brings is a crappy slant on Harley: It’s just pandering to fandom. Perhaps if you’re someone who reads Batman books for Easter eggs and references you’ll love this. And you’re a drooling idiot.
Even though I don’t believe it exists, given that Murphy was going for the “Joker is crazy” angle, I’d hoped for a book examining the Jekyll/Hyde duality to Joker – maybe Murphy’s Jack Napier/Joker could be a fascinating, complex relationship like Smeagol/Gollum or Jack/Tyler Durden. Or maybe a story like this could work if the plot points didn’t hinge so much on convenience – the Clayface/Hatter mind control was ridiculous, as was Freeze’s big gun. But if you can’t make it work without having to be stupid about it – because Batman and Joker are too defined at this point – then maybe don’t write it. Maybe write a different story with different characters to avoid this many blunders.
Ultimately though it comes down to Murphy’s lack of ability as a writer. If you rely this much on contrivance, you’re a hack. The book is way too long at eight issues (that Freeze subplot was so pointless and tying in the Nazis was distasteful and unnecessary), the pages are packed full of too much bad writing and exposition, none of it interesting to read and most of it nonsensical anyway; it is an absolute bore to slog through. I’d forgive a lot if the story was entertaining or if all of this useless table-setting went anywhere unique or clever; but no, it’s another predictable load of uninsightful, unmemorable nothing.
Murphy’s a fine artist – many pages looked awesome, particularly the numerous Batmobiles – but he’s a terribly inept writer. Batman: White Knight is a derivative, sloppy, tediously drawn-out mess and joins the embarrassing likes of Going Sane, Lovers and Madmen, and The Joker’s Last Laugh as among the worst Batman/Joker books ever.
August 7, 2018
Oh, boy, you are in for a show here!
I bought this in its single comic book issues, and even I did reviews of each one of those, however I thought that it was wise to arrange a review of the whole story, using fragment of the previous individual reviews. This TPB collects “Batman: White Knight” #1-8.
Creative Team:
Writer & Illustrator: Sean Murphy
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Todd Klein
THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE!!!
Joker might have been responsible for terrorizing Gotham, but you weren’t necessarily making it better.
Batman: White Knight isn’t only one of the most relevant comic book miniseries to read, specially if you’re fan of Batman, but also I’ve noticed that this is a “passing the torch” moment…
…since in many media projects about Batman, on films, TV and comic books, it was usual, and not all rare, that creative teams were inspired by Batman ‘66 TV series, since almost all of the members of those creative teams grew out in an era, similar to mine, and we as kids, that was the Batman (nevermind campiness) that blew out our minds…
…but sooner or later, new creative teams that grew out in newer eras, it was logical that would “take the torch” to write new stories about Batman, and the next generation is logical that its introduction to the character and his world were Batman ‘89 and Batman: The Animated Series, and while Sean Murphy still keep some elements of Batman ‘66 and even adding newer stuff like The Dark Knight trilogy!
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS
After all these years, you still have no idea what I’m capable of?
Gotham City has disease and its name is Batman.
Jack Napier is the cure!
Vigilantism has cost too much in lives and infrastructure to the population of Gotham City and Jack is helping to reveal that people hadn’t known the peak of the big picture.
Gordon and Batman aren’t in the same page anymore, if they’d truly be anytime before.
But also Batgirl and Nightwing are considering if remaining to the side of The Dark Knight is truly the best for their own duties to protect Gotham City and its citizens that it’s looking like the new White Knight is the only logical path.
AN INSTANT CLASSIC!!!
…maybe if you two weren’t so stubborn… …you’d realize how similar you’ve become.
There is a war in Gotham City…
…in one side, there is Jack Napier, formerly known as The Joker, reformed, certified sane, and willing to do what’s necessary to make a better, safer Gotham,…
…in the other side, there is The Batman, obsessed, recklessly violent, and too much eager to do what’s necessary to prove that Joker shouldn’t be trusted…
…and in the middle there is the citizens of Gotham, suffering the consequences of this epic conflict.
However, hardly, Jack and Batsy are the only ones playing a hand in this dangerous card game…
…Dr. Harleen Quinzel, formerly known as Harley Quinn, smart, resourceful, and willing to do what’s necessary to avoid that those two fellows would kill each other…
…Marian Crews, formerly a second Harley Quinn wannabe, quick-learner, loose-cannon, and willing to do what’s necessary to keep on the havok unleashed on Gotham, and what better joke like doing it using insidious plans by Jack combined with dark cold secrets from Wayne Family?
Batman, Jack, Harleen, Marian…
…who will have the last laugh in this sick game about power over Gotham City?
I bought this in its single comic book issues, and even I did reviews of each one of those, however I thought that it was wise to arrange a review of the whole story, using fragment of the previous individual reviews. This TPB collects “Batman: White Knight” #1-8.
Creative Team:
Writer & Illustrator: Sean Murphy
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Todd Klein
THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE!!!
Joker might have been responsible for terrorizing Gotham, but you weren’t necessarily making it better.
Batman: White Knight isn’t only one of the most relevant comic book miniseries to read, specially if you’re fan of Batman, but also I’ve noticed that this is a “passing the torch” moment…
…since in many media projects about Batman, on films, TV and comic books, it was usual, and not all rare, that creative teams were inspired by Batman ‘66 TV series, since almost all of the members of those creative teams grew out in an era, similar to mine, and we as kids, that was the Batman (nevermind campiness) that blew out our minds…
…but sooner or later, new creative teams that grew out in newer eras, it was logical that would “take the torch” to write new stories about Batman, and the next generation is logical that its introduction to the character and his world were Batman ‘89 and Batman: The Animated Series, and while Sean Murphy still keep some elements of Batman ‘66 and even adding newer stuff like The Dark Knight trilogy!
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS
After all these years, you still have no idea what I’m capable of?
Gotham City has disease and its name is Batman.
Jack Napier is the cure!
Vigilantism has cost too much in lives and infrastructure to the population of Gotham City and Jack is helping to reveal that people hadn’t known the peak of the big picture.
Gordon and Batman aren’t in the same page anymore, if they’d truly be anytime before.
But also Batgirl and Nightwing are considering if remaining to the side of The Dark Knight is truly the best for their own duties to protect Gotham City and its citizens that it’s looking like the new White Knight is the only logical path.
AN INSTANT CLASSIC!!!
…maybe if you two weren’t so stubborn… …you’d realize how similar you’ve become.
There is a war in Gotham City…
…in one side, there is Jack Napier, formerly known as The Joker, reformed, certified sane, and willing to do what’s necessary to make a better, safer Gotham,…
…in the other side, there is The Batman, obsessed, recklessly violent, and too much eager to do what’s necessary to prove that Joker shouldn’t be trusted…
…and in the middle there is the citizens of Gotham, suffering the consequences of this epic conflict.
However, hardly, Jack and Batsy are the only ones playing a hand in this dangerous card game…
…Dr. Harleen Quinzel, formerly known as Harley Quinn, smart, resourceful, and willing to do what’s necessary to avoid that those two fellows would kill each other…
…Marian Crews, formerly a second Harley Quinn wannabe, quick-learner, loose-cannon, and willing to do what’s necessary to keep on the havok unleashed on Gotham, and what better joke like doing it using insidious plans by Jack combined with dark cold secrets from Wayne Family?
Batman, Jack, Harleen, Marian…
…who will have the last laugh in this sick game about power over Gotham City?
October 30, 2018
As a general rule, I’m not a big fan of What If?/alternate universe-type stories. On some level, it feels like cheating to take characters created by others, throw off the shackles of continuity under which most of their creators have to operate, and do whatever you want with them with no repercussions. It’s like if you were an Olympic diver who only needed to pull off a half-assed belly flop (or maybe a no-assed belly flop, because if your belly and ass can hit the water at the same time, methinks you’re either 1) impossibly flexible; or 2) an anatomical marvel that I either want to study more closely or vomit when I think about) to win gold while your opponent would need to execute a technically perfect reverse 4.5 somersault in pike position while handcuffed and wearing electrical nipple clamps to beat you to the podium.
That said, these types of stories can provide an ideal vehicle for either recapturing the true core of a character whose soul has gotten buried under decades of the aforementioned crushing continuity conundrums or exploring an alternate take on a beloved character that is at once a beautiful spin on existing mythos and an altogether mind-blowing creation on its own. White Knight is the latter.
I don’t want to talk too much about the story here lest I spoil it; suffice it to say, however, that the descriptive copy that adorns the book doesn’t do justice to the deeply realized version of Gotham (and gorgeous art) Murphy creates, nor the way he reinvents Batman and key members of his Bat family and rogues’ gallery. Sure, you’ve got to look past a few “Oh, come on!’ moments of pure comic bookery, but if you can accept that—and if you’re accustomed to reading about a creepy single dude whose only real friends are a droll old butler and spritely colored tight-clad adolescents, then I think you’ll manage just fine—you’re in for a rollicking ride that feels too short by half; I guarantee you’ll be wanting more when the story wraps.
Thus far, the best 2018 graphic novel I’ve read, hands (or perhaps half-asses and full bellies) down.
That said, these types of stories can provide an ideal vehicle for either recapturing the true core of a character whose soul has gotten buried under decades of the aforementioned crushing continuity conundrums or exploring an alternate take on a beloved character that is at once a beautiful spin on existing mythos and an altogether mind-blowing creation on its own. White Knight is the latter.
I don’t want to talk too much about the story here lest I spoil it; suffice it to say, however, that the descriptive copy that adorns the book doesn’t do justice to the deeply realized version of Gotham (and gorgeous art) Murphy creates, nor the way he reinvents Batman and key members of his Bat family and rogues’ gallery. Sure, you’ve got to look past a few “Oh, come on!’ moments of pure comic bookery, but if you can accept that—and if you’re accustomed to reading about a creepy single dude whose only real friends are a droll old butler and spritely colored tight-clad adolescents, then I think you’ll manage just fine—you’re in for a rollicking ride that feels too short by half; I guarantee you’ll be wanting more when the story wraps.
Thus far, the best 2018 graphic novel I’ve read, hands (or perhaps half-asses and full bellies) down.
March 15, 2019
So I guess DC's Black Label is intended to be a mature version of Elseworlds. I'll start with saying Sean Murphy's art is amazing. It's got some Jock and Bill Sienkiewicz influences but with more definition and flare. Murphy's character and Batmobile designs are top notch. I love the look of his version of Batman's rogues gallery.
To enjoy the story though, requires a heavy suspension of disbelief. Characters are written severely out of the norm. Batman is a huge asshole who cares nothing about the property damage he causes the city. Batman is like Superman and General Zod destroying Metropolis at the end of Man of Steel all by himself. His Batmobile might as well be a huge wrecking ball careening through Gotham. Nightwing basically hates Batman. The basic premise is that the Joker is cured of his madness and decides to become Gotham's White Knight. The whole city just lays over and believes him, including Nightwing and Batgirl. That's what I found most frustrating. In the first few issues I was constantly saying to myself, "Come on, that would never happen!" Part way through the very many coincidences needed for the story to progress lessened and my enjoyment grew.
There are some cool elements here. I love how Murphy dealt with the duality of Harley Quinn and the major differences between the Paul Dini and Suicide Squad / Arkham Asylum versions of the character. Neo Joker also had a cool vibe. I also liked his take on Mr. Freeze and the ending is a blast.
Received a review copy from DC and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
To enjoy the story though, requires a heavy suspension of disbelief. Characters are written severely out of the norm. Batman is a huge asshole who cares nothing about the property damage he causes the city. Batman is like Superman and General Zod destroying Metropolis at the end of Man of Steel all by himself. His Batmobile might as well be a huge wrecking ball careening through Gotham. Nightwing basically hates Batman. The basic premise is that the Joker is cured of his madness and decides to become Gotham's White Knight. The whole city just lays over and believes him, including Nightwing and Batgirl. That's what I found most frustrating. In the first few issues I was constantly saying to myself, "Come on, that would never happen!" Part way through the very many coincidences needed for the story to progress lessened and my enjoyment grew.
There are some cool elements here. I love how Murphy dealt with the duality of Harley Quinn and the major differences between the Paul Dini and Suicide Squad / Arkham Asylum versions of the character. Neo Joker also had a cool vibe. I also liked his take on Mr. Freeze and the ending is a blast.
Received a review copy from DC and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
February 15, 2023
Reread: 15/02/2023
I loved rereading this omg, its so good. Its one of those volumes thats very deep like what if the Joker was a good guy, and was actually super smart and then there's the twist with Harley ad the creation of Neo-Joker, Batman devastation fund and all the philosophical things/arguments of Batman and his methods, its interesting.
I have already said what I loved most about this series in the above review, but on second read you start noticing small things and how it connects so well like who replenishes the Bat fund and then the thing with the subtle dialogues "Thank you for giving me a chance to fall in love with you all over again" and that hit me so hard omg!! The writing of Murphy is brilliant here and I highly recommend this series!!
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This one was quite good!
It starts with Joker healing and the saga of Jack Napier becoming sane and then going after GCPD and Batman and battling him with his mind and when these two clash, we find that Joker being sane is even more dangerous. The way he manipulates people and particularly emerges as the white knight of Backport, Gotham and becomes Mayor and goes after Bruce on all fronts who on the other hand is obsessed with taking him down and big thing with Alfred and a shared history with Joker and then on the other hand you have the threat of Neo-Joker and her assisted crazy villains and her destructive plans and when all these things clash, who will come out on top? Who will emerge as the savior of Gotham? What will happen to Batman? What is Joker's actual plan? And how is Harley involved?
Its so well planned and I love how Sean does it. He raises some great point about Batman and how he could do more to help and Batman devastation fund was cool. The twist with Harley too and I love the way they talk about Neo-Joker and the threat she represents. The best thing is the art and it feels like its from a polished artist and some car scenes are so good, the action never stops though some scenes are dull but overall its a great read. The romance between Jack and Harleen is tragic yet awesome. The writer really came out swinging and delivered one of the best Batman stories with such great twist and heartfelt emotions and humanizing one of the best dc villains and showing a tragic side, and gives emotional depth to the Bat family and a new charter for Gotham. Must read.
I loved rereading this omg, its so good. Its one of those volumes thats very deep like what if the Joker was a good guy, and was actually super smart and then there's the twist with Harley ad the creation of Neo-Joker, Batman devastation fund and all the philosophical things/arguments of Batman and his methods, its interesting.
I have already said what I loved most about this series in the above review, but on second read you start noticing small things and how it connects so well like who replenishes the Bat fund and then the thing with the subtle dialogues "Thank you for giving me a chance to fall in love with you all over again" and that hit me so hard omg!! The writing of Murphy is brilliant here and I highly recommend this series!!
___________________________________________________________________
This one was quite good!
It starts with Joker healing and the saga of Jack Napier becoming sane and then going after GCPD and Batman and battling him with his mind and when these two clash, we find that Joker being sane is even more dangerous. The way he manipulates people and particularly emerges as the white knight of Backport, Gotham and becomes Mayor and goes after Bruce on all fronts who on the other hand is obsessed with taking him down and big thing with Alfred and a shared history with Joker and then on the other hand you have the threat of Neo-Joker and her assisted crazy villains and her destructive plans and when all these things clash, who will come out on top? Who will emerge as the savior of Gotham? What will happen to Batman? What is Joker's actual plan? And how is Harley involved?
Its so well planned and I love how Sean does it. He raises some great point about Batman and how he could do more to help and Batman devastation fund was cool. The twist with Harley too and I love the way they talk about Neo-Joker and the threat she represents. The best thing is the art and it feels like its from a polished artist and some car scenes are so good, the action never stops though some scenes are dull but overall its a great read. The romance between Jack and Harleen is tragic yet awesome. The writer really came out swinging and delivered one of the best Batman stories with such great twist and heartfelt emotions and humanizing one of the best dc villains and showing a tragic side, and gives emotional depth to the Bat family and a new charter for Gotham. Must read.
October 28, 2021
I've wanted to check this out for a while, but I'll be honest... I couldn't finish it, the story makes absolutely no sense, its like an exercise in disbelief, are we suppose to believe that Joker gets pardoned from prison after a life of terrorism just because Batman got a little too rough on him? This just didn't work for me, it is too long, political, preachy and tedious to finish, not the kind of Batman story I like to read.
February 24, 2019
Though I devour a fair amount of comics / graphic novels I was in the dark (haha) about DC's recent 'Black Label' imprint. Thanks to trustworthy Wikipedia (though we all know Abraham Lincoln once said "Don't believe everything you read on the Internet.") I found that the idea is to use the known characters - such as Batman and Superman - in standalone stories intended for mature audiences.
If Batman: White Knight is any indication, I think it's a strong beginning. Taking much inspiration from - but not necessarily or completely adhering to canon and storylines, which provides some freedom - the long-running Batman history, the volume presents Joker (a.k.a Jack Napier) going on the straight-and-narrow, renouncing his criminal activities and running for local office in Gotham. His platform consists of presenting Batman as the true danger to the city, and it was actually interesting how he was able to make his points seem valid and was able to sway members of the dubious population. Is it all good intentions? Is there a dark and devious side? Or is it a frustrating mixture of both at work?
Now, lest this sounds like a lackluster hour of watching the C-SPAN channel, there's still a whole lotta prevalent drama and crunchy action in White Knight. Batman quickly finds himself at odds with and then on the run from Nightwing, Batgirl, and allies on the Gotham PD (though Commissioner Gordon stubbornly remains in his corner, natch) -- they actually form the Napier-inspired task force 'GTO,' or Gotham Terror Oppression, and are equipped with Batman-level tech -- and seems to be pretty much catching hell from all sides. Can our Dark Knight change opinions and save the city?
Ratings / reviews on GR appear to be split, but personally this is the best Batman book I've read since the outstanding Volume 5: Rules of Engagement last year. This had the feel of a small epic (is that an oxymoron?) - it was a well-paced story, with a large cast of characters that were used exceptionally well. Then there's the artwork - some of the vehicle-centric highlights were the display of Batmobiles in the Batcave (everything from the 40's version to the 60's TV series model to the 80's/90's films represented) and later scenes featuring many of the vehicles in action. God, those car chases! It's usually such a cinematic thing, but it's done very well here in an illustrated fashion.
If Batman: White Knight is any indication, I think it's a strong beginning. Taking much inspiration from - but not necessarily or completely adhering to canon and storylines, which provides some freedom - the long-running Batman history, the volume presents Joker (a.k.a Jack Napier) going on the straight-and-narrow, renouncing his criminal activities and running for local office in Gotham. His platform consists of presenting Batman as the true danger to the city, and it was actually interesting how he was able to make his points seem valid and was able to sway members of the dubious population. Is it all good intentions? Is there a dark and devious side? Or is it a frustrating mixture of both at work?
Now, lest this sounds like a lackluster hour of watching the C-SPAN channel, there's still a whole lotta prevalent drama and crunchy action in White Knight. Batman quickly finds himself at odds with and then on the run from Nightwing, Batgirl, and allies on the Gotham PD (though Commissioner Gordon stubbornly remains in his corner, natch) -- they actually form the Napier-inspired task force 'GTO,' or Gotham Terror Oppression, and are equipped with Batman-level tech -- and seems to be pretty much catching hell from all sides. Can our Dark Knight change opinions and save the city?
Ratings / reviews on GR appear to be split, but personally this is the best Batman book I've read since the outstanding Volume 5: Rules of Engagement last year. This had the feel of a small epic (is that an oxymoron?) - it was a well-paced story, with a large cast of characters that were used exceptionally well. Then there's the artwork - some of the vehicle-centric highlights were the display of Batmobiles in the Batcave (everything from the 40's version to the 60's TV series model to the 80's/90's films represented) and later scenes featuring many of the vehicles in action. God, those car chases! It's usually such a cinematic thing, but it's done very well here in an illustrated fashion.
March 16, 2019
White Knight plays on the nature of villainy—villains as saviors and saviors as villains—and what it means to maintain one’s humanity in spite of such madness. Probably one of the most fascinating and original Joker stories I’ve ever read, especially because it so richly redeems this typically grimdark character. It’s incredibly illustrated, and detailed at a fanboy-level fanaticism.
February 14, 2023
Personally, I find Joker stories to be an overdone Bat-subgenre. Like how many times can are we supposed to freak out over the dichotomy of Batman as order against his chaotically disturbing violent stakes-upping archnemesis?
But with White Knight, artist extraordinaire Sean Murphy has actually crafted a Bat vs Joker tale with originality. In fact, Joker is the main protagonist of this miniseries. Or rather, his other personality Jack Napier.
And seriously: The art! Jagged figures and sharp architecture skylines full of kickass vehicles every which way…
Not to spoil too much, but basically the story shows a plausible series of events in which Gotham turns against the caped crusader and instead finds hope in the Joker. Surprised? You’ll actually start to question Batman’s methods yourself; the story is that well done.
By the way, it’s not only about the Joker. Most of the main villains make some appearances. In particular, there’s an interesting critique of how Harley Quinn has changed over the years and I shall not say anymore. Well, other than just that Murphy seems to love his Animated Series references.
Furthermore, White Knight is often a politically-charged tale. At first, with phrases like “SJW” thrown around one wonders which side of the aisle Murphy is trying to mock. The fact that it’s not obvious at least is a testament to the complex writing.
In the end, there’s a climax in which of course all of Gotham city is almost destroyed. To be honest, this is not the high point of story. That’s been done so many times before. Don’t get me wrong, the action scenes are great. But what truly stands out is the ongoing debate between Batman and Napier, not just punching mind-controlled bad guys.
White Knight as a standalone graphic novel benefits from being part of DC’s new Dark Label, not because there are any unusually hardcore scenes—other than some swearing—but because this gets to be unfettered by DC universe continuity. Just Sean Murphy creating his own world mixing the best bits of the mythos as he sees fit.
So for the discerning reader of any geek level, this is one good new Batman comic to read.
But with White Knight, artist extraordinaire Sean Murphy has actually crafted a Bat vs Joker tale with originality. In fact, Joker is the main protagonist of this miniseries. Or rather, his other personality Jack Napier.
And seriously: The art! Jagged figures and sharp architecture skylines full of kickass vehicles every which way…
Not to spoil too much, but basically the story shows a plausible series of events in which Gotham turns against the caped crusader and instead finds hope in the Joker. Surprised? You’ll actually start to question Batman’s methods yourself; the story is that well done.
By the way, it’s not only about the Joker. Most of the main villains make some appearances. In particular, there’s an interesting critique of how Harley Quinn has changed over the years and I shall not say anymore. Well, other than just that Murphy seems to love his Animated Series references.
Furthermore, White Knight is often a politically-charged tale. At first, with phrases like “SJW” thrown around one wonders which side of the aisle Murphy is trying to mock. The fact that it’s not obvious at least is a testament to the complex writing.
In the end, there’s a climax in which of course all of Gotham city is almost destroyed. To be honest, this is not the high point of story. That’s been done so many times before. Don’t get me wrong, the action scenes are great. But what truly stands out is the ongoing debate between Batman and Napier, not just punching mind-controlled bad guys.
White Knight as a standalone graphic novel benefits from being part of DC’s new Dark Label, not because there are any unusually hardcore scenes—other than some swearing—but because this gets to be unfettered by DC universe continuity. Just Sean Murphy creating his own world mixing the best bits of the mythos as he sees fit.
So for the discerning reader of any geek level, this is one good new Batman comic to read.
June 18, 2018
Amazing read! This is honestly one of the best Batman stories I've read in a long time and I mean that fully! So the story is set in a alternate universe, where Batman has gone off the rails and has become more violent and careless about his actions, that effect the people of Gotham. Then The Joker takes some magic pills that turns him back into Jack Napier and he becomes a politician, with an anti-batman campaign and slowly turns everyone against The Dark Knight!
This is one of the very few Batman stories that is not afraid to highlight Batman's flaws and show how his reckless battles with villains effect Gotham as a whole. One of the many perks of Murphy's writing is just how smart and well thought out the story is; and I can tell he's a massive Batman fan, based on the many influences he takes from the movies and the animated series. In essence though, this is very much a Joker story as it is Batman, as it takes a good look at obsessive relationships and the Batman/Joker rivalry.
The Artwork as well is absolutely excellent! Its not anything flashy but it suits the gritty tone of the book, plus the Batmobile design is really awesome! But overall this a fantastic read I recommend all Batman fans must read!
This is one of the very few Batman stories that is not afraid to highlight Batman's flaws and show how his reckless battles with villains effect Gotham as a whole. One of the many perks of Murphy's writing is just how smart and well thought out the story is; and I can tell he's a massive Batman fan, based on the many influences he takes from the movies and the animated series. In essence though, this is very much a Joker story as it is Batman, as it takes a good look at obsessive relationships and the Batman/Joker rivalry.
The Artwork as well is absolutely excellent! Its not anything flashy but it suits the gritty tone of the book, plus the Batmobile design is really awesome! But overall this a fantastic read I recommend all Batman fans must read!
December 27, 2018
Great art, original story - the idea of switching Batman and the Joker is fun and engaging!
March 28, 2022
6.7/10
This could have been one of my favourite Batman stories, i still liked it a lot but there is one thing that didn't work for me. Batman didn't act like Batman, he was taking all the wrong decisions and acting kind not smart at all. Besides that everything works fine, the rest of the characters are nicely written, my favourite being Harley.
I will definitely continue with the Murphyverse.
This could have been one of my favourite Batman stories, i still liked it a lot but there is one thing that didn't work for me. Batman didn't act like Batman, he was taking all the wrong decisions and acting kind not smart at all. Besides that everything works fine, the rest of the characters are nicely written, my favourite being Harley.
I will definitely continue with the Murphyverse.
December 31, 2023
At this point, all I'm doing is reading Batman comics, and can you blame me? They're fucking awesome. After deliberating long and hard about which Batman comic to pick up next, I settled for a fairly new one: Sean Murphy's take on the Caped Crusader. In Batman: White Knight, Sean Murphy plays with the idea of an unhinged Bruce Wayne whose actions get more and more out of control versus a seemingly cured Joker. I really like these alternative universes / "what if" scenarios, as they allow writers to play around a bit and explore characters from a different angle.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murphy's take on the White Knight. First and foremost, the idea of introducing the Joker's alter ego Jack Napier was really quite brilliant. I loved seeing the human side of the joker and for once, his relationship to Harley Quinn didn't drive me crazy. I love their interactions and how deeply they cared about one another. Of course, there's the tragedy of it all, never been meant to last, but I couldn't help but root for the two of them. I also liked that most of the Joker's qualities were still apparent in Jack Napier: he was cool, he was deeply calculating, highly intelligent ... just not as unhinged. ;)
Bruce acted quite a bit out of character in this (risking the lives of innocent people and being reckless on camera are usually not things you see the Dark Knight doing), but oh well, I can excuse it because those were actually useful plot devices ... and I also like the pseudo-explanation that we got that his emotions running high had all to do with Alfred who lay dying. Overall, the whole Alfred-subplot actually killed me, Alfred's letter literally brought tears to my eyes. Oh, my babies.
This was also only my second comic with grown up Dick and Barbara. I really didn't like the two of them in Batman: Black Mirror (probably because I thought that whole tale was just a mess) but I thoroughly enjoyed their dynamic in this. Dick, who was also a bit more on the edge, versus Babs, who tried to stay calm and collected for the sake of all of them.
Sean Murphy's art is also impeccable (5/5 stars) and I hope he continues to work for DC. I cannot wait to check out more of his stuff. The colors, the clear lines, the square-jawed characters ... I was here for all of it. However, his writing was just okay imho (3/5 stars). His story just seemed to jam-packed. He literally tried to cram every cool idea into eight issues. I wasn't the biggest fan of the introduction of the second Harley (aka Néo-Joker) and the Freeze-gun was also a joke. Overall, the whole comic was a little too action-heavy for my taste. I just don't care for fight sequences that much. I want big character moments.
But all in all, it's still a pretty solid comic book and I am definitely considering reading the sequel.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murphy's take on the White Knight. First and foremost, the idea of introducing the Joker's alter ego Jack Napier was really quite brilliant. I loved seeing the human side of the joker and for once, his relationship to Harley Quinn didn't drive me crazy. I love their interactions and how deeply they cared about one another. Of course, there's the tragedy of it all, never been meant to last, but I couldn't help but root for the two of them. I also liked that most of the Joker's qualities were still apparent in Jack Napier: he was cool, he was deeply calculating, highly intelligent ... just not as unhinged. ;)
Bruce acted quite a bit out of character in this (risking the lives of innocent people and being reckless on camera are usually not things you see the Dark Knight doing), but oh well, I can excuse it because those were actually useful plot devices ... and I also like the pseudo-explanation that we got that his emotions running high had all to do with Alfred who lay dying. Overall, the whole Alfred-subplot actually killed me, Alfred's letter literally brought tears to my eyes. Oh, my babies.
This was also only my second comic with grown up Dick and Barbara. I really didn't like the two of them in Batman: Black Mirror (probably because I thought that whole tale was just a mess) but I thoroughly enjoyed their dynamic in this. Dick, who was also a bit more on the edge, versus Babs, who tried to stay calm and collected for the sake of all of them.
Sean Murphy's art is also impeccable (5/5 stars) and I hope he continues to work for DC. I cannot wait to check out more of his stuff. The colors, the clear lines, the square-jawed characters ... I was here for all of it. However, his writing was just okay imho (3/5 stars). His story just seemed to jam-packed. He literally tried to cram every cool idea into eight issues. I wasn't the biggest fan of the introduction of the second Harley (aka Néo-Joker) and the Freeze-gun was also a joke. Overall, the whole comic was a little too action-heavy for my taste. I just don't care for fight sequences that much. I want big character moments.
But all in all, it's still a pretty solid comic book and I am definitely considering reading the sequel.
November 5, 2018
I was on the fence about this title when first released but glad I gave it a go.
So the joker is reformed. He is no longer the crazy killer clown we all know. Batman doesn't buy this bullshit for one second and brutally beats down the joker. However as the story progresses we actually see the joker isn't lying. With surprise twist from characters like harley Quinn, a new take on nightwing, and barbs and more we have a elseworld that feels different.
Good: the art is of course great. Murphy always does really with that. The storyline is both well told and interesting. The idea of joker changing is well crafted. I love the batfamily in this, they love and fight like a real one. The ending is great and I wanna see where this goes.
Bad: I love politics but this is really heavy handed at times. I also thought the changes to the lore and such took a bit getting used to.
Overall really fun and different. This is everything I love in the elseworld story. A 4 out of 5.
So the joker is reformed. He is no longer the crazy killer clown we all know. Batman doesn't buy this bullshit for one second and brutally beats down the joker. However as the story progresses we actually see the joker isn't lying. With surprise twist from characters like harley Quinn, a new take on nightwing, and barbs and more we have a elseworld that feels different.
Good: the art is of course great. Murphy always does really with that. The storyline is both well told and interesting. The idea of joker changing is well crafted. I love the batfamily in this, they love and fight like a real one. The ending is great and I wanna see where this goes.
Bad: I love politics but this is really heavy handed at times. I also thought the changes to the lore and such took a bit getting used to.
Overall really fun and different. This is everything I love in the elseworld story. A 4 out of 5.
February 13, 2024
باتمان: الفارس الأبيض، هي بداية ثلاثية لعالم "شون ميرفي"، تبدأ بتخيل بسيط، ماذا لو بطريقة ما أصبح الجوكر عاقلاً؟ وأصبحت تلك العقلانية هي قوته الخارقة بشكلاً ما، فماذا سيفعل لكي يقضي على عدوه الأزلي رغم أنه أصبح عاقلاً؟ ماذا سيتخدم لكي يُقلب شرطة جوثام ومُحققيها وضباطها ضد باتمان؟ ليكون هو المسئول عن خراب المدينة، وأنه يُدمرها آثناء مُحاربته للأشرار.
الجميل أن تلك المعضلة كانت رائجة في كوميكس المزاح على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، ولكن الطريقة التي وجدت بها داخل الكوميكس أكثر من واقعية، بل وتصل فلسفتها إلى أكثر المناطق عُمقاً، إلى درجة استغلال الشركات التابعة للحكومات أو الأثرياء لهذه النقطة لكي يتربحوا من خلفها، وكأن مدينة جوثام هي ملاذ لأولئك الحقراء الأغنياء فقط.
الرسوم مُختلفة بكل تأكيد، ولكن ذلك الاختلاف الجيد والمُميز، القصة أيضاً مُميزة، باتمان يفقد صوابه، يعيش أوقات ضعف وجنون كثيرة، الجوكر أصبح عاقلا��، وينطلق باسمه الحقيقي، هارلي كوين عاقلة وتُسانده، وتلك العلاقة المُتشابكة بينهم المرسومة بتعقيد بالغ، من المُمكن أن تكتفي بالنهاية التي وصلنا إليها، ولكني سأحب أن أقرأ باقي الثلاثية، وتلك التخيلات المجنونة، لعالم موازي لعوالم باتمان، وهو عالم "شون ميرفي".
يُنصح بها.
November 28, 2018
Not terrible. There's the germ of a good idea here, but Murphy just isn't able to bring it to fruition. Basically, the Joker takes some pills that turn him into Jack Napier, a normal guy who is soon pointing out the corruption within the GCPD and the higher ranks of Gotham City, most of it revolving around Batman (there's a "Batman Devastation Fund" that is hidden in the city's books, and used to pay for the damage caused by fighting supervillains, etc.). Through a pretty contrived sequence of events, Napier becomes the city's hero and a councilman and turns everyone against Batman--even Commissioner Gordon and Nightwing. But when a new group of villains makes an appearance, it might be that Napier/Joker and Batman will have to team up to save the city. As I said, some good ideas. But they depend on so many coincidences. And on long-time friends and allies of Batman suddenly turning their backs on him, on the say-so of a former murderous villain. This could perhaps have been developed into a more believable story, but Murphy doesn't have the chops to do it. That said, his artwork throughout is just beautiful. He draws a mean Batmobile, essentially including every car that's ever made an appearance in a Bat-movie or TV series. His dynamic action scenes aren't always easy to follow, but they're undeniably detailed and great to look at. This volume is the first of the "DC Black Label" line, intended for mature readers (shades of Marvel Max), but other than a few four-letter words, there's really very little here that should offend anyone. A sex scene between Jack and Harley Quinn features very creative use of word balloons, etc., to hide all the good stuff. And the violence is pretty much on-par with any Bat-related title.
September 20, 2020
Just really, really good. And even more timely today, than it was in 2017.
(Also the first time I've liked the character of Harley Quinn.)
(Also the first time I've liked the character of Harley Quinn.)
December 28, 2023
A game of twisted politics, identity crisis and what ifs, Murphy makes Gotham his own personalised play pen where familiar faces are made fresh and storybeats are freed from the shackles of continuity. Stylishly unique and fantastically fun, White Knight tickles that itch for those who are tired of the same old Batman and Joker cycle.
triggers: self harm
triggers: self harm
August 5, 2018
I received this from Edelweiss and DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.
I think I'm in the minority here, but this was a lot of fun, and read almost like an old Elseworlds book: how would Batman respond, as well as the rest of Gotham City, if the Joker was cured of his insanity.
I read this expecting this to be another insane plan by the Joker and the other super-criminals, looking for the hidden secrets showing that I was right. I was surprised at how it played out.
Good artwork and good writing.
I think I'm in the minority here, but this was a lot of fun, and read almost like an old Elseworlds book: how would Batman respond, as well as the rest of Gotham City, if the Joker was cured of his insanity.
I read this expecting this to be another insane plan by the Joker and the other super-criminals, looking for the hidden secrets showing that I was right. I was surprised at how it played out.
Good artwork and good writing.
September 13, 2018
Boring, mediocre and forgettable story, amazing art.
October 20, 2018
This completely flips the switch on the characters in Gotham. The art is amazing!! He has to be up there with Ribic as my fave artists. The story is unique. I know it takes traits ane ideas that made us fall in love with the original characters but I felt like it made its own. It wasn't trying to be the same, it was giving it a new flavour.
February 28, 2019
It was good but, it feel like that start so up and slowly go down.
I'm not completelly sure about how I feel with the end .
Not a must read but a fun One.
I'm not completelly sure about how I feel with the end .
Not a must read but a fun One.
December 7, 2018
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Where the hell do I begin? To mark the debut of their DC Black Label imprint, fans are served with a stand-alone Elseworlds story that joins the high ranks of comic book masterpieces that have graced this universe so far. With the imprint currently in the process of reprinting some of their most iconic stories, it could not have been a better choice but to begin the process with the release of Batman: White Knight and its bold re-imagining of Gotham in its most sinister and profound facet. While it is a retelling that draws upon Batman’s unmatched lore to create its story, it however reads like a tragic and powerful canonical story with Batman and the Joker at the center of the action. Elseworlds stories have always been tricky and risky, but occasionally there is always a writer out there that comes around and who knows how to take some of the best parts of a great course and serve readers with the greatest and juiciest meal possible.
Batman: White Knight is a complex tale on madness and heroism. Collecting a eight-part mini-series into this stand-alone graphic novel, the story tosses readers into a world flipped upside down: the Clown Prince of Crime rises to become the hero as his archnemesis Batman disgracefully falls and embraces a reputation worthy of a villain. Without delving into the little details of how the story unfolds to let you discover for yourself the dark and gritty world that Sean Murphy brilliantly writes and draws in this story, expect to be mesmerized by the incredible mosaic he expertly constructs by looking at some of the most iconic characters in Batman’s universe. Filled with subtle references, the story explores justice, mental health, corruption and love in ways that have never been done before.
The complexity of Batman’s and Joker’s relationship has often been explored over the years by countless creative minds and offered us infinite variations to love and hate. What Sean Murphy succeeds in capturing in Batman: White Knight is the core factor that makes that very relationship so suffocatingly beautiful. The story doesn’t settle with just presenting us an event where they both confront each other on a personal level. It goes beyond the first degree and adds Gotham into the mix to force us into a reflection on each of their motives and desires. While also challenging readers to consider the possibility of rehabilitation in mass-murdering psychopaths, it also brings us to reevaluate our position on vigilantism committed by beloved heroes. To add more complexity to the dynamics between Batman and Joker, the story also integrates the never-ending aspect of their battle to draw us into an introspection on what exactly is really best for the city.
This masterpiece wouldn’t have been perfect without its visionary and vivid visuals. The artwork captures the morose atmosphere of Gotham with unparalleled accuracy. Matt Hollingsworth colour schemes alone complements the raw brutality of the city and its residents. Every hero and villain is drenched in hopelessness, and the sudden change in both Batman and Joker serves as the ideal catalyst for change in Gotham. But Sean Murphy’s character designs is truly unique and brings out some of the best traits out of every character included. Jack ‘Joker’ Napier alone is an excellent example of the writer’s creativity. In fact, there are a lot of comic book elements in the story that could easily detract you from attributing it any realistic value, but how Sean Murphy writes and draws this story effortlessly immerses you into the action and the heart of the battle.
Diving deep into the psyche of one of the greatest rivalry in comic book history, Sean Murphy’s Batman: White Knight is an exquisite diamond among stones.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Where the hell do I begin? To mark the debut of their DC Black Label imprint, fans are served with a stand-alone Elseworlds story that joins the high ranks of comic book masterpieces that have graced this universe so far. With the imprint currently in the process of reprinting some of their most iconic stories, it could not have been a better choice but to begin the process with the release of Batman: White Knight and its bold re-imagining of Gotham in its most sinister and profound facet. While it is a retelling that draws upon Batman’s unmatched lore to create its story, it however reads like a tragic and powerful canonical story with Batman and the Joker at the center of the action. Elseworlds stories have always been tricky and risky, but occasionally there is always a writer out there that comes around and who knows how to take some of the best parts of a great course and serve readers with the greatest and juiciest meal possible.
Batman: White Knight is a complex tale on madness and heroism. Collecting a eight-part mini-series into this stand-alone graphic novel, the story tosses readers into a world flipped upside down: the Clown Prince of Crime rises to become the hero as his archnemesis Batman disgracefully falls and embraces a reputation worthy of a villain. Without delving into the little details of how the story unfolds to let you discover for yourself the dark and gritty world that Sean Murphy brilliantly writes and draws in this story, expect to be mesmerized by the incredible mosaic he expertly constructs by looking at some of the most iconic characters in Batman’s universe. Filled with subtle references, the story explores justice, mental health, corruption and love in ways that have never been done before.
The complexity of Batman’s and Joker’s relationship has often been explored over the years by countless creative minds and offered us infinite variations to love and hate. What Sean Murphy succeeds in capturing in Batman: White Knight is the core factor that makes that very relationship so suffocatingly beautiful. The story doesn’t settle with just presenting us an event where they both confront each other on a personal level. It goes beyond the first degree and adds Gotham into the mix to force us into a reflection on each of their motives and desires. While also challenging readers to consider the possibility of rehabilitation in mass-murdering psychopaths, it also brings us to reevaluate our position on vigilantism committed by beloved heroes. To add more complexity to the dynamics between Batman and Joker, the story also integrates the never-ending aspect of their battle to draw us into an introspection on what exactly is really best for the city.
This masterpiece wouldn’t have been perfect without its visionary and vivid visuals. The artwork captures the morose atmosphere of Gotham with unparalleled accuracy. Matt Hollingsworth colour schemes alone complements the raw brutality of the city and its residents. Every hero and villain is drenched in hopelessness, and the sudden change in both Batman and Joker serves as the ideal catalyst for change in Gotham. But Sean Murphy’s character designs is truly unique and brings out some of the best traits out of every character included. Jack ‘Joker’ Napier alone is an excellent example of the writer’s creativity. In fact, there are a lot of comic book elements in the story that could easily detract you from attributing it any realistic value, but how Sean Murphy writes and draws this story effortlessly immerses you into the action and the heart of the battle.
Diving deep into the psyche of one of the greatest rivalry in comic book history, Sean Murphy’s Batman: White Knight is an exquisite diamond among stones.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
June 4, 2018
4.5! Pretty fantastic internal logic and world building.
World: The art is Sean Murphy, that's all you need to say. It's gritty, it's expressive and the art direction is fantastic. I've loved his art for so long and now I get to read something he's written and it's pretty great. The world building here is also absolutely fantastic. It's a mash up of all the best parts of Batman: Animated, TV, Movie, and comics. All the pieces we love are here and mashed together with a backbone of the Animated Series makes this a wonderful starting point for the world. But that's what we get at first, a start, and then Murphy flexes his Elseworlds muscle and makes an absolutely internally consistent and unique world, just read it.
Story: Paced wonderfully well, and written by someone with a sure and steady hand. This world and story works cause it's 1) internally consistent and 2) because it's a character story. At the core of the story is Joker and Batman and Harley (she's the star here), their personalities start off at a place readers will be familiar with and then Murphy brings his character spins in a consistent and logical way and makes something I've not read before...well I've read good Joker bad Batman stories before but not written at this level of quality, this is cinematic and deserves to be adapted, it's that good. This is the story that the Joker Origin story should not, not that crap I keep hearing but this...this goes so deep into the relationship between him and Bats it's the deepest dive I've read since Snyder's run and also Killing Joke. The core as I keep saying is about them and the people around them and it's fantastic. I don't want to say anymore, just read it. It's really really well done. There are some stretches in here but it fits in the internal world logic so it's still pretty good.
Characters: Wow, this is a tour de force for Murphy. I've read his other works but wow this is insane. The deep dive we get with essentially the Batman Animated Series characters is insane. It's thought provoking and like any great Joker and Batman story you can't turn away. I won't go into the character details cause that's the heart of the story, the characters, the women in this book are phenomenal, it's absolutely amazing.
I love this mini series and hearing that DC are now calling this the Murphyverse makes my heart soar! Give me more!
Onward to the next book!
*read individual issues*
World: The art is Sean Murphy, that's all you need to say. It's gritty, it's expressive and the art direction is fantastic. I've loved his art for so long and now I get to read something he's written and it's pretty great. The world building here is also absolutely fantastic. It's a mash up of all the best parts of Batman: Animated, TV, Movie, and comics. All the pieces we love are here and mashed together with a backbone of the Animated Series makes this a wonderful starting point for the world. But that's what we get at first, a start, and then Murphy flexes his Elseworlds muscle and makes an absolutely internally consistent and unique world, just read it.
Story: Paced wonderfully well, and written by someone with a sure and steady hand. This world and story works cause it's 1) internally consistent and 2) because it's a character story. At the core of the story is Joker and Batman and Harley (she's the star here), their personalities start off at a place readers will be familiar with and then Murphy brings his character spins in a consistent and logical way and makes something I've not read before...well I've read good Joker bad Batman stories before but not written at this level of quality, this is cinematic and deserves to be adapted, it's that good. This is the story that the Joker Origin story should not, not that crap I keep hearing but this...this goes so deep into the relationship between him and Bats it's the deepest dive I've read since Snyder's run and also Killing Joke. The core as I keep saying is about them and the people around them and it's fantastic. I don't want to say anymore, just read it. It's really really well done. There are some stretches in here but it fits in the internal world logic so it's still pretty good.
Characters: Wow, this is a tour de force for Murphy. I've read his other works but wow this is insane. The deep dive we get with essentially the Batman Animated Series characters is insane. It's thought provoking and like any great Joker and Batman story you can't turn away. I won't go into the character details cause that's the heart of the story, the characters, the women in this book are phenomenal, it's absolutely amazing.
I love this mini series and hearing that DC are now calling this the Murphyverse makes my heart soar! Give me more!
Onward to the next book!
*read individual issues*
November 5, 2018
The Joker goes (dangerously) sane and poses the very real question, "Is Batman Gotham's greatest villain?"
As an Elseworlds tale this was one of the better ones I've read, and as a casual Bat-fan and DC Lore enthusiast I really dug all of the shout outs, nods and Easter Eggs SGM worked in to the text and the art. He particularly seems to have been influenced by Batman The Animated Series, which works for me as I- nostalgically speaking- still see it as a high water mark in the whole Batty Mythos.
In the end, I didn't think this limited series quite hit the heights of The Long Halloween, but for recent Bat-books it's right up there with the Earth One series in my estimation.
As an Elseworlds tale this was one of the better ones I've read, and as a casual Bat-fan and DC Lore enthusiast I really dug all of the shout outs, nods and Easter Eggs SGM worked in to the text and the art. He particularly seems to have been influenced by Batman The Animated Series, which works for me as I- nostalgically speaking- still see it as a high water mark in the whole Batty Mythos.
In the end, I didn't think this limited series quite hit the heights of The Long Halloween, but for recent Bat-books it's right up there with the Earth One series in my estimation.
November 17, 2020
If you can get past the slightly ridiculous nature of the premise, which does require your suspension of disbelief to pull a double shift, this is an interesting book and pretty damned entertaining. The artwork is really good, too, although Sean Murphy’s work looks so much like Matteo Scalera’s stuff I thought Scalera was the artist for a while. I wonder who’s emulating who? Those razor sharp noses can’t possibly be a coincidence...
October 26, 2018
The description of this story led me to believe that this was going to be about Batman being the bad guy and Joker being the good guy. I was really excited about that but, unfortunately, it's not really about that at all. Basically, the Joker becomes a lot less of an asshole, and Batman becomes a lot more of an asshole. Batman is still trying to save the day (and being a major jerk about it), and Joker is still unleashing terror on the city (but he's just so swell now).
There are also two Harley Quinns now, and one of them is also "Neo Joker". It's not as complicated as it sounds, but it is as contrived as it sounds.
The worst part of this story, though, is how it tries to wrap up all of its various plot points and side stories in the last few pages.
Despite these complaints, this wasn't terrible. It wasn't the story that I thought I was getting, but it was fine for what it was. The art was also really nice.
There are also two Harley Quinns now, and one of them is also "Neo Joker". It's not as complicated as it sounds, but it is as contrived as it sounds.
The worst part of this story, though, is how it tries to wrap up all of its various plot points and side stories in the last few pages.
Despite these complaints, this wasn't terrible. It wasn't the story that I thought I was getting, but it was fine for what it was. The art was also really nice.
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