Review: Batman- The Dark Prince Charming
Quick Summary
Pros: The main story presents some classic-feeling antics from both Joker and Batman. The frame story offers some interest and mystery. The entire volume is filled with great looking artwork that paints a gorgeous picture of Gotham City.
Cons: Most of the story is unsurprising. Catwoman’s role feels distracting to the main storyline.
Overall: This collection combines decent storytelling with wonderful artwork to create a very worthwhile collection. The focus here is on Batman and the Joker, giving each character their moment in the sun and offering some great moments from both of them. Though the story isn’t the most original out there, the artwork more than makes up for it and offers up an enjoyable reading experience. Anyone looking for some gorgeous artwork and some fun Batman vs. Joker moments can find them within this book.
Story
The story in Batman: The Dark Prince Charming, by Enrico Marini, is interesting and enjoyable, albeit generally unsurprising. It centers around an investigation launched by Batman into recent activity from the Joker. This allows for a well-known dynamic to blossom and allows for some cool moments from both Joker and Batman. The story never really treads too far out of unfamiliar territory and includes some unnecessary scenes, but still manages to utilize its strengths well enough. In the end, this is a decent Batman vs. Joker story with enough going for it to keep things interesting.
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The main storyline in The Dark Prince Charming follows a showdown between Batman and his longtime archenemy, the Joker. This showdown goes on for a while and gives both characters plenty of moments in the spotlight. Batman has a chance to show off his dedication to justice and his plethora of cool gadgets. Meanwhile, Joker fills every scene with dark humor and has some awesome interactions with a child he kidnaps. Moments like these don’t necessarily do anything new or different but they do present classic and entertaining representations of both characters,
This storyline is bookended by the mystery surrounding a potential child of Bruce Wayne. This plot point is introduced at the very beginning of the volume and resolved at the very end, giving readers some interest right off the bat and some payoff as the book closes. It also helps define this collection as a whole, giving it something to prevent it from being an even more generic Batman vs. Joker story. The resolution to this mystery, which comes when Joker is revealed to be the child’s true father, also offers a unique way to close out the storyline, even if it is rather predictable.
The only significant distraction to this otherwise decent storyline is the inclusion of Catwoman. Selina Kyle appears in and out of costume at multiple points throughout this collection. However, in most places, her inclusion feels unnecessary and does little to enhance the plot or the character development. Spending time on her character ends up feeling like a distraction and prevents better moments from being told.
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Art
The art in Batman: The Dark Prince Charming is the true draw for this collection as a whole. Enrico Marini’s work here is incredible and presents a breathtaking view of Gotham and the characters who inhabit it. Each page is detailed and well laid out in a way that assists in telling the story that is being told. Plus, the character designs are the most unique aspect of this book and all look great on their own.
Nearly every page in this collection looks great, however, the true gems are in the splash pages. Not far into the volume, readers are treated to a gorgeous and intimidating view of Gotham City that stretches wonderfully across two full pages. Later on, moments like these are utilized to showcase Batman’s presence, Catwoman’s athletic ability, and Joker’s insanity. In each case, they give the reader a moment to sit back and enjoy the scenery while simultaneously pushing the story forward. This adds to the visuals in an already visually impressive collection.
Continuity
Batman: The Dark Prince Charming is a miniseries set in its own continuity within the DC Universe. The events here do not affect events in the rest of the DC Universe, nor are they affected by events in the rest of the DC Universe.