Review: Batman- White Knight
Quick Summary
Pros: The concept behind the book is phenomenal. The story is interesting and the conclusion works well. All of the characters are great and each adds something special to the narrative. The art in this collection is highly creative and beautiful on every page. The artwork is also packed with detail that assists in the execution of this story.
Cons: The timeline of this comic is slightly frustrating. There are a few moments where characters act uncharacteristically erratic.
Overall: This is a very special comic that presents an amazingly fresh take on Batman and the Joker. It has a brilliant concept, excellent characters, a captivating story, and a compelling conclusion. All of these factors are then enhanced by some stunning artwork filled with enough detail to tell a unique story all on its own. The end result is a book that is entertaining in every moment and is a success in almost every regard. Anyone who enjoys Batman, the Joker, or Harley Quinn should read this book.
Story
Batman: White Knight, by Sean Murphy, is an incredibly unique and interesting story that truly distinguishes itself as something worthwhile in the world of Batman comics. In this book, the Joker turns over a new leaf and redefines himself as a heroic figure. The resulting conflict this change generates is compelling from start to finish and creates an environment ripe with emotion and character development. All of this then goes on to inspire an epic conclusion that is satisfying in almost every regard. There are a few minor frustrations in the reading experience but that narrative is still a tremendously entertaining affair. All in all, this is a great comic that almost every fan should enjoy.
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Right off the bat, one of the most easily recognizable positives in White Knight is the concept itself. Having Joker turn hero, giving actual romance to his relationship with Harley Quinn, and forcing Batman to realize that he needs to change all feel like fresh takes on characters who have been written to death. It allows the volume to stand on its own as something unique and interesting rather than just being a reiteration of something that has come before.
It also helps that the story is incredibly interesting all the way through. Jack Napier’s plan is intricate and detailed in a way that is entertaining to discover. Meanwhile, Batman’s opposition to this plan is filled with emotion, especially in regards to Alfred’s death. This level of interest is also enhanced by character development all around, as readers have an opportunity to completely rediscover Batman, the Joker, Harley Quinn, the new Neo Joker. All of this helps create a narrative that remains enjoyable all the way through.
Finally, one of the best features of this story is the conclusion. From the very beginning of this book, I felt like Batman, in that I was sure the Joker was up to something and that his return to sanity was simply a façade. However, having the series play out in this way would have been too traditional and would have simply felt like another generic Batman story. Instead, White Knight concludes with the Jack Napier teaming up with Batman and having these two titans of the comic book industry save the day. In many ways, this comic feels like a modern-day version of Batman: Year One, by having a character break the cycle of destruction in Gotham and help transform the city into something new. The conclusion also has the perfect levels of tragedy and resolution to prevent it from feeling like a fairy tale but allow it to still feel satisfying.
There are a few problems in White Knight but all of them are rather minimal. One frustration I encountered in my reading process was a lack of knowledge about the timeline of this comic. At first, it seemed that the events here take place over the course of days or weeks, yet, later on, it is revealed that they actually take place over the course of a full year. In addition, I found some of the character’s actions throughout this book to be randomly erratic at specific times. For example, Batman’s decision to attack Joker’s protest seems contrary to the intelligence he shows in the rest of the volume. Despite these problems creating some frustration, they are still rather minimal and do not have a big impact on the reading process.
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Art
Despite the awesome storytelling, the biggest draw in White Knight is probably the artwork. Throughout this entire volume, Sean Murphy’s artwork and Matt Hollingsworth’s colors come together to create a book that is simply gorgeous. Murphy creates an array of well-structured pages that are packed with detail. The overall effect of this artwork helps create a book that is easy to read an follow along with visually.
However, the artwork here isn’t just pretty to look at, it is also highly creative in both style and execution. Every character here has a specific design that extends from their personality into every aspect of their appearance. Batman’s simplistic wardrobe as Bruce Wayne matches the Bruce Wayne persona’s personality; Harley Quinn’s red and white color scheme extends into every outfit she wears, whether it be her costume or her street clothes; and Joker’s various clothing designs perfectly complement both elements of his dual personality, depending on which one is on display. I would even argue that this meld between personality and appearance extends into Gotham City itself, whose various neighborhoods reflect the personas required by various scenes.
This same creativity can be found in the unique page design seen throughout White Knight. Sometimes the pages here are absolutely packed with detail. This allows Joker’s incredibly impressive display of Batman memorabilia to highlight his chief obsession and allows an intricately designed city to make the world feel more realistic and lifelike. Sometimes the pages are less detail oriented and more focused around a specific element. This allows Harley’s date night to highlight romance while still showing what is actually happening at that moment. Either way, there are a ton of individual pages in this collection that stand out as something special and, in turn, are what help make this book special.
Continuity
Batman: White Knight takes place in its own continuity, separate from the rest of the DC Universe. Readers can feel free to enter this book with little to no knowledge of Batman’s history.
Currently, the story here does not continue in any comic.