Gotham by Midnight #03

by King on February 08, 2015

Gotham by Midnight #03 Main Image
Writer: Ray Fawkes
Artist: Ben Templesmith
Publisher: DC
 
Even within the first three issues of Gotham by Midnight, I can say that pacing has very much been excellent for this series. Within just two issues, we saw the open and close to our first case with the Midnight Shift, and the clear homages to the procedural and even noir elements of storytelling are present and clear throughout the narrative. The strange yet refreshing mythos Templesmith and Fawkes have crafted for the their tale through Gotham’s dark(er) side has also aided in establishing the impetus within this series that makes it such an incredible and unique series in wake of all the “bigger name supes” titles that are so abundant. Yeah, I’m kind of in love with this book.
 
Templesmith’s trademark tentacle fetish finally emerged full force last issue, as we finally come to know the “face” of the wicked presence looming over Gotham – a force that not even the Bat may be able to face. Fortunately he’s got a mega-powerful extension of the will of God on his side, otherwise things might just get silly. Anyways, in the latest case troubling the good boys and girls of the GCPD Supernatural task force we find ourselves with a potential threat that could end the world as we know it in the form of a thought to be long dead plague. Only, as is expected, all is not what it seems to be. Drake and Corrigan run point on this operation for the most part, but some surprisingly revelations by Tarr make a crucial impact to the investigation, and may very well be the first major weapon the Midnight Shift has against the oncoming storm. Well, besides Jim’s “Spectre problem…”
 
As established with both prior issues, Fawkes has wasted no time at all in terms of background story, and regales us with Drake and Corrigan’s first encounter this issue. The fact that the creative team has purposefully set aside so much time/effort to expand upon character dynamics and relationships really helps make this book stand out more for me, seeing as with each passing issue it establishes itself more and more as having a legitimate “procedural” feel to it. Except, you know, with a “Batman/Supernatural/Lovecraftian” flare to it. Gotham by Midnight is still going strong 3 issues in, which may be a bit of an over-enthused response but still sets it apart as a new IP within DC’s repertoire. 

Our Score:

8/10

A Look Inside