Batman: Nightwalker (The Graphic Novel)

A young Bruce Wayne is still uncertain about his place in the world. His friends are headed off to college soon, he now has both the money and the responsibility left to him by his parents, and he doesn’t yet know how to channel his energies productively. But when he sees a member of a criminal gang called the Nightwalkers and intervenes, he draws the attention of both the Nightwalkers and the Gotham Police Department. Now sentenced to community service at Arkham Asylum, Bruce discovers he might be the only one who can take the Nightwalkers down… or hand them the keys to the city.

Batman: Nightwalker is a brilliant young-adult reimagining of Batman’s early years, exploring a complicated, multilayered world where Bruce is driven, yet still trusting, and the idea of Batman hasn’t yet taken shape. And Bruce is effectively wrongfooted by Madeleine, a Nightwalker who plays Hannibal Lector-style games with him. Easily one of the best written female characters in the Bat-pantheon, Madeleine is instantly iconic and her interactions with Bruce positively sparkle.

The art only adds to the presentation, with obviously manga/anime inspiration. The big eyes and expressive faces are counterbalanced with the black-and-white art style, allowing shades of gray to color both the narrative and the setting. It’s a suitable palette for Gotham City stories, to be sure.

Batman: Nightwalker is both a first-class introduction to the Batman universe and a marvelous early-days story for established fans to enjoy.