Batman: Gotham by Gaslight

Dir: Sam Liu

2018

***

DC animations and Warner Bros. Animation sometimes get it wrong but are generally dependable when it comes to their superhero cartoons. I find that they usualy let themselves down though when they fiddle about with the stories of some of the better known and more popular graphic novels. I thought Batman: Killing Joke was a bit of a let down but the non-adaptations are generally quite good. I have always been a huge fan of DC’s Elseworld one-shots and have long-thought that they are the way to go as far as the animation studio goes so I’m thrilled that they’ve now made the first – and perhaps greatest - Batman Elseworld one-shot, 1989’s Batman: Gotham by Gaslight. The adaption is fairly faithful too, with only the inclusion of Selina Kyle/Catwoman as the big difference with some minor detail left out. It’s set in the Victorian era of Gotham City and has Bruce Wayne/Batman hunting down Jack the Ripper. Many Batman regulars turn up as Victorian characters, a good mix of old and new. Characters include Poisen Ivy, Hugo Strange, Harvey Dent, Harvey Bullock, James Gordon, Selina Kyle, Cyrus Gold and of course Alfred Pennyworth. It’s a cracking mystery with a clever twist. The story beguins with the citizens of Gotham believing that the Batman and Jack are the same man. Stage actress Selina Kyle, a protector of the women from "Skinner's End", is critical of Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon and Chief of Police Harvey "Bulldog" Bullock for their inaction in stopping Jack. Selina acts as bait for Jack after Poisen Ivy (a prostitute in this film) is murdered in a back ally. It works, but Jack gets the upper hand during their fight until the arrival of Batman. After escaping, Batman asks Gordon to help him bring Jack the Ripper down, also with help of Selina. At the Theatre with his friend Harvey Dent, Bruce meets Selina and the two bond at the Dionysus Club, without Selina knowning his secret identity. Bruce is later met by Hugo Strange, claiming he knows the killer and wants to meet with Batman. At Arkham Asylum, Hugo is attacked by Jack the Ripper and is ripped apart by his own crazed patients. Batman chases Jack on top of an airship in a fight that leaves Batman wounded as the airship explodes and Jack the Ripper escapes. Batman also rides a steampunk motorcycle but I’m happy to say that is where the whole overdone steampunk starts and ends. The conclusion leads the story to the Gotham City World's Fair, every detail referencing the Victorian era rather cleverly. It’s a slower story but it is an intelligent one. I dare say kids would be bored stiff by it but then it really isn’t for them anyway and I’m pretty sure its one of the few DC animations that has a higher rating. I love the original graphic novel and I’m not sure it would ever be possible to match its brilliance, but they do a fairly good job here. It’s a sign that they are considering new (older) ideas anyway, so there is hope for some of the other classic elseworld stories in the forthcoming. Bruce Greenwood, in his third outing voiceing the caped-crusader, is pretty good and I think I’m now finally sold on his casting. Anthony Head was a surprisingly good Alfred pennyworth and no animation is worth its weight without John DiMaggio. Jennifer Carpenter was also very impressive as she jumps from Marvel (she voiced Black Widow back in 2015) to DC, I’m sure it won’t be the last time we hear her voice as Selina Kyle. DC animations are getting better for sure and less hit and miss like they used to be. I think a lot of this has to do with Sam Liu who is now the animation director of choice.