Batman: Curse of The White Knight Book One brings us back to Sean Muphy’s standalone Batman Universe and as one of the most anticipated comics of the year, it’s great to see that the creative team has managed brings the same magic that the first 8 issue miniseries captured. Sean Murphy’s work on his standalone Batman Universe, beginning in 2017, brought huge attention to the creator’s work as both author and artist, a feat accomplished by very few individuals.



Working together alongside the immensely talented Matt Hollingsworth, they managed to not only deliver a great Batman story but to also put an interesting spin on the Batman mythos by “curing” the Joker and using his new persona to flip the tables on Batman and highlight the trouble and damage he creates in Gotham and bringing it to the fore as he wages a new type of war on the caped crusader.



Jack Napier is no longer present after the events of White Knight and the regularly scheduled Joker programming has resumed. Sean Murphy’s Joker doesn’t seem as unhinged as we usually get which makes the character a little more interesting. He seems more thought out and devious, with his intentions seemingly focused on undoing the good name Napier has created for him while still trying to bring down Batman. In one panel he even mentions Batman and Napier won’t see what’s coming, as if they’re working together and fighting against the Joker. Even the mention of the name Napier seems to make him go off, which shows that he too is fighting an internal struggle of good vs evil.



Joker seems to be showing his hand early on while recruiting a very sick Jean-Paul Valley and presenting his with a flaming sword and an offer to take back Gotham from those who unjustly took it from his family years ago. Somehow it seems Joker has more to show in this story other than recruiting an alley in his fight but it’s amazing to see what Azrael looks in this standalone universe. Joker threatens that he is the only one that knows about this joke/secret that is going to bring down Batman but also going to bring down Gotham, or at least what we believe Gotham and it’s history to be.



Once again Sean Murphy manages to deliver not only a kick-ass story but also some of the best art you’ll see in any comic. His gritty, original style paired with the amazing colors of Matt Hollingsworth, brings so much life to the characters and settings. Also seeing the team pay respect to the other Batman stories that may have influenced the story is a nice touch.

Paying respect to what has come before is important but the originality on display here is where the book shines, even the little things like giving the Batsuit a collar. That might not seem like a game-changer but when you see it on the pages it brings so much to the character’s stature, mood, and impacts in every scene. The best scene of the first book is definitely the final one where Joker presents Azrael with his flaming sword, while preaching from on high in a dark and shadow filled church . Seeing the character illuminated in the dark while Joker delivers his call to arms speech is a standout moment.



This first issue could have pulled out all the big stops to ensure that readers were hooked for more but instead we are given an even stronger set up by delivering more of what worked for the first series. Original, beautifully crafted storytelling that oozes passion on the pages.

