Legends of the Dark Knight #11 (September 1990)

As I said in my look back on the Crisis on Infinite Earths, the DC Universe's history was heavily altered and rewritten. Some characters had their histories completely erased and started over again, mainly Superman and Wonder Woman. Batman would get a similar treatment himself, thanks to the 1987 story known as Batman: Year One. The story was created by writer Frank Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli, who worked their magic on Daredevil a few years earlier (an example can be seen here).

With the popularity of the 1989 Tim Burton-directed Batman live-action film, DC decided to launch a third Batman book: Legends of the Dark Knight. This title would be rather unusual from most comics at the time. Every storyline would last about five issues, each with a different creative team, and had a more mature tone than the other Batman books. Many of the stories back then were standalone, focusing on Batman's early days as a crime-fighter. This version of the title would last until 2007, with 214 issues and seven annuals under its belt. Over time, it would start to have storylines of varying length and would be part of crossovers. We're going to look at the first part of one of those stories from the early days of the title: Prey.

Prey would be a post-Crisis retelling of the second meeting between the Batman and Doctor Hugo Strange (the first being retold as Batman and the Monster Men by Matt Wagner in 2006). Strange was one of Batman's first recurring villains, first appearing in Detective Comics #36 (February 1940). Although considering the crazy rewrites of DC history thanks to the New 52 and Rebirth, who knows if that is true anymore. He would go on to appear in various other media, including cartoons and the Gotham television series. So, how did this return clash between the Dark Knight and the Psychotic Psychiatrist start out? Let's find out with my first comic review of 2019: Legends of the Dark Knight #11!

The cover is pretty awesome. It's a simple cover, Batman posing, but the way it's colored makes him look rather monstrous. The black and red, the stalactites and stalagmites, the smoke...it almost gives the impression that he's not a man in a costume. It's like he's some kind of creature of the night, like a vampire or something. I imagine this is how criminals see him.

"Prey, Part One"
Writer: Doug Moench
Penciler: Paul Gulacy
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Steve Oliff
Letterer: John Constanza
Editors: Andrew Helfer, Kevin Dooley
Executive Editor: Dick Giordano

The story starts with a group of Gotham City PD officers working on a drug sting. Once they witness the sale, the cops move in, but they get themselves a little help.

I love that the story's title is incorporated into the marquee. This theater must be playing the 1977 film because this comic was from 1990, and unless Rip Hunter was in charge of this theater, I doubt it's playing the 2007 film.

Batman captures the small-time dealer and interrogates him. The drug buyer explains he got his fix from a man only known as "The Fish". Meanwhile, the cops have gotten a ladder and are in pursuit. The buyer tries to come at the Caped Crusader with a knife, but Batman knows, like, ten million martial arts. He's able to easily disarm the man and toss him to the cops below. Batman is able to slip away from the cops, but they were able to catch the dealer.

One of the cops involved in the sting is one Lt. Maxwell "Max" Cort. And he's none too happy that Batman got involved in "his" bust. He complains to then-Captain and future Commissioner James Gordon, saying this "Batman" guy is bad for the police's morale. Gordon feels the opposite. He feels with this "Batman" guy running around, the cops don't have to stand alone against criminals, so it can actually be pretty good for morale. Cort feels that argument is for "weak" cops.

I like the subtle fore...shadowing there with Cort's shadow. Heh heh. Cort feels he's a real cop, and real cops have pride. He's furious about this bat-costumed vigilante "stealing" collars from the cops. Uh, Cort? He practically handed you and your boys your perp and let the police take the credit for it. However, Gordon is not in the mood for Cort's whining, as he has to get ready. You see, he's going on TV! Lucky Gordon.

Back at Wayne Manor, Bruce is resting after a night of punching criminals. He's watching "Gotham Nightime", Gotham's hottest local talk show.

On the show is Gotham's then-mayor, Wilson Klass. Gordon is there, too. The third guest is Dr. Hugo Strange, prominent psychiatrist. Gordon is rather uncomfortable on TV. They're debating this "Batman" guy that's been showing up punching criminals recently. Flass states that the Batman is a vigilante, operating outside the law. As far as he's concerned, Batman is no better than the criminals he fights. The host then asks Hugo Strange for his opinion. Strange sees the Batman as a man obsessed and paranoid, desperate for power.

Alfred asks if Bruce wants the TV off, but Bruce wants to watch. After all, it's free psychoanalysis. Who'd turn that down, especially these days? Strange elaborates, saying that perhaps maybe a traumatic effect drives this "Batman"...an event from his childhood, perhaps? Maybe a family tragedy? Bruce takes it well.

That had to hurt. Strange suggests that the reason for the costume and persona is out of a craving for fame, but not as himself. This leads Strange to believe the Batman has schizophrenia, perhaps a split personality. Gordon, finding this whole thing ridiculous, suggests an alternative theory: The Batman is not insane. He wears a disguise simply because it's necessary. The costume and persona gives him the anonymity he needs to do his job. It gives him protection from reprisals. Strange asks why he chooses to dress as a bat. After all, bats are frightening vermin. Gordon tells him that's the point. It scares criminals. It's simple psychological warfare. Criminals are a superstitious cowardly lot, after all.

The host asks if Gordon is defending the vigilante, and Gordon states the he has no use for Strange's psycho-babble. Flass then has a surprise for Gordon. The captain is being made the head of a special task force dedicated to capturing Batman. After the show ends, Mayor Flass asks Strange to serve as a consultant to the task force, as he was impressed with Strange's observations. Gordon is torn by this, as back in Year One, Batman saved the life of his son James Jr. Not to mention that Batman's been much more effective than the police has.

Back in his Bat-Cave, Bruce Wayne has found himself asking if maybe Hugo Strange is right about him. He ponders this while working on a little project of his.

Yup, say hello to the Bat-Mobile. The next day, Gordon is putting together his new Anti-Batman Task Force. And he finds his first recruit in Sgt. Max Cort. After all, Cort wants to bust the Bat badly. He also fits the kind of man Gordon wants for his task force: A good clean cop, but who is not too bright. The Mayor and Strange are discussing the consultation fee. Strange finds the fee insulting, but takes it anyway because he's got...a fascination with the psychology of the Batman. He's thinking of writing a book about it, too. Could you imagine if he did? Could you see the Legion of Super-Heroes reading that book in the future? I can imagine Hal Jordan owning a copy because he thinks it's hilarious.

Anyway, Strange demands full access to all the files police have on the Batman. He also wants to report directly to the mayor and not to Gordon. Night has come to Gotham, and it's time for the Bat to do his thing. Elsewhere in Gotham, a gangster named Manny "The Fish" Cordona and his two flunkies are playing some cards and enjoying some Chinese food. The flunkies are worried about the captured dealer blabbing to the cops and Batman. But the Fish isn't worried. He has a gun, and he doubts the Bat is like that flying dude in Metropolis. Unbeknownst to them, Batman is heading for them while on a Bat-Glider. Wheeee...

Catwoman climbs a building. Because she's going to rob someone. The Fish is also not worried about the cops, as well, they're easy to pay off. But Gordon is not one of those cops. He's Gotham's Eliot Ness, and he's put together a crew of Untouchables, one of them being Max Cort. And speaking of Cort, he's testing some of the men he's picked out for this new task force.

In his apartment, Hugo Strange is discussing his diagnosis of the Batman with some company. Sort of.

I honestly think there's something in the water in Gotham. As Strange rants, he manages to deduce what drives the Batman: he was the victim of a crime who became a Dark Knight to protect others from going through the same thing. Driven by the memories of the crime and the loved ones he lost because of it, although Strange thinks it may be a spouse. He opens up his closet, and stares at some clothes inside.

As Cort and his men race to the Fish's home, it turns out some of the men Cort chose were on the take. But then again, I can imagine Cort was suspicious about that. They put a siren on the car to warn the Fish. Batman makes his entrance.

Bat-Glider to the FACE! The Fish and his goons try to shoot the Batman, but he uses the darkness and their confusion to his advantage, kicking their butts...until the Fish has the Bat at gunpoint. Meanwhile, Cort had taken down the cops who put up their siren. He was suspicious they were dirty, and it looks like his instinct was right. He tells two of his men, Keegan and Lane, to watch the four dirty cops. It leaves him with only five men. However, they're facing only a couple of pushers, so he's not too worried about the odds. Cort and his men encounter the Bat.

Cort orders them to take the Bat down, despite his insisting they're letting the Fish get away. Catwoman robs someone. Batman uses a flashbang grenade and fights off the cops, all while musing how much of a disaster this has become. The Bat isn't supposed to be fighting the cops. He's able to get away, with Cort grumbling that the Batman is dead meat. The story ends with Hugo Strange wearing the clothes he had been eyeing in his apartment: A Batman costume that he presumably made himself.

As he puts on the mask, he rants about how much he envies the Batman...and how much he hates him.

I like this comic. I like this story. It's really neat seeing the early days of the Dark Knight, as well as the foreshadowing of the Batmobile. Hugo Strange is a scary villain here, coming dangerously close to figuring out the Batman's motivations, so the idea of him having his own obsession with Batman is a clever twist. It shows that despite his brilliant mind, he really doesn't get the Caped Crusader. His idea of what drives Batman could be seen as skewed and twisted by his own obsession and madness. He sees the Bat as a power fantasy, and as the story goes on, we see that Strange lusts for that power he believes Batman has.

I have to give a shout out to Paul Gulacy for the art. It's spectacular. It's very well made. Also, I like how the comic is colored. My dumb panel scans do NOT do it justice.

If you want to read this story for yourself, I recommend checking out the 2012 trade paperback Batman: Prey. It collects the Prey storyline and its sequel, Batman: Terror. Next time, we join Earth's Mightiest Heroes as they end up under siege...