It is not often the a writer and artist make for a perfect match, but it's hard to imagine any other duo turning Gotham by Gaslight into a classic. New to his role as the Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne could easily have attempted to explain his whereabouts during the evening hours, but instead keeps his secret - even if it means his own life. There is also the matter of Wayne's imprisonment, a clever twist that exploits Batman's dual-identity. The death of his parents drive him to become Batman, but it is only his need for justice that has Bruce Wayne chasing down the Ripper. In Gaslight, Bruce Wayne is haunted by the robbery and murder of his parents, it's what drives him to tour the world, to prepare himself to battle the criminal element. The comic was a brisk 52 pages, more like dipping a toe. Often in Elseworlds tales, writers feel the need to conveniently tie the impetus for Batman with the main story. The story is inspired by Gotham By Gaslight, a one-shot Elseworlds comic book from writer Brian Augustyn and artist Mike Mignola. Augustyn wisely avoids connecting the Ripper with the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents. There's just enough old school left in the world to suit a man who dresses up like a bat and beats the crap out of people. In fact, Batman fits in perfectly with the era as America is on the cusp of a technological revolution. And though the Joker makes a cameo appearance, the Ripper serves as a perfect real-life foil for the Dark Detective. The saga of Batman in the Victorian era provides enough unique scenarios to captivate the mind. The mystery of who really is the Ripper isn't particularly interesting.
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