Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!

If you’re a Batman fan who is into crime noir and horror, then look no further than The Bat-Man: First Knight. The Black Label limited series is a thrilling period piece that places the Dark Knight in 1939, as the country braces for World War II. It’s a gritty adventure story that takes full advantage of the time period and is perfect for fans of historical fiction.

The Bat-Man: First Knight was originally published as a three-issue limited series, but it’s now available as a graphic novel collection. The first issue of its sequel series, The Bat-Man: Second Knight, dropped this week, and Saturday is Batman Day, meaning this is the perfect weekend to discover this recent blast of a Batman book.
 

THE PREMISE:

The year is 1939, and the growing threat of another World War is gripping the nation. In Gotham City, the tension has become palpable, as a mysterious figure is targeting local politicians. Commissioner James Gordon is trying to untangle the conspiracy, but his hands are already full with weeding out corruption and bribery in his own department. His only ally is a masked vigilante known as Bat-Man.

Bat-Man soon finds that he’s out of his depth. This isn’t the Caped Crusader that most of us know, with his large support system and armory of modern technology. This Bat-Man is alone against the world and wonders if his first weeks on the job will kill him. It’s not an idle worry, either. Gotham will throw everything it can at Bat-Man over the course of First Knight, and it’s going to take everything he has to survive.
 

LET’S TALK TALENT:

The Bat-Man: First Knight is written by Dan Jurgens, a comic book legend who is responsible for some of DC’s greatest stories, including the iconic Death of Superman. Freed from the constraints of continuity, Jurgens leans into the time period in First Knight, using the setting to tell a new type of Batman story, while still remaining true to the core of the character. We see the struggles of a post-Depression era Gotham City, with the anxiety of the burgeoning World War II looming overhead. The nationwide anxiety is played to great effect, putting Bat-Man and Jim Gordon in uncharted territory. Jurgens has always been good at telling an exciting action story, and this limited series is no different.

Jurgens work is complemented by artist Mike Perkins, the talented illustrator behind Lois Lane and The Swamp Thing. Perkins’s artwork trends realistic, giving the story a more grounded feel and a larger sense of drama. Some of the pages are downright cinematic, especially the action sequences. When Bat-Man is burned, the detail is so great that you can feel the heat on your own skin. When the characters walk the streets of Gotham, you can almost smell the pavement. Perkins’s art is the perfect complement to Jurgens’s script, resulting in one of the most memorable Batman stories in recent history.
 

A FEW REASONS TO READ:

• In addition to simply setting the story in 1939, Jurgens and Perkins look at who the Caped Crusader was during this time period and build their version of the character from there. This means that many elements that existed after 1939 are absent from the story, like Alfred, Robin, Joker, Catwoman and some of Batman’s most iconic gadgets and vehicles. This challenges the character in new ways and allows us to look at him through new eyes.
• This is a rookie Bat-Man in the first few weeks of his career, and it’s brutal on him. Want an example? The first issue ends with Bat-Man being strapped to an electric chair and electrocuted. That’s quite a cliffhanger, and things only get more painful from there.

• If you love historical fiction, The Bat-Man: First Knight is the perfect comic for you. Jurgens and Perkins explore the trials and tribulations of the time period. There’s a subplot where Bat-Man befriends a rabbi who is concerned about the persecution the Jewish population is facing in Europe and what will happen if that reaches America. The comic also touches on the country’s economic uncertainty and how politicians of the era took advantage of the growing radio medium to manipulate the population.
• As I mentioned earlier, The Bat-Man: Second Knight, Jurgens and Perkins’ sequel to this story, is now underway, making this the perfect time to discover this quickly expanding new Bat-series.
   

WHY IT’S WORTH YOUR TIME:

Whether you’re a longtime Batman reader or someone who is new to comics, The Bat-Man: First Knight is an entertaining read. It takes place in an alternate universe, so you don’t need any prior knowledge of Batman or the DC Universe going in. At the same time, there are fun references to Batman’s 1939 lore that longtime readers and fans will enjoy, such as the Dark Knight’s purple gloves and forgotten characters like Julie Madison (who predates Alfred, Robin, Joker and Catwoman).

Beyond all that, it’s an entertaining piece of historical fiction. Perkins’ artwork is cinematic, giving the comic a great crime noir vibe. The story also addresses questions of faith, antisemitism, corruption, homophobia and more. The Bat-Man: First Knight is DC Black Label at its finest, and it’s the perfect choice for your next Weekend Escape.

The Bat-Man: First Knight by Dan Jurgens, Mike Perkins and Mike Spicer is available as a hardcover graphic novel in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers. The series can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.