An Elseworld that takes our dear Dark Knight and places him back in his glory days of the 1940's but with a noir undertone. But this time the villains are far less colorful and more realistic. And there is no Boy Wonder in a yellow cape and green speedo and red tunic jumping from rooftops with him. Instead there is Private Investigator Dick Grayson, who is investigating the murder of Selina Kyle, nicknamed the Catwoman because of her ownership of the Kit Kat club. Readers still get James Gordon in the role of Police Commissioner and Alfred Pennyworth as loyal butler to Bruce Wayne, but as I said the villains have far less colorful roles and more realistic human ones. Oswald Cobblepot, is a dapper racketeer nicknamed the Penguin. A two-bit card shark from Vegas named Jack who runs an underground gambling ring, giving him the nickname 'The Poker Joker'. Mister Freeze is an albino hit-man for Oswald, but don't let that white skin fool you, underneath is heart of ice to match his condition. Harvey Dent is a Two-Faced lawyer and best friend to Wayne, while Clayface is a powerful, disfigured gangster named Matt Hagen. And of course we cannot forget Edward Nigma, in this little tale of murder and mayhem he is guilt-ridden banker, nicknamed the Riddler because of his ability to "cook the books". And then there is Croc, who is taken from being a murderous man beast and reduced to an ex-sideshow attraction from Grayson's days with Haley's Circus. And through it all, the good guys win, most of the villains are killed in manners both grim, grisly, and that flow with that rich corniness of classic noir fiction. A trade paperback that all will enjoy, I once again say to all who read my daily devotions to our friends in the funny pages, visit your local library, bookstore or comic book store, and pick up your copy today!
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