Debuting in 1989, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight put Batman in the hands of some of the most talented writers and artists in comics, such as Denny O’Neil, Grant Morrison, Ed Hannigan, Mike W. Barr, Doug Moench, José Luis Garcia-López, Klaus Janson, and others. Their efforts yielded unforgettable story arcs for comic book fans, such as “Shaman,” “Prey,” which redefined the evil and twisted Dr. Hugo Strange, “Gothic,” and “Venom,” the story that introduced the dangerous super steroid to a Santa Prisca prison inmate who would later be known as Bane.
On April 2, this influential anthology returns as a new DC Digital First series, Legends of the Dark Knight. Stories will be released digitally as 10-page weekly “chapters,” with two digital chapters making one print issue; issue #1 arrives in comic book stores on May 18. Legends of the Dark Knight will serve as a place for both well-known and up-and-coming creative talent to tell new, evergreen stories, appealing to a wide variety of fans, all based on one of the most beloved and enduring characters in popular culture.
Legends of the Dark Knight kicks off with a six-part weekly/three-issue monthly tale, written and illustrated by Darick Robertson (The Boys, Hellblazer: Rise and Fall, Transmetropolitan), with colors by Diego Rodriguez and letters by Simon Bowland. In “Bad Night, Good Knight,” a new player has arrived on the scene in Gotham City and is selling deadly chemicals to the worst villains in town: Mr. Freeze, the Penguin, and even The Joker! It’s up to Batman to stop the villains, track down the supplier, and save Gotham City from not only his most vicious foes, but this new mystery villain.
Future stories will showcase the talents of writers Stephanie Phillips (Future State: Harley Quinn, Harley Quinn), Becky Cloonan (Batman, Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman), Brandon Thomas (Excellence, Future State: Aquaman, Future State: Outsiders), Matthew Rosenberg (Batman: Urban Legends, Black Canary, Future State: Grifter) Brandon Easton (Future State: Mister Miracle, Mister Miracle: The Source of Freedom), Che Grayson (DC’s Doomed and the Damned, Bitch Planet) and comics writing newcomer Yedoye Travis (Anime in America, Beyond the Bot).
Contributing artists include Cian Tormey (Catwoman, Batgirl), Giannis Milonogiannis (Robin, Future State: Red Hood, Future State: Gotham), Karl Mostert (DCeased: Unkillables), Max Dunbar (Dungeons & Dragons, Judge Dredd), Dike Ruan (Shang-Chi, Bleed Them Dry), Belén Ortega (Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel) and Nina Vakueva (Black Cat, King in Black: Return of the Valkyries).
The series debut issue features a dynamic cover by Robertson, with a card stock variant cover by David Marquez (Justice League) 1:25 ratio variant cover by Riccardo Federici and a special “teams” variant cover by Francesco Francavilla available to retailers ordering more than 250 copies. At the series digital launch on April 2, each digital chapter sells for $.99 on all participating digital platforms. Each 32-page monthly issue sells for $3.99, with the card stock variant priced at $4.99.
For more information on Legends of the Dark Knight, Batman and the World’s Greatest Super Heroes, visit the DC website at www.dccomicsnews.com, and follow on social media @DCComicsNews.
