Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is a comic book miniseries and an animated movie adaptation that brings together two iconic universes: The Dark Knight and H.P. Lovecraft’s horror mythos. The four-issue limited series comic book was published in 2000 by DC Comics, written by Mike Mignola and Richard Pace, with art by Troy Nixey. The animated movie adaptation was released on March 28th, 2023 as a part of the DC Animated Movie Universe, by Warner Bros. Animation.
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES…
The story is set in an alternate universe version of Gotham City in the 1920s, where the evil forces of Lovecraftian monsters threaten the city. The story is a blend of classic elements of The Dark Knight and Lovecraftian horror themes, creating a unique and dark atmosphere. Both the comic book and animated movie adaptations offer an intriguing narrative, mixing classic DC characters with Lovecraftian horror elements in a creative and interesting way.
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The comic book series is visually stunning, with a gritty, dark art style that complements the story’s horror themes. The artwork is beautifully done, with an emphasis on darkness and shadows, which adds to the eerie ambiance of the story. The writing is also impressive, as the authors successfully merge the elements of the Lovecraftian mythos with the Batman universe, creating a unique and engaging story.
The story also benefits from Mignola’s excellent writing, which weaves a tale that’s both engaging and thrilling. However, the story’s pacing can be slow at times, and the plot can feel convoluted.
THE LOVE FOR THE CRAFT IS THERE
The animated movie adaptation has a more modern animation style, with fluid, dynamic animation that brings the story to life. The top-notch animation was directed by Christopher Berkley and Sam Liu, and the voice acting is excellent, with David Giuntoli delivering an outstanding performance as The Caped Crusader acting opposite Tati Gabrielle as Kai Li Cain, Christopher Gorham as Oliver Queen / Green Arrow, John DiMaggio as James Gordon, Patrick Fabian as Harvey Dent / Two-Face just to name a few and they all bring their unique styles to their respective roles. Their performances are a highlight of the movie and help to bring the characters to life in a new and exciting way.
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The movie does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the comic book series while making necessary changes to adapt the story to the screen. The movie manages to capture the essence of the comic book series, mixing classic elements of the dark knight with Lovecraftian horror themes in a creative and interesting way.
The story is engaging and thrilling, with plenty of action and suspense to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The characters are well-developed, with each of them playing an essential role in the story. One potential drawback of the movie is that it may not appeal to all fans of The Bat.
THIS IS NOT YOUR PARENTS’ BATMAN STORY
The Lovecraftian horror elements may be too dark and unsettling for some viewers, and the story may feel too far removed from the traditional Batman mythos for others. The good news is that it’s an Elseworlds story. So it’s not cannon but rather a DC what-if. As long as the audience is aware of that they can indulge in the fantasy, and embrace the difference.
Overall, Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is a unique and intriguing take on the mythos that fans of both the Bat Family and Lovecraft will enjoy. The comic book series and animated movie adaptation both offer their own unique strengths, with the comic book offering a visually stunning art style and excellent writing, and dynamic voice-acting performances.
I give Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham a 7.5/10.
Batman The Doom The Doom That Came to Gotham is available on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital.
About BATMAN: The Doom That Came to Gotham
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Disturbing Images|Brief Partial Nudity|Some Strong Violence)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Director: Sam Liu
Producer: James Krieg, Sam Liu, Kimberly S. Moreau
Writer: Jase Ricci
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 28, 2023
Runtime: 1h 26m
Distributor: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Production Co: Warner Bros. Animation
Synopsis:
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is a 1920s-based tale that finds explorer Bruce Wayne accidentally unleashing an ancient evil, expediting his return to Gotham City after a two-decade hiatus. The logic/science-driven Batman must battle Lovecraftian supernatural forces threatening the sheer existence of Gotham, along the way being aided and confronted by reimagined versions of his well-known allies and enemies, including Green Arrow, Ra’s al Ghul, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, Two-Face, James Gordon and Bruce’s beloved wards.
What did you think about The Doom That Came To Gotham? What do you think of DC’s momentum into its Elseworlds stories? Let us know what you think and share your reactions with us on social media!
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