For all intents and purposes, Jack the Ripper may have been one of history’s greatest supervillains. A Victorian-era slasher who could put Jason Voorhees to shame, the Ripper’s calling card during 1888 was that of a horribly mutilated very very dead prostitute. That’s comic book stuff right there. A serial killer who managed to elude the police and Scotland Yard, leaving behind a legacy of murder and savagery that was never ever solved.
Such a bloke clearly deserves to be punched in the face by Batman. Like several times. Well today’s your lucky day then, because a certain caped crusader will be trading blows with the legendary killer, alongside a more Victorian Catwoman and her amazing top hat. Here’s the first trailer for Batman: Gotham By Gaslight, as the dark knight is reimagined for an age that blurs the line between steam and punk:
In an age of mystery and superstition, how would the people of Gotham react to a weird creature of the night, a bat-garbed vigilante feared by the guilty and the innocent alike? The very first Elseworlds tale re-imagines the Dark Knight detective in Victorian times and pits him against the infamous murderer Jack the Ripper.
If you never read it, the original 1989 comic by Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola still makes for good entertainment. It’s gothic, brooding and beautifully visualised stuff. I just wish some of that style was better reflected in the animation above, which looks a tad bit cheap when compared to other recent DC animated films. Still, at least it won;t be anywhere near as terrible as Batman: The Killing Joke, if it sticks to the script.
Hhhrrrnnnnggghhhhh.
Once Gotham By Gaslight finishes its tale next year, you can expect a new film set within the established animated continuity of the Justice League and Teen Titans films, albeit with a focus on certain characters who regularly find themselves on the wrong side of the law: The Suicide Squad. They’ll be kicking off 2018 in Suicide Squad: Hell To Pay, just in time for the DCAU to celebrate its tenth year with the back to back Death of Superman and Reign Of The Superman films.
2018 is actually shaping up pretty nicely then.
Last Updated: November 13, 2017
Skittle
November 13, 2017 at 14:56
I really enjoy DC’s animated movies but I’ve been saying for years that they really need to improve the animation departments budget or do something to make the movies look less cheap.
Admiral Chief
November 13, 2017 at 15:34
LOL no eye-make-up in Victorian era?