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Here’s How One of Batman’s Best Stories Taught Me Everything I Know About Comic Books

December 25, 2024 - Movies

For a long time, my interest in comic books lay purely in the characters themselves – until I read one Batman comic in particular, which taught me to understand how comics work as an art form, and how to recognize the near-invisible ways comic book creators move the reader’s eyes across the page.

My education came when I read the first volume of Batman: Black & White, specifically writer/artist Walter Simonson’s story “Legend,” which originally appeared in issue #2. The story features a mother telling her son a bedtime story of the Batman, a hero from the past who protected the city.

Batman: Black and White "Legend" title page, depicting Gotham City's skyline

The story’s alt-future scenario makes for a fun romp, but what really floored me was the final page of Simonson’s piece. When the woman goes to her window and opines how she hopes Batman will return someday, she goes to her window, and Simonson shows that Gotham has turned into a fascist hellscape.

I Am In Awe Of How This Single Page Proves That Artist Walt Simonson Was A Master Of Comic Book Craft

“Legend,” From Batman: Black And White, Final Page

Final page of Walt Simonson's 'Legend,' depicting the future Gotham police state

The reveal that Gotham has been transformed into a militarized police state is effective, but what truly makes the moment work is how Simonson deftly presents the reveal. He starts the page in the top left corner, with a series of three horizontal panels that slowly zoom out and away from the woman’s window in her apartment building. Instead of a fourth panel to complete the sequence, Simonson places a stylized symbol of a fist – presumably the symbol of the Gotham fascists – which is actually connected to a wide splash image immediately beneath, depicting the militarized police state in full.

Batman 'Legend' final page, with arrows emphasizing how the art directs the reader's eye

Seeing the way Simonson illustrated this moment taught me that comic book storytelling relies on how the artist controls where the reader’s eye should go. Simonson’s technique on the Batman: Black & White page starts with a clear series of left-to-right panels, expertly taking the reader along the top of the page before bringing them to the first symbol, which then opens up the page to the large image beneath, of the police force controlling Gotham. The visual storytelling is clear and precise, and there is never any confusion as to where the reader’s eye should go next.

Learning how comic book artists can move the reader’s eye from panel-to-panel was akin to learning the secret to a magic trick.

The final page of Walt Simonson’s Batman: Black & White story hit me like a brick wall, as I now truly understood how comic book storytelling works. Much like Keanu Reeves in The Matrix, I could now see the “code” hiding beneath the comic book page. Learning how comic book artists can move the reader’s eye from panel-to-panel was akin to learning the secret to a magic trick, as I was unaware of the sleight of hand being utilized that guided my reading virtually unseen.

Walt Simonson’s “Manhunter” Is Another Masterclass In Comic Book Storytelling

Detective Comics #437-443, Serialized Back-Up Story

Manhunter dispatches an enemy vehicle by cutting the fuel tank

To better illustrate the creative ways comic book creators control the reader’s eye, let’s take a look at another page from a Walt Simonson classic: Manhunter, one of Simonson’s earliest efforts, in collaboration with writer Archie Goodwin. Originally running as a back-up story in Detective Comics #437-443, Manhunter revived Golden Age hero Paul Kirk, who was revived by an international criminal organization known as the Council. The Council trains Manhunter, giving him a healing factor and cloning him into an army of highly-trained assassins. Rebelling against his new master, Manhunter breaks away and wages a one-man war against the Council.

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The page we’re looking at comes from the fourth chapter of the Manhunter back-ups, which first appeared in Detective Comics #440. The story opens with Manhunter and Interpol agent Christine St. Clair finding themselves under attack from Damon Nostrand, Christine’s superior in Interpol who is revealed to be a double agent for the Council. Manhunter skillfully handles the attack by slicing Nostrand’s fuel tank as he dodges the oncoming vehicle, then finishes off the corrupt Interpol agent by lighting a match and throwing it on the trail of gasoline left by Nostrand’s car.

Manhunter page diagramming how the art leads the reader's eye from panel to panel

Manhunter has been acclaimed by comics fans throughout history for its unique storytelling approach, utilizing hyper-condensed layouts with multiple panels per page. The page above contains ten panels, each one portraying a specific action, as Manhunter deals with Nostrand’s attack, offering a masterclass in how Simonson uses panel placement and directional devices to control the reader’s eye. Like how the match striking the gasoline in the eighth panel leads to the car’s explosion in the ninth. Letterer Alan Kupperberg enhances Simonson’s layouts with his expert placement of word balloons and sound effects, leaving no doubt where the reader should look next.

I Want More People To Appreciate Why Walt Simonson Is One Of The Greatest Storytellers In Comic Book History

Hyping The Legendary Creator’s Legacy

For me, reading that original Batman: Black & White story opened my eyes to a whole new world of appreciation for comics and the artists who craft them. I went from a passive reader to an active one – no longer content to simply sit back and read comics as a way to kill time, but rather engage with them in a more analytical way. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with reading comics purely for their entertainment value, but I’m thankful that artists like Walt Simonson have shown me how to enjoy the adventures of Batman and others on multiple levels.

Batman Stands in Detective Comic Art by Jason Fabok


Batman

One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.


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