Batman: Dark Patterns No. 1 is a Magnificent Murder Mystery

DC Comics started promoting Batman: Dark Patterns months before the first issue was released. This isn’t anything new. Companies always advertise future projects to get people excited. However, it seemed different this time around. It’s probably because the creative team of writer Dan Watters (Nightwing) and artist Hayden Sherman (Absolute Wonder Woman) have created a violent and dark murder mystery in one of the deadliest places in comics, Gotham City.

The first issue follows a younger Batman attempting to solve the murder of three people and prevent the death of others. Within minutes of investigating the recently tortured and killed victim, The Dark Knight has a theory that bears fruit leading to the prevention of the next fatality. However, when he sees the murderer he’s befuddled by what’s in front of him. It’s a person who appears to be imitating a surgical diagram called the Wound Man and it is disturbing.

The best place to start with this review is the writing. Dan Watters is great at what he does, but this story could become his best work. Gotham City is a dreadful place full of the worst Earth has to offer. So much so that it always seems to be night because even the sun’s probably forsaken it. Nevertheless, Watters has managed to make things bleaker. This writer didn’t think that was possible, but here we are. 

The mystery of who the killer didn’t take long, but we’re still left with a lot of questions. Who is the person committing the crimes, what is their motive, and what possessed them to put themselves in such awful pain? Were they aware that Batman wouldn’t attack them because each attack could be fatal? Or, and this could be worse, did someone do this to them?

"They took it from me, but you can have so very much of it." -The Wound Man

If someone did this to the murderer, we’re dealing with someone as sick (if not sicker) than Joker. A scary thought, but one that could be true. Although, the “Wound Man” says he wants to release their victim from agony meaning whoever’s behind this has a sick idea of solace.

You can’t talk about this issue of Batman: Park Patterns without mentioning Hayden Sherman’s art. He brought Gotham to life by showing the dark parts of the city and, of course, the Wound Man. There have been a lot of artists who’ve drawn evil antagonists in deplorable ways with horrifying features, but this was different.

Seeing the Wound Man with tacks and metal rods and spikes coming out of his body was like something out of a horror flick. This is only issue one. Imagine what he’ll do going forward. Stay tuned to Caped Crusades to find out.

Are you reading Batman: Dark Patterns? What did you think so far? Let us know on the Bam Smack Pow Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter.