The Black Bat #1
Written by Brian Buccellato
Illustrated by Ronan Cliquet
Colored by Matt Lopes
Lettered by Rob Steen
Covers by J. Scott Campbell, Joe Benitez, Ardian Syaf, Billy Martin and Marcos Martin
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The Black Bat #1 is Dynamite’s latest offering into the awesome selection of pulp comics they’ve been putting out recently. Of all the heroes that are in their stable, The Black Bat is the least recognized. BY FAR. Will it matter?

Writer Brian Buccellato, who’s been killing it over at DC on The Flash, brings us the story of The Black Bat. Now, I have to admit, I knew nothing about this character and a quick Wikepedia search didn’t really help much either. So, I went in not knowing what to expect. And, as is most oftentimes the case with the Dynamite pulp line, I was VERY pleasantly surprised. Buccellato introduced me to a character I’d never heard of and made him seem like an old friend that I was visiting again. This is just a very well written comic from start to finish. Buccellato gives us just enough of the origin of The Black Bat to satisfy, and at the same time, leave us wanting more. For once, I’m glad to see that they first issue of a series is NOT the origin story, that’s told through some cleverly places flashbacks, but just an all-out, great crime solving, thug-beating story. Very impressive.

Artist Ronan Cliquet puts a lot of other artists to shame. He’s got the chops to make the world of The Black Bat look both modern and timeless at the same time. Aside for about two panels, you’d never know that this book takes place in modern times. He uses shadows and negative space like I haven’t seen in quite a while, and he does an excellent job at it. Look for a LOT more great stuff from him in the future.

GRAB THIS BOOK!!! I can understand you’re hesitations – it’s not a character on the level of The Shadow, The Green Hornet, or even The Spider, but what it is, most importantly, is a fantastic comic.