While I was reading ‘Return of Bruce Wayne’ I kept hearing that part of the story was based on a Peter Milligan story long ago. While I know Morrison has been using the whole history of Batman to tell his long opus, I never knew what story people were talking about. After holding it off for a few months I finally got my hands on the reprint of the story called ‘Dark Knight, Dark City.’ After reading this story I have to wonder if Milligan got some love for basically giving Morrison the story right on a siler platter.

Okay that is a bit harsh, and a little untrue. But there is a lot of ‘Demons’ and ‘Barbatos’ in this story and I was amazed by what Morrison was able to do with this small story. Enough of that business though! I need to let you know that this is a very good story and I’m glad I was about to buy it through this great idea by DC. Usually I’m indifferent to Peter Milligan, either you love his work or you don’t. Here though he is able to mix a very interesting mystery with some truly disturbing elements. I had to double check and make sure this story was originally printied in 1990. Because the amount of violence, gore, and truly disturbing elements are in this book. Hell, Batman has to cut a baby’s throat just to save it’s life! I don’t even think Scott Snyder could go that low for thrills. But Milligan, again, is able to tell a good story here even with all these bloody moments. Although because it’s written at a different era in comics, the tone can be a bit weird at times. I know I would be freaking the fuck out if blood was all over me; but here Bruce just shakes it off like it was no big deal. Again if Scott Snyder or Morrison had a chance at this Dick would be crying like a baby right now.

The art here is also very good by Kieron Dwyer. He does a fantastic job with Batman by making him the silent terror in the night. Shadows are frequent and he’s able to contort them to his will to make Batman scary. He doesn’t hold back on the violence either making the story all the more uncomfortable. Then you have a second story by Milligan and with artist Tom Mandrake and he also does a great job. The way Mandrake is able to show insanity with the panel layouts show creativity in an age of poor imagination.

Like I said earlier I have really enjoyed these ‘DC Presents’ reprints lately. It’s a great idea because DC just seems to be indifferent to put a massive trade out for these old, classic stories. For only $8 you have a very disturbing but interesting group of stories by Peter Milligan, Kieron Dwyer, and Tom Mandrake. If you want to see the hidden gems of the earlier ages of Batman (especially in the dark times of the 90s) then you shouldn’t miss out this story.