Batman: Nightwalker (The Graphic Novel) by Stuart Moore (Adapter), Marie Lu (Author), Chris Wildgoose (Illustrator)

Bruce Wayne – Vehicle Code 23103. Reckless Driving.

For the remainder of his senior year, and the summer before college, he has to do community service… at Arkham Asylum. Scared Straight.

Gotham is rocked by the murder of a well-known philanthropist. A group of anarchists has been identified as the perpetrators. One is caught and put in solitary confinement.

Bruce mops the floor and Madeline sits in her cell. The billionaire and the terrorist. The two strike up a cryptic relationship. Neither giving much. But pieces of information start to come out and a plot against other wealthy Gothamites is revealed. Will Bruce be able to help stop the Nightwalker group from menacing the city?

Marie Lu’s writing continues to captivate. Her characterization of the young Bruce Wayne was convincing, especially in his relationship with Alfred. I found the best passages to be Bruce’s times of reflection into his own mythos. Obviously, he doesn’t do this consciously, but he does think about his relationship with his city. Looking back or looking forward, Lu’s insight into Batman’s legacy was very thought provoking.

To adapt this story into a graphic novel would take two things: stay true to the atmosphere and tell the complete story. Moore and Wildgoose accomplish both these things in stunning fashion. This is not some 80-page highly edited version of Lu’s novel… this is every twist of the plot and every facial expression of these characters in crisis. I love the depiction of Madeleine Wallace in Wildgoose’s artwork. He gets her manipulative nature perfectly.

The Nightwalkers graphic novel fleshes out Lu’s original story well. A highly entertaining read.

Recommended.

For sale here. And a 32-page preview can be found here.