Summary

  • A new, Cthulhu-like version of Batman is unleashed in Gotham, posing a terrifying threat to the city and its citizens.
  • The Batman Below has already taken a hostage and seems to have sinister plans for Gotham, potentially creating a twisted Bat-Family.
  • As long as the squid-faced Dark Knight roams free, Gotham is in serious danger and the citizens are starting to descend into madness.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman: City of Madness #1!There have been some truly terrifying versions of Batman over the years, but a new, Cthulhu-like Dark Knight may be his scariest variant yet. A dark secret of Gotham is exposed, unleashing untold horrors into the city, including a monstrous version of the city's greatest protector in the form of the Batman Below.

As one of the DC Universe's most iconic heroes, Batman has encountered numerous twisted versions of himself over the years. When the Crime Syndicate of Earth-Three invaded the Prime DCU, he met Owlman, his sinister opposite. During Dark Nights: Metal, he met an entire army of evil variants, including the sinister Batman Who Laughs.

Dark Nights Metal DC

Batman himself has even experienced nightmarish transformations that have turned him into a monster. Batman & Dracula: Red Rain saw the Caped Crusader turn into a vampire. And the crossover event "Beast World" is set to turn Bruce Wayne into a wolf-like creature.

The Batman Below is Bruce's Evil, Cthulhu Variant

Batman Below with Shark Head

In Batman: City of Madness #1 by Christian Ward, a member of the Court of Owls goes rogue and kills several of his fellow Owls to break into a subterranean chamber the Court has guarded for centuries. Unfortunately, despite the Court's attempts to reseal the chamber, a Batman-like creature from behind the door has already escaped and nearly kills the Court's Talon before escaping. Meanwhile, a young man named Jevoney has come to Gotham seeking revenge for his murdered father when he runs into the Terrible Trio. Thankfully, Jevoney is saved, but not by Gotham's protector. Jevoney looks on in horror as he comes face-to-face with the Batman Below, a frightening Dark Knight with a Cthulhu-like head.

Aside from his brief appearances, fans don't get to see too much of the Batman Below. Close-ups of the Lovecraftian doppelganger do provide a good look at his costume. Rather than white irises, this Dark Knight has sickly yellow ones. Also, the tentacles coming from his cowl aren't his only Cthulhu-like appendages, as this Batman's cape also functions as wings. Ever since the Batman Below's chamber opened, a sickly evil has come to Gotham and everyone above can feel it in the air. What the Batman Below has in mind for Gotham is unknown, but it seems like he's got sinister plans for the real Batman's city.

The Batman Below is Going to Change Gotham For the Worse

Comic book page: Batman Below flies with a potential new Robin.

The Batman Below has already taken Jevoney hostage, intent on turning him into his new Robin. The longer the squid-faced Dark Knight stays in Gotham, the greater the risk he poses. Is he planning on creating an entire twisted Bat-Family? Or does he have something even worse in mind? Madness is already starting to affect the citizens of Gotham, especially villains like Two-Face. As long as the Batman Below roams free, Gotham is in serious danger. Batman: City of Madness #1 is on sale now.