With the most recent success of Joker, Warner Bros. has proven capable of delivering quality chronicles on Batman, building his mythos from the ground up, leaving many fans to speculate on quality source material from Batman's character-defining early years. Enter in the critically acclaimed film, television producer, and comic book writer Jeph Loeb, whose creativity has garnered him work on such films as the Michael J. Fox cult film Teen Wolf and the hit television series Heroes.
Ultimately transitioning to comics, Loeb's works will enjoy time on the New York Times Best Seller list. Working with DC and Marvel Comics and brandishing a style that innately lends itself to connecting with readers emotionally, Loeb's cerebral monologue-driven writing style offers particular insight into the mentals behind the masks, resulting in a truly immersive reading experience.
Batman: Hush (2010)
Throughout Batman: Hush Loeb deftly uses the in-depth monologue of characters, coupled with iconic Jim Lee (X-Men) art, to add misdirection and confusion, keeping readers guessing until the finale of this white-knuckle comic.
Hush really shows the depth of Loeb's character knowledge, as each character is true to form and incorporates developments since his last foray into Batman comics. Seeing various Batman rogues and allies utilized, including The Riddler, Two-Face, and Catwoman, Loeb is in his element, mixing in murder, mystery, and Batman to deliver this banger of a story.
Batman/The Spirit #1 (2006)
This collaboration, and Eisner winner for Best Single Issue/One-Shot in 2007, between Loeb and the late Darwyn Cooke, introduced The Spirit to DC Comics properly. With expert care, Loeb managed this Golden Age creation from American comics pioneer, Will Eisner, articulating the tale of when Batman and the Spirit first crossed paths, eventually ing forces to combat the threat of both heroes' nefarious rogues galleries.
Widely praised for creating a conceivable backstory and capturing a nostalgic Silver Age feel, Loeb conjures colorful images of 1960s Batman Adam West and Frank Gorshin in readers' minds. Crafting an expert read with twists that make for quality entertainment, Loeb gives harmony and fluidity to these two foundational American comic heroes.
Catwoman: When In Rome #1-6 (2004-2005)
Forever a fan favorite, Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, deserved an appropriate follow-up piece following The Long Halloween and Loeb delivered on Rome. This credited secondary tale details Kyle's search for answers to profound personal questions when she arrives in Italy after eliciting the help of the Riddler to solve this vital life riddle and make sense of her life.
Often proving particularly adept at writing Catwoman, Loeb displays the whole kitten and caboodle in Rome. With deft use of Catwoman's powerful inner monologue combined with her fierce individuality, Loeb presents a capable and intelligent woman searching for answers. Loeb strikes the mark in this fantastic comic, gracefully conveying Catwoman as a true standalone character capable of carrying a story or series.
Dark Victory (1999-2000)
The epic finale to his previous smash hits, Haunted Knight, The Long Halloween, and Catwoman: When in Rome, Dark Victory brings finality to the timeline while also continuing the rich stories of Batman's early years. Additionally, artfully done to function as a quasi origin for Dick Grayson eventually becoming Robin, the Boy Wonder without superpowers, and taking his place alongside Batman, to become one half of the Dynamic Duo.
Loeb's ability to identify his strengths and craft gripping comics that comic readers can become staked in, to varying degrees, has proved his recipe for success. Identifying it would be popular among fans to bring some feeling of conclusion to the noir murder mystery theme started almost twenty years earlier, Loeb pens Victory earning himself another impressive Eisner award in 2002.
Fallen Son: The Death Of Captain America #1-5 (2007)
Emotionally charged salute to the First Avenger, Captain America narrated from the viewpoints of several of Cap's closest friends, like Iron Man, Falcon, and Spider-Mana. The tension is palpable, seizing the moment weaving through the precarious, powder keg climate of the times in Marvel Comics, proficiently highlighting the pivotal moments in Cap's life, capturing the essence of Steve Rogers and Captain America.
A must-read for any comic fan, Loeb displays his writing dexterity, offering fans a refreshing change of pace from his usual monologue-influenced style. In this comic, Loeb draws on his own disheartening experiences following the ing of his son Sam, to take readers on an emotionally charged journey through the five stages of grief and pay homage to two heroes.
Spider-Man: Blue #1-6 (2002-2003)
One of the lauded Spectrum series', creatively told through Peter Parker's narration via voice recorder, this comic is Parker reading a love letter back to Gwen Stacy, feeling 'blue' following the tragic events of The Amazing Spider-Man #121-122 (1973). Drawing from the source Spider-Man, Blue gives insight into early interactions, like Flash Thompson's transformation from bully to friend, the awkward evolution with eventual best friend Harry Osborne, and his unbreakable bond with lovable Aunt May.
Gelling seamlessly with Sale's soft, watercolor artwork, Loeb produces a unique story that establishes a fundamental dichotomy between Peter Parker and Spider-Man. One is the high school student coming into his own, finally being accepted into the "in crowd," the other is the wise-cracking neighborhood superhero facing risk and ruin every night and learning what it takes to be a superhero.
The Long Halloween (1996-1997)
Finally, giving a quality origin story to Harvey Dent and the tragedy that begat Two-Face, The Long Halloween is set in the early years of Caped Crusader's career. This essential read on the Dark Knight introduces an equally strange but more formidable Calendar Man, dubbed the Holiday Killer, building mystery from issue to issue, and fans speculate who framed these grisly scenes across Gotham.
Halloween aimed to give substance to Batman's early years following the hugely popular Dark Knight Returns and Year One graphic novels by Frank Miller and built off the well-received, equally readable Batman: Haunted Knight collection. Loeb will dedicate this masterpiece to his mentor and friend, fellow Eisner inductee Archie Goodwin, who he credits with naming this iconic tale, drenched with prose so engaging it garnered a coveted Eisner award for Loeb in 1998 and 1999.
Hulk: Gray #1-6 (2003-2004)
In this informative six-issue arch, Loeb takes readers on a trip through the entire spectrum of emotions brought about in Bruce Banner and those directly tied to the Gamma Bomb like Thunderbolt Ross, Rick Jones, and his love Betty Ross. Through rehashing intimate details of those following fateful days with Banner, psychiatrist Leonard 'Doc' Sampson navigates his close friend through an intense therapy session.
The third time is indeed the charm for Loeb in his celebrated Marvel Spectrum series chronicling the gray area that exists, both in the broad sense and the gray area nestled between Banner and the Hulk. Forever seeking varied methods to deliver his traditional writing style, Loeb offers, in Gray, a 'diagnosis' that illustrates the tragic story of Bruce Banner attempting to make sense of the devastation the Hulk created.
Wolverine/Gambit: Victims #1-4 (1995)
Victims, a noir thrill ride, establishes further shared history between the two biggest grifters amongst the X-Men with the most questionable pasts. Revenge motivates villains, Arcade and Mastermind as they unite in this plunge into the darkness of Wolverine and Gambit's psyches.
Published smack in the middle of the 90's X-Men hysteria, Loeb masterfully spins this macabre Ripper tale, wisely using Victorian-era London as a backdrop. Building intrigue and drama in equal measure, Loeb offers one hell of a good story, undoubtedly deserving mention with all the quality X-Men storylines over the years.
Superman For All Seasons #1-4 (1998)
In this comic fans receive a warm re-imagining of Superman's origin and formative moments told through each season with narration from people integral to Clark Kent and Superman's life. It's also full of double entendres as Jonathan Kent, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, and Lana Lang contribute vital experiences with Superman, from varying perspectives.
A stark contrast from his darker, grittier early successes that often keep readers misdirected until the last pages, Superman for all Seasons showed Loeb's versatility as a creator, twice garnering Eisner nominations for this compelling tale.
