Comic of the Week: “Immortal Legend Batman” #1

Welcome back to G33k-HQ’s Comic of the Week! This week, we’re looking at another take on the Dark Knight, now with a Tokusatsu twist, in “Immortal Legend Batman,” written by Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom, illustrated by Erica D’Urso and Dan Mora, and colored by Igor Monti and Tamra Bonvillain.

The first thing we have to look at when talking about “Immortal Legend Batman” is the creative team behind it. Any fan of Tokusatsu-inspired comics will recognize the names on that list, as writers Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom have, between the two of them, worked on comics like BOOM Studios’ “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers” (which updated the classic 90’s team to the modern day brilliantly), “Radiant Black,” “Inferno Girl Red” and “The Rise of Ultraman.”

Similarly, artist Erica D’Urso has served as the artist for “Inferno Girl Red,” and Dan Mora illustrated many a “Power Rangers” comic. If you’re noticing a common theme at this point, you won’t be surprised to know colorist Igor Monit has also worked on comics like “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “Radiant Black.” The only one whom I haven’t seen working on a Super Sentai/Tokusatsu-inspired comic before is Tamra Bonvillain, and that’s because she’s colored so many other amazing comics that there are simply too many to properly sort through (including several “Batman” comics).

In short, this is a team of creators who are not only very experienced but are the go-to teams for anything Toku (and with plenty of “Batman” expertise too).

That brings us to “Immortal Legend Batman,” which takes us to an entirely new, science fiction setting where Batman is a Tokusatsu-style transforming hero known as an Immortal Legend. (Robin and Nightwing are too, but they’re not the focus of this issue.)

While the setting is entirely new, Higgins and Groom bring us in nicely, dropping us into the world and letting us learn about it through set pieces, dialogue, and recognizable tropes. That makes it easy for us to get up to speed and learn the core details of this setting before we get a full expository narration in the latter half. That sets the stage and brings us into the world, introducing us to at least a few of the characters and the general lore.

“Immortal Legend Batman” promises to be a Tokusatsu Batman book, but does it live up to those expectations? Let’s look at both elements.

First, the Batman side. This comic doesn’t take place in Gotham City, or even on Earth, but core Batman elements are still there (including, of course, Batman himself). Batman still strikes fear into the hearts of criminals, working in the dark and tracking down villains. Aside from Bruce Wayne, we’re shown familiar characters like Harvey Dent, with mentions that foreshadow future appearances, like Mr. Freeze. And of course, Batman still has all his usual tricks and tools, like batarangs and grappling hooks, not to mention the unstoppable determination that makes him Batman.

While this does change the origin of Batman into a legacy character, core elements of Bruce’s backstory remain, including the death of his parents and the training he undertook to become Batman. So it’s a different take, but it is still very much Batman.

The only difference appears to be this Batman’s willingness to kill, but this is the first issue, so we could very well be getting set up for a twist.

Now, does it capture the Tokusatsu spirit? For those unfamiliar, “Tokusatsu” (translated to “special photography” or “special effects”) refers to Japanese television shows like “Kamen Rider,” “Super Sentai,” and “Ultraman,” which feature masked heroes, rubber suit monsters, and plenty of explosions. So when we talk about “Tokusatsu” in this context, we’re referring to that style of storytelling.

Look, not only does Bruce Wayne transform into Batman by striking a pose and declaring “Become the night,” he defeats his enemy with a Rider Kick, which then causes the monster to explode.

If there’s anything more Tokusatsu-coded than that, I have yet to see it.

Of course, that extends to the character designs as well. Batman (and the other Immortal Legends) have designs that draw clear inspiration from heroes like Kamen Rider, and of course, Super Sentai/Power Rangers teams. We can see this in the helmets, the belts, and even the way parts of the suits look like Kamen Rider’s armor. Yet they’re still very clearly Batman, Robin, and Nightwing, with the recognizable color schemes and iconography remaining.

The shadows, similarly, are the comic’s version of the monsters the Tokusatsu heroes fight weekly. These use monstrous designs of swirling darkness and spikes, looking far from people in rubber suits (and I say that in the best of ways), while still providing a great template for both footsoldiers and boss monsters alike.

On a similar note, the artwork throughout the comic is, well, “awesome” feels appropriate. D’Urso and Mora bring this new world to life with dynamic action, intense framing, and strong character designs. Yes, we get Batman posing dramatically, but we also get action-packed chase scenes, which utilize panel sizing and positioning nicely to carry the flow of the motion, and set pieces that add life and flavor to the world.

When the action really kicks off, the colors and the panels grow sharper, increasing the intensity of each panel. It pulls us into the action, making every hit more impactful and every movement faster. After all, why just have a red and orange explosion when you can add shades of purple to give it an even bigger impact and show how it’s a shadow that’s being destroyed? 

Speaking of the shadows and the color work, the otherworldly colors in scenes involving the shadows and the energy connected to them make the panels pop and increase their unknowable, alien nature.

Look, I’m going to stop being analytical for a moment and say it straight up: this comic is great. Every single creative working on it has put all their passion for both Batman and the Tokusatsu genre into each page, combining them masterfully. The story has excellent worldbuilding and pacing, as it introduces us to the setting and characters nicely, then kicks things into gear with intense action. The artwork and colors capture every moment with vivid, engaging designs, set pieces, and fights. Speaking personally, I’m absolutely sold on the concept and can’t wait to see what comes next.

If you’re a Batman fan, you’ll enjoy “Immortal Legend Batman.” If you like Tokusatsu series like Power Rangers or Kamen Rider, you’ll get a kick out of the loving homage. And if you’re a fan of both, why are you reading this review when you should be reading “Immortal Legend Batman” right now?