Batman: Reptilianis a dark new chapter for the Caped Crusader in comic books, featuring a new supervillain penned by Garth Ennis with Liam Sharpâs artwork.
The first issue highlights classic Gotham villains who are being targeted by a terrifying, new creature. Issue one also focuses on establishing the tone of the series as Batman begins investigating a new, noir case.
There has been a lot of praise ushered out to Ennis and Sharp for their bold, new direction, and fans are also wondering if the new villain has any relation to Killer Croc.
Fan Reactions toBatman: Reptilian#1
First and foremost, the union ofPreacherwriter Garth Ennis andGreen Lanternillustrator Liam Sharp has proven to be a match made in DC heaven. Both creators are setting the Dark Knight on an exciting new path and a darker one at that.
Sharpâs gothic artwork paired with Ennisâ calculated dialogue paints Bruce Wayneâs justice seeker in a new light, with a whole new level of fear attached to him.
Some have already dubbedBatman Reptilian#1 as one of the best Black Label issues to date - the same label that handledBatman: Damned.
The focus for this first issue is certainly Sharpâs artwork, showcasing a wonderland of colors, moody details and the most terrifying Batman cowl youâve ever seen.
Who is the Reptilian?
Spoilers Ahead
The big bad ofReptilianis obviously being kept under wraps for now, but we do know that itâs a reptile-like lethal threat on Gotham that has no problem tearing its way through the rogues' gallery.
The ânew predatorâ is commandeering Batmanâs reputation as one of Gothamâs apex predators, with its origins currently unknown.
Judging by early illustrations, the villain seems to be a reptilian humanoid of some kind, with enough malice to split The Riddler in two.
Itâs unclear whether this particular panel is referencing the reptilian, but the seriesâ synopsis highlights how the new supervillain will target Gothamâs finest criminals.
Is the Reptilian Related to Killer Croc?
For now, it seems as though the reptilian and Killer Croc are being treated as separate villains.
Itâs reasonable to think that they are both connected, given their reptilian decent, but Killer Croc has his own part to play in the comic series.
Preview artwork for issue 1 teased Killer Crocâs appearance in the series, appearing next to other villains that had been crossed out in red.
This suggests that Killer Croc could be mistakenly accused of these fresh crimes, unbeknown to the city that a new villain is ready to pounce.
