Additional Images:
The Bat-Man: First Knight #3 p.36 - Color
Artwork Details
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DescriptionThis page comes from a project which, as difficult to imagine as it might be, surpassed even Perkins' work on The Swamp Thing as the high point of his career so far. As a lifelong fan of vintage Americana, the sights and sounds of America from the 1920's to the 1960's has always been of high, personal interest to me, so when DC accepted the Jurgens/Perkins pitch for this Bat-Man story set in 1939 at a time very early on in Bruce Wayne's career as a crime fighter, I was absolutely ecstatic. I love the entire aesthetic of the time period, from the hairstyles and fashions to the vehicles and architecture. So as a fan of comic book realism, pairing up this setting with Perkins was a match made in heaven.A lot has been made of the fact that unlike The Shadow, who preceded and inspired his creation, The Bat-Man never uses a gun. However, any self-proclaimed Bat-Man fan knows that the character HAS in fact carried a gun on a few very rare occasions. There is a wonderful sequence earlier in this issue where Bruce contemplates permanently carrying a gun as part of his arsenal after getting badly beaten up by the Monster Men, but is ultimately convinced not to. In this scene though, it's not that he was carrying, but simply that he picked it up after his opponent dropped it. I personally love the idea of a vigilante like The Bat-Man carrying a gun, because when you don't have any super powers, you kind of need all the help you can get. That's not to say that I'm a proponent of him carrying and using firearms, but much like The Shadow, it does present a very interesting visual. In the case of this page, I loved not only the fact that it is a very rare interpretation of The Bat-Man with a gun, but specifically that it's a classic 1920's era tommy gun, more formally known as a Thompson submachine gun! What it comes down to is that it's just a really badass looking image of The Bat-Man, dripping with atmosphere so thick you'd have to cut it with a knife. Or perhaps tear it open with a tommy gun? NOTE: The page measures 16.5" x 21. The bottom panel alone is the size of a standard 11" x 17" Bristol Board sheet turned sideways. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Steve Day Vich 
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
A work of art that stands alone, with or without the other pages.
J. Lim
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
Great page from a fantastic serie! You don't get to see Batman using a gun very often and Perkins goes full tilt with a Tommy Gun fit for the time period.
David Kwock
Member Since 2012
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
This page is soo good. Love absolutely everything about it! Major congrats on acquiring this Ruben; such a badass image!
Steve Lipsky
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
Just stunning, Ruben! What a great addition to your collection. Or any collection for that matter. Mike continues to amaze with his positively sublime art. Thanks for sharing.
John C
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
He wouldnt of needed the gun if he just stuck to the plan and wore the cow costume.
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
We are observing the chaos, taking in the Bat of raw crime fantasy
It's as if the entire world Perkin’s in love with the late thirties
Hear the innocent voices scream
As these old monsters gassed through all of it
No forgiveness from all I've seen
The illustrations I cannot forget
So sleep soundly Dan Jurgens he writes
For judgement falls upon you at First Knight
I'm the Bat of God
I'm the artwork buyer
I'm the vengeful gun
(Look in Mike and see what you're becoming)
In the blackest moments of ink drying work
Washes too Perkins
(Look in Mike and see what you're becoming)
Brian Norton
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
probably one of the best pages of the issue. love the gritty feel of the page, it catures the crime and punishment movies of the 40's thay bottom panel of him with the tommy gun is so bad-assed;
Comicart Boston
Member Since 2010
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
What a glorious Perkins page! And with Batman with a gun as well! Many congrats!
ASBC .
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
A very, very cool page from a great book, a highlight not only in the career of the artist, bit also within modern superhero books. Finally an artistic vision (backed by talent) than the usual similar modelsheet drawings.
M L
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
I enjoyed hearing you talk about this on the show. I hope someone has a page or two at OAX so I can see one of these oversized pieces in person!
Peter Roe
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
Glorious! Rare occasions include Detective Comics 33, in which he uses a handgun and wears a holster.
Paul P Spiderversity
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
Wow ... matching the artistic prowess of the great Mike Perkins with this kind of project is soooo perfect. Amazing page! And yeah that's a cool tommy gun...but can The Bat-Man make one out of a black balloon like Jim Carrey did in The Mask? THAT would be fun to see. And it's formally known as a Thompson submachine gun? You learn something new every day.
George H
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
Loving this darker feel from Perkins and I'm really digging the old school design of Batman here.
<> Shemp
Member Since 2003
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
Great reimagining of the Batman! Love the headpiece.
James Dornoff
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
Good looking page, lots of great inking and details.
Mark V
Member Since 2021
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
You can tell Perkins really loved working on this series.
Ted Latner
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
Beautifully illustrated page! Perkins is doing some great work!
Chris Snorek
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
Incredible work by a modern master who somehow continues to grow as an artist.
Toni S
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
Reading your descreption looks that the page was drawn to be in your collection. I'm very happy to see that has happened. The page is really beautiful and the last panel is so impressive! Huge congrats!!
Eric B
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
This has an excellent combo of gritty and terrifying. So cool.
Neon Dragon
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 1/15/2025
This is such an incredible page as it stands, but the size of it must make it a requirement to see in person. Party at Rubens! Rarely, do artists get firearm depictions correct but not in this case. The details are spot on. The early Batman was opposite of what he is known for. He originally carried a Colt .45. It sure would be nice to see him burn off a 50 round drum in a following panel but this is good enough. This is grail material.
F M
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 1/15/2025
Impressive page from a match made in heaven project for Perkins (and you, oviously)
Kavi H
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 1/15/2025
congrats on adding another stunning looking page from this Perkins guy. I hear he's pretty good!
André .
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 1/15/2025
Always dicey ending up on a table with someone tryin ta pump you...
Michael Kirton
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 1/15/2025
Gorgeous and moody work by Mike here. Incredible score, Ruben.
Marc W
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 1/16/2025
This page is so good! Pure Perkins magic, thanks for sharing, Ruben!
Lee P
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 1/19/2025
As usual Mike Perkins over-delivers with a highly detailed moody page. This crime noir Batman tale feels and looks like it came right out of the pulp period. That bottom panel is glorious!
CJ Design
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 2/8/2025
More deep inks and realistic settings as MP handles so well
Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 2/10/2025
This is pretty great if like Batman, good inking, story telling and lighting. Personally I'd prefer some 90's Image art without Batman and a lack of storytelling and lighting. I can see how this page was influenced by the gothic romance covers you love and so it makes sense that this is where it is. It is not like you get to cherry pick the best pages as they come out!
Davide G.
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 2/13/2025
The Bat-Man carrying a Thompson. Looking for an easy win? 😸
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 2/13/2025
What a stunning page from The Batman: First Knight drawn by Mike Perkins! I love this story set in the crime-ridden streets of Gotham in the 1930's. Mike really got to show his artistic chops here, bringing to life the early days of The Batman. Those first few panels are a beautifully drawn, but the killer panel has to be that bottom panel with The Batman fully revealed, Tommy gun in his hand. The scene is so perfect, it 's almost iconic already! Love thick, luscious blacks Perkns used that really make this look like something out of a Film Noir classic. Phenomenal pick-up, Ruben, congrats!
S Riz
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 4/9/2025
Mike just keeps on delivering! A great page from the series, congrats!
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