Batman / Grendel: Devil's Masque #2, p. 29

An unexpected, wonderful (and wonderfully unexpected) trade to ring in 2021!

A while back, in a panel led by Professor Ben Saunders (founder and director of the University of Oregon’s Undergraduate Minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies - the first undergraduate minor of its kind in the country - Represent!), I first heard the definition of the word ‘chiaroscuro’. But I had learned what the word really MEANT many years before in the work of such artists as Steve Ditko, Dave Sim, and Matt Wagner.

The interplay between light and dark, ink and paper, definition and shadow in the Gotham City Museum panels of this page is nothing short of intoxicating - a master at work - and the setting itself offers a unique visual playground, a nice alternative to a back alley: Batman amid the other stuffed and mounted trophies as Hunter Rose tightens his net. I love how Batman is integrated into each panel subtly, stealthily, as he creeps around trying to evade detection…

Not to be outdone by the first five panels, I love the pen and ink work of panel 6; the window shades, lampshade and nightstand, clothing...

Matt Wagner’s Batman is my favorite Batman, and the first ‘Batman / Grendel’ is my favorite of Matt’s Batman stories. I realize how fortunate I am to have this page and will be forever grateful, Simon. Thank you.