Batman: Gotham After Dark by Steve Niles and Kelley Jones

Bruce Wayne has only been Batman for a few years when he comes up against a dangerous new villain named Midnight. Midnight is out to do the same job as Batman, but in a more violent and bloody way.

Batman's first clue as to this new villain is when he finds many of his usual Rogues gallery committing unusual crimes. Unusual in that they are stealing mystical objects- the Hand of Glory. This makes no sense. Why would madmen do something so out of line with their kind of madness?

Batman is working with Gordon, and a new face, April Clarkson, a Lieutenant in the Gotham P.D. At first Batman is angry at her for taking credit for his catches of the villains he's caught, and she's angry at him for making the Police Department look like fools, but as they work together, they quickly warm up to each other, until Batman/Bruce wonders if he might have met his soul mate. After all, they are both having to live up to the image of their fathers- hers was a hero cop killed by the criminals he was taking out, and his was the Saintly surgeon gunned down in an alley

But as each of Batman's former foes assault the city, all working for their "Master", Midnight, Batman comes to question whether he is really doing the city any good with his nightly patrols, and whether Midnight's way is better. But as Midnight takes out April Clarkson, Batman must also solve a series of crimes pulled off by Midnight himself and discover Midnight's real identity before Midnight turns Gotham City into a true hell on earth.

This long story makes a very thick graphic novel, and the ending "surprise" to Midnight's true identity didn't actually come as much of a surprise. I had my suspicions with this new character showing up in the comic, but as a villain, Midnight makes a very effective foe/foil for Batman. Both have ideas to end crime, but they go about it in completely different ways.

Batman may turn himself into a vigilante, but never resorts to crime, the way Midnight does. Nor does he egg on other villains to make the situation worse before he makes it better, as Midnight does. And neither does he murder the people who is supposed to be protecting. An enjoyable story, with lots of action and quite a bit of detection. Recommended.