Charlie Adlard will draw the latest tale in the series, bringing the acclaimed artist's defining aesthetic to DC Comics for one of the most exciting collaborations on the comic book release calendar this spring. Adlard will be one of many exciting artists and writers contributing to this packed issue of
#12 will feature three stories, each promising a thrill ride for DC readers. While "" wraps up, and gets into an increasingly fraught situation, the most exciting announcement for the issue is Charlie Adlard's take on
#12 (2024)
Release Date:
April 23, 2024
Writers:
Karl Kerschl, Torunn Gronbekk, Delilah S. Dawson, Herik Hanna
Artists:
Karl Kerschl, Fernando Paserin, Serg Acuna, Charlie Adlard
Cover Artist:
Simone Di Meo
Variant Covers:
Francesco Mattina, Charlie Adlard
Batman and Maps have unraveled the monstrous mystery that has been terrorizing Gotham, but will they be able to stop it in time? The school bell rings as Batman’s adventure at Gotham Academy reaches its stunning conclusion! As Artemis continues her quest, Lois Lane encounters the mysterious figure behind "The Hunt", the online challenge that has entered the real world with deadly consequences! Last, but definitely not least—don’t miss the newest installment of Batman: Black & White, drawn by one of comics’ most legendary B&W artists,
Charlie Adlard!
Adlard drew the , after taking over for original artist Tony Moore with issue #7. Adlard's style came to define the book as much as Kirkman's narrative, and now, the artist will lend his talents to an intriguing new story.
Though Charlie Adlard is penciling a black-and-white story for #12, he also drew a variant cover for the issue, which employs a minimal, but incredible effective use of color.
With the Bat-Signal lighting the stormy sky above Gotham at night, the Caped Crusader is depicted in familiar dark, night-blue hues. Cape captured in perfect flutter, Batman looms – as no other comic book hero can quite replicate – over a man hurrying through an allyway. Appearing in the signature garb of a private detective, the man is illuminated by a blunt yellow light.
What makes Adlard's cover truly stand-out is the proliferation of Batman's shadow throughout the image. The viewer's eye is immediately drawn to the shadow of the cowl cast by the detective, caught in the light, but the shadow also lurks behind him, and appears on the water tower high above.
Further still, the shadow encompassing the left part of the image forms a large Batman silhoutte. All of this accrues to give the impression that the Dark Knight is everywhere at once.
has showcased a number of great comic book artists' abilities over the years, but few are recognized first-and-foremost for their black-and-white style in the way that Charlie Adlard is. As an artist, Adlard has worked in the comic book industry for decades, but he has only done select work for the major American publishers, Marvel and DC.
is the perfect gateway project to bring Adlard into the DC Comics fold, an opportunity he deserves, and one that fans of all DC characters, and beyond, should hope for.
#12 will be released on April 23, 2024 by DC Comics.
