DC Comics has announced a new 12-issue series, Batman: Dark Patterns, that is set in the early years of the Dark Knight Detective’s career.  Centered in Gotham City, the new series follows Batman as he investigates four bizarre mysteries, relying on his smarts and his skills, as he becomes the protector of the city.  The creative team is Nightwing writer Dan Watters, Absolute Wonder Woman artist Hayden Sherman, and colorist Tríona Farrell.  Each of the mystery stories is self-contained, and the first three-issue arc, “We Are Wounded,” starts with a series of gory murders that may or may not be the work of a serial killer.  The first issue will be released on December 11, 2024, with covers by Sherman and a variant by Stevan Subic.

"I love the strangeness of Batman,” Watters said in a statement accompanying the announcement.  “A man dressed as a huge, gothic bat, solving crimes in a hostile city of black magicians, mad scientists, and superstitious, cowardly criminals.  I’ve always wanted to write a series of mystery stories that would home in on that aspect of the character—a dweller in the shadows of Gotham’s towering, delipidated spires.  After watching The Batman, this desire was reaffirmed.  Batman: Dark Patterns explores the pulpiest part of the Dark Knight's rich history and gives readers an entirely new perspective on the early years of DC’s Dark Detective."

Watters recently teamed up with writer Ram V for two interlocked crime series, The Six Fingers and The One Hand,published by Image Comics (see “Ram V and Dan Watters Write Linked Crime Series”).  Sherman collaborated with writer Scott Snyder for the IDW Publishing series Dark Spaces (see “Preview: ‘Dark Spaces: Wildfire’ #1”).

Click Gallery below for covers and artwork!