Dark Night: A True Batman Story

Dark Night: A True Batman Story
Cover of Dark Night: A True Batman Story (June 2016)
Art by Eduardo Risso
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics (as Vertigo)
Format One-shot
Genre
Publication date June 15, 2016
No. of issues 1
Main character(s) Paul Dini
Batman
Robin
The Joker
Dream
Death
Creative team
Created by Paul Dini
Eduardo Risso
Written by Paul Dini
Artist(s) Eduardo Risso

Dark Night: A True Batman Story is an American graphic novel written by Paul Dini, illustrated by Eduardo Risso, and published by DC Comics under its mature-readers Vertigo imprint. Featuring the superhero Batman, it is based upon a true incident from 1993, in which Dini was mugged and nearly killed. The book was released on June 15, 2016 and received widespread critical acclaim from reviewers, who praised its emotional story, artwork, and powerful message.[1][2][3]

Background and creation

In 1993, Paul Dini was walking on La Peer Drive in Los Angeles, California, when two men approached him. They proceeded to brutally beat Dini, shattering his zygomatic arch and, according to his doctors, parts of his skull "powdered on impact".[4] The event forever altered Dini's life, and became the basis for Dark Night: A True Batman Story. In the novel, Batman and many of his adversaries appear in the form of separate parts of Dini's conscience.[5] Dini cited a scene in the film Play It Again, Sam (1972) as inspiration, in which a film critic is assisted by Humphrey Bogart's character.[4]

Dini described the writing process as traumatic, claiming to have cried several times when going to sleep. He was horrified upon seeing Eduardo Risso's rendition of the attack in artwork, recalling “I burst into tears. I couldn’t look at them.”[4] Upon completion, Dini stated that he felt a burden he carried about the attack had been lifted.[4]

Reception

Dark Night: A True Batman Story received widespread critical acclaim. On the review aggregator ComicBookRoundUp, the book holds a score of 8.9/10, based on 13 reviews.[6]

The story's recounting of Dini's ordeal was widely praised. Writing for IGN, Jesse Schedeen praised its frank, undramatized, and open manner, and called it "an emotionally powerful read".[5]

References

  1. ↑ Young, Bryan. "A Review of "Dark Night: A True Batman Story"". HuffPost. Oath Inc. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  2. ↑ Hughes, Mark. "'Dark Night: A True Batman Story' Delivers Powerful Story With Healing Message". Forbes. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  3. ↑ Rich, Jamie. "Ten Moments that Mattered: Paul Dini's Dark Night: A True Batman Story". DC Comics. DC Entertainment. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Kit, Borys. "Paul Dini Revisits His Traumatic Past With 'Dark Night: A True Batman Story' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  5. 1 2 Shedeen, Jesse. "Graphic Novel Review: Dark Night: A True Batman Story". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  6. ↑ "Dark Night: A True Batman Story #1". ComicBookRoundUp. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
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