Before Gotham knew the Joker, it feared the Monster Men. In this gripping reimagining of Batman’s early years, the Dark Knight faces off against Hugo Strange and his grotesque creations—genetically altered giants born from madness. Batman and the Monster Men blends noir suspense with horror, setting the stage for a young vigilante’s evolution into legend.
Batman and the Monster Men is a six-issue limited series written and illustrated by Matt Wagner, serving as the first installment of his Dark Moon Rising duology. Set shortly after Batman: Year One, the story introduces Hugo Strange as a twisted scientist conducting unethical experiments on Arkham Asylum patients, funded by mob boss Sal Maroni. As Batman investigates a string of brutal murders, he uncovers a conspiracy that tests his resolve, intellect, and physical limits. The book also reintroduces Julie Madison, Bruce Wayne’s early love interest, adding emotional depth to the narrative.
Matt Wagner has enjoyed a career in comics for over twenty years. Born and educated in Pennsylvania, his first published work was a short story that would introduce one of comicdom's most respected creator-owned characters—the mastermind assassin Grendel. Best known for this epic creation and his other, more personal allegory, Mage, Matt has also worked on a variety of established characters. These include his groundbreaking work on the character Batman villain Two-Face in the graphic novel Faces, as well as a five-year stint developing and generating stories for the fan-favorite Vertigo title, Sandman Mystery Theatre. He also wrote the Doctor Mid-Nite miniseries for DC Comics and served as the regular cover artist on the Kevin Smith-penned relaunch of Green Arrow.
View titles by Matt Wagner
Before Gotham knew the Joker, it feared the Monster Men. In this gripping reimagining of Batman’s early years, the Dark Knight faces off against Hugo Strange and his grotesque creations—genetically altered giants born from madness. Batman and the Monster Men blends noir suspense with horror, setting the stage for a young vigilante’s evolution into legend.
Batman and the Monster Men is a six-issue limited series written and illustrated by Matt Wagner, serving as the first installment of his Dark Moon Rising duology. Set shortly after Batman: Year One, the story introduces Hugo Strange as a twisted scientist conducting unethical experiments on Arkham Asylum patients, funded by mob boss Sal Maroni. As Batman investigates a string of brutal murders, he uncovers a conspiracy that tests his resolve, intellect, and physical limits. The book also reintroduces Julie Madison, Bruce Wayne’s early love interest, adding emotional depth to the narrative.
Creators
Matt Wagner has enjoyed a career in comics for over twenty years. Born and educated in Pennsylvania, his first published work was a short story that would introduce one of comicdom's most respected creator-owned characters—the mastermind assassin Grendel. Best known for this epic creation and his other, more personal allegory, Mage, Matt has also worked on a variety of established characters. These include his groundbreaking work on the character Batman villain Two-Face in the graphic novel Faces, as well as a five-year stint developing and generating stories for the fan-favorite Vertigo title, Sandman Mystery Theatre. He also wrote the Doctor Mid-Nite miniseries for DC Comics and served as the regular cover artist on the Kevin Smith-penned relaunch of Green Arrow.
View titles by Matt Wagner
