DC's Infinite Frontier comic book relaunch is fresh, and the company is set to load up the foreseeable future with as many enticing projects as possible across their beloved characters. Batman--unsurprisingly--is in the forefront, with plenty of upcoming comics in mainline canon and otherwise. Batman and Detective Comics are starting new arcs, The Detective limited series was announced as well as anthology series in Urban Legends and a revival of Legends of the Dark Knight.
Things like nostalgia and alternate-canons are partly the order of the day too, as Batman '89 is set to continue the Batman universe of Burton and Keaton, and Earth One Vol. 3 is finally set to release this summer. Another alternate timeline limited series recently announced was Batman: Reptilian under DC Black Label and fans have many reasons to be excited.
More Black-Label Batman
While obvious, it's a plus since DC Black Label has proven kind to the superhero. Arguably the most praised (maxi)series is Sean Murphy's White Knight. This label allows a variety of writers and artists to come in and tell their own takes on DC's pantheon. One of the appeals is that these comics tend to cater more so to older demographics, so it'll be interesting to see how Reptilian takes advantage of these creative liberties.
Additionally, all Black Label books are alternate universes, taking place in their own slivers of the greater multiverse of DC. It's another enticing aspect to see another Batman series published under the imprint where a writer--in this case Garth Ennis--will get to tailor and fashion together their own piece of the Dark Knight's vast mythos.
Sharp's Moody, Stylized Art
Based on the previews DC has released, the art should succeed in establishing tone right immediately. Some of Batman's best arcs come from noir crime-thrillers (e.g. The Long Halloween, Dark Victory), making Liam Sharp's gritty, moody, stylized art an excellent fit to show fans the dark tone it's intending to convey.
It's similar to how Tim Sale used his distinct art style to fit the premise and setting of the aforementioned TLH and DV. Likewise, it seems to adopt a gloomily-intense style akin to Dave McKean's art in the Grant Morrison-written Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.
Mystery Premise
Speaking of noir crime-thrillers, the story premise for Reptilian seems to be centered on Batman solving a mysterious case in Gotham City on a new apex predator stalking the shadows. Presumably, it seems that fans will see a new supervillain. Batman is commonly known as one of Gotham's apex predators that makes the city his hunting grounds against those who prey on the innocent.
Killer Croc is another creature that goes bump in the night striking terror against any in his way. But it looks like a third figure is making the city its territory in targeting, hunting and striking fear into monsters like the Joker. Reptilian could be venturing more into the sci-fi with creature-like antagonists, but that can be a strength in a Batman detective story.
Killer Croc
DC's released a brief synopsis references a new nocturnal hunter into Gotham aside Batman, though, it also cites Killer Croc as being another feared predator. The variant cover for the series' first issue even shows Croc as the only supervillain in the background who hasn't had his/her eyes crossed out.
Given this mysterious new threat, it appears that he'll also play a key role in the plot's central mystery. Perhaps since the World's Greatest Detective will be chasing down a new--presumably reptilian--hunter, Croc will initially be the presumed primary suspect one way or another. It could be thrilling to see Killer Croc displayed prominently in a Black Label book.
The Primal Atmosphere
With all the references and insinuations of Gotham's "predators" and "prey," it seems the narrative will adopt a wild, tense tone in addition to that of a noir mystery one. Blending the themes of grittiness, noir, and mystery with that of a primal, animalistic atmosphere are ingredients for a potentially compelling plot. The city itself is a great urban jungle of a setting.
Killer Croc alone is likely the best supervillain in Batman's rogues' gallery to utilize for such a story, but introducing a new "invasive species" to the city in the form of this mysterious new threat adds more intrigue. That and, of course, Batman has established himself as a terrifying creature of the night to Gotham's criminal underworld.
Horror Elements
Like Sharp's brand of art for Reptilian pulling its weight along Ennis' narrative in establishing tone and atmosphere, it seems like the series could bring in some elements of horror. It would make sense, as the aforementioned primal premise that the team is looking to set would be perfect to make use of predator/prey horror scenes.
Ennis's writing is said to be "haunting," so the moodily stylized art could emphasize some of the grotesque that fans would expect from a Batman story about two creature-like rogues prowling Gotham's shadowy corners for targets. Likewise, horror could be implemented in a way Morrison's Arkham Asylum intensely conveyed psychological horror.
Cast Of Supporting Villains
While one of the major focuses of the series will be this new monstrous creature skulking around, his targets could present some interesting plot points. As mentioned, Cully Hamner's variant cover art for the first issue prominently features Killer Croc in the background of Batman's rogues as the only one not being "targeted."
The others are Riddler, Joker, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Penguin, and Two-Face. For one, it'll be interesting to see if Catwoman is still considered a supervillain in this world, but the rest of this cast could provide tense encounters for this new threat, plus help build toward a potentially enthralling mystery plot. It's a detective case that also seems like tracking a dangerous animal in the wild--using its prey to track it.
Potential Batman/Croc Team-Up
It's pure speculation, but an interesting possibility from a plot like this is for Batman and Croc to eventually team up to take down whatever new threat this is. Earth One Vol. 2 did something like this more literally, with Batman first discovering and meeting Croc only to find out he's not a villain in the slightest, offering him a place to stay and a job helping him and Alfred fight crime.
Here, of course, it'd be better if he stays a supervillain, with the two being forced to join forces because the threat is that daunting. It would make for a great fight scene as well as play into the "primal" nature the story is going for, with natural enemies having to hunt down the invasive predatorial species together.
Potential Batman/??? Team-Up
On the other hand, it could be exciting to see Batman somehow having to team up with this new apex hunter against a "genuine" threat. A likely scenario for this having to happen in the series is if at some point the Caped Crusader discovers that Croc was the true threat behind this case for one reason or another.
Of course, plot twists for the sake of plot twists subverting expectations are a real problem to be avoided (see Game of Thrones season eight), but if Ennis' writing hand is deft enough, it could be well-earned. As long as the payoff would be worthy, this would be a great spectacle.
Precedent For More Horror Batman
Should this series succeed both critically and commercially, this could set a precedent for more horror-themed Batman books. Morrison's '80s classic dove deep into psychological and body-horror thanks to the story and art style of McKean, but it'd be entertaining to read and see more Batman comics venture into this genre.
Understandably, the mainline books may not be the place for at least some of that, but Black Label is prime for that kind of liberty. The more fluid production time and higher age group attest to this, and seeing a horror-influenced series with Man-Bat seems mouthwatering.