Batman: Dark Patterns (2024-) #1: We are the Wounded Part One

Batman: Dark Patterns

by Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman (artist)

Set during the early years of Batman’s career, Dark Patterns delves into four mysterious cases as he attempts to cement his place as Gotham City’s protector while the city itself ?ghts back against him. This is the Dark Knight Detective at his most stripped-down core, a man relying on his wits, his skills, and little else as he tackles some of the most twisted mysteries Gotham City and its protector have ever encountered. Case 01: We Are WoundedA series of sickeningly gruesome murders has sent shock waves through Gotham. Are these the random works of a serial killer, or is there something more sinister at play? Batman attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery before any more victims are claimed.

Genres: Comics, Batman, Dc Comics, Comic Book

Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2024

About the author

Dan Watters is a UK based comic book writer. His first book, LIMBO, was released through Image Comics in 2016. He has since written THE SHADOW at Dynamite Comics, and ASSASSIN’S CREED and WOLFENSTEIN for Titan Comics.

Currently he is writing the relaunch of LUCIFER for Vertigo’s Sandman Universe, as well as DEEP ROOTS for Vault Comics. Deeply rooted in London Town, and firmly of the Devil's party.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what to make of it. Batman, Gotham, mysterious Murder Series. You know what you get

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4½⭐

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting villain with great art. I'm interested where will this go.

[Arianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first issue sets up the hunt for a serial killer who practices a rather extreme form of acupuncture. The story is set in the early years of Batman's vigilante career - it was nice to see Alfred.

[Garth · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 - Year of The Bat (366 Days of Batman)

Day 349: Definitely between 4 and 5 ⭐️. Great start with a very interesting villain. Loved Bruce digging out something he remembered reading in one of his father’s old journals. Going to have to remember to come back to this one after my Year of The Bat is over.

[Aron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent first issue, if things keep up, this will be a great series.

[James B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The villain was a bit much, like an 80s villain. Otherwise a pretty good comic. I enjoyed the tone.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing start, I knew I would regret not starting this series sooner. The writing is fantastic and the art and paneling is Sherman continuing to show why they are one of the BEST right now. The entire city feels so large and I love how the bat signal casts against the clouds overcast over Gotham. The series is very fittingly called dark patterns because of the nature of Batman’s investigations, and the dark “patterns” he sees on the cases. He’s about 3 years in as batman, so that means he has built up a reputation with Gordon but still surprises a lot of people and still has a lot left to learn. That’s why we see a lot of ground level detective work and some base level (for batman anyway) gadgets in use. As we join batman on the current case, this is the third night in a row where a victim has been found dead after being extensively tortured. Their tongue and teeth are removed first so they can’t scream, and the victim we find as pin points in every major nerve without spilling a drop of blood. DR Sereika, the forensic pathologist newly back to Gotham and someone batman doesn’t trust and suspects is getting high on formaldehyde, is on the scene with Gordon when Batman arrives. He’s a bit of an oddball, but this is Gotham.

So far there is no connection between the victims. The first was a lawyer, the second was living in poverty, and the third falls somewhere in between. But Batman’s mindset for solving this case and digging up clues lies in the first victim, as the majority of serial killers know their first victim. The law firm that the first victim worked for has not made the victim’s cases available to the GCPD, so batman decides to sneak in after hours and have a look for himself. Completely smashing the filing cabinet to get past the lock, lol. But as soon as batman was about to leave, private security rushed in. At first he wasn’t worried…but then they kept coming and coming some more. Who hires this many guards to protect a dead lawyer? Before batman could jump out the window a bullet even grazed his sight and left some shrapnel in it. Something Alfred was very keen on telling Bruce when he found Bruce attempting to stitch it up himself while reviewing the files in the bat cave. As it turns out, after a career of representing the most corrupt corporations…the lawyer tried to clear his conscience by doing pro bono work. The two victims were involved in his cases, both had situations where family died due to tragic circumstances. There are a handful of other cases that match this description, and it seems batman knows exactly who is next…as the killer is going alphabetical.

The next victim was a petty thief until he made the mistake of robbing a hole of a made man affiliated with the Falcones. They did their own investigation and soon enough his wife was found floating in Gotham bay. He got the message and has been working as a janitor ever since, but actually refused to be involved in a class action case against the Falcones. While he was at work batman bugged his apartment and he has been crying abojt his wife since he got home. But suddenly batman heard footsteps and a knock at the door. Batman could hear the victim freak out at the sight of the man approaching him. Batman listens in while he can, the killer starts talking about how he can give the man what he could never have and what “they” took away from him. How is torture until death something someone took away from this guy? Like I said, batman tries to listen in while he can but soon enough he is jumping through the window to defend the would be victim…only to be faced with a gruesome sight. A man covered head to toe in near fatal self mutilation. Everywhere there are nails or rebar or other pieces of metal sticking out of his body. If batman tries to punch him then he will kill the killer, but somehow this killer isn’t in pain. In fact he is able to punch batman and is moving at insane speeds with crazy strength. As batman is getting beaten to a pulp, trying to find something in his belt to end the fight, the would be victim fires his shotgun in the direction of the killer, and while Batman’s head was still rattling…the killer was able to leap out of the window and her away. As the issue comes to an end Bruce heads home and consults one of this father’s old medical textbooks. There was something he remembered in the medieval manuscripts, intended as a map of pain originally intended as an index to cure people of their suffering. He found the page with a diagram of a man covered in swords and spears and any other sharp object just in the skin, he is calling this killer the wound man and he thinks he is healing his victims…and he will try again tomorrow.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Batman who just started prowling the streets in this universe. After 3 years, the Batman is still fighting crime families, and mention some big names that are mentioned in other comics. When he comes across a mutilated body, he doesn’t know what to make of it. Nails, slivers, and objects all placed on the body to instantly kill someone on contact. When Batman finds a living and aggravated victim, he has no choice but to not fight back as he is being attacked. An interesting challenge for the Dark Knight who doesn’t kill.

The dialogue is very firm and direct. Giving a tense and unemotional Gotham with characters who have been overworked or sick of it all. The new Batman design is…ok. I like the symbol and suit, but it doesn’t match the art style or tone for the authors world. A couple other characters didn’t seem to fit in with the art style too but it’s nothing I’m too concerned about.

I’m fully interested in this ‘Wound Man,’ and cannot wait to read the next issue.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5.

Batman: Dark Patterns #1 is a DC Comics issue written by Dan Waters, art by Hayden Sherman, and colors by Triona Farrell. It is cover dated February 2025.

Batman investigates a series of gruesome murders leaving its victims full of nails, spikes, and other sharp instruments carried out by the Wounded Man, a twisted individual obsessed with pain who thinks he is healing his victims.

This a grotesque horror/mystery Batman story that I feel hasn’t been tackled recently. This first issue is pretty twisted and curious to see how it develops and continues. I’m pretty shocked that this isn’t a Black Label series considering the tone and material. We could be looking at a very seminal tale in the Batman mythos, I just hope the story holds up and it doesn’t just become a violent book.

[Ben Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great beginning. I’m a certified Dan Watters fan and he brings a dark edge to this gruesome Batman murder mystery. Hayden Sherman’s art is very different from the realistic styles used in the main Batman and Detective books right now which gives the story a gory uneasiness as well as a really dynamic flow with the unusually panel layouts. This Bruce Wayne feels more akin to Robert Pattinson or Michael Keaton, weird loners who dress up as a bat and enjoy solving puzzles rather than charming playboys who can fight off an army of goons. It’s very classic Batman but also perhaps the start of something really special.

[Nick LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start. Grounded storytelling, murder mystery, vulnerable Batman, and a new addition to the rogues gallery with a fascinating and appropriate gimmick. Good art, love the look of all the characters, a new take while appropriately referencing some previous versions--I noticed a heavy The Animated Series influence. This is looking like it will be a solid Batman comic, hopefully without the same sort of immediate disappointments as the new Absolute Batman series.

Read as a single issue.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not quite sure what to make of this one yet but I’m loving the tone, it’s dark, grimy and yet full of mystery as Batman scours Gotham for another sick serial killer.

The artwork is appropriately fitting too, it’s grotesque at times when it needs to be but Gotham itself looks alive and I really dig how Batman is designed and showcased here. I love how there are a lot of shots where Batman is cloaked in shadow and we only see his emblem, his eyes and the outline of his cowl/cap.

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very unique take.

The story is actually good. Its always good to see Batman do some actual detective work. I am going to love this series. The art is good as well. Going to be a sleeper hit in my opinion. Love the serial killer story going on. This is a winner. I am already hooked.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good start to what seemed to be a down to earth detective Batman version. That’s until the villain showed up in person. I found it difficult to take him seriously. Other than that, it’s good, and I think I’ll read the TPB

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I heard about this series at my local comic shop, that it’s more about detective work than the other Batman series out there, so I thought I’d give it a try. Gotta say that I’m hooked.

[Ernez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yk what, I liked this. Very detective vibes. I like that in batman.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very very solid opening. A serial killer is going around killing people and Batman has to stop him. Great art, solid story, good character moments of Bruce. Well worth the read!

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good one! An old school style mystery and an original (new? at least I never heard of him) villain. It caught my attention!

[Andre Swai · Rating 5 out of 5]

gearing up to be my favorite batman comic series

[Chris Loan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great mystery story, with such an interesting villain! Definitely adding this to the pull! The art in this was so good!

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very promising start. I’m so intriguing as to where this going!

[Richard A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Premeir issue as the story was very interesting even though the art was not the best.
I am looking forward to the next issue.

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good art, dark, moody, kinda film noir vibes, with an interesting villain. Looking forward to see how this will continue.

[Roman Ramos · Rating 2 out of 5]

The villain design is original but this feels more like a BOYS parody of Batman.

[Shazne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting villain for a new detective venture elevated by immersive art.

[Laura Zarzyńska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wspaniale się zaczyna!!

[luz · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh i wasnt expecting that

[Aliyu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Batman serial killer story so far

[Ryan Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short. Not very suspenseful or as good as others I've read but still alright.