Batman: Through The Looking Glass by Bruce Jones and Sam Kieth (graphic novel review)
I heard about ‘Batman: Through The Looking Glass’ through the ‘Back Issue’ magazine in regards to this is a key story with the Bat versus the Mad Hatter. Writer Bruce Jones is matched with a very stylised art of Sam Kieth. The problem is the dividing line between reality and the drug-induced reality the Batman faces himself in. The stylised long ears given to the Batman will make you wonder how he can walk through standard doors without having them being bent over.
Originally printed in five parts, we follow the Batman’s drugged fantasy of following the white rabbit, meeting Alice and his time in both wonderland and the looking glass. Alfred and Robin try to get him back. Alice is also part Celie, a childhood friend who died of diphtheria, which he survived. There’s a bit of a grey area as to just where this is going on and how much the Mad Hatter is part of the fantasy, especially as Celie frequently calls the Batman by his real name.
The story hits all the recognised tropes except, maybe the Queen of Hearts, although she might have been heavily disguised, from Lewis Carroll’s stories, just in a distorted way. I did come away from this graphic novel wondering just what they were on when they did this. The creators, that is. The plot does move towards something related to Gotham City’s city hall but not sure if that made sense to the plot.
If anything, it’s best to read and just enjoy the ride than dwell on it too much. I think my favourite line is Batman addressing Celie with ‘Your logic is so mercifully free of the ravages of comprehension.’ Maybe that is the way to think of the story.
GF Willmetts
February 2026
(pub: DC Comics, 2011. 112 page graphic novel softcover. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-1-4012-2787-6)
check out website: www.dc.com
