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 regarding this being a key story with the Bat versus the Mad Hatter. Writer Bruce Jones is matched with the 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 Batman will make you wonder how he can walk through standard doors without having them 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 she survived. There’s a bit of a grey area as to just where this affair 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 I’m not sure if that made sense to the plot.
If anything, it’s better 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
