I happened upon Wayne of Gotham online. I was looking for something new to read and figured I’d see if there were any good superhero novels to be had. The synopsis of Wayne of Gotham had me hooked but then the authors name caught my attention. Tracy Hickman wrote a Batman novel!?! I was sold. He must know bats, right? He did write the Advanced D&D adventure Ravenloft afterall.

This isn’t your typical Batman story. It does take some liberties with the established history. The novel is actually two stories in one book. We learn about Thomas Wayne, Bruce Wayne’s father, through a storyline from many years in the past. This is interwoven with a current story where we follow Bruce Wayne unraveling a mystery.

The past and present are slammed together in a story of painful truths and revenge. The rogue’s gallery of Batman villains are swept up as well. Wayne of Gotham also provides an explanation as to why Gotham, in particular, has more dangerous and insane villains than other cities.

It is in this explanation of how Gotham became the city it is that we are introduced to Thomas Wayne. He is a good man but he lives in the shadow of his own father and wants to make a name for himself. This part of the story happens in the 1950’s. A young Thomas Wayne is courting Martha Kane but his name makes him a local celebrity. He struggles to fit into Martha’s world which includes a few questionable associates.

Having just graduated from Harvard Medical School Thomas wants to do something extraordinary. Unbeknownst to him this desire will have far reaching ramifications. He sees his opportunity when he learns of a controversial treatment for the criminal mind.

Dr. Ernst Richter has an outrageous theory on how to treat the criminal mind. He theorizes that criminal behavior should be treated like a disease. His research finds a supporter in Thomas. With the Wayne fortune, and influence, Dr. Richter is able to establish a lab at Arkham Asylum.

In the present day Bruce Wayne, the secret identity of Batman, deals with a villain that is able to alter memories. This turns friends into enemies and even Batman’s foes are controlled by this new opponent. This opponent appears to know a lot about Batman and his past. Bruce is troubled by this because he prefers to leave the past behind and let his parents rest in peace.

Wayne of Gotham isn’t your average Batman novel. Usually we see Batman face off against a criminal mind and resolve some mystery or puzzling crime spree. This book slides from the past to the present as Batman investigates the events around him. Some readers may not like the parallel storylines but I thought it was handled well. The intrigue builds as both Thomas and Bruce, separated by decades are faced with difficult decisions. The tension builds for each character as the last pieces of the puzzling story fall into place.

One of the central themes I was drawn to was the difference between how Bruce Wayne remembered his father and who Thomas Wayne really was. Bruce idolized his father and mother. They were perfect people in his child eyes. Slowly Bruce finds that his father was not perfect and was involved in some questionable activities in his younger years.

I had the pleasure to talk to Tracy Hickman at GenCon and ask him about the book. Hickman realized that his take on Batman, in this story, was different and he was concerned about how fans would react to the book. He wanted to tackle not only why Batman exists but why Gotham existed in the state it does.

While being a unique take on the world of Batman I thought it was an interesting story. The novel is a stand alone story and I would have liked to see Hickman delve more into his version of the Caped Crusader. Unfortunately, as far as I know, there are no plans for a sequel.

If you are in the mood for a different take on superheroes in the DC Universe I would recommend Wayne of Gotham for you. The hardcover book is 296 pages so it will be a fast read but one I think you will find entertaining.

I welcome your feedback on Wayne of Gotham so please share your take on the book in the comments below.

Oliver Greytome