Batman Becomes a Ghostbuster Thanks to John Constantine
In the first issue of Batman: The Detective, the Dark Knight transitions from Caped Crusader to bonafide Ghostbuster and makes it look easy.
Warning: spoilers for Batman: The Detective #1
In DC Comics’ latest and greatest series, Batman takes a page from John Constantine’s spell book and becomes an unofficial Ghostbuster. The world has changed for Bruce Wayne in Batman: The Detective #1, from the minds of writer Tom Taylor and artist Andy Kubert. So much so, that Gotham’s Dark Knight packs his bags and leaves the city, seemingly for good. In the wake of Alfred’s death, his final true tie to Wayne Manor and its primogenitureship, Batman must consider new horizons, especially when there’s a graver legacy at stake.
In a surprising turn of events, Batman finds himself in the West Pennine Moors of Lancashire, England, investigating the wreckage of a downed aircraft. There he links up with the new Squire, one half of the crime fighting duo Knight and Squire (essentially the UK franchise of Batman and Robin), and the two experience a startling encounter. Drawn to the bounty of residual fear energy surrounding the crash site, the spectral villain Gentleman Ghost appears to make a meal of Batman and Squire. Unfortunately for the Victorian poltergeist, Bruce Wayne is equipped with arcane gloves and prepared to deal with this supernatural threat.
The restless spirit of a two-century old infamous highwayman named James Craddock, Gentleman Ghost has haunted several members of the DC Comics pantheon, including Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Superman, the Justice Society of America, and, most notably, Batman. Unable to be put to rest, Gentleman Ghost floated across the United States until finally reaching Gotham City. In Batman #310—the character’s first encounter with the Dark Knight—by Len Wein, Irv Novick, and Dick Giordano—Gentleman Ghost takes control of Alfred Pennyworth to fleece the richest man in Gotham, Bruce Wayne. Though Batman ultimately foiled the villain’s plans, locking a ghost away in Arkham or Blackgate is next to impossible. It was at this point that Craddock became a fixture of Batman’s rogues’ gallery.
In comics cannon, Batman and John Constantine have crossed paths several times. Though clearly not cut from the same cloth, or motivated by the same goals, the two share a grudging respect for each other’s skills and specialties. According to Batman, it was Constantine who gave him these magical ghost-brawling gloves. Considering, however, that Constantine typically doesn’t give anything away for free, fans may wonder what bargain was struck for these powerful artifacts. Perhaps that’s a story for another day. What is evident are the gloves’ effectiveness in combat. Barely able to put up a fight, Gentleman Ghost receives a beating at the hands of the Dark Detective, the likes of which would make a seasoned exorcist shiver with excitement. In fact, Batman’s thrashing is so severe it causes the ghost to disintegrate into a shapeless mass of glowing spectral energy. Unlike dealing with other foes, Batman doesn’t have to worry about breaking his one rule with a dead man. It’s enough to make one wonder whether or not the Caped Crusader should consider a career change altogether.
In the immortal words of Dan Aykroyd’s Dr. Ray Stantz from 1984’s Ghostbusters, when discovering their ghost-capturing technology is feasible: “We could really bust some heads, in a spiritual sense, of course.” Well, oddly enough, that’s exactly what Batman has managed to do. Who would’ve thought the next step after the title of World’s Greatest Detective was Ghostbuster? Of course, readers have DC Comics’ own hell-blazing occult investigator John Constantine to thank for this delightful supernatural beat down.