Batman: Damned

Batman: Damned is an American comic book series published by DC Comics. The three-issue limited series, written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Lee Bermejo, began on September 19, 2018 and concluded on June 26, 2019. The series experienced numerous delays throughout its run, with the third issue being rescheduled a total of five times. Damned was the first series published under the DC Black Label, an imprint allowing writers to present unique takes on DC characters for a mature audience, and Azzarello and Bermejo described it as a loose sequel to their 2008 graphic novel Joker. A supernatural horror story, Damned is set in Gotham City outside the continuity of the mainstream DC Universe. The series begins shortly after the events of Joker, when the criminal Joker seemingly dies during a fight with his archenemy, the superhero Batman, who has no recollection of the event. Batman enlists the help of blue-collar exorcist John Constantine, and the two delve into Gotham's supernatural underworld to solve the mystery. During their investigation, they meet many of DC's magic-based characters, including the Spectre, Etrigan, Deadman, Zatanna, the Swamp Thing, and the Enchantress. Damned sold well and received positive reviews. Critics praised Bermejo's art, though opinions regarding the story were mixed. The series also became subject to controversy due to a scene in the first issue featuring male full frontal nudity, the allowance of which led to editorial shakeups at DC.