Comic Title: Batman:Gotham by Gaslight TPB
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2006
On Sale Date: September 13, 2006 Direct Market Date September 13, 2006
Source: Usenet, New Releases List for Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Direct Market Date August 30, 2006
Source: Previews, Vol. 16 #6 (#210)

Cover Price: $12.99
Page Count: 112
Editor: Bob Harras

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "Gotham by Gaslight"
Pages: 48

Feature(s):
Batman (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Brian Michael Augustyn
Penciller: Mike Mignola
Inker: P. Craig Russell
Letterer: John E. Workman, Jr.
Colorist: David Hornung

Reprinted From:
Gotham by Gaslight #1 (1990)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (Bruce Wayne; first appearance; next appearance in Batman:Master of the Future #1)

Supporting Character(s)

• Alfred (first appearance; no further appearances)
• Inspector James Gordon (first appearance; no further appearances)

Villain(s)

• Jack the Ripper (Jacob Packer; no further appearances)
• A gang of thieves (Jenk, Briscoe, and Kesley named; no further appearances)
• A highwayman (in flashback; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Sigmund Freud (no further appearances)
• Thomas and Martha Wayne (in flashback; no further appearances)
• Bonnie (Gordon's secretary; no further appearances)
• Commissioner Tolliver (no further appearances)
• Gwendolyn Hervey (Bruce Wayne's companion; no further appearances)
• Harvey Dent (Gotham district attorney; first appearance; no further appearances)
• Prince Fetid (no further appearances)
• A night watchman (no further appearances)
• Blackwell (warden at Arkham Asylum; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Joker (in a photograph)

Comments:
This story, which was billed as "an alternative history of the Batman", would form the basis for a long-running series of alternative history stories featuring DC characters called Elseworlds. The events depicted therein are not part of regular Post-Crisis DC continuity.

This story takes place between April and October 1889.

Synopsis:
When he was a child Bruce Wayne's parents were murdered in front of him. Now as a young man, Bruce has spent years studying abroad. He returns to Gotham City in the Spring of 1889 with a mission in mind. Bruce becomes the Batman who wages a one-man war on the criminal element.

Another man has also returned to Gotham City from Europe. This one has murderous intentions. He killed five women in London and became known as Jack the Ripper. Now Jack begins killing women in Gotham.

The police are unable to stop Jack. Commissioner Tolliver believes that Jack and the Bat-Man are the same person. Despite the level-headed advice from Inspector Gordon, Tolliver launches a crusade which eventually lands him at the door of Bruce Wayne. The police search Waynor Manor and discover the bloody tools of the Ripper.

Bruce is arrested and tried for the crimes. He is found guilty and sentenced to hang. Gordon brings him files which he studies. He eventually solves the mystery of the Ripper's true identity. With Alfred's help, Bruce then escapes.

Batman tracks down the Ripper who is the Wayne family friend Jack Packer. When cornered, Packer confesses that he loved Martha Wayne, but she rejected him for Thomas. He arranged for their murder. Later he began killing women who reminded him of Martha. He also framed Bruce for his crimes. Batman gets Packer to deliver the confession to Gordon. When Packer attacks Batman, Gordon kills him. Gordon lets Batman go, and Bruce is cleared of murder.