DC’s New Justice League Just Learned A Supernatural Fact About Krypton

The heroes of the world of Gotham by Gaslight have finally learned the horrible truth about what happened to the planet Krypton.

In a preview for Batman: Gotham by Gaslight: A League for Justice #2 (by Andy Diggle, Leandro Fernández, Matt Hollingsworth, and Simon Bowland) from DC Comics, readers find Bat-Man, the Sentinel, Wonder Woman, Alan Scott, and the Manhunter standing together aboard the former's Bat-Blimp discussing the strange circumstances that brought them together. While each of their individual stories is strange enough, it is the Sentinel's origin that might just hold the key to the mystery at hand. As the Martian explains to the others, the age of Krypton was not an Earthly era, but the glory days of an entire world unto itself, one which was tragically torn asunder when Kryptonian mages began meddling with forces beyond their mortal comprehension.

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight: A League for Justice #2

• Written by ANDY DIGGLE
• Art by LEANDRO FERNÁNDEZ
• Colors by MATT HOLLINGSWORTH
• Letters by SIMON BOWLAND
• Main cover art by LEANDRO FERNÁNDEZ & MATT HOLLINGSWORTH
• Variant covers by CLAYTON CRAIN; TIRSO; and MARCO SANTUCCI

First seen in the pages of Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola's iconic 1990 one-shot, Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, the world of Earth-19 was introduced in its own industrial revolution. As such, the reality of Earth-19 is replete with decidedly steampunk-inspired versions of classic DC Comics heroes and villains, each of whom comes with their own Victorian bent. In the original one-shot, Bruce Wayne donned the mantle of the Bat-Man to chase down the deranged serial killers stalking the streets of Gotham City.

In the decades since the original one-shot, the world of Gotham by Gaslight has been expanded out in multiple directions, with exciting new takes on beloved characters taking center stage along the way. Some of these characters, such as the Wonder Woman of Earth-19, have been given the chance to show up in various crossover events like Dark Crisis or multiple entries in the Gotham by Gaslight mythos. Others, like Alan Scott, J'onn J'onnz, and Kal-El, were introduced in 2024's Batman: Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age by Andy Diggle and Leandro Fernández.

The introductions of so many other heroes in the reality of Earth-19 not only helped reinvigorate general interest in the Gotham by Gaslight universe but also set up the events of the latest series set in that world. As of now, Bat-Man, Sentinel, Wonder Woman, Alan Scott, and the Manhunter have formed the core roster of Earth-19's iteration of the Justice League, while other characters like Victor Stone still have the opportunity to join their ranks in the future. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that they will be able to come together as a cohesive team in time to disrupt the plans of the likes of Lex Luthor and the League of Assassins' own Talia al Ghul.

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight: A League for Justice #2 goes on sale August 13 from DC Comics.