The older I get the more I find myself discovering classics and influential stories. Over the last year, H.P. Lovecraft has been in my TBR pile and exploring comic adaptations. In 2023, the Mike Mignola and Richard Pace penned miniseries Batman: The Doom Came To Gotham was adapted into a DC animated film and the trailer had us excited. However, it took us a few years to sit down and watch the film, which the film improves on the miniseries.

The original 3 issue miniseries was released between 2000 and 2001. Which was released 11 years after Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola’s classic series Gotham By Gaslight. Both stories are elseworld titles and do not take place in continuity. However the vibes of both stories with the Lovecraft influence and steampunk design could be in the same realm. I didn’t read Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham until watching the film, which caused this weird reaction…. I liked the movie more.

Usually I find myself thinking the original source material is better than the DC animated film version. The film did not shy away from the artistic aesthetic of the source material, it looks like Troy Nixey’s art (which truthfully is very much like Mignola’s style.) and this works in the films favor. One of the best aspects of the miniseries is the art and how well Nixey captures the lovecraft vibes.

So what makes the film better? Well the film is a straight up adaptation of the miniseries. Same storyline, art and vibes. However two things in my opinion that makes the adaptation an improvement: Character changes and pacing.

The miniseries feels like it moves incredibly quickly. It brings in well known characters like all the robins (Tim Drake, Jason Todd, and Dick Grayson) as assistance to Bruce Wayne. However we get zero time with them in the miniseries. Directors Christopher Berkeley and Sam Liu, and screenwriter Jase Ricci make a bold decision replacing Jason Todd and Tim Drake with two original characters. And it works! They were replaced by Kai Li Cain and Sanjay Tawde, which taking away the robin aspect of the characters helps these characters connect better to the story.

As for the pacing, the miniseries didn’t really give the story an opportunity to breathe. It was onto the next action piece. Whereas the film even with its 86 minute runtime, it gave characters opportunities the miniseries didn’t. The introduction to Grendon (voiced by David Dastmalchian) is more chilling and his evolution into Mr. freeze is handled better here. The inclusion of characters like Oliver Queen, Etrigan and even the Oracle are handled better as well. Especially Etrigan, he has meaning in the film opposed the miniseries where he provides just an action scene.

I wouldn’t rank either among the best of Batman stories, I think both are just ok. However where the miniseries struggles, the film does fill in the gaps, which makes the film more enjoyable and interesting. Shout out to Christopher Gorham and Matthew Waterson’s performance as Oliver Queen and Etrigan. Two vocal performances that may go unrecognized throughout the film.

As of this writing, you can find Batman: The Doom Came to Gotham on HBO Max and the miniseries at any local comic book shop.