Featuring some solid voice acting, tight animation and a cool Elseworlds twist this one is well worth a look. The story is pretty standard Batman fare but the unique setting helps it stand out a bit from the crowd.
Lyndsay Faye has written many Holmesian stories for her own books and anthologies so it's no surprise she has the Victorian writing style down pat. Her books always feel like they could be pulled from a Victorian diary and Observations by Gaslight is no exception.
The film is set in Victorian times with a killer known as Jack the Ripper stalking Gotham's streets while a masked vigilante called the Bat is trying to solve the crimes. It's an interesting setup and the filmmakers do a good job of creating a world that feels authentic with characters that act like they would in that time period (except for Guy in a Bat costume).
While some of the story feels a little too padded, it's still a lot of fun to watch. The pacing is good and the character development is solid. It's also nice to see some of the Baker Street Irregulars get their own proper roles rather than just being random villains that pop up occasionally. It's especially enjoyable to see Selina Kyle (Catwoman) in a role similar to Sherlock's love interest Irene Adler and Hugo Strange as the head of a progressive psychiatric hospital. This is a must-see for fans of either the X-Men or the DC Universe.
