"Dark Moon Rising" is a two part comic book series written by Matt Wagner

Matt Wagner

Matt Wagner is an American comic book writer and artist, best known as the creator of the series Mage and Grendel.-Career:...

 about the superhero Batman

Batman

Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...

. It contains two six part mini series entitled Batman and the Monster Men

Batman and the Monster Men

Batman & the Monster Men is an American comic book limited series written and drawn by Matt Wagner with colors by Dave Stewart, published by DC Comics and starring the superhero Batman. It, along with its sequel Batman and the Mad Monk, are set in between the events of Batman: Year One and Batman:...

and Batman and the Mad Monk

Batman and the Mad Monk

Batman and the Mad Monk is an American comic book limited series, featuring the DC Comics superhero Batman. It is set during the Batman: Year One continuity, but after the events of Batman and the Monster Men and before the events of Batman: The Man Who Laughs...

. The two series take place after the events of Batman: Year One

Batman: Year One

"Year One", later referred to as "Batman: Year One", is an American comic book story arc written by Frank Miller, illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, colored by Richmond Lewis, and lettered by Todd Klein...

and before Batman: The Man Who Laughs

Batman: The Man Who Laughs

Batman: The Man Who Laughs is a one-shot prestige format comic book by Ed Brubaker and Doug Mahnke, released in February 2005, and intended as a successor to Batman: Year One....

.

Batman and the Monster Men

Batman and the Monster Men

Batman and the Monster Men

Batman & the Monster Men is an American comic book limited series written and drawn by Matt Wagner with colors by Dave Stewart, published by DC Comics and starring the superhero Batman. It, along with its sequel Batman and the Mad Monk, are set in between the events of Batman: Year One and Batman:...

has Batman have his first encounter with Hugo Strange

Hugo Strange

Professor Hugo Strange is a fictional comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, as an adversary of Batman. He first appeared in Detective Comics #36 , and is one of Batman's first recurring villains, preceding the Joker and Catwoman by several months...

 and his hulking Monster Men. It also introduces Julie Madison

Julie Madison

Julie Madison is a fictional character in the DC Universe, best known as Batman's first significant love interest.-Original version:Julie Madison first appeared in Detective Comics #31 only four issues after Batman's own debut...

, as well as her father Norman to the Post Crisis continuity and revealing that Sal Maroni

Sal Maroni

Salvatore "The Boss" Maroni is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, usually as one of Batman's first enemies, and among the toughest gangsters in Gotham City...

 was involved in the funding for Strange's project on Arkham Asylum

Arkham Asylum

The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, commonly referred to simply as Arkham Asylum, is a fictional psychiatric hospital in the DC Comics Universe, usually appearing in stories featuring Batman...

 patients.

Characters involved

• Bruce Wayne/Batman
• Julie Madison
• Hugo Strange
• Sal Maroni
• Norman Madison
• James Gordon
  James Gordon (comics)
  James Worthington Gordon, Sr. is a fictional character, an ally of Batman that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane...
  
  
• Alfred Pennyworth
  Alfred Pennyworth
  Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears throughout the DC Comics franchise. The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as Batman’s tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and surrogate father figure...
  
  

Continuity Changes

• Julie Madison is now a law student instead of an actress.
• Norman Madison is introduced.
• Sal Maroni is involved in funding Hugo Strange's patients.

Batman and the Mad Monk

Batman and the Mad Monk

Batman and the Mad Monk

Batman and the Mad Monk is an American comic book limited series, featuring the DC Comics superhero Batman. It is set during the Batman: Year One continuity, but after the events of Batman and the Monster Men and before the events of Batman: The Man Who Laughs...

has Batman battling the vampiric Monk

Monk (comics)

The Monk is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He appeared as one of Batman's earliest foes.-Fictional character biography:The Monk first appeared in Detective Comics #31 in 1939. He is one of the earliest significant villains of the series, his battle with Batman being one of the...

. Julie Madison and Norman Madison return.

Characters involved

• Bruce Wayne/Batman
• Julie Madison
• Norman Madison
• Alfred Pennyworth
• James Gordon
• Monk
• Dala

Continuity changes

• Dala is now not a vampire like she was in the original story.
• The Monk is now Niccolai, the vampiric leader of the cult known as The Brotherhood.
• Julie joins the UN Peace Corps and goes to Africa
  Africa
  Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
  
   after the death of her father instead of becoming the Grace Kelly
  Grace Kelly
  Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of...
  
  analogue Princess Portia, ruler of Moldacia.