Simon Dark # 1 2007 VF+

Simon Dark # 1, released on October 10, 2007, introduced a new, supernatural urban legend to Gotham City. Written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Scott Hampton, the series reimagines the "Frankenstein’s monster" mythos as a modern-day vigilante protecting a neglected neighborhood. 

The debut issue introduces Simon Dark, a "patchwork" teenager living in the ruins of the Sacred Martyr Church in Gotham Village. 

• The Vigilante: The story opens with a ritualistic murder being committed by a cult. Simon intervenes, decapitating one of the cultists with a sharp wire to save a survivor.
• The Urban Legend: Simon is a figure of whispers and children's nursery rhymes, considered a "pseudo-guardian angel" by some and a gruesome creature by others.
• A Simple Life: Despite his violent actions, Simon is portrayed as childlike and lonely. He is seen "stealing" an Edgar Allan Poe book and cat food, but always leaves behind money as payment for the items.
• Investigation: Medical examiner Beth Granger arrives at the scene of the church murders, noticing the surgical precision of the decapitation and the calm, serene reaction of local witnesses. 
• Creation: Simon was created through "mad science and dark magic," constructed from the body parts and souls of approximately 20 different teenage boys.
• Abilities: He possesses superhuman strength, regenerative powers, and the ability to shift his facial features to resemble the boys used to create him.
• Setting: While set in Gotham City, the series is isolated from traditional superhero events; Batman is notably absent from the first issue, emphasizing Simon as the protector of a "forgotten" area.