Batman is, without a doubt, the most popular DC Universe character these days. With successful film, video game and cartoon franchises all helping to draw in new fans that may have never actually seen a comic book before, Batman has been a definite boon to DC Comics even before the New 52 engendered such an explosion in comic book popularity.
It’s no surprise then that there are no less than four different series all featuring the Dark Knight in the lead role in the New 52 line-up. That’s an entirely unique Batman-centric book every week; not to mention the various spin-offs such as Batwoman and Batwing.
The first of these books starring Bruce Wayne and his alter ego to be released in the reboot is Detective Comics #1 which, despite not actually having the word Batman anywhere in the title (it does feature prominently on the cover, however), is every inch a classic Batman story.
Set sometime early in the new Batman continuity, the first issue of Detective Comics pits Batman against the Joker for the first time in this timeline. The Clown Prince of Crime is, predictably, on a killing spree and it’s up to the Batman to stop him. As one might expect, not everything is as it seems as there may actually be a method to the Joker’s giggly brand of madness. Bruce spends most of the comic’s 20 pages putting his title of ‘World’s Greatest Detective’ to the test as he tries to predict the Joker’s next move and sleuth out where he’ll strike next.
This debut issue is actually pretty light on detective work and heavy on Batman techno-bable explaining away a lack of investigative procedure. Which is disappointing but understandable as writer Tony S. Daniel tries to hit all of the familiar Batman notes and characters right off the bat (hee hee). Personally, I think that Bruce is at his best when a writer bores heavily into his deductive grain but I understand that there is a lot of history in need of being re-established for the new continuity.
Some parts of this continuity seem like they could be drastically different from from previous stories. For instance, while no one actually says it out loud, I have a feeling that this version of Alfred might actually be an artificial intelligence. That would definitely pretty crazy but, other than that, Daniel makes it clear that Batman is still Batman, Gordon is still Gordon and the Joker is still a douchebag. Don’t expect anything approaching Grant Morrison levels of storytelling insanity. Except, that is, at the very ending.
I won’t spoil it here, for anyone that hasn’t read it yet, but the ending to this first issue is shocking; not only in just how straight-up gruesome it is in its depiction but also in what it might mean for the future of the series. DC is certainly not afraid of taking chances with where the New 52
On the artistic front, I must say that I was very impressed with Ryan Winn’s work.
The scenes he sets are as dark, gritty and high quality as you could want from a monthly book. The backdrops depict the same poorly lit, art-deco-film-noir hybrid of Gotham that we’ve all come to know and love over the years but have still been rendered in beautiful detail. There were moments throughout the comic that made me feel as if I was reading a high quality one-shot, rather than what will be a monthly series. It took me longer to slip back into the ruddy look to the characters, particularly Commissioner Gordon, but once I did I was one hundred percent behind the dirty, rough-hewn design.
I was far less excited about the frequency of action figure-like stances in which Winn poses the Caped Crusader. The flat dimensions and stereotypical posturing, particularly in the panel where the Commissioner and Batman first meet in this issue, brought to mind someone’s Deviant Art page more than anything; which might have been more palatable were it not such a frequent occurrence. I can understand an artist’s excitement to work on such a beloved character but this is borderline masturbatory; an habitual practice by the overly excited that chafes but ultimately does little harm.
Much like the first Action Comics, which I reviewed earlier this week, Detective Comics #1 is an interesting first step in rebooting a classic character. Just like in Superman’s book, we see a much younger, less experienced version of our hero establishing himself by going through the classic motions while laying a foundation for new things to come, and ultimately capping things off with a surprise ending. Unlike Action Comics, Detective Comics doesn’t feel quite so drastically deviant from what has come before. Still, it’s definitely a solid issue with a grisly and intriguing ending that has me excited for more. If you are a fan of Batman, and who isn’t, then this is one to watch.
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