Batman #13 Review

Death of the Family is arguably (or is it really arguable?) the most awaited story from DC Comics this year. Last year when The New 52 launched, one of their first titles was Detective Comics. And what better way to start it than have Batman battle his greatest enemy? In it we saw a very unexpected thing happen, the Joker had a villain named Doll Maker cut off his face. (What a haunting last page.) So as the issues went on people were wondering when that plot would surface again. A few months ago it was finally announced it would be returning in Batman as opposed to Detective. Now that was disappointing for the Detective readers, one of the main reasons why they had been the series was for that plot to come back, so others like myself has dropped the book and migrated over to this one. With all that aside, this story had great hype, with claims saying it would challenge the legendary Joker stories such as The Killing Joke. After reading the issue, I can definitely say it's one of the greatest comics I've ever read. This looks to go down as a classic story for future generations.

Here's the official description from DC Comics:

The Joker returns in 'DEATH OF THE FAMILY'!
He crippled Batgirl. He killed Robin. What will The Joker do now that he's returned to Gotham City? What must Batman do to protect his secret identity and that of those who fight alongside him? 

Joker is the type of character that never gets old. In this day and age, bring him into any story, you can expect people to get excited. Under a good writer, he can be one of comics' best villains. It's no different here with Scott Snyder, his Joker is amazingly written. Ever get chills when reading a comic? No? Then you must read this one. The Joker is at his finest, literally creeping out the reader and just being a blast to read. (You'll catch yourself smirking at some of the jokes.) One of the parts that really got to me was when he was explaining to Commissioner Gordon how he knows everything. You begin to wonder if he's telling the truth or just saying that to get to the Commissioner. Snyder's handle on Batman is much greater than that of Geoff Johns on Justice League and Tony S. Daniel over at Detective Comics. Ultra serious, but with a hint of emotion. It also amazes me that after all these years Joker is still able to surprise and confuse the whole cast.


Greg Capullo's art doesn't fail to impress. Joker with his buckled face looks extremely deranged. (I hope you're ready for the last page.) A nice touch is the how deranged the font is for when Joker talks. The thing about a lot of major Joker stories is that you, the reader, have absolutely no idea what happens next, it's no different here. The surprises keep rolling in. It's like we're Batman and we're discovering just as he's discovering them. "He's taking it back to where it all started..." I don't think we've seen a Joker like this since Grant Morrison's R.I.P. story. The main cover is unique, a flip one. It has Joker's face attached to  Batman. The alternate one is also very good. The 'backup' story really adds to the overall plot. Snyder doesn't fail to impress with the Joker in it. (Seriously, excellent writing. In its own demented way, it could get a little funny sometimes.)

Overall, Batman #13 is the start of what looks to be one of the greatest Batman stories ever. The Joker has never been more cruel and such a blast to read. Of course it's all also the characters whom are affected by his menace that's interesting to read. I haven't seen Commissioner Gordon try to hide fear like this in awhile. (I like how he asks Batman if his fear is showing. Also Batman's narration boxes are brilliant.) If you've never read a Batman comic, or any comic for that matter, this would be a really good place to start, things are only going to get better. (Or worst in Batman's case.)

5/5

Weekly Comic Reviews

Greetings all, glad to see you're back to check out this week's reviews. I hope you've been checking out Unleash the Fanboy, you'll find my reviews of some Image, Dynamite, and IDW comics there. Now, for Spidey taking a stand, two Mr. Toxics, and a giant squid.

Avengers vs. X-Men #9

Official Description

• Their numbers dwindling, the Avengers stage a daring raid on the X-Men’s prison to rescue their captive members—and you won’t believe where it is! • Alliances begin to change as the nature of the Phoenix becomes apparent! • And in the end, it all comes down to Spider-Man!

Review

There are just three more issues left of this event, then the Marvel NOW initiative can commence. Avengers vs. X-Men is one of the longer Marvel events, tied with Secret Wars. For the most part it's been good with little to no average issues. The latest issue sees Spidey taking more of a central role. I for one am happy to see that, he hasn't done much of anything in the whole event, he's just been there in the background. Jason Aaron's writing is top of the line, I haven't found myself laughing out loud from Spidey's lines like this in awhile. The Phoenix Five are getting corrupted, and the way that unfolds is really suspenseful. By the end, you're left wanting to find out what happens next right away. There are really no complaints about the art, it's very good, I especially like the cover.

Overall it's by far the best comic yet in this event. This issue reminded me of why I'm a Spider-Man fan, I'm proud to give it a perfect score.

10/10

Detective Comics #12

Official Description

• What is the final fate of Charlotte Rivers and Hugh Marder? • Guest-starring ROBIN. • The TWO-FACE backup story continues!

Review

This little arc has been pretty fun. After some mediocre issues, this arc was welcome. While Detective Comics hasn't been astonishing, right now it's not a bad story with Batman. This issue plays out like the final part in an episode of The Animated Series. Mr. Toxic has surprisingly been an above-decent antagonist, I hope to see him more in the future. (In fact, I found myself enjoying him over Doll Maker.) The writing isn't anything fantastic, but it's good, Batman isn't acting out of character this time. Though actually the best part was the backup story featuring the Joker's face. It was greatly written and has me excited for when he comes back in Batman. The art is one of the book's strongest aspects, it's fantastic. There are some really great splash pages in there. Cover is pretty good. (Note, despite the description, Robin doesn't appear.)

Overall it's a pretty solid conclusion of the arc with a great backup story.

8/10

G.I. Combat #4

Official Description

The conclusion of “THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT” and “UNKNOWN SOLDIER” epics! G.I. COMBAT continues next month

Review

Generic. That's what describes the latest installment in the G.I. Combat series. I had originally started picking it up because the concept of soldiers vs. dinosaurs sounded awesome. The War that Time Forgot offers nothing new and just ends up being a SyFy original movie with a slightly better budget. The writing is bland and just isn't that great. There are some pretty cool scenes with the dinosaurs of course. (A highlight is the splash page with a giant squid.) In the end, The War that Time Forgot was a disappointment. Saving this comic from getting a below average score is the Unknown Soldier segment. It's a contrast from The War that Time Forgot, the writing is very good. I like how they use real time instead of a fictional world where real life current events don't happen. The art for both stories is pretty good, the dinos look fantastic. The cover is pretty nice, showcasing a Triceratops.

Overall it's a pretty forgettable issue. Nothing against the series, but after this issue I'm dropping it cause it just isn't worth the money and there are much better series out there.

6/10

Weekly Comic Reviews

Hey all, I have three comic reviews for you this time around. Before I begin, I think I'll take some of this space to talk about something pretty interesting. Thanks to my, I quote, 'stunning work and dedication' of my work over at Unleash the Fanboy, I'm getting a free trade paperback of my choice! I ended up choosing the original Secret Wars story. (I was deciding between that and Marvel Zombies.) Hard work and dedication pays off. So yeah, now that I bored you long enough, onto the reviews. Here we have the Lizard taking over, Namor attacking, and Batman getting pummeled...

Amazing Spider-Man #689

Official Description

• Spider-Man, Peter Parker, Curt Connors, and the Lizard. The stars of this summer’s big blockbuster movie are right here! • Morbius the Living Vampire is on the loose and no one at Horizon Labs is safe—including a recently cured Curt Connors. • But if Curt Connors is cured, who or what is that new Lizard creature? It’s definitely someone Spider-Man knows…

Review

Never Turning Back is shaping up to be the best Lizard story of all time, and the best Spidey story in awhile. It feels like something from the late 80's, and that's a good thing. This version of Lizard is by far the best we've seen, Slott's writing for him is savage yet incredibly smart. However, other than the whole Lizard thing, Morbius takes a central role here. My favoriote part of the issue is when after he bit into Sajani's neck, Spidey was on the scene and attacked. The writing is stronger than ever, in fact, it's the strongest aspect. I just want to say the plot point of having Connors' mind out of commission in place of the Lizard's is such a unique and awesome thing. I'll be disappointed if this arc ends with the generic amd cheesy 'Conners mind eventually takes over and wins.' The art is very good, I wouldn't mind seeing it for the rest of the Spidey issues.


Overall it's another great issue. Never Turning Back looks to be a classic, this issue shouldn't be missed.

9/10

Avengers vs. X-Men #7

Official Description

• Cyclops changes the game with these three words: “No More Avengers!”

Review

With Marvel NOW being announced, everyone's wondering how exactly the ending of Avengers vs. X-Men leads into it. While technically not much happened in this issue, it was still very good. For once Cyclops doesn't come off as rather insane, his reasoning and logic makes sense. The tension between him and Namor was pretty intense, these Phoenix Five are getting pretty shady with each other, it makes the story a whole lot more interesting. Scarlet Witch is turning out to be one of the best characters in this event, it's interesting how she is really the only one that's able to keep the X-Men at bay. It makes for a great story when the heroes are on the losing side. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this all ends. And...someone dies! Or...not. Oliver Coipel's art works better for this event than John Romita Jr.'s.

Overall not much is progressed, but still another fantastic issue in this event.

9/10

Detective Comics #11

Official Description

• The connection between HYPNOTIC and the attacks on Wayne Enterprises is revealed! • Plus, the latest chapter in the TWO-FACE backup story. 

Review

The previous issue in this series had renewed faith for me, I was on the verge of dropping it. Detective Comics has been a pretty 'loose' series, sometimes it's good, and sometimes it's pretty bad. The next part in this arc thankfully keeps up the good. First off, I just want to say that I'm really enjoying Mr Toxic as the antagonist, I hope he keeps popping up in future issues. My only minor gripe is Batman's portrayal, he's coming off more as a dark Spider-Man than Batman. The way the story progress is interesting, Batman doesn't know what Mr. Toxic is doing, but at the same time the latter's plan isn't exactly going as planned. Interesting plot points there. The art is once again one of the strongest aspects of the book, one of the best covers I've seen in awhile.

Overall it's another great issue, this arc with Mr. Toxic has been the best since the first story with Joker and Dollmaker.

9/10

Weekly Comic Reviews

Hey all, welcome back. There was no Weekly Comic Reviews last week, the only comic I had picked up was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #10. Ah, such nostalgia. The issue reminded me of the days I would get up on Saturday mornings to check out Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the FoxBox. (Then they changed that title to 4Kids, lame.) I highly recommend TMNT from IDW. (Who's also doing Godzilla no less!) Anyways, here we have Avengers vs. X-Men #5, Detective Comics #10, and G.I.Combat #2.

Avengers vs. X-Men #5

Official Description

• The fiery conclusion of Act One brought to you by Matt Fraction and John Romita Jr! • Clashing on a lunar battlefield, the tide of the conflict will be turned…• The Phoenix takes its host! All hope is lost?!  

 Review

The moment we've all been waiting for, the Phoenix has arrived, and it does not disappoint.The build-up from the earlier issues has been great, and this issue is no exception. There's a sense of doom because the reader really has no clue how this is all going to play out. In that sense, Avengers vs. X-Men really is the new Civil War. I also like how something that happens here is so out of left field, it's the last thing you would expect. Unfortunately, the dialogue is often not that great. Cap referring to Iron Man as 'Stark' was probably the most off thing about the issue. At this point in time, Cap wouldn't refer to him as plainly 'Stark.' It's a little thing, sure, but also Cyclops sounds like a complete madman! In fact, all the X-Men seem like mindless drones for Cyclops. The art is pretty mixed. It's great for splash pages and making the Phoenix look creepy/menacing, but sometimes the characters look off. Cap suffers especially from this.

7.5/10

Detective Comics #10

Official Description

• BATMAN must defend WAYNE ENTERPRISES from espionage and himself from the menace of HYPNOTIC! • The latest chapter in the TWO-FACE backup story!

Review

Now this is what I'm talking about. When you open a Batman comic, this is what you want to see in the first few pages. We have a few Batmen with guns assaulting a truck, it's good stuff. The story is the strongest aspect here, it's really great. Also, for the first time, the Bruce Wayne scenes don't feel forced or filler. As you know from the description, a new villain in the form of Mr. Toxic makes his debut. (Alright, he's appeared before, but here he's not in the background. Who the heck is Hypnotic?!) Great design, if not a just a little bit ripped-off from Red Hood. He has a pretty impressive 'debut,' but let's see if he's not one of those throwaway villains to buy time. The dialogue is sometimes strong, but also can be very off, namely with Batman. This sarcastic portrayal of him is not working. The backup Two Face story is slightly interesting, but those pages could have been used to flesh out the main story better. After reading Avengers vs. X-Men #5, it was good to see some fantastic comic book art here. The art here is some of the best currently in comics.

8/10

G.I. Combat #2

Official Description

• In “THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT,” contemporary soldiers must battle pterodactyls and a tyrannosaurus rex as they struggle to understand where – or when – they are! • THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER becomes a human guinea pig in hopes that the experiments will grant him super powers.

Review

Despite the backup story, this issue doesn't feel worth the $3.99. It's lacking something. The War That Time Forgot is my kind of concept, but the dialogue isn't that strong. It does deliver fantastic dinosaur action, it's just hard not to smile as the dinos get substantial page time. So far nothing has been really explained of why this is happening. Normally that wouldn't be a bad thing, but the characters aren't particularly engaging. Still, the dinosaurs get enough page time to keep the story fun. The backup Unknown Soldier story contines to be interesting. If they could apply the writing from there into The War That Time Forgot, it would be perfect. The art has a glossy look, the dinosaurs look incredible.

6/10

Detective Comics #7 Review

Detective Comics had a pretty amazing start. In fact, I gave the first issue a perfect 10/10 score. It felt fresh to read simply about Batman doing what he does best: detective work. Add the plot of the Joker losing his face, you have a pretty great story debut for this series. Then the next arc came, putting Penguin as the villain and shedding some light on Bruce's girlfriend. The first issue of the arc was pretty good....then the next one headed into bland territory. Still good, but lacking pizzazz. I was personally looking forward to this one to see how this short arc would end.....and it wasn't that good.

Official description from DC:

Batman uncovers the truth behind a string of underworld killings involving a guest at the Penguin's Iceberg Casino, but time is running out! Is unimaginable terror about to strike on the floating gambling den? And what will Bruce Wayne do now that he's discovered some of Charlotte's most well kept – and darkest – secrets? It's death and destruction in the highest of high stakes games at the Iceberg Casino!

Detective Comics used to be my favorite ongoing series. I'm not too sure anymore. This issue was just not interesting at all. The writing was quite laughable and generic, the scene with the sister and the Snakeskin was just cringe-worthy. That's not to say to say there aren't some good pieces, Batman telling Penguin's gang of nobody villains that "You're new here" and "Small fry" was amusing. However, Batman remains 'stiff' the whole time. What I mean is that he felt robotic and his dialogue wasn't really all that interesting.Tony Daniel can do a lot better than this. Penguin may have been the only well-written character. Oh, I really liked Alfred in this issue, it was great to see him outside in on the action.

The art on the other hand was pretty good. Non-comparable to Jim Lee's work over at Justice League, but good nonetheless. The Bat-suit looks fantastic, there are two really awesome splash pages showcasing it. The cover is also fantastic, one of the best so far in the series. Man, if the art was bad, this issue's score would have been taken down a notch.

Overall, Detective Comics #7 is by far the worst issue yet. Laughable, generic dialogue and a really uninteresting plot. I found myself not getting involved in the story at all. The next arc better be good, because if it continues down this bland path, it will go on my drop-list.

5/10.

Detective Comics #6 Review

The problem with Detective Comics #5 wasn't the story. In fact, it was quite good. It was the overly long backup story. I don't mind backup stories, but I buy for the main story on the cover. $3 for only eleven pages for the main story? I don't think so. Thankfully, that doesn't happen with this issue. As expected, we get a quality Batman story. Though it's lacking the pizzazz of the previous arc.

The story follows Batman, who is on the trail of a man known as 'Snakeskin.' Meanwhile, Penguin has assembled a group of villains. What could this mean for Batman?

My problem with this issue is that the Penguin and Batman plots aren't mixing. Batman doesn't even mention Penguin once, it's like two different stories happening at once. I find myself not really interested in the Penguin part. He himself is well-written, but his plot hasn't been explored really well. The best part of this issue is Batman. He is really well written, some fantastic lines. "Some people don't need their faces kicked in. They just need to feel their insides move." I also like the scene where he's chasing someone, then in the dark, he simply says "Boo." It scares the living daylights out of the guy. Batman knows he scares the average person, he's Batman after all. I love how he plays on that in this issue.

Bruce Wayne has been absent from this series, aside from a few scenes here in there. The problem is that they just feel like filler. Thankfully, it doesn't feel like filler here. It's good to see Alfred outside helping out. It felt like an episode from The Animated Series. Something I didn't like was when Batman let his emotions get the better of him in the latter part of the issue. Yeah I know what happened affected him, but the Batman I know wouldn't let that get the better of him in that he 'loses' to an average criminal. Besides that, there are really no major complaints. The writing is solid, especially for Batman. (Really like the part where a once convicted person says, "Hey, I'm bleeding out over here. Help me!" Then Batman replies, "Help yourself.")

If the art was bad, the issue would have gotten a lower score. However, the art is very good. Some parts look appropriately gritty, really like the spread of Batman on the fourth page. The cover shows Batman and Penguin battling while falling. It's a good, dynamic cover. Sad part is that they haven't confronted each other yet. But yeah, the art is high point in this issue.

Overall, Detective Comics #6 is a normal issue. It's simple, it's Batman, but it's lacking the punch the first arc had. The writing, (except for the scene I mentioned) is very good. I was this close to giving it a 7/10, but it barely made the 8. Something really exciting needs to happen in the next issue, otherwise this series will start getting 7s. All we really care about is what's up with Joker, this arc appears just to be 'buying time.' Let's have something really exciting happen in the next issue, shall we?

8/10.

Detective Comics #5 Review

The first story arc of Tony S. Daniel's Detective Comics run did a good job of bringing a good, quality story for new readers to jump in. Intriguing, dark, and it's Batman. Doll Maker could have used a little work, and really the only thing we care about is what's up with ol' Joker, but it gave us a solid tale of mystery and suspense. The new arc begins with this issue, with a classic foe as the villain. While not as impressive as the debut issue of the first arc, it's still a pretty solid start.

It begins with a bunch of Joker protesters chanting for Batman's death. Meanwhile, Batman runs into a 'Joker' who manages to evade him. The plot deepens when Bruce's girlfriend seems to have a secret agenda. This is being watched by the crime lord known as Penguin....

I've always considered Penguin to be a lame villain. Batman's version of Spider-Man's Vulture. Recently Vulture got a major revamp, updating from 'lame' to actually 'cool.' I had a strange feeling that same would happen here, and it did. The Penguin looks to be a meancing force here. He's only appeared in one page so far, and he already looks to be more of a threat and more fun to read than Doll Maker. Oh, and is it me, or is this Penguin thing similar to what happened with Vulture three issues ago in Amazing Spider-Man? Penguin has some flunkies similar to that of Vulture's, and their personalities seem to match. Not saying anything's copied, it's just interesting.

Batman still carries the book with those thought boxes. The whole Joker protest was interesting and really makes you think how corrupt Gotham is, or as Batman put it, "Hellhole." Interesting predicament is with Bruce's girlfriend. It looks like she's going to have a generic plot twist that we've all seen in past Batman stories. (He can never truly win with the ladies, can he?) Then there's this mysterious Joker supporter who shows up, kills some guys, then manages to evade Batman. Impressive, so I look forward to seeing what's up with that. A crime to this issue however, is how short it is. We get a pretty long Catwoman backup story, it's not clear if the ending pertains to that series or this series, probably this series. I don't mind backup stories, but the main story was too short, while the backup was too long.

Once again, the art is great. I say this every time, so I don't think it's necessary to keep mentioning it every time. But, as a longtime reviewer, gotta keep mentioning it every issue. Pretty good cover, showcasing Batman and Penguin. The Penguin has never looked more menacing. (I'd like to see this guy have a chat with Vulture over at Amazing Spider-Man, it would be priceless.)

Overall, a solid start to the new arc. Not as great as the previous debut issue, but a solid one. Penguin is back, and has never looked more cool. Detective Comics is a series you'll want to be reading if you like Batman and mystery.

8/10.

Detective Comics #4 Review

Well, this is the end of the first arc. It's been an amazing ride so far, one of the best series I'm currently reading. Dark? Check. Gritty? Check. Mystery? Check. Batman doing what he does best? Check. Definitely an all-star series, great for new and old fans alike. For those that grew up with the 90's series, you'll feel right at home with this book. Anyways, I've been giving high praise to this book, the lowest score I've given it was an 8, back in Issue 2. So, the trend must continue with a positive score for this issue, right? Of course.

The story continues with Batman battling a bunch of Joker fakes from the last issue. Eventually, Doll Maker is offered a deal for Batman alive. Where is this deal coming from? A certain crime lord with a bird for a name. Can Batman make it out? Get ready for an explosive finale.

The thing that makes this series great is the thinking boxes with Batman. I always find it very interesting to see what's going on his mind as be battles the scum of Gotham City. Reminds me of the late 90's Spidey Howard Mackie run. Batman is a very interesting character, and this series has been taking everything interesting about him and putting it on every page. Tony S. Daniel knows how to make a gritty, but intriguing story. It's fast paced, but at the same time, still a detective story, amazing.

Alright, I have to say this. I don't find Doll Maker interesting at all. I just don't find him threatening, or particularly engaging. Heck, Professor Pyg from the 2007 Batman and Robin series was more interesting. Since the start, the main thing I wanted to see resolved was the Joker plot, not this guy. I liked how they introduced Penguin without showing him, it was very, very good how that happened. Olivia comes off as rather generic, will she have a bigger role later? It's hard to tell. Commissioner Gordon didn't have much of a role in this issue surprisingly.

The art has always been top-notch. It's fits the grim tone well, especially in the scene where Batman is interrogating the messenger. Everyone looks great, it's just hard to complain when Marvel's Avengers art is so inferior. It's just dark and moody. Impressive cover, so far all the covers have been very good. And wow, that final page is so iconic, it really gives the reader a bit of a shiver. Though is it me, or does the Bruce Wayne scenes seem out of place? They seem to be there just to fill the space.

Overall, an excellent issue and a fine closure to the first arc. This book has succeeded in being a definitive Batman series. I have a feeling it will only get better. DC has done it, go check out Detective Comics if you haven't already.

9/10.

Detective Comics #3 Review

So we enter month number three of the New 52. Everyone should be use to it by now. I can't speak for the other comics, but the ones I'm reading, Justice League and Detective Comics, have been some of the best stories I've read all year. Detective Comics has been the definitive Batman story, it has been bringing all the elements: dark atmosphere, insane villains, down-to-earth mystery, and Batman doing what he does best: solving it. The series has been exceeding my expectations, Issue One I gave a PERFECT score. Issue Two, while it didn't live up to the previous one, still got a 9/10. I have been anticipating this issue for awhile, does it continue to impress? Of course. (There will be spoilers, skip to the last paragraph if you don't want to know anything.)

With the realization that the plot twist at the end of the second issue isn't what it seemed, Batman is on the hunt for the horrific Doll Maker. He first has to find him, and a captive, Olivia, knows where the psycho is. Even that may not be everything it seems....

As I've said before, I'm loving how this series is less "superhero" and more "Law and Order." I haven't read something like this in a long time. I'm loving the dialogue boxes, they let us know how Batman feels about everything. Everyone looks upon him as a serious force who cannot be stopped. These dialogue boxes really ground the character, making him even less "Superman" to the street level of things.

Even though it's a mystery at its core, this issue doesn't slow down or get dull. There are no unnecessary filler scenes, (I'm looking at you Issue Two) and is it  really necessary to say how great the art is? While this new take on Batman isn't as drastic as Superman, he does act a bit different than the ultra-serious one we're use to. He's actually making some wise cracks! No, not like Spidey, but he makes them once in a blue moon. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, just surprising. It's kept at a minimum, so it's fine. I was shocked by the plot twist at the end of the second issue, but as the month went by, I knew it couldn't be him. So Commissioner Gordon is once again slapped to the side, but this is by far my favorite incarnation. (Not that there's much difference besides the hair.)

Doll Master has been the antagonist for this series so far. He hasn't been anything special, nothing we haven't seen before. Honestly, I want to see what's up with Joker, that's really what I'm interested in, not this guy and his backstory. It doesn't help that it turns out, (according to Olivia) that this guy is working for someone he fears, therefore undermining him even more.

There's some really gritty action here as it should be. The cover is very impressive, showcasing Batman looking great. Still not a fan of the short ears on the cowl though.

Overall, another amazing issue from DC. It's much better than the last one, though I preferred Issue One a bit more. Still, this issue is not to be missed, especially with the amazing price of $2.99. Seriously, if Marvel's going to charge $3.99, they should at least make their main stories (I'm looking at you Amazing Spider-Man) have the high-quality feel of Detective Comics.

9.5/10.

Detective Comics #2 Review

Originally, I was only going to be picking up the Justice League series spinning out of the New 52. Then I heard some really good things about Detective Comics. Batman has always been my favorite DC hero, up until that point, I haven't read a hardcore Batman story in awhile. I picked it up, and it was the best comic I've read in a long time, I gave it a PERFECT score. Now, issue two has arrived. Does it continue to be that dark detective story established from the first issue? Read on.

There's a certain cliche in a lot of media, namely TV shows and a lot of the times, comics. Basically, the first issue or episode of anything will start out with a bang, makes sure it captivates the reader. The second episode or issue will slow down the pace and be more dialogue-centric. It is usually never as good as the first, same applies here. But, it still is a great issue.

The issue continues the plot from the last, Batman is on a mission to rescue Olivia, little does he know that things are not what they seem......

In this issue, we get some Bruce Wayne scenes. His character is established as more of Tony Stark-esque. (Not TOO much, thank goodness.) This short romance with a reporter (hmm, remind you of something from a certain 2008 film?) wasn't needed and felt forced. We really don't need it to make the story entertaining. Once he suits up, it gets back on track.

So far, this is a perfect Batman story. There are no sidekicks, there are no references to the other heroes of DC, this is a definitive Batman story. As I've said in my review for issue one, it feels like an episode of the Animated Series, this would make a great direct-to-DVD adaption. (In ten years, they probably will use it.) The thought boxes for Batman is really, really important and what's been keeping this series in its atmosphere. Batman is a deadly serious, no-nonsense, get the job done guy, I've always wondered what he's thinking through all that. These dialogue boxes really separate him from the rest of the DCU, it gives him the human-edge.

Doll Maker so far has been alright, but I don't see the threat others in the past have provided. I don't see the difference between this guy, and say, Professor Pyg. I'm sure I'll change my mind in the coming issues. The most interesting plot of this series so far is with Joker, but that isn't touched upon at all really in this issue. I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. Commissioner Gordon has a very interesting edge to him in this series, becoming a bit more than just the guy Batman goes to for info.

The art as I've said in my past review, is top-notch. It fits the dark and gritty atmosphere well. Maybe I didn't notice it before, but the ear part in Batman's costume is way too short. Not a big deal of course, just something.

Overall, this issue is non-comparable to the first, but it's still a great read. If you're looking for a definitive Batman story, no sidekicks, no guys that can fly faster than a speeding bullet, just a guy attempting to bring order to a city with no heart, check this series out. The ending had me surprised, I don't know how it will get resolved.

8/10.

Detective Comics #1 Review

I know I know, I said I would only be buying the new Justice League series. Well, after hearing some awesome things and that Joker was in it, I had to pick this up. I haven't read a hardcore Batman story in awhile, plus he's my favorite DC hero. So I went to the comic book store, and of course they had sold out a week ago when it first came out. Thankfully, I found it at Comic Book Jones, a nice place in Staten Island. Anyways, the New 52 continues with the release of Detective Comics, the first series in which Batman first appeared in. This was exciting for me, I could pick up a Batman comic that was a fresh start.

The Batman/Joker dynamic is one of the greatest in comics. Dating back all the way to the 40's, it's one of the oldest in comics. Of course, at that time, they weren't worst enemies until later. As the years went by, the Batman comics became darker and darker. It was the famous comic: The Killing Joke that made the Joker the crazy person he is. Back in the 40's to the 60's, he was just known as a crazy clown with weird gadgets. Now we all know him to be the greatest murder and psychopath in all of comic history. Bringing this guy in for the relaunch is of course the way to do it, and boy, does it deliver.

This issue is completely different than the Justice League one. Whereas the ladder has space heroes jumping around, big explosions, this is a gritty street level tale, as it should be. It's basically DC's Punisher or Daredevil. Let me tell, this issue is everything you'd expect from a Batman comic. No guy with a cape zooming in to save the day, just a regular guy attempting to make the worst city on earth better.

This comic feels "fresh." The little dialogue boxes with Batman's thought are excellent, this feels like an episode of the Animated Series. A definitive Batman comic. So smooth and dark, it's the perfect start. The plot moves at a steady pace, as a real detective story. (As it should, since it's Detective Comics.)

Putting Joker in this debut issue was sound. I've always been wanting to read a modern "Batman vs. Joker" issue. It's interesting to see Batman and Joker in their early days, since this is a revamp. Joker is portrayed even more ruthlessly than I thought. I see great things ahead for this series. The fight between Batman and Joker was truly something else. No big punches that send you flying stories high, just street-level fighting.

Batman himself is portrayed with everything we'd expect. I LOVE the writing. "You can't escape me Joker, I own the night." I just love that, I don't think I've ever seen him portrayed as awesome as this. Everything, from his talk with Commissioner Gordon to his arrival in the Bat Cave felt like what a Batman comic should be doing. DC is stepping up, they actually might be even a little close to Marvel now.

The art by Tony Daniel is dark and suits the series perfectly. Batman is drawn with a younger look and more of a high-tech costume. I like it, not to mention the powerful cover. Joker is drawn similar to some of his past incarnations. If DC beats Marvel in anything, it's the art. (You gotta pick up in the art department Avengers and Amazing Spider-Man.)

In closing, if you like Batman, or tired of cosmic level things and want a street-level realistic comic, you'll want to pick up Detective Comics. With it's intelligent dialogue, great cast of characters, this comic is a must-have. (It's already going for eleven dollars on Amazon.) The ending to this comic is pretty unbelievable and brutal, now I really want to see what happens.

I give Detective Comics #1 a 10/10. PERFECT score. One of the best Batman stories I've ever read.